Ohhhhhhhhh...we're half way theyyyyyreeee.....

There's nothing like a Sweet Cuppin' Cake™ in the morning...

You're welcome Annette.



That's right kids, I was told that i would be doing the LID diet for about 2 weeks, and we are at the theoretical half way point. Ive spent seven days on this thing and i know all of you are just chomping at the bit to know how it has been so far. right? RIGHT?

In an unsalted nutshell, its been ok. Mostly.

Before i talk about my diet impressions though i feel like i should impart some info to the folks who need/want it. Im sure that some of you are probably tired of hearing about what i can and cant eat so if you want to skip this next part, then keep on scrolling down.

Stop when you see the dog.


After reading some of my past posts, I realized that i have never really described the exact details about this diet. So, for those of you who have managed to find this post and have been newly diagnosed with Thyca (that's what the cool kids call it) or have to go on a LID diet for any other reason let me cut and paste for you;


From the Thyca cook book, page 9:



• This is a Low-Iodine Diet, NOT a No-Iodine Diet or an Iodine-Free Diet. The goal is under 50 mcg iodine per day.
• The diet is for a short time period, usually for the 2 weeks (14 days) before a radioactive iodine scan or treatment.
• Avoid foods high in iodine (over 20 mcg per serving). Eat any foods low in iodine (up to 5 mcg per serving). Limit
the quantity of foods moderate in iodine (5 to 20 mcg per serving).
• Read the ingredient lists on labels of packaged foods. Check with your physician about medications you’re taking.



At this point you're probably saying, "ok that's cool, i just need to avoid iodized salt right?" In response, i would cut and paste this:


Not Allowed—
Avoid These Foods and Ingredients

• Iodized salt, sea salt, and any foods containing
iodized salt and sea salt.
• Seafood and sea products (fish, shellfish, seaweed,
seaweed tablets, carrageenan, agar-agar,
alginate, nori and other sea-based foods or
ingredients).
• Dairy products of any kind (milk, cheese, yogurt,
butter, ice cream).
• Egg yolks or whole eggs or foods containing whole
eggs.
• Bakery products containing iodine/iodate dough
conditioners or high-iodine ingredients. Lowiodine
homemade and commercial baked goods
are fine.
• Red Dye #3. (E127 in the United Kingdom)
• Most Chocolate (due to milk content). Cocoa powder
and some dark chocolates are allowed.
• Some molasses (if sulfured, such as blackstrap
molasses). Unsulfured molasses, which is more
common, is okay. Sulfur is a term used on labels
and does not relate to iodine.
• Soybeans and soybean products such as tofu, TVP,
soy milk, soy sauce. The NIH diet says to avoid
some other beans: red kidney beans, lima beans,
navy beans, pinto beans, and cowpeas.
• On some diets, rhubarb and potato skins (inside of the
potato is fine).
• Iodine-containing vitamins and food supplements.
• If you're taking a medication containing iodine, check
with your physician.


I remember looking at that list and wondering what the hell i was going to eat for the next couple of weeks. Thyca.org was nice enough to provide that info as well.


Allowed Foods and Ingredients

• Fruits except rhubarb and maraschino cherries
(with Red Dye #3 or E127 in the United Kingdom).
• Vegetables: preferably raw or frozen without salt,
except soybeans and (according to NIH diet) a few
other beans.
• Unsalted nuts and unsalted nut butters.
• Whites of eggs.
• Fresh meats up to 6 ounces a day.
• Grain and cereal products up to 4 servings per day,
provided they have no high-iodine ingredients.
• Pasta, provided it has no high-iodine ingredients.
• Sugar, jelly, jam, honey, maple syrup.
• Black pepper, fresh or dried herbs and spices.
• Oils. All vegetable oils, including soy oil.
• Sodas (except with Red Dye #3 or E127 in the
UK), cola, diet cola, non-instant coffee, non-instant
tea, beer, wine, other alcoholic beverages,
lemonade, fruit juices.
• Read the ingredient list on all packaged foods.


