Hyperthyroidism

FROSTYFRECKLE

Hiya,

I'm looking for some advice and info about hyperthyroidism so where else would I go but MSE!!!

My sister has hyperthyroidism, on the 28th of this month she will get the radioactive iodine then in the summer surgery. The docs are worried about the strain on her heart. Okay, the problem is my sister is a single parent, has a 14 year old son. She has been told by the docs not to be near her son for 14 days. Problem is her son is very dependent on her - dad died so has the fear of losing his mum also. I do not live near her, ditto with most of the family. Bit of an imposition to ask friends for two weeks to look after 14 year old son. I have suggested she stays in her room away from her son. It says on Internet about radioactive iodine - you are radioactive for two days. Has anyone else had the radioactive iodine and how did they overcome the issue of isolation etc?

Any advice greatly received. My sister is not into MSE:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

SoozyJ22

I had the radioactive iodine treatment twice but to treat my cancer, so I think I would have had a higher dose than your sister will have. I live on my own so didn't really have to think too much about the precautions when I came out - I just sat at home on my own for a week.

Different people will receive different doses of radiation and it varies from person to person how long the radioactivity takes to leave the body - even when I had a small dose just for testing I had to take a week off work afterwards while I became un-radioactive. I've heard a few reports of people who've had treatment setting off radiation detectors months afterwards. She won't be let out of the lead lined room in the hospital until her levels have got to a certain level - which will probably be 2 or 3 days. She shouldn't be allowed any visitors while she's in hospital, but hopefully the room will have a phone so her son can call and talk to her. At the hospital I went to the room had a big window with one of the internal hospital roads outside and I know someone whose husband used to park outside and call her so they could see each other while they were talking.

There are two main problems when she's left hospital - prolonged contact and bodily fluids. When I left hospital I had to sit in the back of the car, the opposite side to the driver - and this was just for a 20 minute journey! So I think that certainly to start with your sister would need to be in a different room to her son.

The main problem though is bodily fluids - the radiation leaves the body through all your bodily fluids - including saliva and sweat as well as the more obvious excretions. If she has two bathrooms and could ensure that she used one and her son the other then that might be ok, but I don't think it would be safe for them to use the same one. Also, she'd need to wash her clothes separately after wearing them as they'd be radioactive, and when it came to preparing and eating food she'd probably need to do that separately and possibly use disposable plates and cutlery that she could then throw away afterwards.

This is all written from my experiences and seeing many discussions about this online, but the guidance from every hospital is slightly different - in most of the US they send people home right after giving them the radioactive pill! It would be best if your sister can get in contact with her doctor and explain the situation and see if they can help with any practical suggestions.

FROSTYFRECKLE

Hi Soozy,

Many thanks for your ideas and I hope all is well re the cancer treatment.