Asked by: Hussain Sequeda
medical health thyroid disorders

How long does it take for radioiodine to leave the body?

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The radioiodine from your treatment willtemporarily remain in your body. Most of theradioiodine not taken up by your thyroid gland will beeliminated within the first (2) two days after treatment.Radioiodine leaves your body primarily by your urine.Very small amounts may leave in your saliva, sweat, orfeces.


Furthermore, how long does radioactive iodine stay in your body?

The radioiodine from your treatment will remainin your body temporarily. Most of the radioiodine notcollected by your residual thyroid tissue will be eliminatedduring the first two days after your treatment. The amountthat remains in your thyroid tissue is responsible for thedesired medical effect.

Additionally, how will I feel after radioactive iodine? Most patients do not experience any difficultyafter the radioactive iodine treatment, usually givenas a small pill. Occasionally, neck tenderness or a sorethroat may become apparent after a few days, if moderateinflammation in the thyroid develops and produces discomfort in theneck or throat area.

Secondly, what are the long term side effects of radioactive iodine?

Other side effects of radioactive iodine include:

  • Metallic taste in the mouth: This can last for a fewweeks.
  • Nausea: This usually subsides one to two days aftertreatment.
  • Swollen salivary glands: This can last for a few weeks.

What happens if you are exposed to radioactive iodine?

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

Related Question Answers

Jatinder Arriguria

Professional

Can radiation be passed from person to person?

Radiation cannot be spread from person toperson. Small quantities of radioactive materials occurnaturally in the air, drinking water, food and our own bodies.People also can come into contact with radiationthrough medical procedures, such as X-rays and some cancertreatments.

Janeen Muhlena

Professional

Can I use my cell phone after radioactive iodine?

You will have to stay in your room for at least 1to 2 hours after your treatment. You can use yourcell phone or watch TV to help pass the time. You won't beable to have visitors during this time. You may not have any sideeffects from the treatment right after you get it, but youmay have side effects later.

Dejan Portillo

Professional

Will I gain weight after radioactive iodine treatment?

New eye disease developed in 45 patients afterradioactive iodine therapy. Weight gain is common, butin this study was not measured against patients' normalweight prior to the development of hyperthyroidism, whichhas previously been shown to be associated with weight gainafter treatment.

Eliecer Gohricke

Explainer

How do you clean after radioactive iodine treatment?

Be sure to flush it 2 or 3 times after each use.Rinse the bathroom sink and tub thoroughly after you usethem. Clean bathroom habits will reduce the chances ofothers becoming contaminated by the radioiodine in yoursaliva and sweat. Drink plenty of liquids such as water orjuices.

Marilu Bogler

Explainer

How dangerous is iodine 131?

As it decays, it may cause damage to the thyroid. Theprimary risk from exposure to of 131I is anincreased risk of radiation-induced cancer in later life. Otherrisks include the possibility of non-cancerous growths andthyroiditis.

Gertude Strassburger

Explainer

Can I be around my pets after radioactive iodine treatment?

What precautions need to be taken when a family memberor I go home after having radioiodine therapy thatuses 131I? You will be measurably radioactiveafter your treatment, even when you are allowed to gohome. However, the radiation dose rate from you willbe very low, so exposure of others will be verylow.

Meriyem Tonner

Pundit

Can I cook after radioactive iodine?

Radioactive iodine is a medicine that you takeone time. After you swallow it, it is taken up by yourthyroid gland. Depending on the dosage used, the radioactivity inthe iodine destroys most or all of the tissue in yourthyroid gland, but it does not harm any other parts of yourbody.

Carrodilla Figlin

Pundit

How do you wash off radiation?

If you can take a shower:
  1. Take a warm shower and gently wash yourself with lots of soap.Do not scald, scrub, or scratch your skin.
  2. Wash your hair with shampoo or soap.
  3. Keep cuts and abrasions covered when washing to keep fromgetting radioactive material in open wounds.

Ziyi Passarinho

Pundit

Can you die from radioactive iodine?

