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 Hi, - My heart goes out to you - between your immediate family concerns, your Dad's illness, and now this, you've really had your hands full. And I know how rather paranoid I was when I did RAI - and my circumstances were very easy compared with yours. My first question to you is (forgive me if you've mentioned this already) do you know what the protocol is for hospitalization for RAI where you live? That is the first thing you need to know - will they keep you isolated for a certain time? If so, how long. This alone will help, because it would isolate you in the time you are the most radioactive. Here are a few possibilities, beyond the obvious and challenging one of staying home and isolating yourself in a room, cleaning the bathroom carefully when you use it: Send the family somewhere else: to a hotel, to stay with family or friends. I am ABSOLUTELY with the majority of the group who urge peope NOT to go to a hotel - no matter what you need to do to protect yourself and your family, even if that DOES mean staying in a locked room for a week, it is just plain wrong to knowingly put unaware people at risk. I'd bet that if you explained the situation to the people who run any hotel, they'd refuse to let you stay there. However, are there family or friends who do have a spare bedroom/bath that they could let YOU use? Anyone going on vacation that would let you stay at their place while they're gone? Any chance you can borrow a camper from someone (make sure they wouldn't need it for several months, so that any radioactive material/waste/etc would have time to de-radioactivate) and stay in that? For that matter - I don't know where you live - if it's in the warmer areas, you could put a tent outside, put a sleeping bag and a portapotty in it, get a sterno burner and a pot to heat up water to wash in, and live in there. Not a pleasant idea, especially when you're hypo, but it's a possibility. Although I know this will strain already short bathroom facilities, maybe having a friend stay with you to help your wife deal with the kids and get your food is a possibility. A portapotty could be used to add to the available facilities for them or you. This is definitely the time to call on all your available resources, including anyone who said " that's awful - I wish I could do something to help " . :-) Cheers, Alisa 2/15/2002: Nodule found during bad sore throat 2/27/2002: FNA - suspicious for pap 3/4/2002: Hysterectomy/oopherectomy-possible ovarian cancer - BENIGN!! 4/9/2002: TT - Stage 2 pap encapsulated in 2.5 x 2 x 1.6 cm nodule, Hashimotos discovered 5/28/2002: TBS (2 mCi dose on 5/24) and 100 mCi RAI 6/6/2002: TBS - No sign of mets Currently - 140mcg Levoxyl Age: 48 Location: near Seattle WA Please feel free to email me privately anytime Check out my posts: Radioactive Girl - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Thyca/message/19472 My LID - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Thyca/message/15872 My RAI - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Thyca/message/15873 > 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 Hi, - My heart goes out to you - between your immediate family concerns, your Dad's illness, and now this, you've really had your hands full. And I know how rather paranoid I was when I did RAI - and my circumstances were very easy compared with yours. My first question to you is (forgive me if you've mentioned this already) do you know what the protocol is for hospitalization for RAI where you live? That is the first thing you need to know - will they keep you isolated for a certain time? If so, how long. This alone will help, because it would isolate you in the time you are the most radioactive. Here are a few possibilities, beyond the obvious and challenging one of staying home and isolating yourself in a room, cleaning the bathroom carefully when you use it: Send the family somewhere else: to a hotel, to stay with family or friends. I am ABSOLUTELY with the majority of the group who urge peope NOT to go to a hotel - no matter what you need to do to protect yourself and your family, even if that DOES mean staying in a locked room for a week, it is just plain wrong to knowingly put unaware people at risk. I'd bet that if you explained the situation to the people who run any hotel, they'd refuse to let you stay there. However, are there family or friends who do have a spare bedroom/bath that they could let YOU use? Anyone going on vacation that would let you stay at their place while they're gone? Any chance you can borrow a camper from someone (make sure they wouldn't need it for several months, so that any radioactive material/waste/etc would have time to de-radioactivate) and stay in that? For that matter - I don't know where you live - if it's in the warmer areas, you could put a tent outside, put a sleeping bag and a portapotty in it, get a sterno burner and a pot to heat up water to wash in, and live in there. Not a pleasant idea, especially when you're hypo, but it's a possibility. Although I know this will strain already short bathroom facilities, maybe having a friend stay with you to help your wife deal with the kids and get your food is a possibility. A portapotty could be used to add to the available facilities for them or you. This is definitely the time to call on all your available resources, including anyone who said " that's awful - I wish I could do something to help " . :-) Cheers, Alisa 2/15/2002: Nodule found during bad sore throat 2/27/2002: FNA - suspicious for pap 3/4/2002: Hysterectomy/oopherectomy-possible ovarian cancer - BENIGN!! 