I-131 Experiences

I'm dropping my sweet Coco off at Auburn University tomorrow for I-131 treatment.  After successfully controlling her hyperT for 2 years with tapazole, things have spiraled out of control since May.  Despite my and the vet's best efforts, this is our last option.  She has underlying kidney/bladder issues, but Auburn feels that they will be much more easily controlled than the hyperT.  Since May, she has lost 5 lbs, even while trying to control with tapazole and the Hill's y/d diet.  

My formerly 16lb cat (in 2008) is now down to between 6-7 lbs.  She looks pitiful and it's breaking my heart.  The uncontrolled hyperT is causing her to vomit daily, and at this point we are feeding her any and everything she will eat just to avoid fatty liver disease.  We went down that road in 2010 at her initial time of diagnosis.  Her current favorite is Meow Mix bowls of wet food.  (Please no lectures about food quality.  Her vet and Auburn both support any and all efforts to keep her eating.) 

She will be in Auburn until at least the first week of September and then on serious contact restrictions for 2 weeks once we get home.  We have a 2 year old, and Auburn has asked us to be overly cautious when it comes to her transition back home.  I'm wondering how soon we should expect to see a change in her weight/vomitting/hair loss.  Auburn has given me a sheet with some info, but I would love to hear from real kitties who have gone through this.  

None of my cats have ever undergone this treatment, though I'm sure someone will reply who has. I've been doing a ton of research of hyperthyroidism lately, and I thought you might benefit from some links to websites about iodine 131? I know reading always helps me out when my cat is about to undergo a procedure.
http://www.cvm.umn.edu/vetrad/I131/home.html
http://www.felinethyroidclinic.com/faq.html
http://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q6269.html
http://www.nrl.moh.govt.nz/regulatory/c11.pdf
http://www.radcats.com/cure.html
http://www.vectoronto.com/uploads/docs/I131Update3.pdf

oh wow, thanks for the great resource kittlylover23, I am really new to all this, and many things are still there for me to understand.. well one step at the time I guess..Thanks

I hope this treatment works for your cat.  I have a cat who was diagnosed with thyroid issues at the same time liver cancer was found.  It is a challenge to deal with health issues.

uagirl said:

I'm dropping my sweet Coco off at Auburn University tomorrow for I-131 treatment. 

She will be in Auburn until at least the first week of September and then on serious contact restrictions for 2 weeks once we get home. 

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I don't have any experience with Iodine-131 and cats, but I do with people.  I used to care for people who were being treated with it.  They were on isolation in their own room with the door closed for 3 to 5 days, and then when they were discharged, they were only on precautions for maybe 4 days.  So to me the time frames you indicate seem rather excessive to me.  But maybe in cats it is different.

I just had the talk about iodine-131 with Abby's vet.  Abby just had her senior panel done yesterday and I told the vet that if she was hyperthyroid I was not going to give her tapazole and would be taking her out of province for the Iodine-131 treatment as it preserves the kidneys unlike Tapazole.

Here is a site that talks about the Iodine-131 treatment in cats.

http://oradell.com/services-staff/iodine-131-therapy/

About five years ago, Nougat went through the radio-iodine treatment and it worked very well.  I didn't even try the Tapazole on her though I'd used it on other cats who were not good candidates for the radio-iodine treatment.  Nougat had the treatment as soon as the hyperthyroidism was diagnosed and had lost little weight beforehand so I'm of no help in answering how soon good weight returned.

The after-care treatment is a pain but it doesn't last long.  The most annoying parts were only being able to be in her room for one hour a day total and storing the used litter for several weeks before I could put it in the garbage.  Since you have a child in the house, the routine for you will be more restrictive I see.
 

Thank you for the great info, kittylover23!

Coco had her thyroid scan today.  According to the student, her entire thoracic cavity was filled with excess thyroid tissue on the right side.  Due to a previous biopsy/tumor removal in May, they are confident it is all non-cancerous and that the treatment should work great for her.  So far, she is eating well, but they are giving her electrolyte fluids through IV just to prevent her from getting dehydrated due to stress.  She doesn't handle captivity well.  

Hello all,

 I'm new to this site, but I just had my Maine coon mix Star treated with the I-131 procedure.  I want to tell you about the results after 12 days, in case any of you are thinking of doing this.  First off, it was expensive, but I'm already very, very happy.  Star had all the hyper-thyroid symptoms: hyperactive, ravenous appetite but skinny, scraggly, thin fur, loose stool, thirsty, and excess vocalization.   She recently clawed her best friend, my gentle giant Ragdoll, Desmond, above his eye and really freaked him out.  I did a lot of research and realized the I-131 would be our best option, once I reconciled myself to the cost.  In San Diego, it would cost around $900, except of course Star needed special treatment: an ultrasound on her heart due to slight enlargement, plus she required a larger dose of the radioactive iodine due to a higher T4 level. Final cost: $1450. I had to leave Star at the vet hospital for a total of 6 days, and  I could view her remotely on the vet's webcam.  This entire procedure caused me great anxiety; Star hates the car, the vet, and being away from her home, Desmond, and me.  But - I had to make her healthy again!   

When Star came home, she was definitely happy to be here, but she was very sleepy and tired for about 9 days.  She ate and drank less than previously.  I sensed she was cold, so I put a little furry Petco cat blanket over her in her bed.  She slept for hours each day and night.  But, the good news now on day 12 since her release is that I'm seeing big improvement.  She is eating with a healthy appetite, her energy is returning, she has gained 6 ounces, her fur definitely looks less oily and fluffier, her stool is normal, and she is interacting sweetly with Desmond.   Each day shows gradual but discernible improvement.   I am very optimistic and happy that I did this for Star, even though it was an ordeal for her.  If anyone has any questions about my experience with I-131, please feel free to contact me!

My cat's blood is being evaluated right now for hyperactive thyroid. She is on amlodipine for blood pressure due to beginning stages of kidney failure but her kidney values are now better than ever. My internal medicine vet said her thyroid was slightly enlarged. She has inflammatory bowel disease and chronic pancreatitis and chronic hepatitis all three of which are pretty good for now. Her ALT was elevated a little and potassium was slightly low. When your cat came home was there anything special you had to do? Could your cat sleep with you etc?