: Does everyone feel horrible before RAI?

July 5, 2003

ok ok.....

*) I am so new to all this and I am hearing bad stories about the way people

are feeling even after treatment is over

Don't be scared about new things. It's normal to be a little worried (!) but

tihngs get better with some little time.

The bad stories? Yeah.... Mmm.... Sometimes the group is usefull to do some

catharsis so... It's common to read bad stories, but the group is full of

people who tell a lot of good stories too, and with a positive attitude.

Don't let the fact of being hypo put fog over the positive things.

This 'treatment' (i really don't use to call it a 'cancer treatment' in

front of people because most of us will never have to find out what is to be

on chemotherapy or radiotherapy...... we just RAI a bit and that's it.) is

well accepted by the body. The 'feeling like crap' thing has to do more with

hormonal levels. They say sometihng here called YMMV (your milleage may

vary... or somthing like that... sometimes my english fades away to return

in a couple of minutes so... LOL!) and it's true that each body has a

different adaptation process to hormonal changes. So is the fact that not

all the endos are good at finding the right doses for T4 and T3 levels. So

it's just a...... how to call it... dunno.... it's like a game! like 'what

happens if i add a little t4? how do u feel?' -'like crap' -'ok, let's add a

bit more' :-) Obviously do no take it literally. This whole process is made

with blood tests so.. well... just relax.

*) What is the isolation time when doing the RAI? How long are you

hospitalized?

Isolation time? Usually 1 week. Some hospitals wont isolate you, theyll give

you directions for not hurting anyone with the radiation and that's it.

*) I see my surgeon on Tuesday, but I am so scared

DON'T PANIC. Panic leads to terror, and when you are terrified you can't

think. The most important thing in this thyca journey is TO THINK. ok?

Now..... start to make a list... doubts, comments, fears, etc.... write the

whole thing down...... you carry those notes all the days 'till Tuesday and

write everything down. On Tuesday, before seeing your surgeon you double

check that list and when you get to his/her office you follow the list. Or

you give it to him/her... whatever. THAT'S the best because it often happens

that when you leave the surgeon's office you start remembering that you had