Rai Questions- I Just Started Today- Isolation- Help!

Hello everyone-
I had my TT April 29th and took my RAI this morning. They said it was 150, not sure if that is lots or normal, they said normal. I am staying at someone's house who is out of town. I took compazine this morning and again this afternoon and am about to take it again in a few minutes. So far, I have been really tired and that is it. When do the side effects start kicking in? I am nervous in anticipation and am not sure what or when.
I am using surgical gloves to eat and stuff. I washed the clothes I wore today and am planning on washing all of the bedding when I wake up in the morning.
What else is there? I feel like they tell you some stuff, but i feel like unless you have gone through it, you just don't know as much. I am turning to everyone here as you all have given so much great information to me and to everyone!
Thank you- Paige

I also had 150 RAI.  About 3 hours after RAI, I began getting sick and it lasted for a couple of days (constant nausea and vomiting).  I don't know why it hit me so hard because most people on the board have not had any problems at all.  I was told to shower 2-3 times a day (which I couldn't do because I was so ill).  I used a new toothbrush every day and a travel-size toothpaste so I could throw everything away.  The isolation was hard for me since I was so sick and alone in a strange apartment.   It sounds like you are doing well!!  Good for you!!

It kicked in for me within a few hours and I just felt very sick and lived off of zofran, and just slept as much as possible. I had to wipe down everything I touched. The nuclear medicine people told me to wipe down the toilet seat after I used it, then flush it twice. The same thing with sink. I was told to throw everything away like magazines and things i used to keep busy. I ate off paper and plastic. I also changed my bedding everyday because everyday more and more radiation comes out of the body.Good luck! Sleep a lot! I promise it will help.

Keep us posted on how you're feeling. I felt worse the second night. I had horrible side-effects and while I am hoping you do not (many ppl do ok!!), I'd like to offer support if you need some. I found it so frightening to be alone during the whole thing, as well. Since I was by myself I flushed twice and used paper products but other than that I did a thorough cleaning after the fact. Hang in there and drink lots of fluids!

I had sore salivary glands the next morning, but nothing else.

Here's the other view... You may not have any real effects except for tired from hypo. I went through it on April 16. Never felt nauseaous or anything. Took walks and even fixed a sink. I read online here about another person who painted their porch. So you may be fine. My endo said that my 100 dose of RAI would cause me no discomfort. And it didn't. I also was careful (flush twice) wipe things down, etc. but to nowhere near the extent that some others have. I pretended that my sweat and fluids were "white paint" and that anyplace I left them I needed to remove them. I slept on top of an old comforter (sp?) so my bed was safe. Within about 24 hours most everything has left your body. FYI... in 40 days the 5 half-lives of the radiation have expired so no matter what you've "left behind" it's now safe. The real problem (probably the only problem) is literally someone ingesting your "white paint" in their mouth. Good Luck. RedStar

On 6/19/2008 RedStar17 wrote:

Here's the other view... You may not have any real effects except for tired from hypo. I went through it on April 16. Never felt nauseaous or anything. Took walks and even fixed a sink. I read online here about another person who painted their porch. So you may be fine. My endo said that my 100 dose of RAI would cause me no discomfort. And it didn't. I also was careful (flush twice) wipe things down, etc. but to nowhere near the extent that some others have. I pretended that my sweat and fluids were "white paint" and that anyplace I left them I needed to remove them. I slept on top of an old comforter (sp?) so my bed was safe. Within about 24 hours most everything has left your body. FYI... in 40 days the 5 half-lives of the radiation have expired so no matter what you've "left behind" it's now safe. The real problem (probably the only problem) is literally someone ingesting your "white paint" in their mouth. Good Luck. RedStar

A couple of corrections on my post. 48 hours is what it takes your body to expel most of the radiation that it will in liquid form (I mistakenly said 24). Also, I was not cavalier about the RAI, I stayed away from folks for a few days, kept a distance from from my kids for two weeks, ate with separate utensils for a week or so. Also, I did mine in April in New England (USA) so sweating wasn't an issue... hence... one shower a day was probably okay. Don't forget the lemons!!! I never did lemon-drops, only real lemons. Two good saliva-producing bites about every waking hour for two days. RedStar

Hi Paige

It sounds like you're on the right track with precautions. As far as side effects, you may not have many or any! I sure hope so. My husband was not so lucky. He was severely nauseated which made for a hard time flushing out his system since he felt he couldn't hold down even water. He did though, with the help of the medication. I would guess if you haven't had any by the second day you can safely say you won't. (As far as getting nauseous, that is) I heard the salivary gland, tongue, taste bud problems can begin much later, but that doesn't mean it will happen to you!  If it helps, my husband didn't have any of those problems at all. It's been almost 2 months and he is still fine. Good luck to you. It sounds like it's going well.

Karen

Redstar

We're also in New England. I agree...sweating in April is not much of an issue!

Karen

Thank you everyone! I slept for 12 hours last night. My neck is pretty sore. Especially the scar area. I am groggy. I did not go hypo, I used Thyrogen, so I took my synthroid this morning. I am going to wash all of the bedding as soon as I wake up enough. I don't feel hungry at all, but I guess I will keep up the lemon candy. It sure helps to have others like all of you to chat with on here. I was told I could have visitors starting friday night as long as they aren't kids or anyone pregnant. I am waiting until Saturday just to be safe to have anyone come see me. Thank you again everyone!