Isolation

Filmed whilst in hospital having radioactive iodine treatment for thyroid cancer. Because you are radioactive you have to stay in isolation for three days with no direct contact with anyone. As well as being radioactive, you have to stop taking the thyroid hormone replacement drugs that keep you going. Strange things start to happen to your perceptions and 3-4 days in a room 7 paces by 4 leaves your mental state slightly rocky....

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Hospital
• Cancer
• Experimental
• Thyroid
• Iodine
• Documentary
• NHS

[Wearethefuture2000]

Im from New Zealand and i had a full thyroidectomy done..when i had my RAI treatment I was isolated for a week..no visitors, and the nursing staff were only around me for half an hour a day..half an hour then a new nurse..this went on for the whole week..only spoke to family and nursing staff through telephone if needing anything...im not gonna lie...it was horrible..I also notice that some people took thier treatment in tablet form..

[GadgetQueen31]

@Wearethefuture2000 A whole week - that is horrible. How did you get your treatment if it wasn't in tablet form? They wheeled mine in a lead line box, can't remember how the nurse got it out of the box and into my mouth but I remember it being quite big and the whole thing being a bit surreal. But that might have been the lack of thyroxine which made everything ten times worse. At least I had a good view out of the window....

[Wickedmamma]

wow they let you stay in the hospital? How big was your dose? When I went through this, i was 2 months post-partum so my baby had to stay with family members (not in the same house) and I was basically separated from her for several weeks. There was only one other adult staying with me but at a safe distance (at my Dad's house). He was gone at work most of that time. I agree it's very lonely & the whole thyroid meds missing makes you feel crazy!

[GadgetQueen31]

I don't know how big the dose was, they don't tell you that here. In the UK you stay in isolation in hospital, but it least it only lasts three or four days. I'm not sure if it wouldn't be worse being in a house and I can't imagine what it would be like to be separated from your baby for so long. Basically it's all a bit crap, but it could have been much worse...Hope you're better now.

[Wearethefuture2000]

@GadgetQueen31 I went into isolation on a monday...had a half a teaspoon of iodine treatment in liquid form mixed with 2 teaspoons of water,drank that through a straw then another cup of water followed behind it...honestly..i had no effects from the treatment at all..it was just the isolation..and yes i had an awesome view from my window too...the specialist who administered my treatment was all geared up like i was some sort of alien..lol..funny though.

[ElaineSavard]

Being in isolation is no fun. I went through 5 treatments and therefore 5 times I was isolated. I found many helpful things to past the time like reading, doing needlework and watched lots of movies. The good thing about it all is I am healthy and I have beaten thyroid cancer!!

[poisomike87]

When I had mine done they gave me a little pamplet of things that I could not do and had me stay isolated from my family for a week :(

[1992peter]

I have a question. How many MGs, does this pill have? Do they ever give you two at a time? This is my Mom's second round. If this doesn't help, what might they do?

I'm so depressed, I can't even think straight.

[Poserr2k7]

Well done! Anything to pass time! Have been there with my small daughter at Christies! Couldnt see anything but a patch of garden, tho there were some squirrels to watch! At least I could go out but couldnt hug her. Hope things go well for you xxx

[sophiedb]

Thank you for this, kind of.. :) My RAI is coming up in a few weeks and I'm already trying to think of any excellent books that need reading, to help pass the time.