Low Iodine Diet

HI, I am have a hard time keeping to my low iodine diet. If you are asking what a low iodine diet is you have not experienced Thyroid issues or Thyroid cancer as was my case. and now I have to go thru for the 2nd time (once anually) this diet so that I can be given Radioactive Iodine.. Well the jist of what i am asking is have any of you had to follow this diet I need some help. The no Soy and no dairy and no fish and the avoidance of red dye is really killing me... I was hoping someone could suggest to me what they ate to get thru this... it is only for 2-3 weeks but it seems much longer. You can only eat so much matza, marshmallows and peanut butter and rice cakes. and ice pops and sorbet. I do eat some chicken. . I mean I can eat fruit and vegetables but after a while I get the runs from them... so what do I do....  Any idea's... ?

WOW this is such a bummer.. no one responded to me at all.. this site used to be full of friendly caring people... where did you all go... I know I haven't been around lately.. but cannot believe the turnover in names I see posting...  really sorry.... to see this site take this turn.. it's too bad.. 

Donna,

 

I am currently going through the Low Iodine Diet and I can say it has been a hastle, probably the hardest thing I have ever done!! I can't seem to stick to the diet. This is my 3rd week and my TSH levels are still too low!!! I have been trying my best to keep the diet, all my meats come straight from the butcher, my fridge is loaded with fruits and vegitables... I'm sick of this diet, I'm tired of all the bland foods. Yesterday I went out to a birthday party and slipped an had a spring roll and two chicken fingers, although it wasn't much I feel like I ruined my diet. I just want to get this radiation done with. I had a question for you...How many times will you have to do this diet before it's all over?  Donna, you are not the only one going through this, try your hardest to stick to it, I know I am. Although I have failed proabbly 3 times already I get right back on it and try my hardest for the next time. There is one thing to remeber, this is a low iodine diet not a no iodine diet, thats something to keep in mind.     Ok, si I had my blood taken again today and if my levels are high enough, I'll be ready for radiation!! Pray for me!!

Hi...I'm kinda new here....although not new to WLS...I had my RNY 4 years ago...Anyway, this is a very caring site and the people are awesome and very helpful if they can be.  Maybe no one knows anything about what you are going thru.  I had thyroid problems pre-op...and was on Synthroid for a few years...But I never had to do a low iodine diet ever...and have never even heard of it.   In fact,after research on hypothyroidism, I suspected my thyroid was outta whack because I didn't get enough iodine. I used sea salt for seveal years (which had no iodine) and so I had to make sure I found a sea salt that has iodine, which I did...and have no trouble now between that and virgin coconut oil that I take (not much recently though)....I don't take any meds for my thyroid anymore now for over two years. My last test was fine again.  No one else in my family had any trouble with their tyroid and we all used the same non-iodinized salt...but I guess I am prone to deficiencies even before surgery...now that I look back on my life.... With the summer well on it's way...a lot of people are enjoying their weekends without getting online.  It's has been slow here lately....So please don't feel jaded!  I wasn't going to answer this post at all because I just don't know anything that could help you or support you in anyway at all.  But...I decided that you definitely needed a hug at least and some well wishes... Well..I hope things go fast for you...you sound miserable on this diet...Big hugs! Anita

I am going through the low-iodine diet right now for the 2nd time this year, and I have 1 more round to go. It is so hard! You are tired from being off the meds, and you can't eat hardly anything good, or convenient, so then you get even weaker from the hunger!!  It is frustrating. I found out that SEA SALT has tons of iodine, it comes straight from the ocean this way....makes sense that you can't eat fish on this diet, due to their high iodine content from the sea. DO NOT USE SEA SALT...Anyways, if you go to THYCA.ORG they have a cook book that you can print out  for free! It has been very helpful! The first time I went through this, I lived off of unsalted peanut butter (that I ground at a health food store) and corn tortillas with fresh chicken, avacodo, fresh salsa I made myself. ONLY use non-iodized salt of course. It was a little bit of work but worth it. Another thing I have been eating is Egg free noodles, cooked and then mixed with ground turkey (seasoned with N.I. Salt & pepper) and unsalted butter. Fruits and veggies are good, but you get sick of them in a hurry....,I work away from home and it is hard to have lunch here. I had thyroid cancer last fall and I had a lot of residual tissue left in my neck area. The Dr. said I will probably have to have the RAI at least 3 times to kill all of it.....every 6 month...so I'm at it again. Lucky for me my TSH was 42 after 1 1/2 weeks of being off me meds. I have my scan Monday and I hope nothing shows up....but ya never know. Check out the website and I hope I helped in some small way!! Keep your chin up!!