Re: Scan as an outpatient?

March 23, 2002

Yes, I just had 125 last Friday and was sent home - had to isolate myself

at home. I don't have kids so that made it a little easier. The hard

part was locking myself away from the dogs because they didn't understand

why I didn't want to be around them and also sharing one bathroom. I was

a " decontaminating freak " every time I went in there. It makes for a lot

extra work for us which I found a little overwhelming in my hypo state;

however, I'm muddling through it! There's been some really good posts

here on proper precautions and time periods in regard to the same - if

you need them, just ask. Good luck!

- Gayle

TT 1990

125 RAI 3/15

Hypo but back on Sythroid

(can't WAIT until I'm feeling better!)

> Has anyone heard of doing their RAI as an outpatient? The docs say it

> ok to give me 150 and still go home without a stay at the hospital.

> Thanks,

> gette

> tt 2/95 papillary w/lymph node involvement

> RAI 150 4/95 clean scans 96,98,02 clean PET scan 3/02

> but docs still want to ablate with 150 RAI next week

> make sense to anyone?

>

> For more information regarding thyroid cancer visit www.thyca.org.

> If you do not wish to belong to this group, you may UNSUBSCRIBE by

> sending a blank email to thyca-unsubscribe

>

March 23, 2002

Thanks so much for your reply. It really helps to hears others

because this has just been so overwhelming for me right now. I can't

want until I can take my levoxyl. Funny thing is that I'm a

pharmacist and I have to fill this stuff for other people all day!

Ha.

Gette

>

> > Has anyone heard of doing their RAI as an outpatient? The docs

say it

> > ok to give me 150 and still go home without a stay at the

hospital.

> > Thanks,

> > gette

> > tt 2/95 papillary w/lymph node involvement

> > RAI 150 4/95 clean scans 96,98,02 clean PET scan 3/02

> > but docs still want to ablate with 150 RAI next week

> > make sense to anyone?

> >

> > For more information regarding thyroid cancer visit www.thyca.org.

> > If you do not wish to belong to this group, you may UNSUBSCRIBE by

> > sending a blank email to thyca-unsubscribe@y...

> >

March 23, 2002

Hi,

I also am having a scan as an outpatient on APril 30.

My endo says that restrictions have eased in the last

few years to allow most patients to go home. Actually

I am quite relieved as I do not want to stay in the

hospital any more than is absolutely necessary.

I also have a few questions. How do you know how many

curies you will be getting? ALso, my doc said to stay

away from from people for 3 days. Is that enough?

Should I ask the nuclear med people when I go on APril

24? Should I call ahead to find out? My instructions

just say to call the doctor if I have any questions.

Another question about LID. Initially the doc said

the LID was really nothing and just involved staying

away from processed foods. Then I get instructions

from the hospital that say I have to eliminate about

98% of foods a normal person eats!! I was not pleased

to say the least.

I'm not sure if I am more concerned about the LID or

going hypo.

Boy, I wish this was over.

Bette

TT 12/10/01

Papillary thyca

--- gettie2 wrote:

>

> Thanks so much for your reply. It really helps to

> hears others

> because this has just been so overwhelming for me

> right now. I can't

> want until I can take my levoxyl. Funny thing is

> that I'm a

> pharmacist and I have to fill this stuff for other

> people all day!

> Ha.

> Gette

>

> >

> > > Has anyone heard of doing their RAI as an

> outpatient? The docs

> say it

> > > ok to give me 150 and still go home without a

> stay at the

> hospital.

> > > Thanks,

> > > gette

> > > tt 2/95 papillary w/lymph node involvement

> > > RAI 150 4/95 clean scans 96,98,02 clean PET scan

> 3/02

> > > but docs still want to ablate with 150 RAI next

> week

> > > make sense to anyone?

> > >

> > > For more information regarding thyroid cancer

> visit www.thyca.org.

> > > If you do not wish to belong to this group, you

> may UNSUBSCRIBE by

> > > sending a blank email to thyca-unsubscribe@y...

