Guest guest Posted September 4, 2002 Report Share Posted September 4, 2002 HI. I am scheduled for RAI next week. I also have three children (9, 7, 1 1/2). My parents have also been staying with us during this ordeal. I'm sending my husband, kids and parents to a hotel for four days. It just seemed easier than having to stay away from me while I was locked in the bedroom and general chaos ensued in the house while I listened from afar. I am nervous about the logistics but once they're out of the house, they'll deal with it. My friends and family will prepare meals for me and drop them off before I begin the treatment. I hope this helps. n Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 4, 2002 Report Share Posted September 4, 2002 HI, Chris. I don't think staying at a hotel is recommended as you can't come in contact with anyone. You don't want to inadvertently expose yourself to children or pregnant women. n Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 4, 2002 Report Share Posted September 4, 2002 HI, Chris. I don't think staying at a hotel is recommended as you can't come in contact with anyone. You don't want to inadvertently expose yourself to children or pregnant women. n Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 4, 2002 Report Share Posted September 4, 2002 HI, Chris. I don't think staying at a hotel is recommended as you can't come in contact with anyone. You don't want to inadvertently expose yourself to children or pregnant women. n Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 4, 2002 Report Share Posted September 4, 2002 Greetings all! I expect to have my surgery sometime this month, not yet scheduled. I am a little concerned about RAI and isolation. We have a small house with one bathroom, I have three children at home 8 years, 5 years and 5 months and my wife is breast feeding. Our 5 year old is autistic and I am very skeptical about him being able to keep his distance unless I am locked in a room somewhere. How does one isolate themselves in this situation? Chris From the PC of: M. Nichols Asset Manager P F Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 4, 2002 Report Share Posted September 4, 2002 As mentioned by another poster...this has been a passionate debate. Please review message # 19204 this should help give you an idea of the debate. > What further complicates things for me is that my father has liver cancer and is undergoing chemo, I don't want to impose on them, especially since > their summer home is smaller than my house. > > Has anyone ever gone and stayed at a hotel? > > Chris > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 4, 2002 Report Share Posted September 4, 2002 As mentioned by another poster...this has been a passionate debate. Please review message # 19204 this should help give you an idea of the debate. > What further complicates things for me is that my father has liver cancer and is undergoing chemo, I don't want to impose on them, especially since > their summer home is smaller than my house. > > Has anyone ever gone and stayed at a hotel? > > Chris > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 4, 2002 Report Share Posted September 4, 2002 As mentioned by another poster...this has been a passionate debate. Please review message # 19204 this should help give you an idea of the debate. > What further complicates things for me is that my father has liver cancer and is undergoing chemo, I don't want to impose on them, especially since > their summer home is smaller than my house. > > Has anyone ever gone and stayed at a hotel? > > Chris > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 4, 2002 Report Share Posted September 4, 2002 asked: > Has anyone ever gone and stayed at a hotel? wrote: > As mentioned by another poster...this has been a passionate debate. > Please review message # 19204 this should help give you an idea of > the debate. Actually that debate started days eaerlier; I think it went on for 4 or 5 days. The desire to check into a hotel during RAI isolation is a very understandable one. In a nutshell, you will be putting untold numbers of unsuspected people at risk of contamination, and there's really no way to prevent it. Depending on your hospital and what state you live in, you may be able to enlist your doctors' assistance in getting at least SOME hospitalized isolation time. NYC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 4, 2002 Report Share Posted September 4, 2002 asked: > Has anyone ever gone and stayed at a hotel? wrote: > As mentioned by another poster...this has been a passionate debate. > Please review message # 19204 this should help give you an idea of > the debate. Actually that debate started days eaerlier; I think it went on for 4 or 5 days. The desire to check into a hotel during RAI isolation is a very understandable one. In a nutshell, you will be putting untold numbers of unsuspected people at risk of contamination, and there's really no way to prevent it. Depending on your hospital and what state you live in, you may be able to enlist your doctors' assistance in getting at least SOME hospitalized isolation