**Jacqueline R**

nanantato

Are you not planning to breasfeed because you had your thyroid irradiated?  I don't believe that having the radiodine procedure prevents you from breastfeeding, or poses any health risk to the baby. . .

I'm curious because I had the same procedure done last august and not one of my doctors has mentioned that breastfeeding would be an impossibility or even a concern.

To answer your question, it does. When I was given my paperwork from the nuclear medicine dept they advised me to no BFing. I have not asked my OB yet, I will see him on Monday. If he says its ok, I still may feel uneasy about it.

JacquelineR.

Hey Nanantato!

You are right that the initial precautions do include a long list of things, including: no breastfeeding, no sex, no sleeping in the same bed as your SO, avoiding contact with pregnant women and small children or animals etc.  But the half-life of Iodine-131 is short, and within a few weeks there is practically no radiative iodine left in your body. Your thyroid uptakes as much as it can, and the rest is eliminated in your pee. 

In general, it is common medical knowledge that radiation is harmful to human tissue and so to err on the side of caution, practitioners have instituted a long list of safety precautions, especially during, and immediately following treatment. I was also advised not to get pregnant for 6 months after the procedure.

I don't know how long ago you had the procedure done. Definitely talk to your doctor about breastfeeding (especially if its something that you would like to do) and any other questions you have about the long term effects of the radiation--to my knowledge they are minimal, and like all radiation exposure, the effects do not surface for 20 to 30 years. 

Either way, you should do what's best for you and your baby.  But it might ease your mind to get accurate information.

nanantato

Thanks Sweetie,

I promise I will ask!!

JacquelineR.

You're welcome!  Boo to bad thyroids!