> > >

March 23, 2002

Bette,

Sounds like you and I are in the same boat right now. I have

definitely learned in my experience that you need to ask the

questions. Call the nuclear med dept and ask them how much you rai

you will be getting. You are entitled to that information or any

information in your chart for that matter. I was also told to stay

away three days and they gave me some sheets with info on it which

you should also receive. And yes. the LID sucks. I have a huge list

of all these restrictions. Luckily my brother is a chef and we have

become creative with cooking some tastey meals. However I am getting

sick of chicken and rice. Your doc should also give you a sheet of

food to avoid and what are allowed. Plus I found some good LID

recipes at the thyca website. Hang in there and let me know how it

goes. If my tsh is high enough by next friday sound like theyll treat

me by next Mon.

Gette

> > >

> > > > Has anyone heard of doing their RAI as an

> > outpatient? The docs

> > say it

> > > > ok to give me 150 and still go home without a

> > stay at the

> > hospital.

> > > > Thanks,

> > > > gette

> > > > tt 2/95 papillary w/lymph node involvement

> > > > RAI 150 4/95 clean scans 96,98,02 clean PET scan

> > 3/02

> > > > but docs still want to ablate with 150 RAI next

> > week

> > > > make sense to anyone?

> > > >

> > > > For more information regarding thyroid cancer

> > visit www.thyca.org.

> > > > If you do not wish to belong to this group, you

> > may UNSUBSCRIBE by

> > > > sending a blank email to thyca-unsubscribe@y...

> > > >

March 23, 2002

> Hi,

> I also am having a scan as an outpatient on APril 30.

> My endo says that restrictions have eased in the last

> few years to allow most patients to go home. Actually

> I am quite relieved as I do not want to stay in the

> hospital any more than is absolutely necessary.

>

> I also have a few questions. How do you know how many

> curies you will be getting?

--> it depends on how big a remnant you have.. and the amount varies

widely...

ALso, my doc said to stay

> away from from people for 3 days. Is that enough?

i had 63 mci and was away from grownups for about 5 days, kids - 8

days...

> Should I ask the nuclear med people when I go on APril

> 24? Should I call ahead to find out? My instructions

> just say to call the doctor if I have any questions.

there should be a list of printed precautions from the nuclear med

people, call and see if you can get them in advance so you can do

some planning and be sure to bring a list of questions on the 24th!

> Another question about LID. Initially the doc said

> the LID was really nothing and just involved staying

> away from processed foods. Then I get instructions

> from the hospital that say I have to eliminate about

> 98% of foods a normal person eats!! I was not pleased

> to say the least.

the LID means staying away from fish, dairy, egg yolks, soy, anything

with iodized salt.. you can eat fresh vegys, fresh fruit, salads,

fresh meat, bread if you are sure about the salt(or make your own)

there is a whole cookbook on www.thyca.org. its really not that hard

to follow... i make a 2 week gourmet adventure out of it...

barb

March 23, 2002

Gettie,

Thanks for the advice. Nothing anyone can say to me

right now will make me feel better I think. The worst

part is not knowing how I willreact to being hypo and

not being able to eat anything. I did not have any

excessive tiredness in the 2 weeks right after my TT

before the Levoxyl kicked in so I am hoping it will be

the same this time. I think I an just as concerned

about the hypo symptoms as I am about the LID. You

can't eat anything!! I am already sick of rice and

vegetables and I haven't even started yet.

I think I will call the nuclear med department next

week. I think having some basic questions answered

will help lessen the anxiety that has been mounting.

I have already warned my family and coworkers that I

will be a miserable person for a few weeks.

Fortunately I have tremendous support from both my

family and my workplace.

THis is my second bout with cancer. The first one was

in Dec of 1993 when I was diagnosed with breast cancer

and had a modified radical mastectomy with tram flap

reconstruction and 6 months of chemotherapy hell. I

learned then how to advocate for myself. I will

continues to try to transfer those skills to dealing

with thyca.