time. NYC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 4, 2002 Report Share Posted September 4, 2002 asked: > Has anyone ever gone and stayed at a hotel? wrote: > As mentioned by another poster...this has been a passionate debate. > Please review message # 19204 this should help give you an idea of > the debate. Actually that debate started days eaerlier; I think it went on for 4 or 5 days. The desire to check into a hotel during RAI isolation is a very understandable one. In a nutshell, you will be putting untold numbers of unsuspected people at risk of contamination, and there's really no way to prevent it. Depending on your hospital and what state you live in, you may be able to enlist your doctors' assistance in getting at least SOME hospitalized isolation time. NYC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 4, 2002 Report Share Posted September 4, 2002 I was told it's okay to have my children around, as long as they keep an arms length away. I can even kiss them on the cheek and hold them a couple minutes at a time, but no long cuddling, especially when closeness around the neck is involved. I guess maybe all this depends on the dosage of radiation you take???????????????? I'm taking only 29.9 mc's. Thyroid removed 7/9 cancer discovered 7/12 Off cytomel 8/16 LID 8/30 Radiation 9/5 Body scan 9/12...and pressing on!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 4, 2002 Report Share Posted September 4, 2002 I was told it's okay to have my children around, as long as they keep an arms length away. I can even kiss them on the cheek and hold them a couple minutes at a time, but no long cuddling, especially when closeness around the neck is involved. I guess maybe all this depends on the dosage of radiation you take???????????????? I'm taking only 29.9 mc's. Thyroid removed 7/9 cancer discovered 7/12 Off cytomel 8/16 LID 8/30 Radiation 9/5 Body scan 9/12...and pressing on!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 4, 2002 Report Share Posted September 4, 2002 I was told it's okay to have my children around, as long as they keep an arms length away. I can even kiss them on the cheek and hold them a couple minutes at a time, but no long cuddling, especially when closeness around the neck is involved. I guess maybe all this depends on the dosage of radiation you take???????????????? I'm taking only 29.9 mc's. Thyroid removed 7/9 cancer discovered 7/12 Off cytomel 8/16 LID 8/30 Radiation 9/5 Body scan 9/12...and pressing on!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 4, 2002 Report Share Posted September 4, 2002 Send the family to a hotel and you stay home is one way. That way they aren't exposed to you and you aren't exposing strangers. Or send the family to friends or relations for the time period. See if you can get your doc to lengthen your hospital isolation stay by a few days, do you have any friends or family members who might have a cottage or vacation home you could borrow? do you have a den or room you could lock contain yourself in? what i do is isolate myself in the master bedroom (but it has its own bath) i have my RAI sleeping bag (a 19$ walmart special) so i don't contaminate the bedding, sharing the bathroom it becomes very important to flush multiple times, clean up anyplace you might spill bodily fluids, take your toothbrush and such back to your isolation room when done so the kids don't come in contact with your toothbrush and glass and washing up things.... if you could get the doc to clear it for you to stay at the hospital longer, you'll be less radioactive when you get home... barb > Greetings all! > > I expect to have my surgery sometime this month, not yet scheduled. I am a little concerned about RAI and isolation. We have a small > house with one bathroom, I have three children at home 8 years, 5 years and 5 months and my wife is breast feeding. Our 5 year old is autistic and I > am very skeptical about him being able to keep his distance unless I am locked in a room somewhere. > > How does one isolate themselves in this situation? > > Chris > > > From the PC of: > M. Nichols > Asset Manager > P > F Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 4, 2002 Report Share Posted September 4, 2002 Send the family to a hotel and you stay home is one way. That way they aren't exposed to you and you aren't exposing strangers. Or send the family to friends or relations for the time period. See if you can get your doc to lengthen your hospital isolation stay by a few days, do you have any friends or family members who might have a cottage or vacation home you could borrow? do you have a den or room you could lock contain yourself in? what i do is isolate myself in the master bedroom (but it has its own bath) i have my RAI sleeping bag (a 19$ walmart special) so i don't contaminate the bedding, sharing the bathroom it becomes very important to flush multiple times, clean up anyplace you might spill bodily fluids, take your toothbrush and such back to your isolation room when done so the kids don't come in contact with your toothbrush and glass and washing up things.... if you could get the doc to clear it for you to