If left untreated it could result in acoma and death. 3. Treatment can cause thyroid stormas the dying gland “dumps” (releases) excessthyroid hormone and thyroid antibodies into the body. However thiscan also occur as a result of untreated hyperthyroidism andfrom surgery for the treatment of hyperthyroidism.

Ladisla Puello

Pundit

Can my thyroid grow back after radioactive iodine treatment?

Radioactive iodine has the best chance ofpermanently curing hyperthyroidism. Doctors often use it ifyour hyperthyroidism comes back after you have beentreated with antithyroid medicine. It can also beused if your hyperthyroidism comes back after youhave surgery to remove part of your thyroidgland.

Varsha Picker

Pundit

Can thyroid come back after radioactive iodine treatment?

In almost all cases, your thyroid hormone levelswill return to normal or below normal after radioactiveiodine treatment. This may take 8 to 12 weeks or longer. Yourthyroid nodule is unlikely to grow after beingtreated with radioactive iodine.

Pasion Urdambidelus

Teacher

What should I eat before radioactive iodine treatment?

Low iodine diet
  • fruits and vegetables including potatoes.
  • meat.
  • ordinary table salt and sea salt.
  • fresh bread.
  • rice and dries pasta.
  • non dairy spreads such as Vitalite, Pure and non dairyFlora.
  • olive oil, vegetable oils and nut oils.
  • water, soft drinks, fizzy drinks, fruit juices and alcoholicdrinks.

Ottavio Szturemsk

Teacher

How much does radioactive iodine treatment cost?

The cost of any treatment for felinehyperthyroidism is significant. The cost for radio iodinetherapy is generally a total fee of $1400 - $1450, depending onthe I131 dosage required for your cat's treatment. Thisincludes the radio iodine itself, the cost ofhospitalization, food, litter, and monitoring.

Crescente Gil De Gomez

Teacher

Is it safe to get pregnant after radioactive iodine treatment?

Pregnancies achieved after exposure toradioactive iodine treatment do not appear to be atincreased risk for negative outcomes. Nevertheless, it isrecommended that pregnancy be avoided for 1 year followingradioactive iodine therapy to allow reproductive function tonormalize.

Ulysses Bussenius

Teacher

Does low iodine diet make you tired?

Fatigue and weakness are also common symptoms ofan iodine deficiency. In fact, some studies have found thatnearly 80% of people with low thyroid hormone levels, whichoccur in cases of iodine deficiency, feel tired,sluggish and weak ( 12 ). These symptoms occur because thyroidhormones help the body make energy.

Madalene Bulucua

Reviewer

What happens to the thyroid after radioactive iodine?

As radioactive iodine can induce considerableinflammation in the thyroid, this leads to leakage ofthyroid hormone from the damaged thyroid into theblood. Accordingly, patients symptoms may actually worsen for a fewweeks, before they start to improve.

Gonzalo Truta

Reviewer

Where does radioactive iodine come from?

Sources of Radioactive Iodine
Radioactive iodine1 is a byproduct ofthe fission of uranium atoms. Two processes that lead to thecreation of radioiodine are the fission of uranium as fuel innuclear reactors and its use as an explosive material in atomicbombs.

Elzbieta Amhoff

Reviewer

What can you eat after radioactive iodine treatment?

The Low-Iodine Diet for Radioactive IodineTreatment
  • Iodized salt.
  • Dairy products—cheese, cream, yogurt, butter, icecream.
  • Egg yolks, whole eggs, and foods containing whole eggs.
  • Seafood fish, shellfish, seaweed, kelp.
  • Foods that contain the additives: carrageen, agar-agar, algin,alginates.

Gonzalina Mathes

Reviewer

What should I eat if I have Graves disease?

Base your meals on vegetables and fresh fruits,then add a little lean protein (chicken, turkey, fish and seafood,beans and legumes, nuts and nut butters, even soy), whole grains,and heart-healthy fats (eg, olive oil). Eating or limitingcertain foods alone won't completely treat symptoms ofGraves' disease.

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EveryThingWhat Staff Editor

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7th June, 2020

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