So is the low iodine diet worse than rai ?????????????

MarinMark
MarinMark Member Posts: 148
Saw this in another website..... there are so many complaints about the low iodine diet and how it "sucks". But it looks okay to me. Will see when it starts. Seems people think it is worse than rai.


So really, are most people having no symptoms from the rai ? I hate nausea. Haven't had nausea in 30 years.
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Comments

  • amorriso
    amorriso Member Posts: 185
    diets and RAI
    Think of it this way...by the end of your RAI you can eat anything you want! For me the diet was harder...oh how I missed my pizza and cheeseburgers...(yes I confess - I like burger king cheeseburgers) - its the first thing I had after my scans!

    I remember getting a needle to help prevent nausea with my first RAI - dont think I got one for the second. But I wasnt nausated at all anyway.

    Just heed to tips and advice you've been given on this forum - you'll do fine.

    Andrea
  • teamwink
    teamwink Member Posts: 97
    amorriso said:

    diets and RAI
    Think of it this way...by the end of your RAI you can eat anything you want! For me the diet was harder...oh how I missed my pizza and cheeseburgers...(yes I confess - I like burger king cheeseburgers) - its the first thing I had after my scans!

    I remember getting a needle to help prevent nausea with my first RAI - dont think I got one for the second. But I wasnt nausated at all anyway.

    Just heed to tips and advice you've been given on this forum - you'll do fine.

    Andrea

    Agreed
    Yes, I found the diet worse - I eat very well, but restricting things was tough (dairy, etc). I couldn't simply refrain from going out to eat due to family/kids, so I had to go and eat nothing while watching everyone else eat, which did suck. The RAI didn't feel bad at all - I kept waiting for something to kick in but it didn't. It was odd how normal I felt during that time.
  • nasher
    nasher Member Posts: 505
    how the LID sucks
    have you found a coffee creamer yet?

    its not what you can have that makes the LID hard its the but I like... and I want...

    I didn't get nausea from RAI but I did get it from vertigo (happened later in life)

    LID sucks more than RAI cause of a simple fact.

    you take the RAI and are done with it... everything after comes after and you have no real control of the RAI... LID... you have at least 3 meals a day (and snacks) for at least 14 days and now and then you just want something on the no go list.
  • MarinMark
    MarinMark Member Posts: 148
    nasher said:

    how the LID sucks
    have you found a coffee creamer yet?

    its not what you can have that makes the LID hard its the but I like... and I want...

    I didn't get nausea from RAI but I did get it from vertigo (happened later in life)

    LID sucks more than RAI cause of a simple fact.

    you take the RAI and are done with it... everything after comes after and you have no real control of the RAI... LID... you have at least 3 meals a day (and snacks) for at least 14 days and now and then you just want something on the no go list.

    Coconut milk or coffee-mate orginal
    Nasher--- I purchased some canned coconut milk last night. Haven't tried it. Coffee-Mate The Original tastes great and the company and a few friends tell me it's iodine-free. Why is sodium caseinate not allowed on some LID lists ?

    From the Mayo Clinic list:

    " Liquid and powdered
    nondairy creamers may be
    used as milk or cream
    substitutes if they do not
    contain carrageenan."
  • nasher
    nasher Member Posts: 505
    MarinMark said:

    Coconut milk or coffee-mate orginal
    Nasher--- I purchased some canned coconut milk last night. Haven't tried it. Coffee-Mate The Original tastes great and the company and a few friends tell me it's iodine-free. Why is sodium caseinate not allowed on some LID lists ?

    From the Mayo Clinic list:

    " Liquid and powdered
    nondairy creamers may be
    used as milk or cream
    substitutes if they do not
    contain carrageenan."

    Foods high in iodine are:
    Foods high in iodine are: fish, sea vegetables, cranberries, eggs and coconut oil.

    humm looking up coconut milk... it looks like coconut milk is ok but not oil... not sure about it all.
  • MarinMark
    MarinMark Member Posts: 148
    nasher said:

    Foods high in iodine are:
    Foods high in iodine are: fish, sea vegetables, cranberries, eggs and coconut oil.

    humm looking up coconut milk... it looks like coconut milk is ok but not oil... not sure about it all.

