Need help, low iodine diet

nevergiveup51
nevergiveup51 Member Posts: 40
edited April 2012 in Thyroid Cancer #1
Hi everyone, if you can answer a few questions for me it would be helpful. i started my LID on April 18' have to do it for 2 weeks but unfortunately i have been having sunflower seeds for a snack. Went to a site and found out that sunflower seeds have high amounts of iodine. Am I still ok for doing the full body scan on May 4th?

Also, i switch drs, the new dr did blood work, they called and said I was extremely hyperthyroid. She lowered my medicine. I was also taking a multi-vit. that had 150 mcg of iodine and eating fish about 3 times a week. Here is the question, did I increase my chances for a recurrance?

Thank you, debby

Comments

  • sunnyaz
    sunnyaz Member Posts: 582
    #2
    Low Iodine Diet
    Hi Debby,

    No you did not increase your chances of recurrence, but it's questionable as to whether or not you will uptake the RAI for your scan. Usually you go low iodine (not NO iodine) for two weeks prior. The fish is a problem only if it was shellfish. Other types of fish are lower in iodine. Sunflower seeds in general aren't risky unless they had iodized salt.

    The best you can do at this point is flush your system. Drink lots of water/fluids from this point on and try to go to a non-iodine diet for the remaining days. Stay away from anything pre-made. Lots of fruits and vegetables. Except for strawberries, cranberries and rhubarb. See the thyca website for their downloadable cookbook if you haven't already. The only contradiction is the cranberries and strawberries that I could find.

    There are Multi-Vitamins that have no iodine. I found a Gummi Vitamin for adults at my grocery store that were iodine free. You might want to email the company to be sure before taking them. That is what I did.

    Are you going to do the Thyrogen injections before your scan? How hyperthyroid are you? I am at 0.02 and have been for the last two years except for during my treatments and scans in which I did the Thyrogen Injections. Hyperthyroid is good place to be to decrease your chances of recurrence. I know it's not pleasant but it's better than the alternative.

    Good luck to you and I wish you the best outcome possible.

    Blessings,
    Julie-SunnyAZ
  • nevergiveup51
    nevergiveup51 Member Posts: 40
    #3
    sunnyaz said:

    Low Iodine Diet
    Hi Debby,

    No you did not increase your chances of recurrence, but it's questionable as to whether or not you will uptake the RAI for your scan. Usually you go low iodine (not NO iodine) for two weeks prior. The fish is a problem only if it was shellfish. Other types of fish are lower in iodine. Sunflower seeds in general aren't risky unless they had iodized salt.

    The best you can do at this point is flush your system. Drink lots of water/fluids from this point on and try to go to a non-iodine diet for the remaining days. Stay away from anything pre-made. Lots of fruits and vegetables. Except for strawberries, cranberries and rhubarb. See the thyca website for their downloadable cookbook if you haven't already. The only contradiction is the cranberries and strawberries that I could find.

    There are Multi-Vitamins that have no iodine. I found a Gummi Vitamin for adults at my grocery store that were iodine free. You might want to email the company to be sure before taking them. That is what I did.

    Are you going to do the Thyrogen injections before your scan? How hyperthyroid are you? I am at 0.02 and have been for the last two years except for during my treatments and scans in which I did the Thyrogen Injections. Hyperthyroid is good place to be to decrease your chances of recurrence. I know it's not pleasant but it's better than the alternative.

    Good luck to you and I wish you the best outcome possible.

    Blessings,
    Julie-SunnyAZ

    Hi Julie-Sunny-AZ When I saw
    Hi Julie-Sunny-AZ

    When I saw your comment "no you did not increase your chances for recurrance" I had a sigh of relief, thank you for that. I asked the nurse how hyperthyroid was I but at the time she didn't have my chart with her. When they lowered my meds I told her that I don't do well at a lower dose but she said that they will recheck it in 6 weeks. Also, that is what I thought, its better to be hyperthyroid to decrease your chances for recurrance. This is a new doctor and I am second guessing her decision. What I was going to do was just to go back to the higher dosage. Its just so hard to put your full trust into these doctors because of all the mistakes they have made in the past.

    On April 30 and May 1st I will be getting the thyrogen shots and on May 2nd go get the RAI pill then on May 4 go get the full body scan. Bye for now.

    Blessings to you too, Debby
  • sammyid
    sammyid Member Posts: 1
    #4
    sunnyaz said:

    Low Iodine Diet
    Hi Debby,

    No you did not increase your chances of recurrence, but it's questionable as to whether or not you will uptake the RAI for your scan. Usually you go low iodine (not NO iodine) for two weeks prior. The fish is a problem only if it was shellfish. Other types of fish are lower in iodine. Sunflower seeds in general aren't risky unless they had iodized salt.

