How Long Is Isolation After Radioactive Thyroid Treatment?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Depending on state regulations, patients may have to stay isolated in the hospital for

about 24 hours

to avoid exposing other people to radiation, especially if there are young children living in the same home.

How long should my husband sleep alone after radioiodine treatment?

You should sleep alone for

the first 3 to 5 nights after

treatment. Avoid personal contact for about 3 to 7 days after treatment. In those first 3 days after therapy, you should stay a safe distance away from others (6 feet away, approximately).

When can I go back to work after radioactive iodine treatment?

The radiation safety physicist will tell you when you can go back to work. This is usually

1 to 2 days after your treatment

depending on what kind of work you do, and how close you’ll be to other people.

Can you be around someone who has had radioactive iodine?

You will be advised to maintain a

distance of three feet

from others for several days following radioiodine therapy. You also will need to wait several days before traveling on a prolonged automobile trip with other people. Over time, the amount of radiation in your body will diminish and eventually will go away.

Why do you have to be isolated after radioactive iodine?

You are also required to self isolate for 7 days after your radioiodine treatment in

order to minimise the risk of contracting COVID-19

whilst there is still a large amount of radioactivity in your body. A small proportion of people with COVID-19 may become very unwell and require admission to hospital.

How long do you have to be isolated after radioactive iodine?

Depending on state regulations, patients may have to stay isolated in the hospital for

about 24 hours

to avoid exposing other people to radiation, especially if there are young children living in the same home.

How do I clean my house after radioactive iodine treatment?

  1. Do not share cups, glasses, plates or eating utensils. Wash items promptly after using. …
  2. Do not share towels or washcloths.
  3. Flush the toilet twice and rinse the sink and tub after use.
  4. Wash your towels, bed linens, underwear, and any clothing stained with urine or sweat.

Does radioactive iodine shorten your life?


Quality of life is worse at 6-10 years

after radioactive iodine therapy of Graves’ disease compared with treatment with antithyroid drugs

Can your thyroid start working again after radioactive iodine?

In almost all cases, your thyroid hormone levels will return to normal or below normal after radioactive iodine treatment. This may take

8 to 12 weeks or longer

.

Is it safe to be around someone who had radiation?

Some cancer patients who receive radiation therapy worry that their bodies will become “radioactive” after they receive radiation treatment. Their concern is that close physical contact with others could expose them to radiation. “The general answer to this concern is that

physical contact is fine

,” Snyder says.

Does radioactive iodine make you lose hair?


Radioactive iodine does not produce hair loss

. Nevertheless, hair loss can be associated with changing levels of thyroid hormone, and may be experienced by some patients with hypo or hyperthyroidism.

Do you gain weight after radioactive iodine treatment?

They undergo treated with antithyroid drugs

How long does radioiodine stay in your system?

How Long Does the Radioiodine Stay in the Body? The radioiodine from your treatment will remain in your body only temporarily. Most of the radioiodine not collected by your thyroid gland will be eliminated during

the first two days

after your treatment.

What can you eat after radioactive iodine?

  • Fresh fruits and fruit juices, except rhubarb, maraschino cherries (if they contain Red Dye #3), and fruit cocktail with maraschino cherries.
  • Vegetables, preferably raw and fresh-cooked or frozen without salt. …
  • Unsalted nuts and unsalted nut butters.

Can you eat eggs on a low iodine diet?

A low iodine diet restricts many common foods, such as seafood, processed or cured meats, whole eggs and egg yolks, dairy products, commercial baked goods, and many snack foods, among others.

How bad is radioactive iodine?

Radioactive iodine can also be

unhealthy for

your thyroid gland. If too much radioactive iodine enters your body, the radioactive iodine will destroy your thyroid gland so that the gland will stop making hormones. Too much radioactive iodine in your body can also cause thyroid nodules or cancer.

Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.