    "Foods high in iodine are:
    "Foods high in iodine are: fish, sea vegetables, cranberries, eggs and coconut oil."


    Whole eggs, yes. Not egg whites. Whites are listed as okay, right ?
  • MarinMark
    MarinMark Member Posts: 148
    amorriso said:

    diets and RAI
    Think of it this way...by the end of your RAI you can eat anything you want! For me the diet was harder...oh how I missed my pizza and cheeseburgers...(yes I confess - I like burger king cheeseburgers) - its the first thing I had after my scans!

    I remember getting a needle to help prevent nausea with my first RAI - dont think I got one for the second. But I wasnt nausated at all anyway.

    Just heed to tips and advice you've been given on this forum - you'll do fine.

    Andrea

    Which tips ?
    "Just heed to tips and advice you've been given on this forum - you'll do fine"



    Which tips ?
  • alapah
    alapah Member Posts: 287
    MarinMark said:

    "Foods high in iodine are:
    "Foods high in iodine are: fish, sea vegetables, cranberries, eggs and coconut oil."


    Whole eggs, yes. Not egg whites. Whites are listed as okay, right ?

    whites are ok
    if you buy those cartons of egg whites, be sure to read the ingredients - some have other stuff in them that are not LID compatible. or, you could always separate the whites from fresh eggs yourself.
  • MarinMark
    MarinMark Member Posts: 148
    alapah said:

    whites are ok
    if you buy those cartons of egg whites, be sure to read the ingredients - some have other stuff in them that are not LID compatible. or, you could always separate the whites from fresh eggs yourself.

    All Whites lists
    "100% Liquid Egg Whites". No other ingredients.
  • KYGirl71
    KYGirl71 Member Posts: 25
    nasher said:

    how the LID sucks
    have you found a coffee creamer yet?

    its not what you can have that makes the LID hard its the but I like... and I want...

    I didn't get nausea from RAI but I did get it from vertigo (happened later in life)

    LID sucks more than RAI cause of a simple fact.

    you take the RAI and are done with it... everything after comes after and you have no real control of the RAI... LID... you have at least 3 meals a day (and snacks) for at least 14 days and now and then you just want something on the no go list.

    Nausea
    I had nausea with only 5mci of rai, I can only imagine what it will be like with the 50mci I will receive on the 18th. I hate, hate, hate, the LID, I can't eat anything and have lost 12 pounds in like a week and a half! Not that losing weight is bad, I'm just starving!!
  • KYGirl71
    KYGirl71 Member Posts: 25
    nasher said:

    how the LID sucks
    have you found a coffee creamer yet?

    its not what you can have that makes the LID hard its the but I like... and I want...

    I didn't get nausea from RAI but I did get it from vertigo (happened later in life)

    LID sucks more than RAI cause of a simple fact.

    you take the RAI and are done with it... everything after comes after and you have no real control of the RAI... LID... you have at least 3 meals a day (and snacks) for at least 14 days and now and then you just want something on the no go list.

    LID
    Why am I going to be on the LID for longer than 14 days? I have been on the LID for 16 days and must remain on the LID for another 12 days and could be longer pending blood work on the 14th. I am in high vent mode (trying not to cuss on here). I am just completely frustrated right now and moody as h***!!!
  • sunnyaz
    sunnyaz Member Posts: 582
    KYGirl71 said:

    LID
    Why am I going to be on the LID for longer than 14 days? I have been on the LID for 16 days and must remain on the LID for another 12 days and could be longer pending blood work on the 14th. I am in high vent mode (trying not to cuss on here). I am just completely frustrated right now and moody as h***!!!

