I am going to take a vacation in the United States immediately after I finish my treatment. Any special precautions needed?
The United States has recently instituted radioactive monitoring devices at some public buildings and transportation venues, which may be activated by patients recently treated with radioactive iodine. Patients planning on traveling to the US within a month of treatment should take a medical letter from their physician attesting to their diagnosis and treatment. See Radiation monitoring and public safety. For a summary of the possible side effects of radioactive iodine and a discussion of its safety, see Health effects of therapeutic use of 131I in hyperthyroidism. Q J Nucl Med.
The United States has recently instituted radioactive monitoring devices at some public buildings and transportation venues, which may be activated by patients recently treated with radioactive iodine. Patients planning on traveling to the US within a month of treatment should take a medical letter from their physician attesting to their diagnosis and treatment. See Radiation monitoring and public safety. One of my friends was prescribed a very low iodine diet for a month prior to her treatment, whereas my physician did not mention this. Is a low iodine diet important prior to radioactive iodine administration? The theory underlying a low iodine diet prior to treatment is that relative iodine “deficiency” will enhance the uptake and efficacy of the radioactive iodine treatment. In fact, there is no long term data to support this contention, and the short term data argues against the efficacy of a low iodine diet as a factor in the success of treatment. Hence, it does not seem to be a k
The United States has recently instituted radioactive monitoring devices at some public buildings and transportation venues, which may be activated by patients recently treated with radioactive iodine. Patients planning on traveling to the US within a month of treatment should take a medical letter from their physician attesting to their diagnosis and treatment. See Radiation monitoring and public safety. A consensus document from the American Thyroid Association that addresses many safety-related questions regarding radioactive iodine treatment for thyroid disease may be accessed through Radiation Safety in the Treatment of Patients with Thyroid Diseases by Radioiodine ((131)I) Practice Recommendations of the American Thyroid Association. Thyroid. 2011 Mar 18. [Epub ahead of print] One of my friends was prescribed a very low iodine diet for a month prior to her treatment, whereas my physician did not mention this. Is a low iodine diet important prior to radioactive iodine administrati
