On 5/21/2008
lrquake wrote:
I was just curious about the time some of you spent in isolation after RAI....
I was told by both my endo and the nuclear medicine person to stay away from everyone for 3-4 days and then after that could have limited contact with adults (6-8 feet away/no sleeping in the same bed etc. for at least a week).
However, I cannot be around children and pregnant women for at least two weeks. This is the kicker--because I have a six month old daughter....
What's with the difference in isolation times?
Thanks for the info.
That's pretty strict. But it is dependent on the amount of RAI you receive; I received 100 mc. I received it Weds am and went straight home. My husband drove me but I was in the third seat of his van. I went straight to my master suite and didn't come out while anyone was home until Saturday AM. While in isolation I wasn't even in the same room with anyone. My husband stood out in the next room to talk to me and I sent my teenage daughter to a friend's house. I was told 72 hours was sufficient as long as I was safe; separate bathrooms, cleaned my bed linens everyday and washed my laundry separate for a week. My husband could return to my bed Saturday night but no sex. I stayed away from the public just because of my conscience for a week but I went back to work that Monday; small office. My daughter came home Monday. I hugged my family but no kisses. On the following Wednesday I had my WBS and the nuclear med dept said all restrictions were lifted and not to worry about any further contact; including babies and sex.
Supposedly, if you drink enough water, the majority of the radioactivity passes out of your body within the first 24-48 hours. The iodine traces will remain in your body for up to 6 months (killing off those nasty thyroid cancer cells left behind) but they are very safe levels.
Hope that helps. If you read some of the earlier posts, I think you'll see alot of patients were given the same instructions as I was.