Some people will receive their RAI dose and be sent home.
Some will stay in the hospital for 24hrs.
Some will stay longer, until the radiation risks are lowered.
Either way, you will have 2-4 days where you will want to take extreme precautions, and then about a week of taking more moderate precautions. I will refer to these the extreme precautions as the "In Hospital Isolation" period, and the more moderate precautions as the "At Home" period.
Each hospital is different. Some will let you take things home IF they aren't too radioactive. Others will make you leave everything there. Call them, ahead of time, and question them. That way, you'll know what you'll have to leave behind. There is a link on my main page, to a list of questions to ask your Nuke Med Dept. (Or, you can click on this flashing light, to view those questions.)
If you are allowed to take things home, remember that clothes CAN be washed and most items can be left in a bag, in storage for a couple of months and be just fine. It's easier, though, to buy cheap silly things to take with you, and leave them there for the hospital to throw out.
There are a few things you might want to prepare at home, for when you return.
1. If you are returning within the first 24 hrs, have LID foods ready and waiting.
2. Take all extra things, which you don't want to irradiate and have to wash carefully, off your bed. No sense contaminating things that are hard to wash.
3. Set aside your own towels, dishes, glasses, etc. Hopefully, you will arrange a private bedroom and bathroom, where you can keep your supplies away from others.
4. Have cleaning supplies ready, i.e. sink brush, Lysol, wet wipes, or whatever will make it easiest for you to wipe down areas you've used.
5. Have a separate telephone for YOU to use for the first week. Cover the mouth piece with plastic wrap.
6. Have a toothbrush which you can throw out after the first week.
7. Gather any other helpful supplies, such as disposable plates & utensils, surgeon's or food handlers' gloves, tissues, plastic bags for used tissues, plastic bags for radiated laundry.
8. If you are the food preparer in the family, stock up on store bought or homemade meals for the others in your family, so that YOU will not have to prepare meals for them. You shouldn't be handling their food, and you probably won't have the energy to do it, anyhow. And for goodness sakes, if anyone says, "Let me know if I can help..." be sure to tell THEM to bring meals. :)
9. Leave all valuables at home....purse, jewelry, watch, wallet, etc.
10. Take your insurance card!!!! But then give it to your friend or family member to take home. Better yet, take a photo copy of your card (front and back) and just give it to the admittance people.
11. Put out the cloths you want to wear home from the hospital. Have the person who is picking you up bring these to the hospital on the last day.
12. REMINDER!!! If you need pre-certification to be an in-patient and have your insurance cover it...be sure someone calls for this ahead of time!
DISPOSABLE TOOTHBRUSH
TRAVEL SIZED TOOTHPASTE.....Your favorite brand
EMPTY SMALL PLASTIC TRAVEL BOTTLES with your favorite shampoo, conditioner, lotion, etc....so you can throw out what you don't use
TALL PLASTIC DRINK GLASS, rather than the mini-hospital ones
POWDERED LEMONADE(check the label for LID)
COMFY PAJAMAS OR NIGHTSHIRTS that you're willing to leave there
PEN/PENCIL to make notes to tell nurse/doctor next time they appear
PAPER and/or POST-IT NOTES to write or draw on...or to put messages on your window for people to see from the outside, or on the door of your room.
BATH SOAP that YOU like
DECK OF PLAYING CARDS
MAGAZINES
ROOM FRESHENERS (Some places make you keep your food trash...so it can get rather ripe.)
CHEAP UNDERWEAR that you would NEVER wear anywhere else, or want to take home.
FUNKY SLIPPERS or furry socks...again, that you'd never wear anywhere else, can leave there, but will feel happy and warm in.
SMILEY FACE STICKERS....just to remind you to smile
PARTY DECORATIONS! Streamers, scotch tape, balloons. Don't forget to decorate your bathroom and the outside of your door, so people will know there's a HAPPY radiating person in there.
A SIGN for the outside of the door:
GINGER for nausea (Chinese ginger candy, ginger ale, homemade LID ginger snaps, or ginger capsules for motion sickness from health food store)
GREETING CARDS: Ask friends and well wishers to give you funny or inspirational cards and messages, but don't open them until you get into isolation. Then space them out so you have mail every hour.
Collect internet jokes from people, and space THEM out to read when you need a laugh.
LISTERINE, in case you get thrush...it helps to use it before using the medicine that will be prescribed.
SOUR STUFF: Grapes, sour candies, etc...to promote salivation
ICE CHEST!!!! Take your own LID snacks, drinks, etc.
Have someone cater LID meals, if the hospital will let you. There's no sense being hungry, and the hospitals usually don't have a clue about what constitutes a low iodine diet.
PHONE NUMBERS of friends and family...written on something you can throw away/
LONG DISTANCE CALLING CARD information
EYE GLASSES....leave your contact lenses at home. You won't want to mess with them and it's probably not a great idea to use them because they hold fluids next to your eye.
PLASTIC BAGS: Take your supplies in a plastic bag or a box that you don't need again. You won't want to irradiate your favorite suitcase. Also, if you are asked to keep your food trash in your room, you'll like having extra bags to double-bag the trash.
***If you wear the hospital gowns, you can wear one tied in back and then wear another one as a robe (tied in front). A little less skimpy in the rear.
***Have your clean, good clothes removed from the room and brought back when it's time to leave.
After the first 48 hours, you will still want to take precautions, even though your radiation levels will be greatly reduced. Remember two main rules:
1. CONTROL BODILY FLUIDS (first 7 days after RAI)...especially saliva. Avoid kissing and sexual activities. Do not let anyone else share your eating utensils. Control spraying from sneezing or coughing. Be careful with anything you put in your mouth, including pencils you chew on. :)
2. MINIMIZE EXPOSURE (first 5 days after RAI...but 7 days for being around pregnant women or children): When in doubt, increase your distance from others, and reduce your time with them.
Continue to flush 3 times.
If others are using your toilet and sink area, be sure to wipe it down after use and keep your toothbrush and glass in a separate area.
Continue to sleep alone for 5-7 days, post RAI.
At the end of the week, wash all bed linens and clothes that you wore while "glowing".
When the week is over, all you have to do is try to remember what "Life before RAI" was like, and go live it!
Disclaimer: The above is intended for informational purposes only. The information is purely NON-professional, and is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for what your doctor prescribes or recommends.