Radio-iodine therapy
Information leaflet for patients and their (close) family.
You will soon be admitted to Bronovo Hospital for the treatment of your thyroid gland. You will probably be staying in the hospital for three days.
Preparation
You must come to the hospital with an empty stomach.
This means that from midnight (24:00 hours) before you come to the hospital, you must not drink or eat anything. If you are on medication, you may take your medicine in the morning with, for example, a cup of tea or a glass or lemonade.
Remember to bring with you:
- your bar-coded hospital registration card
- any medicines that you are taking at home
- toilet articles
- you may also bring a book, magazine, embroidery, knitting etc.
N. B.
Because of the risk of radioactive contamination, you must not bring any borrowed things with you such as library books. |
Admission day
Please come to the hospital in the morning at the time that has been arranged. You will be offered a cup of tea when you arrive in the hospital ward. At about 12 noon, you will be given a capsule containing radioactive iodine, which you will swallow either with water or lemonade. This capsule produces no side-effects so it will not make you feel sick. After you have taken the capsule, you will have lunch.
What happens to the radioactive iodine?
- The radioactive iodine will be quickly absorbed into your blood through your stomach and bowels(in the same way as your food is absorbed).
- It will then be carried through your bloodstream to your thyroid gland.
- The iodine will be retained in your thyroid gland; there it can do its work of radiation "from within".
- In this way, the over-activity inside your thyroid gland will be restricted with the help of the radioactive iodine.
Some of the radioactive iodine will not be absorbed but will be eliminated, via the kidneys, in your urine. Spilled drops of urine cause radioactive contamination.
Your urine and faeces (stools) will, therefore be collected via the toilet (W.C.) in special tanks in the hospital's cellars and so are not drained into the public sewage system.
Precautionary measures
You will be in a single room, number 146, with your own shower and toilet in the Wilhelmina Ward on the first floor of the hospital. In this room, special precautionary measures are taken in order to prevent any spread of contamination.
As already mentioned, all urine and faeces are collected in special tanks. These, however, have only a limited capacity. Waste water from the handbasin, shower and toilet are also collected in the tanks. You are, therefore, requested to be very sparing in the use of water in your room and not to let the tap run while you are brushing your teeth or washing (your hands). Please will you also use the shower as little as possible.
Use of the toilet
- do not use any more water than is absolutely necessary when flushing the toilet.
- if there are any drops of urine on the edge of the toilet or the floor, clean these up immediately with toilet paper.
- men should sit on the toilet seat when passing urine.
- wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet.
- if you are menstruating (monthly period) or incontinent, sanitary towels can be used but must not be put down the toilet.
Clothing
Bring old (night) clothes and dressing gown with you.
If these garments should become contaminated, you will be unable to use them for some time. You will, however, not have to throw them away.
Smoking
During your stay in the hospital, smoking is strictly forbidden.
Food and drink
Your food and drink will be served in disposable material. It will be placed in the "lobby" between the corridor and the door to your room. You can then help yourself to the food and drink. When you have finished eating and drinking, you can put the (empty) disposable plates etc. in the special rubbish container.
Visiting rules
- visitors, aged over 18 years, can come at normal visiting times.
- pregnant women and young children should not visit you.
- restrict your visitors to close family members such as: husband, wife, partner, parents or children over 18.
- do not shake hands with or kiss your visitors (or allow them to do so to you) so as to avoid any physical contact.
- your visitors must not come close to you.
Important
Visitors must stay in the lobby and not cross the white line across the threshold. They must also not eat or drink any of the patients’ food or drink. |
Conclusion
If everyone keeps to the rules, no radioactive contamination will occur. After you leave the hospital, the rules vary according to the dosage, family home circumstances and the work situation. The week before the therapy, you will have a talk with the nuclear physician, who will explain to you the rules that apply specifically to your case. You can then ask your own questions about anything you are not sure about.
After three days, all the radioactive iodine is absorbed into your thyroid gland and does its work there unseen. You can then go home again and in general you can carry out your normal daily activities. Six weeks after treatment, you will be checked by your own referring doctor. The definitive result of the treatment will, however, only be achieved after several months.
If you do have any further questions, you can contact the Department of Nuclear Medicine in the Bronovo Hospital which can be reached on working days between 08.15 and 17.30 hours - telephone number: 070 - 312 40 70.