Guest guest Posted December 14, 2001 Report Share Posted December 14, 2001 The radiation precautions I was given this week after a mere _scanning dose_ were to avoid close contact for *5 days* with pregnant or nursing women and small children. I think the precautions for the therapy dose are at least 8 days. So please, please, please don't hug any babies! or spend too much time next to anybody who even *might* be pregnant. (I even wore rubber gloves to wrap presents that had to be done then because they had to be mailed this week and are going to families with babies -- and I don't want to take *any* risks about contaminating what they may put in their mouths.) I'm sorry if you think I'm trying to spoil your wedding fun. But would you want to be next to you if you were pregnant??? and what if it were your child you were risking? Were the radiologists focussing more on what was ok for you to do, or did they at all take into account the risks to others at a wedding type gathering? Patting your dog (who may not even live long enough to have thyroid problems show up) is not the same as hugging a baby! I'm glad you're home, feeling better, and having fun. I hope your scan looks good. bj I'm Home! > .... I'm in a wedding on Sunday and the radioligists(I spoke to two of them) said there is no problem with my going ahead with all I have planned for this weekend. I can even pet my dog,LOL(which I did as soon as I got home,LOL). I'll keep you all posted! > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 14, 2001 Report Share Posted December 14, 2001 Bj, first off, thank you for hoping I feel better. You don't need to worry, I am not a complete idiot. I know better than to stay next to anyone who's pregnant or trying to get pregnant. I asked two radiologists about this, and they said there shouldn't be a problem. Now who would know better than the radiologists? Adrienne tt 11/9/01 hurthle cell carcinoma RAI 12/12/01 Scan to be done in 10 days. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 14, 2001 Report Share Posted December 14, 2001 Re: I'm Home! > I asked two radiologists about this, and they said there shouldn't be a problem. > Now who would know better than the radiologists? > Depends on the radiologists and their training and experience, as well as how careful they think patients should be after discharge (risk tolerance outlook, although its not " their " risk). My directions come from doctors with additional training and fellowships in Nuclear Medicine, in a department that also includes a radiation physicist and is headed by a doctor who is board certified in Nuclear Medicine. bj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 15, 2001 Report Share Posted December 15, 2001 I asked two > radiologists about this, and they said there shouldn't be a problem. > Now who would know better than the radiologists? > > Adrienne > Hi Adrienne, This issue regarding the range of varying RAI precautions given to discharged patients has come up before. I think this issue started off as a economic one, then became an accepted medical one. That is, radiologists couldn't immediately release patients with over 30mci of RAI at one point in time, therefore a lot of us had under 29.9 RAI so that the hospitals wouldn't have to keep us overnight (costs were more important than appropriate treatment). Now they've changed that rule some (most?) places in the U.S. it seems, and anyone with any dose is " set free " after their RAI. At least now people seem to be getting more appropriate ablative doses (ie. higher doses). Now, it seems because patients are treated as outpatients, that the radiologists assume this decision was made because it's become safe to be an outpatient. Bad logic I think. At the hospital here in Toronto (Canada) where I have been treated, we are still put in isolation for 2-3 days, then tested with a gieger counter before we can be discharged (we have to measure under 30 in order to be released). No one, not even the nurses come into the isolation room. It is a special room at the end of the hall with a lead shield in the wall adjoining the next room. The linens and towels and garbage is put into isolation for a few weeks after we leave (elsewhere in the hospital) to " decay " -- meaning, a process like off-gasing. Then we are given a list of instructions about continuing our isolation at home for another week. I had a family gathering to go to one week after my last 220mci dose. I dared not go although I was feeling up to it. Rita (Toronto) tt Feb '99 RAI 150mci Apr. '99 RAI 220mci May '00 6 CT chest scans Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 28, 2004 Report Share Posted March 28, 2004 Welcome home! Levona I'm home! Okay, I just picked up my kiddo, and grabbed a tape measurer. I'm off to measure the place fridge that I have to buy today. YUCK! I have to be at work 2-11 (even more yuck since they called me yesterday- why did I give them my cell number again?!) Anyhow- it was a great time. I met so many of you- but I can't even remember now- Janet will have to help- or pictures. Melody you are so sweet! And had a great time talking Friday evening! Elaine, you have a GORGEOUS voice! Everyone was right! It was a pleasure to meet you too! And - thanks for taking all those pictures of our chapter for us. It was nice meeting you too! I'm off to get back to real life now. I'm dissecting my computer today. Since my phone here will be gone in the morning. I'm hoping to be fully moved out of my apt tomorrow. An ddo nothing but clean it tomorrow night an dTuesday morning. Maybe I'll finish tomorrow night, and I can actually unpack! Talk with everyone soon! Try not to let your mind wander... It is too small and fragile to be out by itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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