4/9/2002: TT - Stage 2 pap encapsulated in 2.5 x 2 x 1.6 cm nodule, Hashimotos discovered 5/28/2002: TBS (2 mCi dose on 5/24) and 100 mCi RAI 6/6/2002: TBS - No sign of mets Currently - 140mcg Levoxyl Age: 48 Location: near Seattle WA Please feel free to email me privately anytime Check out my posts: Radioactive Girl - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Thyca/message/19472 My LID - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Thyca/message/15872 My RAI - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Thyca/message/15873 > 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 Hi, - My heart goes out to you - between your immediate family concerns, your Dad's illness, and now this, you've really had your hands full. And I know how rather paranoid I was when I did RAI - and my circumstances were very easy compared with yours. My first question to you is (forgive me if you've mentioned this already) do you know what the protocol is for hospitalization for RAI where you live? That is the first thing you need to know - will they keep you isolated for a certain time? If so, how long. This alone will help, because it would isolate you in the time you are the most radioactive. Here are a few possibilities, beyond the obvious and challenging one of staying home and isolating yourself in a room, cleaning the bathroom carefully when you use it: Send the family somewhere else: to a hotel, to stay with family or friends. I am ABSOLUTELY with the majority of the group who urge peope NOT to go to a hotel - no matter what you need to do to protect yourself and your family, even if that DOES mean staying in a locked room for a week, it is just plain wrong to knowingly put unaware people at risk. I'd bet that if you explained the situation to the people who run any hotel, they'd refuse to let you stay there. However, are there family or friends who do have a spare bedroom/bath that they could let YOU use? Anyone going on vacation that would let you stay at their place while they're gone? Any chance you can borrow a camper from someone (make sure they wouldn't need it for several months, so that any radioactive material/waste/etc would have time to de-radioactivate) and stay in that? For that matter - I don't know where you live - if it's in the warmer areas, you could put a tent outside, put a sleeping bag and a portapotty in it, get a sterno burner and a pot to heat up water to wash in, and live in there. Not a pleasant idea, especially when you're hypo, but it's a possibility. Although I know this will strain already short bathroom facilities, maybe having a friend stay with you to help your wife deal with the kids and get your food is a possibility. A portapotty could be used to add to the available facilities for them or you. This is definitely the time to call on all your available resources, including anyone who said " that's awful - I wish I could do something to help " . :-) Cheers, Alisa 2/15/2002: Nodule found during bad sore throat 2/27/2002: FNA - suspicious for pap 3/4/2002: Hysterectomy/oopherectomy-possible ovarian cancer - BENIGN!! 4/9/2002: TT - Stage 2 pap encapsulated in 2.5 x 2 x 1.6 cm nodule, Hashimotos discovered 5/28/2002: TBS (2 mCi dose on 5/24) and 100 mCi RAI 6/6/2002: TBS - No sign of mets Currently - 140mcg Levoxyl Age: 48 Location: near Seattle WA Please feel free to email me privately anytime Check out my posts: Radioactive Girl - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Thyca/message/19472 My LID - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Thyca/message/15872 My RAI - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Thyca/message/15873 > 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 5, 2002 Report Share Posted September 5, 2002 In a message dated 9/4/02 2:06:53 PM Eastern Daylight Time, ellen@... writes: << If I were in your situation, I would insist on isolation in the hospital. ellen >> Insisting doesn't always work. I put up quite a large stink, but was told that in this state (NJ) isolation isn't required and therefore there are few places that will do it. I wasn't hospitalized at all for 125 mCi. ~Kim in NJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 5, 2002 Report Share Posted September 5, 2002 In a message dated 9/4/02 2:06:53 PM Eastern Daylight Time, ellen@... writes: << If I were in your situation, I would insist on isolation in the hospital. ellen >> Insisting doesn't always work. I put up quite a large stink, but was told that in this state (NJ) isolation isn't required and therefore there are few places that will do it. I wasn't hospitalized at all for 125 mCi. ~Kim in NJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 5, 2002 Report Share Posted September 5, 2002 In a message dated 9/4/02 2:06:53 PM Eastern Daylight Time, ellen@... writes: << If I were in your situation, I would insist on isolation in the hospital. ellen >> Insisting doesn't always work. I put up quite a large stink, but was told that in this state (NJ) isolation isn't required and therefore there are few places that will do it. I wasn't hospitalized at all for 125 mCi. ~Kim in NJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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