Radioactive iodine treatment is a medical treatment used to destroy your thyroid gland.

It's used to treat conditions such as hyperthyroidism to help reduce the amount of thyroid hormone that your body produces.

As you can imagine, destroying your thyroid gland does come with some consequences. I want to talk about those consequences and what you should expect if you get this procedure done.

6 Things to expect after Radioactive iodine treatment:

#1. You are going to be radioactive.
- Yes! It is true. You will be radioactive for about 5-7 days after your procedure which means you shouldn't be close to other people for that time. You can't kiss others, prepare food for others, share a toilet, and so on. This fades in about 5-7 days so don't let it freak you out.

#2. You may gain weight.
- This is another big one. There is about a 30% chance that you will gain weight after your procedure. Studies have tested and looked at people who undergo RAI and they have found that those who are overweight before their procedure tend to gain more weight than those who are not. Just be aware that this may happen to you.

#3. You will need to (most likely) be on medication
- And by medication, I am referring to thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormone (such as levothyroxine or Synthroid) is required after your procedure because of the damage done to your thyroid gland. Not everyone will need to be on medication afterward, but the vast majority will.

#4. You may experience other thyroid symptoms
- You might also experience other symptoms such as fatigue, depression, hair loss, and cold body temperatures. These symptoms stem from a lack of sufficient treatment by thyroid hormone and you should watch out for them!

#5. You should consider yourself "hypothyroid"
- This is a subtle but important point. After your procedure, you will be considered hypothyroid, even if you were hyperthyroid BEFORE your procedure. When you destroy your thyroid gland your body can no longer produce thyroid hormone and your diagnosis should change as well.

#6. Men may have short-term infertility afterward
- If you are a man then you should know that you may suffer from reduced sperm counts for 2 years after your procedure. You can still bank your sperm before your procedure, though, so don't let it stop you from getting the procedure if necessary.

Download my free thyroid resources here (including hypothyroid symptoms checklist, the complete list of thyroid lab tests + optimal ranges, foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease, and more): https://www.restartmed.com/start-here/

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- Supplements that everyone with hypothyroidism needs: https://bit.ly/3tekPej
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- Supplements for those without a thyroid and for those after RAI: https://bit.ly/3tb36nZ
- Supplements for active hyperthyroidism: https://bit.ly/3t70yHo

See ALL of my specialized supplements including protein powders, thyroid supplements, and weight loss products here:
https://www.restartmed.com/shop/

Want more from my blog? I have more than 400+ well-researched blog posts on thyroid management, hormone balancing, weight loss, and more. See all blog posts here:
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Disclaimer:
Dr. Westin Childs received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic medicine in 2013. His use of “doctor” or “Dr.” in relation to himself solely refers to that degree. Dr. Childs is no longer practicing medicine and does not hold an active medical license so he can focus on helping people through videos, blog posts, research, and supplement formulation. To read more about why he is no longer licensed please see this page: https://www.restartmed.com/what-happened-to-my-medical-license/

This video is for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. It should not be used to self-diagnose and it is not a substitute for a medical exam, treatment, diagnosis, prescription, or recommendation. It does not create a doctor-patient relationship between Dr. Childs and you. You should not make any changes to your medications or health regimens without first consulting a physician. If you have any questions please consult with your current primary care provider. Restart Medical LLC and Dr. Westin Childs are not liable or responsible for any advice, course of treatment, diagnosis, or any other information, services, or product you obtain through this website or video.
#thyroid #hypothyroidism #hashimoto's