Hello Jacqui and welcome to alt.support.cancer
We usually have two thyroid cancer patients here.
Perhaps Jill will peek in soon and see your post.
I'm not an expert; there's so many types of cancers on this newsgroup, that it's
hard to keep track of each and their treatments.
As best I can recall, the biggest problem with RAI is going without thyroid
hormone, in preparation for and during the RAI treatment. Then waiting for the
thyroid hormone to kick in, once restarting the medication, which can take a few
weeks to a month before hyper or hypothyroid symptoms to improve. But since
you've not been on thyroid hormone yet, you'll not notice.

Here's what the BC Cancer agency says
http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/PPI/TypesofCancer/Thyroid/default.htm
Radioactive Iodine Therapy
May be used to destroy any remaining thyroid tissue or to treat recurrent
disease or metastases.
Only papillary and follicular cancers will take up iodine and only 50% or less
of these tumours will take up iodine in sufficient quantities to be
therapeutically useful.
Patient has to be off thyroxine for at least 4 weeks and T3 for at least 2 weeks
before an iodine scan or treatment will work.
Radioactive iodine is given as a drink, patients have to stay in hospital for a
few days after a therapeutic dose to allow the radioactivity to fall to safe
levels. Scans are done as outpatients.
Side effects include possible temporary bone marrow suppression, inflammation of
salivary glands, nausea and vomiting.<end copied text - there's more there about
radiation therapy and thyroxine replacement>

I sometimes take a peek at the thyroid newsgroup. I wondered what took you so
long to get here. :-)
But then I thought maybe you'd joined the list that some, on that newsgroup,
referred you to.

Seems to me that Canada does radiation therapy to prevent local recurrence, in
circumstances such as yours.
Steph just posted this, earlier this week.

His quote starts here..
"Our policy here is external beam radiation after surgery and radioiodine if:
1) Multiple nodes are involved, especially with extra capsular extension
2) If the primary has extended outside the thyroid and invades the surrounding
tissues
3) If there is residual disease after surgery

Local control is an important issue in well diff thyroid cancer.
There is  little evidence that external beam improves survival, but it certainly
improves local control.
Steph's quote ends here..

I want you to ask about external beam radiation therapy.
Having multiple surgeries, is no fun.
Jill and anita would be able to tell you that, so I'd want the best possible
treatment in order to maximize the chance of getting it all, first try.

Ask questions, vent, keep in touch,
when's the date?
Hugs to you,
J