    Hang in there
    I know this is frustrating because everything we eat normally has iodine. If you like salad you can try using lots of your favorite veggies and making a vinaigrette dressing with vegetable oil and Balsamic Vinegar. I found it very tasty and satisfying. Also, I loved frozen banana slices dipped in all natural peanut butter. I made fruit smoothies with frozen and fresh fruit such as pineapple and banana with a little bit of all natural fruit juice. Blueberries and banana's were very good too. Blend it with a little crushed iced. Banana's are also good frozen and blended to make banana ice cream. You can have pasta that doesn't have iodine, just check the label. I made it and put some no-salt butter with sauteed vegetables and some days I used all natural tomato sauce with sauteed garlic and onions. I even made meat balls and froze them to put in my pasta dishes. The all natural tomato sauce is available at Trader Joe's and the Whole foods stores. I actually found it in the health food section at my local Fry's (Kroger) store. Almonds and nuts without salt are a good snack too. I hope some of these idea's will help make this easier for you. You are almost there, keep your head up and look at the Sunny side!
    Blessings,
    Julie-SunnyAZ
  • MarinMark
    MarinMark Member Posts: 148
    sunnyaz said:

    Hang in there
    I know this is frustrating because everything we eat normally has iodine. If you like salad you can try using lots of your favorite veggies and making a vinaigrette dressing with vegetable oil and Balsamic Vinegar. I found it very tasty and satisfying. Also, I loved frozen banana slices dipped in all natural peanut butter. I made fruit smoothies with frozen and fresh fruit such as pineapple and banana with a little bit of all natural fruit juice. Blueberries and banana's were very good too. Blend it with a little crushed iced. Banana's are also good frozen and blended to make banana ice cream. You can have pasta that doesn't have iodine, just check the label. I made it and put some no-salt butter with sauteed vegetables and some days I used all natural tomato sauce with sauteed garlic and onions. I even made meat balls and froze them to put in my pasta dishes. The all natural tomato sauce is available at Trader Joe's and the Whole foods stores. I actually found it in the health food section at my local Fry's (Kroger) store. Almonds and nuts without salt are a good snack too. I hope some of these idea's will help make this easier for you. You are almost there, keep your head up and look at the Sunny side!
    Blessings,
    Julie-SunnyAZ

    Great suggestions. Forgot
    Great suggestions. Forgot about bananas. Wow ! Nausea on 5 mci of RAI ? Must have been I123. I was told no one has side effects on 123. Maybe it was stress.

    I love organic chicken breasts with wine vinegar, unsalted almond butter on matzo, and fried mushrooms and onions.

    Do most people have nausea on I131 ? Or do most have no symptoms ?
  • iggymurphy
    iggymurphy Member Posts: 34
    MarinMark said:

    Great suggestions. Forgot
    Great suggestions. Forgot about bananas. Wow ! Nausea on 5 mci of RAI ? Must have been I123. I was told no one has side effects on 123. Maybe it was stress.

    I love organic chicken breasts with wine vinegar, unsalted almond butter on matzo, and fried mushrooms and onions.

    Do most people have nausea on I131 ? Or do most have no symptoms ?

    nausea?
    I am interested in this as well. I didn't take any pain medication after the TT because I knew it would make me nauseous. And of course threw up after the general anesthesia. The anesthesiologist came up to the hospital the next day to check on me (which is pretty rare) and said she has never seen anyone get so sick...they "gave me everything they were allowed to". I have 8 weeks before my RAI and want to be prepared.

    Erin
  • ceanna
    ceanna Member Posts: 11
    LID and RAI
    My endo had me on the full-blown LID for only 2-3 weeks before RAI, but cautioned me to begin to read all labels and cut salt before the diet officially started. That made it quite tolerable. Don't let yourself get hungry--snack on safe things--it seemed to limit carvings for those things not on list. There are plenty of good foods to eat but you do have to think before popping something in your mouth!!

    RAI made me only slightly sick for about two days; I did not have any anti-nausea meds. You can't throw up within a day after RAI pill or you have to start all over again. I think it was more the idea that I was swallowing something radioactive than the actual pill. I did have a metallic taste in my mouth for weeks after, but sucking on sour candies helped a lot and it got better each day.