So there you have it,all nicely cutted and pasted for you.(NOTE: yes i know i spelled it "cutted". It was on purpose. Leave me alone you grammar nazi.) That last line is really the best advice of all. Be very mindful of the labels, if you are in doubt, put it down and find something else. If you are like me, you are not going to want to do this diet for longer than you have to, so follow the guidelines closely.

Blog Dog says "YOU should stop scrolling here!"

At this point, i was planning to show you a bunch of pictures of the foods Ive been eating, but since I'm a jackass, i somehow managed to accidentally delete all the pictures on my phone last night. Which sucks because i had all these really cool pictures of brands and boxes and whatnot, but ill have to retake them, so look forward to that.

This picture space is intentionally left blank.

The diet itself has been fine for the most part. I haven't really had the urge to cheat on it, even though i cant drive past Burger King after work without wanting to punch his stupid plastic face in. I hate the way he tries to woo me into his dismally decorated restaurant with a flame broiled siren song that only my nose can hear. I dont even care for BK that much, but when that scent hits the Jeep, i think twice. Other than that though, I feel good. I'm eating foods that are healthy for me and surprisingly, I have found things that i like! Things that i may eat when im not on the diet. I'm very happy to say that i don't have to eat just rabbit pellets and cardboard. As it turns out there are some pretty good recipes in that Thyca.org cook book. The Pot Roast has been a revelation!

I have found some stuff that isn't on the list i supplied above, but if you look at the ingredients of various recipes and get a little creative with your foods, you can find some gems. i suggest you look into it if you are a picky eater like i am. Here's a few i found;

Coconut milk. Just try to go easy on it, unless you want to spend a lot of time in the bathroom.

Homemade Potato chips. if you cut and fry/bake your own chips and use some LID safe seasonings it makes for a tasty little treat.


PRO TIP: If you have just had a thyroidectomy or any other type of surgery on your throat, chances are your vocal chords are weak and screaming will not only be damaging but also quite useless since no one can hear you anyway. To avoid injury and embarrassment, try not to start a grease fire in your kitchen like i almost did. Keep an extinguisher, or big box of baking soda near by just in case.


Fried Chicken. Haven't tried it yet, but i think that i could use a LID safe chicken breast, matzo meal (crumbs) and egg whites and some olive oil(?) and pan fry the chicken. Just remember that you need to limit yourself to 6 ounces or less. I know that's not much, but at least its fried chicken.

Again, i will do a supplementary post with pics of the foods and brand name stuff that i have found so people can look for it in a store near them.

The crappy part about this whole diet thing is being "hypo." The longer i go without my thyroid hormone, the worse i will feel. "Hypo" is short for hypothyroidistic (i think) and its what we thyca folks use to describe the fatigued, craptastic feeling you get when you are on this diet. It wasnt too bad a couple of days ago, but its starting to get worse now. I am really starting to notice some symptoms that i haven't had in the past. I am much more forgetful than i usually am. There are many times where i have to really stop and think about what i am doing, lest i forget why i'm there. I have had to ask people several times to repeat themselves and honestly, its annoying. Ive got other symptoms too, fatigue being the most pronounced one. I feel sleepy all the time. Its like i wake up in the morning, but i don't. I usually wake up to take my meds and then i pretty much just sit there for an hour or more trying to decide if i'm gonna go back to sleep, or if im up and should try to do something. I find that if i make myself get up, and move around a little bit, that it makes the rest of the day not so bad. I have managed to avoid the depression that some people seem to get, though i noticed that i have much less patience for things than i should. I snap at people over stupid things. I think thats part of the mood swing symptom. If you are one of those people, i'm sorry.

Hopefully, everything will go well, and i can have my radiation as scheduled on September 1st, and by the 7th get back on my Synthroid. Maybe by my birthday on in late October ill be feeling better. Thats the hope anyway.

Wow, this turned out to be a lot longer than i expected so I think I'm gonna wrap this one up. I hope i helped some of you out there, and for those of you that made it, thanks for reading.

Also, ill try to stop starting my posts with song lyrics.



Have a nice day.