This is completely random and out of the blue. My mom went in for an outpatient medical procedure this morning where she had radioactive dye put into her body to be traced by an xray machine (or something like that). My mom was told to stay away from children under 18 years old today. (Or no closer than 6.5 feet from them.) My mom didn't even think to ask if she should stay away from me since I'm trying to get pregnant. Clearly, I, myself, would not subject myself directly to radioactive dye. But what would you do about avoiding my mom if you were in my shoes? This is only an issue because I have really fun plans with her and my family tonight at her house that I'd hate to miss out on if I didn't have to. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
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The primary factors to keep your radiation exposure down are time and distance. The closer the distance you are to your mom and the longer the time interval, the more radiation exposure you will receive. If I were in your shoes, I would keep my fun plans but avoid hugging your mom or sitting next to her for a long period of time. I don't know what your plans entail but I would imagine it would be possible to stay a couple feet away from her in a group setting.
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@TiredmommaMD: Thank you for your response! I clarified with my mom that her doctor said to avoid children and pregnant women. Maybe I just won't give her a hug or a kiss! She had the procedure done at about 7 am and I will be seeing her around 6 pm. I don't think she will be glowing or anything like that.
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Where are you in your cycle. It sounds like this is only a concern for 24 hrs, so if you're not past ovulation I wouldn't even worry.
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@kiddosc: I should be well past ovulation. Thanks for that thought! I feel like this is such a dumb, obvious question that I don't even know why I posted it!
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@agold: did you mom have a nuclear medicine scan? I've worked in the radiology and nuclear medicine fields (though I'm not a tech). If she did, most NM scans are perfectly safe for you to be around your mom. The only one I am aware of that requires distance is a radioactive thyroid ablation.
Again, I'm not a tech or a Dr so take that for what it's worth. I certainly don't know all there is to know about the scans either! I'm sure you'd be fine to be around your mom!
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@HappyBluebird: Thanks for your input. My mom said she had "hepatobil syst image w/drug". I'm assuming she got that off her medical papers. I'm going over to her house a little later than planned now. And I'm planning to just not get too close to her. My family knows I'm TTC so we are all laughing a little now about my mom being radio active. My sister is staying home and not bringing her daughter.
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@agold: yeah that sounds like a Hida scan. It's a nuclear medicine scan. I'm sure you will be fine around your mom. I've had a thyroid scan with a similar drug and I wasn't given any warning to stay away from children. It's probably just an extra precaution to be extra safe.
It's not often you get to say you are radioactive! Best of luck in TTC and to your mom with her scan results!
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@HappyBluebird: Thank you so much for your opinion and well wishes. We are having fun with my mom being radioactive.
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8 comments