    The best you can do at this point is flush your system. Drink lots of water/fluids from this point on and try to go to a non-iodine diet for the remaining days. Stay away from anything pre-made. Lots of fruits and vegetables. Except for strawberries, cranberries and rhubarb. See the thyca website for their downloadable cookbook if you haven't already. The only contradiction is the cranberries and strawberries that I could find.

    There are Multi-Vitamins that have no iodine. I found a Gummi Vitamin for adults at my grocery store that were iodine free. You might want to email the company to be sure before taking them. That is what I did.

    Are you going to do the Thyrogen injections before your scan? How hyperthyroid are you? I am at 0.02 and have been for the last two years except for during my treatments and scans in which I did the Thyrogen Injections. Hyperthyroid is good place to be to decrease your chances of recurrence. I know it's not pleasant but it's better than the alternative.

    Good luck to you and I wish you the best outcome possible.

    Blessings,
    Julie-SunnyAZ

    low-iodine diet
    Hi Julie, Thank you for all of your posts. They have been very helpful. I just had a TT on June 22, 2012. I have now been on the low-iodine diet for a week. The problems I am experiencing since the day after surgery have ranged from nausea to nawing & burning in my stomach & diareha. I had stomach problems before I found out I had thyroid cancer & I had had a stomach CT scan which didn't show anything significant. Right after I found out I had cancer. I have diverticulitis, reflux, & a esophogeal stricture. I am having an extremely difficult time having any appetite & the smell of most food bothers me. I just don't want to eat & when I do it isn't very balanced. I have looked up the Thyca.org for the cookbook book & found many receipe's to sound really good, until I actually started it & the stomach problems have just gotten worse. I used to drink a Activia Yogurt smoothie almost daily to help & since I can't have dairy products I'm not sure what to do. I would really appreciate any suggestions you may have. I see the endocrinologist on July 11th to find out more on my radiation date & I'm worried about being really sick to my stomach afterwards during isolation etc.

    Thank you so much & the best of everything to you.

    sammyid
  • sunnyaz
    sunnyaz Member Posts: 582
    #5
    sammyid said:

    low-iodine diet
    Hi Julie, Thank you for all of your posts. They have been very helpful. I just had a TT on June 22, 2012. I have now been on the low-iodine diet for a week. The problems I am experiencing since the day after surgery have ranged from nausea to nawing & burning in my stomach & diareha. I had stomach problems before I found out I had thyroid cancer & I had had a stomach CT scan which didn't show anything significant. Right after I found out I had cancer. I have diverticulitis, reflux, & a esophogeal stricture. I am having an extremely difficult time having any appetite & the smell of most food bothers me. I just don't want to eat & when I do it isn't very balanced. I have looked up the Thyca.org for the cookbook book & found many receipe's to sound really good, until I actually started it & the stomach problems have just gotten worse. I used to drink a Activia Yogurt smoothie almost daily to help & since I can't have dairy products I'm not sure what to do. I would really appreciate any suggestions you may have. I see the endocrinologist on July 11th to find out more on my radiation date & I'm worried about being really sick to my stomach afterwards during isolation etc.

    Thank you so much & the best of everything to you.

    sammyid

    Wow Sammyid!
    This sounds miserable. I am so sorry you are dealing with this. As if the surgery and cancer diagnosis wasn't enough? Okay, so first I want to add a disclaimer: I am not a doctor and I don't give medical advice. But here is what I think may be happening to you. Your system may be in "acid" mode. You possibly are producing a lot of acid which may be causing the burning, diarrhea, reflux and stricture. FYI-low pH (acid) in the body does not allow oxygen to absorb into your cells. Cells mutate and become "anaerobic" (without air) in order to survive in your body, this is how cancer is formed. When you raise the pH of your body the acid is neutralized and oxygen is able fill your cells thereby killing the now "anaerobic" cancer cells. Cancer can not live in an oxygenated environment. The pH of the body should be between 7.5 and 8.5 in order to properly absorb oxygen. Do an internet search to find out the best way to increase the pH (alkaline) of your body. Since I don't know all of your medical conditions it would be hard for me to say what the best way would be. I don't have serious medical conditions so I am safe to drink a teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in six to eight ounces of water every night before bed. This was just the easiest thing for me. This is how I keep my pH higher and it keeps my reflux down. It does make me burp after I drink it, but I don't need to take my Omeprazole as often if I do this. It has also cured my Irritable Bowel Syndrome (diarrhea) as well as fighting off cancer cells.

    Once you get the acid neutralized I think your appetite will come back. Keep in mind that most conventional doctors will not agree with the higher pH theory but it has worked for many. I recommend doing the research and deciding if this might help you. As far as I know there is no iodine in Baking Soda or any of the alkaline foods.

    Sure hope you feel better soon. I will keep you in my prayers.

    Blessings,
    Julie-SunnyAZ

Discussion Boards