THank you for your support. I will keep everyone

posted.

Regards,

Bette

TT Dec, 2001

Papillary thyca

--- gettie2 wrote:

> Bette,

> Sounds like you and I are in the same boat right

> now. I have

> definitely learned in my experience that you need to

> ask the

> questions. Call the nuclear med dept and ask them

> how much you rai

> you will be getting. You are entitled to that

> information or any

> information in your chart for that matter. I was

> also told to stay

> away three days and they gave me some sheets with

> info on it which

> you should also receive. And yes. the LID sucks. I

> have a huge list

> of all these restrictions. Luckily my brother is a

> chef and we have

> become creative with cooking some tastey meals.

> However I am getting

> sick of chicken and rice. Your doc should also give

> you a sheet of

> food to avoid and what are allowed. Plus I found

> some good LID

> recipes at the thyca website. Hang in there and let

> me know how it

> goes. If my tsh is high enough by next friday sound

> like theyll treat

> me by next Mon.

> Gette

>

> > > >

> > > > > Has anyone heard of doing their RAI as an

> > > outpatient? The docs

> > > say it

> > > > > ok to give me 150 and still go home without

> a

> > > stay at the

> > > hospital.

> > > > > Thanks,

> > > > > gette

> > > > > tt 2/95 papillary w/lymph node involvement

> > > > > RAI 150 4/95 clean scans 96,98,02 clean PET

> scan

> > > 3/02

> > > > > but docs still want to ablate with 150 RAI

> next

> > > week

> > > > > make sense to anyone?

> > > > >

> > > > > For more information regarding thyroid

> cancer

> > > visit www.thyca.org.

> > > > > If you do not wish to belong to this group,

> you

> > > may UNSUBSCRIBE by

> > > > > sending a blank email to

> thyca-unsubscribe@y...

> > > > >

March 24, 2002

My wife had RAI, 147 MCi, on an outpatient basis here in Ohio in December

2001. She had to follow all the precautions when we got her home as is doing

well.

March 24, 2002

Just a comment from somebody who is not a doctor, and struggled

through the nuke part of basic physics 40 years ago --

regulations may change

our knowledge may change

doctors' opinions may differ

BUT the physics don't change.

Local regs & your hospital/doctor practice may allow you to be treated

as an outpatient, but it may or may not be safe considering your home

lifestyle (babies, pets, sleeping partners, whatever). And do you

really want to contaminate all your " stuff " at home? or wrap it in

plastic that becomes " hot " so what do you do with it??

bj

March 24, 2002

So far, all I have been told is to use a separate

bathroom, sleep alone and don't share food and

utensils. I have not received any instructions about

super cleaning, etc. ALso, I do not have any babies

or pets in the house - just a husband and an 18 yr old

son. Also, I have arranged to take the 3 days off

from work and will stay in the house with a good

internet hookup and a few good books.

Thanks.

B

--- bj wrote:

> Just a comment from somebody who is not a doctor,

> and struggled

> through the nuke part of basic physics 40 years ago

> --

>

> regulations may change

> our knowledge may change

> doctors' opinions may differ

> BUT the physics don't change.

>

> Local regs & your hospital/doctor practice may allow

> you to be treated

> as an outpatient, but it may or may not be safe

> considering your home

> lifestyle (babies, pets, sleeping partners,

> whatever). And do you

> really want to contaminate all your " stuff " at home?

> or wrap it in

> plastic that becomes " hot " so what do you do with

> it??

> bj

>

__________________________________________________

March 24, 2002

Gayle, I had my RAI done 3 weeks ago only 30mci due to some thyroid tissue left

so all they wanted to do was kill off the remaining tissue which is the only

area that glowed on the body scan, now getting to my question my only reaction

was a sore right jaw which is the side of the thyroid that had the cancer in it,

now 3 weeks later it is getting sore again is that normal? RENEE