"What Foods Should Be Consumed Following Iodine-131 Treatment?"

Food Recommendations After Iodine-131 Treatment

After patients have undergone iodine-131 treatment, it is recommended to appropriately increase the intake of protein-rich foods such as milk and eggs. Additionally, consuming more porridge, fresh fruits, and vegetables is advisable. However, cruciferous vegetables like cabbage and Chinese cabbage, as well as iodine-rich foods such as seafood, kelp, and laver, should be avoided. Furthermore, patients should refrain from taking iodine-containing medications to enhance the therapeutic effect of iodine-131.

The therapeutic period following iodine-131 treatment lasts for 3-4 months. During this time, maintaining a low-iodine diet, avoiding seafood and iodine-containing medications, is crucial. It is also recommended to use non-iodized salt as much as possible to aid in enhancing the therapeutic effect. If hyperthyroidism is fully resolved after 3-6 months, there is no need to continue avoiding certain foods, and typically, no recurrence occurs. Within 3 months post-treatment, when the full therapeutic effect may not yet be evident, avoiding excessive fatigue, preventing colds, and resting adequately are important.

Symptoms and Reactions of Hyperthyroidism After Iodine-131 Treatment

1. Systemic reactions primarily manifest as digestive system symptoms, including anorexia, nausea, vomiting, and occasionally skin itching, rash, dizziness, and fatigue.

2. Local reactions are more prevalent, featuring thyroid edema and radiation-induced thyroiditis with symptoms like itching, a sensation of expansion and pressure in the neck, difficulty swallowing, and coughing.

3. Within the first 2 weeks of treatment, some patients may experience symptom exacerbation (elevated basal metabolic rate and serum protein-bound iodine concentration). In severe cases, thyroid storm can occur, presenting as mental distress, high fever, sweating, tachycardia (often exceeding 140 beats per minute), atrial fibrillation, diarrhea, and coma, which can be life-threatening without prompt treatment.

4. Leukopenia often occurs after a single dose of iodine-131.

5. Hypothyroidism is a late complication of iodine-131 treatment, with a few patients developing permanent hypothyroidism requiring lifelong thyroid replacement therapy.

Hyperthyroidism, located in the neck, clinically presents with symptoms such as neck swelling, intolerance to heat and sweating, palpitations and irritability, increased appetite, impatience, trembling of fingers and tongue, and emaciation. It is a complex pathological process involving multiple organs and mechanisms.