Well on my way to treatment...

I'm well on my way to treatments! On Sunday, I started my low iodine diet (lid) and stopped taking my thyroid hormone replacement. It's not been too bad so far.

Going to the grocery store to get the foods for my low iodine diet was out of control ridiculous. I have a list of all the things I can't eat, but it would have been a lot easier to have just given me a list of what I can eat. The list would have been a lot shorter. Ha! Here's what the doctor gave me (and no, you don't have to read all of this - it's just for the affect to explain how long the list is):

Avoid the following foods, starting when instructed by your physician before your radioactive iodine test or treatment. Continue as instructed until after your radioactive iodine treatment (often for about 24 hours after). These foods and ingredients are high in iodine (over 20 mcg per serving, according to researchers' presentations at our conferences).

• Iodized salt and sea salt and any foods containing iodized salt or sea salt. Non-iodized salt may be used. For example, Kosher salt is okay unless the label says that it is iodized or sea salt.
• Seafood and sea products (fish, shellfish, seaweed, seaweed tablets, kelp). These are all very high in iodine and should be avoided.
• Foods or products that contain these sea-based additives: carrageenan, agar-agar, algin, alginate, nori (these food additives are seaweed by-products).
• Dairy products (milk, cheese, cream, yogurt, butter, ice cream, powdered dairy creamers, whey, casein, other dairy products). Note: Nondairy creamers often have iodine-containing ingredients, too. 
• Egg yolks or whole eggs or foods containing whole eggs. Egg whites are acceptable, because they contain little or no iodine. 
• Commercial bakery products. Avoid bread products that contain iodine/iodate dough conditioners (usually small bakery breads are safe; it’s best to bake it yourself or substitute with Matzos). If you read labels closely, you may also be able to find crackers made only with flour and water. While a few commercial bakery products have tested low in iodine, manufacturing processes can change over time.
• Red Dye #3. However, Red Dye #40 is OK. We suggest that you avoid red, orange, or brown processed food, pills, and capsules. Many red, red-orange, and brown food dyes contain iodine and should be avoided. 
• Most Chocolate (for its milk content). Cocoa powder and some dark chocolates are permitted. 
• Some Molasses. Avoid if sulfured or blackstrap, which is concentrated and has a bitter taste. It's okay to use the milder, fairly sweet unsulfured molasses usually used in cooking and that is the type most often available in grocery stores in the USA. Sulfur is not related to iodine. However, it's a term used on molasses labels. Some diets don't make distinctions between kinds of molasses and say to avoid all molasses.
• Soybeans and most soy products (soy sauce, soy milk, tofu). However, soy oil and soy lecithin are both okay.
• Some beans besides soybeans.The National Institutes of Health diet says to avoid these beans: red kidney beans, lima beans, navy beans, pinto beans, and cowpeas. Other diets do not limit beans.
• Some diets diets say to avoid rhubarb and potato skins. The inside of the potato is fine.
• Iodine-Containing Vitamins, and Food Supplements. Also products containing iodate or iodide. Check the label and ingredients and discontinue completely if iodine is included. Most vitamins with minerals contain iodine.
• If you are taking a Medication that contains iodine, check with your physician.

Limit the Amounts of these Foods

Some diets from thyroid cancer specialists and researchers recommend limiting the daily intake of foods that are moderate in iodine: 5 to 20 mcg per serving.

• Fresh meats. Up to 3 ounces per day of fresh meats such as chicken, beef, lamb, and veal are fine on the low-iodine diet. Whole cuts tend to contain less iodine than do ground meats. Also, check the package label on meats, including whole turkeys, turkey breasts, turkey cutlets, chicken. Many food makers inject broths into turkey or chicken. The label may not indicate whether the broth contains iodized salt. If you are not sure, go to your local butcher for fresh turkey, or chicken.
• Grains, cereals. Up to 4 servings per day of grains, cereals, pasta, and breads without iodine-containing ingredients are fine on this diet. The iodine content depends on the iodine content of the region where the grain was grown. Homemade baked goods and cereals are best on this diet. If you use processed foods, read the labels carefully to avoid iodine-containing ingredients. Also, remember that labels are not always accurate or up to date.
• Rices. Like grains, rices vary in the amount of iodine depending on the region where grown, so rice should be eaten only in limited amounts. Some low-iodine diets recommend avoiding rice. Basmati rice has been mentioned as the best for the diet.

Well, now that you get my point, here's what I can eat:

• Fresh fruits and veggies.
• Egg whites
• Unsalted peanuts
• Diet Coke (woo hoo)
• Potatoes
• Kosher salt (can I get another woo hoo)
• And, well, that's pretty much it. 

I'm having to cook a lot. For breakfast, I usually have an egg white omelet with mushrooms and peppers. For lunch, I usually have sliced squash and zucchini baked in the oven with a little olive oil, kosher salt and paprika. Then for dinner, I have boiled potatoes and corn. My snacks are unsalted peanuts and fruits. It's really not too bad. The worst part is having to cook for every meal. I'm used to popping a lean cuisine in the microwave! I'll be on this diet until the 27th.

Life with no thyroid hormone replacement meds hasn't been too bad so far. Sure, I'm starting to be a little more tired, but I'm tough! It would be nice if I could lose a little weight eating the way I am, but my doctor told me not to count on that! So. Not. Fair. Ha ha! I guess since I don't have much/any metabolism going on right now, I'm not burning anything off - even fruits and veggies! 

So, that's a quick update. The first few days haven't been too bad. I'm ready for the 27th though. I've started making a list of the foods I want. They include, but are not limited to:

Chicken and dumplings & corn pudding- only my sister's do! YUMMY!

Mexican cheese dip and tortilla chips

Pizza from Papa Johns with cheese sticks and garlic butter

Brussels Sprouts (My friend Melissa's recipe - made with bacon - YUMMY)

The new KFC chicken bites with mashed potatoes - KFC mashed taters are the bomb!

Country fried steak

Chang's spicy chicken from PF Changs

Cornflake candy (my sweet husband made a huge batch the night before I started this diet, and I only got a small bite)

Manicotti

CRAB LEGS!!!

Bloomin onion and Alice Springs Chicken with a baked potato (loaded) 

I'm sure that list will get longer as I continue this crazy diet, but I think it's a good start! And, yes, I know. I can't eat like that forever. But, heck! I think after this, I deserve a couple of good meals!