Deb,

I'm off all meds now. Stopped everything four days ago. I stopped
taking my Synthroid after the surgery on the 28th of February, but
continued to take Cytomel which is a short-acting hormone. It should
drop out of my body fairly quickly, I am already noticing a little
drop in energy. But I have had no energy for three years now - so
I'm pretty used to it by now.

My RAI is on the 18th of April. On the fifteenth they will give me a
small dose of iodine, and then I go in on the 18th for a scan. Using
the results of the scan - they can see how much iodine was absorbed -
they will calculate the exact dose for ablation, and I will take it
on the same day as the scan. So I don't know what my dose will be
yet.

Maybe they will give me different instructions after they see how
much I need to take. I wonder about the difference in "quarantine"
time. I know that no two doctors will handle things the same way -
but still...... There's a lot of differences in our post-dose
instructions - the tech says I have a window of 6 hours before the
iodine is absorbed in my bloodstream - so that it will be safe for my
husband to drive me home from the hospital. I have *no* time in a
lead room (at least not that they've mentioned), and a 8-foot for 5
days quarantine. Not supposed to share utensils, wash my laundry
separately, sleep separately, flush the toilet twice and rinse out
the tub thoroughly after a shower. They seem more concerned about
people absorbing the iodine through my body fluids than anything
else. But if that's the only thing to be worried about - then why
the 8-foot rule? Hmmm - maybe I need to research this a little.....

My boys are 6 and 9. I've had more energy in the last week or so
than I've had in a long time. They seem kind of happy to have me
back. It's hard to realize I'm going to be losing it again - even
for just a short time.

I did a little something *like* kayaking along the ocean once - but
have never actually kayaked. So I would have to learn first..... :)
I guess when you get past forty, you begin to realize some dreams are
just pipe-dreams. But who knows....maybe I *will* do it.

frankie