    Remember, it's all short term. I kept telling myself I could do this in the short run because I wanted to live for the long run!!
  • wired1966
    wired1966 Member Posts: 3
    nasher said:

    Foods high in iodine are:
    Foods high in iodine are: fish, sea vegetables, cranberries, eggs and coconut oil.

    humm looking up coconut milk... it looks like coconut milk is ok but not oil... not sure about it all.

    Coconut milk low iodine
    From this Food database, coconut milk has only 0.7 µg iodine per 100 grams
    http://www.fineli.fi/food.php?foodid=29014&lang=en
  • MarinMark
    MarinMark Member Posts: 148
    ceanna said:

    LID and RAI
    My endo had me on the full-blown LID for only 2-3 weeks before RAI, but cautioned me to begin to read all labels and cut salt before the diet officially started. That made it quite tolerable. Don't let yourself get hungry--snack on safe things--it seemed to limit carvings for those things not on list. There are plenty of good foods to eat but you do have to think before popping something in your mouth!!

    RAI made me only slightly sick for about two days; I did not have any anti-nausea meds. You can't throw up within a day after RAI pill or you have to start all over again. I think it was more the idea that I was swallowing something radioactive than the actual pill. I did have a metallic taste in my mouth for weeks after, but sucking on sour candies helped a lot and it got better each day.

    Remember, it's all short term. I kept telling myself I could do this in the short run because I wanted to live for the long run!!

    Med ?
    What did you take for nausea ? Compazine ? How many days were you nauseated ?
  • Farzana25
    Farzana25 Member Posts: 24
    For me it was worst than RAI
    i had my total thyroid removed last year as i was diagnosed with papillary carcinoma. after one month i went through RAI. i was on low iodine diet for month at home. but at home i could not follow it..i was trying to avoid dairy and eggs.. seafood and salt... but once iwas in hospital they gave me totally salt less food.not a single bit. it was really hard on me.. i hardly ate anything for 3 days while i was in hospital... on top after the taking the RAI i was told to drink a lot of water.. too much water in an empty stomach really made me sick rather than the RAI itself
  • snoopy100
    snoopy100 Member Posts: 9
    Farzana25 said:

    For me it was worst than RAI
    i had my total thyroid removed last year as i was diagnosed with papillary carcinoma. after one month i went through RAI. i was on low iodine diet for month at home. but at home i could not follow it..i was trying to avoid dairy and eggs.. seafood and salt... but once iwas in hospital they gave me totally salt less food.not a single bit. it was really hard on me.. i hardly ate anything for 3 days while i was in hospital... on top after the taking the RAI i was told to drink a lot of water.. too much water in an empty stomach really made me sick rather than the RAI itself

    I had a thyroidectomy Aug 30 2011. Soon to have RAI
    I would like any helpful information about LID . I think you can eat salt as long as it is not iodized. Can you have butter... since this is made from milk... I think not.
    I am waiting for a drug called Thyrogen and then I will get RAI. I am afraid of nausea. Are there any other side effects. I would like to know before my treatment.
  • iggymurphy
    iggymurphy Member Posts: 34
    snoopy100 said:

    I had a thyroidectomy Aug 30 2011. Soon to have RAI
    I would like any helpful information about LID . I think you can eat salt as long as it is not iodized. Can you have butter... since this is made from milk... I think not.
    I am waiting for a drug called Thyrogen and then I will get RAI. I am afraid of nausea. Are there any other side effects. I would like to know before my treatment.

    Try the thyca web page for the full cookbook.
    No butter. That is the hardest part for me...I couldn't find any margine without salt or without soy. I was told nothing from a can either because they rinse cans in iodine.

    the diet isn't too bad (says the girl on day 5). the first 2 days were hard but I found found a few things I really like: fajitas (with my extreemly expensive no salt injected chicken and homemade tortillas), calzones with homemade bread and sauce with lots of veggies, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches(on homemade bread, unsalted peanut butter, and the one jelly I found that contains only fruit, sugar and pectin).

    I work full time and have two very young kids so its tuff finding time to make everything from scratch, but I feel healthy.

    My RAI is scheduled for next week so I don't know about the rest but good luck!

    http://www.thyca.org/rai.htm