“The Bunker – Room ” conjures up dungeon type settings,but alas no, it is a Room specially prepared by a Radiation Specialist, for the application of “Radiation Iodine Treatment”
The concern here is Safety…..particularly those patients who use the room after the treatment, safety from radiation.
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Black rubber matting is laid down on the floors, by a radiation specialist, and taped to prevent radiation leakage. Special attention is paid to the toilet area where water is passed and the front of the bowl, where bladder waste could leak, radiation is excreted from the body via the Bladder and Bowel,Spittle, and Sweat.
STRICT RULES……..are adhered to, mainly to protect the Visitors from contamination.
- a distance of 1 to 2 metres between Visitor & patient
- visits limited to 30 minutes per day!
- What goes in, cannot come out !
- Pills and Meals are left outside the door,
- the patient must never leave the room!
- patients in close proximity and rooms are moved & closed
The patient needs to be Totally self-sufficient, not even Nursing staff are permitted in the room, except in life threatening situations !!!
Generally, the “Radiation Iodine ” is orally taken, but because I am unable to swallow, it was taken intravenously via the ” feeder plug” in my gut.
Regular geiger counter readings are taken to monitor “radiation levels” for example, readings on day1….were 120, the day I left it was 60, still too high according to the specialist, but he relented and sent me home on conditions.
One of the conditions, was to stay away from pregnant women, when my wife and I exited the lift, the 1st person we encountered …was a pregnant woman !
