usa entry and a medical condition

[paulh]

next week i go for radioactive iodine treatment, one of the side effects is you are left radioactive for a few months.
On the documentation about it it says if your travelling abroad they will give you a letter to let the airport know
Has anyone had any experience with this going into the usa
Paul

 

[rpbert1]

I had Radio Iodine treatment for my Overactive Thyroid, you need to be careful for 4 weeks, after that you should be fine.
Looking at your countdown you will be fine and should be no need to let anyone know.

 

[paulh]

thanks
Paul

 

[rpbert1]

They tell you to avoid contact with children & Pregrant women for 4 weeks. If you have animals i would avoid them as well, as i think this might be how our cat got her thyroid problem

 

[disneyfanforever]

4 weeks I need to stay away from kids? I am so confused. I am getting ready to have the radioactive iodine for my hyperthyroidism, and my doctor said I only needed to stay away from my kids for 1 or 2 days. Is that not correct?

 

[rpbert1]

The hospital consultant told me 4 weeks, and when i got the tablet, they told me 4 weeks.
I work in a primary school, and thought i was going to be off for 4 weeks, luckily they gave me it2 days into the school summer break, so no need for time off.
I would talk to doctor again, or have a look on the net for info.

Had a look and seems some sites say 11 days others say 24 days. the reason i was told this apparently was because the Radio Iodine makes you slightly radio active, and they say causing cancer in young children later in life. apparently the radio active will be absorbed by The Thyriod Gland by people being in very close proximity to you.
I had mine 5 years ago, so things may have changed.

 

[paulh]

had my drink yesterday and was told buy the radiologist that it stays in the body for 3 months so even if its right at the end its a good idea to get the letter as you don't know how they have set the sensitivity of the machines in the airports.
Got the middle dose so off work for 5 days separate bed for 2 weeks then.people at arms length for 2 weeks, then your safe for normal contact.
Paul

 

[paulh]

4 weeks I need to stay away from kids? I am so confused. I am getting ready to have the radioactive iodine for my hyperthyroidism, and my doctor said I only needed to stay away from my kids for 1 or 2 days. Is that not correct?

from my booklet advice about contact with children

If child is no more than 5 years old avoid long periods (more than a few minutes) of close contact(less than an arms length) DAY 1 TO DAY 14

If the child is 3 to 5 years old avoid close contact from DAY 1 to DAY 20

if the child is less than 3 years old avoid close contact from DAY 1 TO DAY 25

These are for the mid dose so for low slightly less and high slightly more but they tell you to base things on the mid dose. as long as you keep them at bay more than an arms length your ok.

Any questions please ask

Paul