stay at the hospital longer, you'll be less radioactive when you get home... barb > Greetings all! > > I expect to have my surgery sometime this month, not yet scheduled. I am a little concerned about RAI and isolation. We have a small > house with one bathroom, I have three children at home 8 years, 5 years and 5 months and my wife is breast feeding. Our 5 year old is autistic and I > am very skeptical about him being able to keep his distance unless I am locked in a room somewhere. > > How does one isolate themselves in this situation? > > Chris > > > From the PC of: > M. Nichols > Asset Manager > P > F Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 4, 2002 Report Share Posted September 4, 2002 Send the family to a hotel and you stay home is one way. That way they aren't exposed to you and you aren't exposing strangers. Or send the family to friends or relations for the time period. See if you can get your doc to lengthen your hospital isolation stay by a few days, do you have any friends or family members who might have a cottage or vacation home you could borrow? do you have a den or room you could lock contain yourself in? what i do is isolate myself in the master bedroom (but it has its own bath) i have my RAI sleeping bag (a 19$ walmart special) so i don't contaminate the bedding, sharing the bathroom it becomes very important to flush multiple times, clean up anyplace you might spill bodily fluids, take your toothbrush and such back to your isolation room when done so the kids don't come in contact with your toothbrush and glass and washing up things.... if you could get the doc to clear it for you to stay at the hospital longer, you'll be less radioactive when you get home... barb > Greetings all! > > I expect to have my surgery sometime this month, not yet scheduled. I am a little concerned about RAI and isolation. We have a small > house with one bathroom, I have three children at home 8 years, 5 years and 5 months and my wife is breast feeding. Our 5 year old is autistic and I > am very skeptical about him being able to keep his distance unless I am locked in a room somewhere. > > How does one isolate themselves in this situation? > > Chris > > > From the PC of: > M. Nichols > Asset Manager > P > F Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 4, 2002 Report Share Posted September 4, 2002 Nichols, wrote: > I am a little concerned about RAI and isolation. We have a small > house with one bathroom, I have three children at home 8 years, 5 > years and 5 months and my wife is breast feeding. Our 5 year old is > autistic and I am very skeptical about him being able to keep his > distance unless I am locked in a room somewhere. How does one > isolate themselves in this situation? If I were in your situation, I would insist on isolation in the hospital. ellen -- mailto:ellen@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 4, 2002 Report Share Posted September 4, 2002 > Has anyone ever gone and stayed at a hotel? I haven't, buut my step mom did. She does not have cancer, she has Graves Disease, contributing to a very hyperactive thyroid, so as her treatment she was given a rather low dose of RAI to stop her thyroid from functioning. From what I remember, she got along fine at the hotel. She didn't want to stay at home and possibly expose my dad, my 4 yr old sister, and their 2 dogs. Even though the house is big enough, I believe she was going on the " better safe than sorry " way. She just used a ton of precautions (everything from flushing her used kleenex down the toilet to using plastic wrap, even in the hotel, to cover frequently touched items). She stayed three days, and then went back home. - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 4, 2002 Report Share Posted September 4, 2002 > Has anyone ever gone and stayed at a hotel? I haven't, buut my step mom did. She does not have cancer, she has Graves Disease, contributing to a very hyperactive thyroid, so as her treatment she was given a rather low dose of RAI to stop her thyroid from functioning. From what I remember, she got along fine at the hotel. She didn't want to stay at home and possibly expose my dad, my 4 yr old sister, and their 2 dogs. Even though the house is big enough, I believe she was going on the " better safe than sorry " way. She just used a ton of precautions (everything from flushing her used kleenex down the toilet to using plastic wrap, even in the hotel, to cover frequently touched items). She stayed three days, and then went back home. - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 4, 2002 Report Share Posted September 4, 2002 > Has anyone ever gone and stayed at a hotel? I haven't, buut my step mom did. She does not have cancer, she has Graves Disease, contributing to a very hyperactive thyroid, so as her treatment she was given a rather low dose of RAI to stop her thyroid from functioning. From what I remember, she got along fine at the hotel. She didn't want to stay at home and possibly expose my dad, my 4 yr old sister, and their 2 dogs. Even though the house is big enough, I believe she was going on the " better safe than sorry " way. She just used a ton of precautions (everything from flushing her used kleenex down the toilet to using plastic wrap, even in the hotel, to cover frequently touched items). She stayed three days, and then went back home. - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 4, 2002 Report Share Posted September 4, 2002 There are several things to consider here about getting hospital isolation -- what are the state/local/hospital regs, and is there any room in them to get the result you want. WHO " S PAYING -- if your insurance won't authorize it but you can afford it & are willing, the hospital may be willing to allow it. At least for a day or two. How the request is worded -- medical necessity, public safety, special needs, etc.