Rai Outdoors? Help Please

Never like HELP in a headline, but I need input before I sign off tomorrow AM (i.e. away from computers).


I go in for RAI in the morning May 16. I don't yet know the RAI dosage. Contained thyroid papillary removed with TT, but you never know how much left-over tissue remained with the surgery etc. Hoping low, but I don't know.


Question -- May sound odd/silly. CAN I SPEND A BUNCH OF ISOLATION TIME OUTDOORS? Before you say that I'm looney (which I may be in general) think about this. Right now,17 days off of cytomel, and I feel great. Mowed the lawn yesterday, laundry, worked overtime, etc. Not gloating or testing fates, just that's been the flow so far (I'm still waiting for train to hit). So IF I feel no ill effects from the RAI pill and IF I still maintain this physical well being... I'm wondering if I can't spend a bunch of the time outdoors -- instead of being cooped up in my marital bedroom (which has toilet and shower.) My wife and three kids are staying away from the bedroom and I don't plan on being with them for a few days although they're still in our house during this time. But maybe my idea of having to stay cooped-up can be combined with just being out in the neighborhood or yard (walking etc.) with no personal contact. If you think that any slight RAi exposure isn't right "for the outdoors" isn't it better than the exposure that I'll do to my isolation bedroom that going to my wife and kids return to in a few days. If I do go outside I DO PLAN ON making sure that all bodily fluid things still happen in my bathroom (urininating, washing, trash collection, etc). People say that the RAI really stays inside of you except fluids etc get out of your body -- so if I avoid people and buildings (and simply walk around) this could be a nice adition to my "isolation experience."


Thought? Experiences??


RedStar

 

On 5/15/2008 RedStar17 wrote:

Never like HELP in a headline, but I need input before I sign off tomorrow AM (i.e. away from computers).


I go in for RAI in the morning May 16. I don't yet know the RAI dosage. Contained thyroid papillary removed with TT, but you never know how much left-over tissue remained with the surgery etc. Hoping low, but I don't know.


Question -- May sound odd/silly. CAN I SPEND A BUNCH OF ISOLATION TIME OUTDOORS? Before you say that I'm looney (which I may be in general) think about this. Right now,17 days off of cytomel, and I feel great. Mowed the lawn yesterday, laundry, worked overtime, etc. Not gloating or testing fates, just that's been the flow so far (I'm still waiting for train to hit). So IF I feel no ill effects from the RAI pill and IF I still maintain this physical well being... I'm wondering if I can't spend a bunch of the time outdoors -- instead of being cooped up in my marital bedroom (which has toilet and shower.) My wife and three kids are staying away from the bedroom and I don't plan on being with them for a few days although they're still in our house during this time. But maybe my idea of having to stay cooped-up can be combined with just being out in the neighborhood or yard (walking etc.) with no personal contact. If you think that any slight RAi exposure isn't right "for the outdoors" isn't it better than the exposure that I'll do to my isolation bedroom that going to my wife and kids return to in a few days. If I do go outside I DO PLAN ON making sure that all bodily fluid things still happen in my bathroom (urininating, washing, trash collection, etc). People say that the RAI really stays inside of you except fluids etc get out of your body -- so if I avoid people and buildings (and simply walk around) this could be a nice adition to my "isolation experience."


Thought? Experiences??


RedStar

If you aren't feeling like crap yet, I suspect you won't.  RAI is a breeze (minor kinds of symptoms and short-lived) and you get to start back up on your meds right afterwards, so it would seem you really got lucky!  I felt really awful for weeks, but spent my isolation period out in my garden when able anyway....my doc was fine with that as long as I felt up to it and stayed away from people.  I drank tons of water and tried to walk for 20-30 minutes every day too....during the day in my "burb" the only living things are the critters....everyone works so I didn't really have to worry about human contact at that point.  You might run it past the nuclear med folks tomorrow, but I suspect you'll get the green light to being outside.  SUE

 

On 5/15/2008 Susan52 wrote:

 

On 5/15/2008 RedStar17 wrote:

Never like HELP in a headline, but I need input before I sign off tomorrow AM (i.e. away from computers).


I go in for RAI in the morning May 16. I don't yet know the RAI dosage. Contained thyroid papillary removed with TT, but you never know how much left-over tissue remained with the surgery etc. Hoping low, but I don't know.


Question -- May sound odd/silly. CAN I SPEND A BUNCH OF ISOLATION TIME OUTDOORS? Before you say that I'm looney (which I may be in general) think about this. Right now,17 days off of cytomel, and I feel great. Mowed the lawn yesterday, laundry, worked overtime, etc. Not gloating or testing fates, just that's been the flow so far (I'm still waiting for train to hit). So IF I feel no ill effects from the RAI pill and IF I still maintain this physical well being... I'm wondering if I can't spend a bunch of the time outdoors -- instead of being cooped up in my marital bedroom (which has toilet and shower.) My wife and three kids are staying away from the bedroom and I don't plan on being with them for a few days although they're still in our house during this time. But maybe my idea of having to stay cooped-up can be combined with just being out in the neighborhood or yard (walking etc.) with no personal contact. If you think that any slight RAi exposure isn't right "for the outdoors" isn't it better than the exposure that I'll do to my isolation bedroom that going to my wife and kids return to in a few days. If I do go outside I DO PLAN ON making sure that all bodily fluid things still happen in my bathroom (urininating, washing, trash collection, etc). People say that the RAI really stays inside of you except fluids etc get out of your body -- so if I avoid people and buildings (and simply walk around) this could be a nice adition to my "isolation experience."


Thought? Experiences??


RedStar

If you aren't feeling like crap yet, I suspect you won't.  RAI is a breeze (minor kinds of symptoms and short-lived) and you get to start back up on your meds right afterwards, so it would seem you really got lucky!  I felt really awful for weeks, but spent my isolation period out in my garden when able anyway....my doc was fine with that as long as I felt up to it and stayed away from people.  I drank tons of water and tried to walk for 20-30 minutes every day too....during the day in my "burb" the only living things are the critters....everyone works so I didn't really have to worry about human contact at that point.  You might run it past the nuclear med folks tomorrow, but I suspect you'll get the green light to being outside.  SUE

 

Good for you with no side effects.  I had nothing also.  We're the lucky ones!!!  You should be able to go outside, but watch critters too.  You can affect them.  Remember you may sweat; releasing radioactivity as that too is bodily fluids.  Also, if you touch anything, mowers hedge clippers chairs etc. cover them and/or wear rubber gloves.  Touch nothing!  I went out my second day, but wore gloves and sat on my porch with the outdoor furniture covered.  You have to treat it just like it's your isolation room

I also plan to spend time outdoors.  I can't imagine staying cooped inside.  My neighborhood is very quiet, so I do not anticipate any difficulties trying to stay away from people. 

 It was also good to hear that there are a couple of people who are not having a horrible time coming off of Cytomel.  I, too, am several days off and feel fine (knock on wood).  I am just noting this so that others who are about to embark on this experience can find comfort in the fact that they are not necessarily doomed for "hypo hell"! :)