Radioactive iodine therapy is usually planned for a few weeks (14 days or so) after thyroid surgery. The swelling that occurs after surgery can affect how well blood flows to that part of your neck, and good blood circulation is necessary to get as much radioactive iodine as possible to any remaining thyroid cells.

Risks

• Bleeding.
• Infection.
• Low parathyroid hormone levels (hypoparathyroidism) caused by surgical damage or removal of the parathyroid glands. These glands are located behind your thyroid and regulate blood calcium.
• Airway obstruction caused by bleeding.
• Permanent hoarse or weak voice due to nerve damage.

For some patients, the goal is 0.1 to 0.5 mU/L, which is just below or near the low end of the normal range. In intermediate-risk patients, the initial TSH goal is 0.1 to 0.5 mU/L. This goal may change to a normal range of TSH following long term follow-up and no detectable thyroglobulin.

Causes: (1) Iodine deficiency, (2) Iatrogenic – after thyroidectomy, radioactive iodine treatment, radiation exposure to head and neck, and/or certain medications….Thyroid Hormone Replacement TSH free T4 hypothyroid hyperthyroid.

Common side effects beginning after surgery include2 :

• Nausea and Vomiting.
• Neck Pain and Stiffness.
• A Sore Throat.
• Difficulty Swallowing.
• Hoarseness and Voice Problems.
• Transient Hypoparathyroidism.
• Hypothyroidism.
• Hematoma.

Iodine plays a key role in thyroid health. As a treatment, iodine helps with goiters (enlargements of the thyroid gland) and high thyroid levels such as in thyroid storm. After exposure to radiation, iodine can provide some protection against thyroid damage. Iodine may have other uses.

Historically Potassium Iodide was given to patients for 1 week prior to thyroidectomy. This common practice was used to decrease thyroid function and prevent thyroid storm during the thyroidectomy. However, in modern practice, nearly all patients presenting for surgical management have been made euthyroid through the use of medications such as propylthiouracil.

Method 2 of 2: Destroying Thyroid Cells with Radioactive Iodine Ask your doctor about RAI treatment to remove your thyroid. Confirm that you have a type of cancer curable by RAI therapy. Not all types of thyroid cancer will be wiped out by RAI therapy. Eat a low-iodine diet for 3 or 4 days leading up to treatment. Take an RAI tablet by mouth. Process the side effects of RAI treatment.

Iodine is a critical and required nutrient for proper thyroid function. Low levels of iodine result in decreased thyroid function and a litany of other negative side effects ranging from low energy to weight gain.