-- and who it's addressed to. Good luck. bj Re: RE: RAI issolation > Nichols, wrote: > > I am a little concerned about RAI and isolation. > > If I were in your situation, I would insist on isolation in the hospital. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 4, 2002 Report Share Posted September 4, 2002 There are several things to consider here about getting hospital isolation -- what are the state/local/hospital regs, and is there any room in them to get the result you want. WHO " S PAYING -- if your insurance won't authorize it but you can afford it & are willing, the hospital may be willing to allow it. At least for a day or two. How the request is worded -- medical necessity, public safety, special needs, etc.-- and who it's addressed to. Good luck. bj Re: RE: RAI issolation > Nichols, wrote: > > I am a little concerned about RAI and isolation. > > If I were in your situation, I would insist on isolation in the hospital. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 4, 2002 Report Share Posted September 4, 2002 > > > I am a little concerned about RAI and isolation. We have a small > > house with one bathroom, I have three children at home 8 years, 5 > > years and 5 months and my wife is breast feeding. Our 5 year old is > > autistic and I am very skeptical about him being able to keep his > > distance unless I am locked in a room somewhere. How does one > > isolate themselves in this situation? > > > > What an awful predicament!! With everything you have going on you're probably frazzled but I agree with the last poster who suggested to really push your doc for hospitalization. Unfortunately when you have young children you do have to be seperated from them after RAI. However, it is absolutely inhuman to ask a woman to take three children to a hotel under any circumstances much less with a nursing baby and a young child with autism. I actually was one of the group who went to a hotel and in the big debate did find myself questioning the decision due to the risks to others I hadn't considered. If I have RAI again I will push for hospitalization as well. But you know, if you don't get anywhere, I'm not so sure if I were you I wouldn't opt for it. Your alternative is to totally exhaust your family and I think my concern for them would outweigh my concern for vague radioactivity for strangers. We're supposed to be the advanced society and yet I never cease to be amazed at the absolute lack of humanity in the health care system. Nobody should have to make choices like these! I hope a good solution is in the cards for you and please let us know what happens. Sue from CT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 4, 2002 Report Share Posted September 4, 2002 > > > I am a little concerned about RAI and isolation. We have a small > > house with one bathroom, I have three children at home 8 years, 5 > > years and 5 months and my wife is breast feeding. Our 5 year old is > > autistic and I am very skeptical about him being able to keep his > > distance unless I am locked in a room somewhere. How does one > > isolate themselves in this situation? > > > > What an awful predicament!! With everything you have going on you're probably frazzled but I agree with the last poster who suggested to really push your doc for hospitalization. Unfortunately when you have young children you do have to be seperated from them after RAI. However, it is absolutely inhuman to ask a woman to take three children to a hotel under any circumstances much less with a nursing baby and a young child with autism. I actually was one of the group who went to a hotel and in the big debate did find myself questioning the decision due to the risks to others I hadn't considered. If I have RAI again I will push for hospitalization as well. But you know, if you don't get anywhere, I'm not so sure if I were you I wouldn't opt for it. Your alternative is to totally exhaust your family and I think my concern for them would outweigh my concern for vague radioactivity for strangers. We're supposed to be the advanced society and yet I never cease to be amazed at the absolute lack of humanity in the health care system. Nobody should have to make choices like these! I hope a good solution is in the cards for you and please let us know what happens. Sue from CT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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