Hi, 

I’m writing this for some reassurance/information. I hope what I’m saying doesn’t come across as rude or insensitive or that I’m making this about myself; I’m just struggling to find information.

I live with my Dad and he is going to be going into hospital on the 15th January for radioactive iodine treatment for thyroid cancer. I live with my Dad and I’m feeling really anxious for when he comes out of hospital after this treatment as I really struggle with health anxiety and OCD. This year has been really tough as my anxiety feels heightened after my Dad’s diagnosis and I feel really selfish and stupid for worrying about myself when he’s the one that is sick.

My main concerns is after he comes out, I’m stressed about what it will be like for us and what precautions we’ll need to take. A lot of websites talk about avoiding contact and not using the same things but we live in a really small house with only one bathroom and I can already feel my OCD really ramping up and almost visualising the radiation. I know that must sound so stupid but it’s like visualising germs everywhere and I’m panicking about how I’m going to cope and what we will need to do.

I really wanted to attend the first visit to the hospital with my Dad because I wanted to hear it all for myself but I couldn’t get the day off work and he’s not very good at telling all the information so I just want to know how bad it really is, are there many risks afterwards, what do I need to be doing? I’m worried he’s not telling me all of it.

Please, I do apologise again, I hope this comes across as ok. I’m not trying to be rude or stupid I just don’t know what to do.