Radioiodine Treatment

Hi Ranisai

I start my treatment on Monday and getting admitted on Wednesday. I have been told that I will get shown round on Monday and meet the staff. I am starting to feel nervous, I am a very active person who loves being outdoors and am dreading being stuck inside. I have got some jigsaws, books from charity shops , a colouring book and a fancy hair mask!

Good luck

Runner x

Hello Sai

I had my treatment 10 days ago and I must admit it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. They don't let you eat or drink for a couple of hours before and then after swallowing the tablet - I wish I had asked what time they would administer it and made sure I had a last cup of tea . I stayed in the patient lounge until the very last minute because the ward is quite small.

It's a bit weird when they close the door after giving the tablet but I had a good book and the time went quickly. They came in after two and four hours to test the levels, and I was able to have a visitor at the other end of the room that evening which was nice. I was also able to keep my phone in so I could stay in touch with people,  and I had a great bunch of friends who stayed online for whatsapp chats.

I took in bags of sour skittles and some starburst sweets - they want you to chew on them after 6 hours to clear out your salivary glands.

The polystyrene cups and paper plates with plastic utensils felt a bit like being on a picnic - but I did find that I was forgotten by the meals and tea trolley - because you're not sick, the nurses don't have to look after you, and the DO NOT ENTER signs prevented the tea and meals staff making regular stops. Don't hesitate to use your buzzer - there will be a nurse assigned to you.

The scans weren't a barrel of laughs - I found it quite unpleasant to have the machines so close to my face for so long. I wish I had been forewarned about that.

I've had a bit of tightness around my scar but none of the nausea or taste disturbances that I was warned about.

Happy to answer any further questions from my experience, if you have them. Wishing you lots of luck!

Drew

Hi Sai,

Anything you take in you can’t take back out with you(with exception of smart phones). I took snacks & bottled water(6 litres) as I wanted to be able to drink as much as I could and old pyjamas.

It’ll depend on where you’re going but the room I was in had a TV and DVD player and loads of donated DVDs. 

I actually enjoyed just chilling to be honest as I have a stressful job. It was nice to have a break haha

I didn’t feel any different while I was in and I was out within 3 days with no restrictions at all.

I agree with the comments around the scan, they do come quite close but I find closing my eyes helps.

All the best with your treatment 

xx

Heya

So, there are different procedures in different hospitals. In Scotland, anything you take into the room with you needs to stay there to be disposed of. However that's not true in most hospitals in England, and you go home with everything you took in. Also, at my hospital I could eat and drink right up to taking the RAI pill, then had to wait an hour before I could drink or eat anything else. Also, at my hospital, the food and drink ladies were brilliant and never missed me out of their rounds, even though I don't drink tea or coffee. Lol

Most places have mini fridges in the rooms, though a few don't. So I took in loads of bottles of water because the Leeds tap water is minging in my opinion. Then I kept them in the fridge so I had a constant supply of cold water. This is useful because you should aim to drink a minimum of 2 litres a day to help flush the excess radiation through you. 

You're also going to have to take at least 2 showers a day, and wash your hair once a day. So treat yourself to some really nice shower gel, face masks, shampoo, conditioner, hair masks, and whatever other pampering products there are. Turn it into a mini spa break, just remember not to wear any nail varnish on hands or feet. 

Other than that, take in things to keep you occupied. So it's worth checking if there's a TV or DVD Player in the room. I took my laptop with some DVDs for 2 of my RAI and just lay and watched films. 

Take in some snacks too in case the food isn't nice or isn't a big enough portion for you. Just make sure they are LID friendly because some hospitals want you to follow LID right up until you are released. 

Also, take in some Ibuprofen and paracetemol if you're OK taking them. One of the more common side effects is a headache, and it's MUCH easier to just take your own pills than it is to try and ask for them from the nurses. 

I think those are my top tips. I've had RAI 4 times so far, so a bit of an old hat at it. Any questions please do just shout!

Lass

Xx

HI Guys, 

sorry I have not been online just been celebrating Eid with family, anyway Thank you so much for all your replies, this is so helpful, you all are so amazing, really appreciate you all taking your time out to reply to me, I am booked in at Christie's so not sure of what is like there but hopefully similar to everything you all have said. i feel much better knowing what to expect, a little worried about the side effects, hopefully i wont be too bad.., i have been booked in with extended stay as i have 3 children, hopefully i wont be there too long. once again thank you, i can pack accordingly now and i feel a bit more at ease. 

Sai 

XX

Belated Eid Mubarak to you Sai! (I hope I spelt that correctly!)

Just remember, the more fluid you drink every day, the faster your radiation levels will drop. The faster your radiation levels drop, the sooner you can go home.

Christies let you take home what you've taken in, and there are a few folks who have had treatment there. Let me see if I can find the experiences thread as I'm sure someone wrote one about Christies. 

Lass

Xx

Hi Sai

I was discharged from hospital this morning after my RAI treatment. I took in a jigsaw and 2 books, I have read both books and really enjoyed doing my jigsaw. I didn’t take in a mobile phone or iPad as I am in Scotland and wouldn’t be allowed to take it home straight away. I quite enjoyed not having technology, I had a phone by my bed so I could phone my husband. I watched television in the evenings  and there was a big stash of DVDs and books. Take things in todo as it is a long day!

I was given a dose of 3080 on Wednesday at 3pm and by 9.00 am on Friday it had fallen to 800. The part I found difficult was the lack of contact with people. My meals were left outside my room. The nurses phoned to make sure I was ok. I saw somebody from nuclear medicine on Thursday afternoon to take a reading but she didn’t enter the room. The only person who came into the room was an nurse to give me an injection as I felt very nauseous- I wish I hadn’t bothered as the injection was really sore!

I am home and feeling very tired and slightly sore.

I am in Scotland and have much higher restrictions. The only thing I took from the room was my glasses. I changed into the clothes I went in with, when I left - these were left in a locker outside the room. I go back in 10 days time for another reading and if that is the case I can ignore all the restrictions. 

When I left the room I went for a scan and met with my consultant who is perfectly happy with what he saw. I don’t need to go back and see him until October, when he will test my bloods. I have had 4 injections of thyrogen in 4 weeks and so bloods taken now want mean much.

Good luck

Runner

Heya

How are you doing after RAI? Home and sorted? 

I was just wondering if you could answer a question for me please for someone? They're going in for RAI at The Christie soon and they are wondering how the food was? Any good, or should she take in some snacks to see her through? 

Hope you're well! 

Lass

Xx