I received my radioactive iodine 2 weeks ago, and now all my symptoms are worse! What is going on?
Radioactive iodine will induce an inflammation in the thyroid gland as part of the process by which thyroid cells are destroyed. The inflammation will cause thyroid cells to become leaky and thyroid hormone will escape into the blood, resulting in higher levels of circulating thyroid hormones for several weeks. Accordingly, in some patients, the symptoms of hyperthyroidism may become more prominent for several weeks after radioactive iodine administration. This problem is usually transient and lasts for only a few days or weeks, and if necessary, symptoms can be treated in part through use of beta blockers, where appropriate. In some patients, moderate to severe neck tenderness develops as a result of the inflammation and these symptoms, as well as the transient hyperthyroidism, can actually persist for 1-2 months after radioactive iodine.
