RAI 150mCr - hospital stay 0 days - is this normal?

[Guest guest]

My sister has RAI appointment on Aug 12th. Dosage 150mCr. Hospital

says she should get back home the same day. Is this normal? Is this

due to medical practice or insurance pressure? Do we talk to the

nuclear med doctor or the HMO?

Thanks in advance for any advice or experience.

SJ@...

[Guest guest]

my 1st RAI was 150 mci and I was sent home after the

dose.

--- sjeumotif shashi.jasthi@...> wrote:

> My sister has RAI appointment on Aug 12th. Dosage

> 150mCr. Hospital

> says she should get back home the same day. Is this

> normal? Is this

> due to medical practice or insurance pressure? Do we

> talk to the

> nuclear med doctor or the HMO?

>

> Thanks in advance for any advice or experience.

>

> SJ@...

>

>

=====

Visit www.erinb.com!

''I don't mind making jokes, but I don't want to look like one. " -Marilyn Monroe

[Guest guest]

The NRC governs RAI just like any other nuclear material. Prior to

1997, anyone receiving more than 29.9mCi's (designated a " walking

dose " ) was required to be hospitalized. In 1997, the rules were

changed to allow for individual states and facilites to determine the

level at which a patient could go home after being given RAI. Since

that time, we have seen patients on this listserv go home immediately

after receiving as much as 200mCi's.

Of course, the insurance companies are aware of this change and would

probably prefer not to pay for private isolation rooms. If you put

pressure on your Dr. to hospitalize you, make sure you are

pre-approved for the hosptial stay.

My doses were in excess of 200mCi's and I was isolated in the hospital

for about 30 hours for both of them (and still had an insurance battle).

Marilyn

> My sister has RAI appointment on Aug 12th. Dosage 150mCr. Hospital

> says she should get back home the same day. Is this normal? Is this

> due to medical practice or insurance pressure? Do we talk to the

> nuclear med doctor or the HMO?

>

> Thanks in advance for any advice or experience.

>

> SJ@e...

[Guest guest]

It totally depends on what the standard of care is in the state where the

RAI is administered. In my state they don't isolate anyone.

********************************+

+ Bronstein +

+Associate Professor of History +

+New Mexico State University +

+Las Cruces, NM USA**************

[Guest guest]

I had 160 mci in April and stayed for 48 hours. My radiation level had

to be under 10 before they'd release me. As always your sister's mileage

may vary.

Kate

RAI 150mCr - hospital stay 0 days - is this normal?

My sister has RAI appointment on Aug 12th. Dosage 150mCr. Hospital

says she should get back home the same day. Is this normal? Is this

due to medical practice or insurance pressure? Do we talk to the

nuclear med doctor or the HMO?

Thanks in advance for any advice or experience.

SJ@...

[Guest guest]

As others have explained, the Feds changed the regs re hospital

isolation. The hospitals have to be approved to do it that way. My

local hospital does not even want you to stay - however you do have

to isolate yourself in one room for 2 days and have food left at your

door if there others in the house. The hospital in neighbor city

where I had my 1st RAI done said I could go home if I met all the

qualifications in a questionaire ( ex-cannot have to travel more than

4 hours home). It's more complicated in some ways if you go home, but

if you are claustrophobic it's better to be home than locked up in a

hospital room for 2 days. However - if you go home - you have to

drive yourself - no one can be in car with you. The best part was

getting to the car - " just don't get in the garage elavator or near

people when you leave after you've done the big swallow " - I asked

how that would happen and he finally said they would have someone

clear the way for me - duh... Just like a rock star. don't know

which way is better because I haven't done the 2nd one yet. How has

it worked for anyone else who has done it and gone straight home?

-- In Thyca , " sjeumotif " wrote:

> My sister has RAI appointment on Aug 12th. Dosage 150mCr. Hospital

> says she should get back home the same day. Is this normal? Is this

> due to medical practice or insurance pressure? Do we talk to the

> nuclear med doctor or the HMO?

>

> Thanks in advance for any advice or experience.

>

> SJ@e...

[Guest guest]

> My sister has RAI appointment on Aug 12th. Dosage 150mCr. Hospital

> says she should get back home the same day. Is this normal? Is

this

> due to medical practice or insurance pressure? Do we talk to the

> nuclear med doctor or the HMO?

>

> Thanks in advance for any advice or experience.

>

> SJ@e...

Does anyone know what the rules are in Pennsylvania?

Patty

[Guest guest]

> However - if you go home - you have to drive yourself - no one can

be in car with you.

Aaargh! I'm due for my RAI 150mCi on 9/12, and I'm being sent home,

too. (I'm in California.) So, you're supposed to drive yourself

home, but you're not supposed to be driving while hypo? No wonder we

feel crazy! We're dealing with a world of contradictions!

Fortunately, I live only about 30 minutes away from UCSF where I'll

be treated. What would you all recommend about driving after my RAI

dose? Drive myself? Have my girlfriend drive me while I huddle as

far away from her as I can (not far in a Geo Prizm!)? Rent a larger

vehicle for this purpose? Take a taxi? Hire a stretch limo (oooh,

wish I could!)?

in SF

[Guest guest]

I'm not sure of the actual legal rules, however, I am having my RAI at

Hershey Medical and will be in isolation at the hospital for 2 days.

, PA

7/2/03 dx pap thru FNA

7/17/03 TT pap 2.1x1.9x1.0cm diff,multi-focal(1-3mm lesion through out)

plus 1 lymph node and lesion outside of thyroid. They also got a

parathyroid.

10/7/03 RAI scheduled

[Guest guest]

> I'm not sure of the actual legal rules, however, I am having my RAI

at

> Hershey Medical and will be in isolation at the hospital for 2 days.

>

> , PA

> 7/2/03 dx pap thru FNA

> 7/17/03 TT pap 2.1x1.9x1.0cm diff,multi-focal(1-3mm lesion through

out)

> plus 1 lymph node and lesion outside of thyroid. They also got a

> parathyroid.

> 10/7/03 RAI scheduled

I had my RAI exam and RAI tx all in the same day. Drove myself and

went home when it was done. Had restrictions on close contact and

urinating etc... but there was never any mention of hospitalization.

It was, as it has been with all my treatment regarding my thyroid

cancer, a " wham bam thank you mame " threatment....

Kay MN

3/19/03 dx pap thry FNA

3/26/03 TT

5/01/03 RAI

last TSH 28.4 6/23/03

[Guest guest]

-I had my treatment in July 2000 and also went home the same day, but

had restrictions. I was pretty much isolated from my family for about

72 hours. It was suggested that I have my own towel dishes etc.

Vicki Anello

> I had my RAI exam and RAI tx all in the same day. Drove myself and

> went home when it was done. Had restrictions on close contact and

> urinating etc... but there was never any mention of

hospitalization.

> It was, as it has been with all my treatment regarding my thyroid

> cancer, a " wham bam thank you mame " threatment....

>

> Kay MN

> 3/19/03 dx pap thry FNA

> 3/26/03 TT

> 5/01/03 RAI

> last TSH 28.4 6/23/03