REPOST: Dr. Ain Re: RAI & drinking --> K. & Chris N.

[Guest guest]

" It is best to drink as much liquid as your thirst tells you is needed, and not

to force fluids. " (Dr. Ain)

__________________________________________

,

I really do hope that Dr. s, who represents such a prestigious hospital as

is that of MGH, (Mass. GeneralHospital, Boston Ma.) is not an advocate of

" drinking LOTS of fluids " during the first 24 hours following RAI ablation

treatment.

Nick

(The following was posted to this List some time ago.)

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(Dr. Ain)

Date: Fri, 12 May 2000 08:08:17 -0400

Subject: Drink! Drink? <--- No. No! No!! <-- well, maybe.. REPOST: Dr. Ain

Lasz <-- (not pickin' on ya) --> & all, <-- R pickin' on ya if u

_do_ the flush-scene

due to

Too-much drinkin' at the _wrong_ time!

Lasz, you wrote:

" The more you drink the faster it will travel through your system. "

" Drinking large quantities of liquid to cause a forced diuresis actually lowers

the effectiveness of the administered radioiodine. " <-- ( Dr. Ain )

( _MOST_ of us receive or are going to receive _less-than_ <250mCi of RAI

(I-131)

and so should be _conservative_ with liquid in-take while undergoing RAI. It's

like buying

a new dress and leaving it at the counter. You've " paid " for " it " (RAI) by going

hypo and

doing the LID & & the _emotional_ work-up (mind) getting there. etc. And then

you " leave " it,

the " goods " (the R part of RAI -radiation-) in the flush instead of _in_ the

body where it was

ment to do some good. What a " waste " ( REALLY!)

_Helloooo... " Common Sense " should prevail.

What's the objective, here? To " get it in and out (RAI)?? Or.. to let/have it

do it's work _as intended_???

" The most valuable result of all education is to make you do the thing you

_have_ to do,

when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not. It is the first lesson

that ought to be

learned. And however early a man's training begins, it is probably the last

lesson that s/he

learns, throughly. "

dunno' who said

Regards,

Nick

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At 5/11/00 09:29 PM, you wrote:

>When I was in the hospital for my RAI of 165mc, I brought a few gallons of

>water (I distill mine) The more you drink the faster it will travel through

>your system. I would also suggest bringing sugar free lemon drops. I made

>the mistake of bringing sugar lemon drops and was quite nauseous with them.

> S. dx11/95, tt 12/95 with lymph node involvement, RAI 165mc 3/96

>thyrogen scan 8/99 clean due for bloodwork June 2000

(Dr. Ain)

Date: Thu, 08 Jul 1999 08:45:47 -0400

Subject: Re: RAI treatment & drinking

> .........I did learn one thing this time around. I take an >organic stool

softener and drink water at a furious rate to

>get rid of the RAI. .........

Concerning I-131 therapies:

I typically advise patients (after doses < 250 mCi) to drink only

when thirsty. Attempts to " wash out " the radioiodine are self-defeating,

particularly in the first 48 hours. This is because, a significant portion

of the effective radioiodine recirculates for additional therapeutic uptake

into remnant or tumor tissue. Drinking large quantities of liquid to cause

a forced diuresis actually lowers the effectiveness of the administered

radioiodine.

After doses exceeding 250 mCi, it is advisable to drink 8 oz of

liquid each waking hour and to empty the bladder every two hours, only for

the first day. This is calculated to minimize radiation dose to the

bladder wall and ovaries. Drinking more, or less, actually increases the

radiation dose to these organs. After the first day, drink when thirsty

and urinate when you want. It is quite rare for patients to require more

than 24 hours hospitalization after radioiodine doses under 200 mCi, unless

they have kidney problems.

Hypothyroidism provides a treatment benefit by temporarily reducing

kidney function so that the administered radioiodine treatment persists a little

longer in the body and is able to be better absorbed by the thyroid cancer

metastases. This benefit would not present if the patient purposely drinks

large volumes of liquids or if they are not hypothyroid (ie taking Thyrogen).

Additionally, drinking large quantities of liquids when hypothyroid puts the

patient at risk for severe hyponatremia (reduced blood sodium levels) which

rarely can result in seizures. It is best to drink as much liquid as your

thirst tells you is needed, and not to force fluids.

**************PLEASE BE ADVISED**********************

THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS COMMUNICATION IS INTENDED

FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. IT IS NOT INTENDED, NOR SHOULD

IT BE CONSTRUED, AS SPECIFIC MEDICAL ADVICE OR DIRECTIONS. ANY

PERSON VIEWING THIS INFORMATION IS ADVISED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN

PHYSICIAN(S) ABOUT ANY MATTER REGARDING THEIR MEDICAL CARE.

*************************************************

B. Ain, M.D.

Associate Professor of Internal Medicine

Director, Thyroid Nodule & Oncology Clinical Service

Director, Thyroid Cancer Research Laboratory

Division of Endocrinology and Molecular Medicine

Department of Internal Medicine, Room MN520

University of Kentucky Medical Center

800 Rose Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40536-0084

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At 1/8/2003 04:38 PM, you wrote:

>HI...

>

>I too had my RAI at MGH and it wasnt so bad. Just expect to be tired and

>lonely but it passes and will be over quickly. Make sure to drink LOTS of

>fluids and bring your lemon suckys. Who do you guys see at MGH? Dr. s?

>

>

>

>

>

>

>>

>>Reply-To: Thyca

>>To: <Thyca >

>>Subject: Re: RAI at MGH (Mass General)

>>Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2003 18:12:57 -0500

>>

>>

>>I had a very positive experience at MGH. Don't bring anything with you

>>when

>>you go. Are they keeping you overnight in isolation? Nothing painful about

>>it and I had a great view of the River. The hardest part for me

>>was

>>being alone.

>>Best wishes.

>>Ellen

>>

>> RAI at MGH (Mass General)

>>

>>

>> > Greetings,

>> >

>> > Anybody out there have RAI as MGH? I get the dose next Thursday after

>>tests on Monday and Wednesday. Would love to here how it went and what you

>> > hated!!

>> >

>> > Thanks

>> > Chris

>> >