Well the hospital finally got the R131, radioactive iodine in stock. There was a shortage of the stuff that delayed things a few weeks. Everyday that I could not have iodine or thyroid medication I thought that I should start another business and either make or import this radioactive iodine. It seemed ridiculous that there would be a shortage.
So I went in the hospital, they gave me a capsule, I swallowed it and drove home. They did of course take 30 mins at least to review all of the risks and the rules for outpatient care. There were a few rules, but the biggest rule was to stay 6 feet away from people at all times for a week. I could get closer to people, or my wife and children, but only for 10-15 min max at a time.
I never did research the effects of this radiation on my family, but I did try to stay 6 feet away as much as possible.
I also had to sleep in a separate bed. So I slept in the basement in our guest room. It was a lonely bunch of nights.
They told me that if I wanted to I could come in after 3 days and they would measure how radioactive I was at 1 meter. I needed to be under .08 and unfortunately after 3 days I was .12 so I had to continue the rules. The good thing was that after 48-72 hours I started taking my Thyroid medication (generic for Synthroid) and started eating whatever I wanted.
One of the first meals I had was take out from Bajio. (a Fresh Mexican place) I always get the Flauta Bajio Salad with Pork. It was so good that despite finding a piece of mud 3/4 into it in my mouth, I still finished it. (I first rinsed my mouth out)
So then they told me to come back after two more days and they would measure me again. This time they measured me at 1m I was a .02. (a good amount under the .08) So I was finally able to cuddle with my cute wife and kids again. Yahoo!
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Iodine Free Belgian Waffles
Iodine Free Belgian Waffles by Sheena Menke
3-4 egg whites
2 cups flour
1½ cups water
¼ cup apple sauce
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon white sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon iodine free salt
½ teaspoon vanilla
Blend Egg whites in blender (or with a mixer) until fluffy. Add everything else and blend all together.
3-4 egg whites
2 cups flour
1½ cups water
¼ cup apple sauce
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon white sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon iodine free salt
½ teaspoon vanilla
Blend Egg whites in blender (or with a mixer) until fluffy. Add everything else and blend all together.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Low Iodine diet
I am a few weeks into the low iodine diet. As anything it is easier after a few weeks. When I first started this diet it was very tough and frustrating. I should have been more prepared. As I have searched on the internet there has been some help on this subject mostly from this website, but I think my experience may help serve someone that is starting the diet today or soon.
The biggest revelation I have had is that I can eat the cereal Shredded Mini Wheats. This has always been a good cereal. I do not eat it all the ti
me on a normal diet, but I do like it and having it as a snack has made it very helpful. They even have strawberry and blueberry muffin flavored variety. They are packed with fiber so they fill you up in between frustrating "What the heck am I do eat for my next meal" times.
These are some of the things I have also been eating:
-Fresh Homemade Bread - My wife has always wanted to make home made bread and this was
her chance. With a few substitutions we have some really good home made bread that we normally do not have. The only downside here is that it takes a few hours preparation.
Breakfast
- Egg Whites and Iodine Free Pancakes - I have had this most mornings.
- Egg Whites and Oatmeal - When I want a break from pancakes
- Egg Whites and hash browns ( I like ketchup on top)
- Banana
Lunch has been tough. The best is to make large dinners so you have leftovers I think.
Dinners.
- Rice and Ground Turkey with Seasonings (Stuffed Peppers)
- Steak and Sweet Potato with Vegetables
- Chicken Fajitas with corn tortillas
- Spaghetti with ground turkey or breaded chicken (Make or find a spaghetti sauce that does not have iodized salt) In the end the Spaghetti Sauce is so yummy and fresh.
- Meatloaf ( I prefer ground turkey) My wife found Ketchup without Salt
- Turkey Roasted or cooked in a Crock Pot (this helps with lunch the next few days)
Snacks
-Fruit (lots of fresh fruit helps a ton, smoothies too with frozen fruit)
-Unsalted Nuts (Target had unsalted almonds and cashews)
-Popcorn (oil and popcorn kernels in a pot on the stove and then add non-iodized salt)
-Almond Butter unsalted from Costco - pretty dang good
Treats
-No Bake Cookies
- Iodine Free Brownies
Essentials
-Carton of Egg Whites
Things you can still eat
- Jam or Jelly
- Skittles
- Orange Juice and other juices
I wish I knew about doTERRA essential oils and DDR Prime earilier on in my Thyroid Cancer journey. They have helped me feel more comfortable and I feel like they helped with my final negative result post my 3rd surgery. If you want to learn more about it go here.
The biggest revelation I have had is that I can eat the cereal Shredded Mini Wheats. This has always been a good cereal. I do not eat it all the ti
me on a normal diet, but I do like it and having it as a snack has made it very helpful. They even have strawberry and blueberry muffin flavored variety. They are packed with fiber so they fill you up in between frustrating "What the heck am I do eat for my next meal" times.These are some of the things I have also been eating:
-Fresh Homemade Bread - My wife has always wanted to make home made bread and this was
her chance. With a few substitutions we have some really good home made bread that we normally do not have. The only downside here is that it takes a few hours preparation.Breakfast
- Egg Whites and Iodine Free Pancakes - I have had this most mornings.
- Egg Whites and Oatmeal - When I want a break from pancakes
- Egg Whites and hash browns ( I like ketchup on top)
- Banana
Lunch has been tough. The best is to make large dinners so you have leftovers I think.
Dinners.
- Rice and Ground Turkey with Seasonings (Stuffed Peppers)
- Steak and Sweet Potato with Vegetables
- Chicken Fajitas with corn tortillas
- Spaghetti with ground turkey or breaded chicken (Make or find a spaghetti sauce that does not have iodized salt) In the end the Spaghetti Sauce is so yummy and fresh.
- Meatloaf ( I prefer ground turkey) My wife found Ketchup without Salt
- Turkey Roasted or cooked in a Crock Pot (this helps with lunch the next few days)
Snacks
-Fruit (lots of fresh fruit helps a ton, smoothies too with frozen fruit)
-Unsalted Nuts (Target had unsalted almonds and cashews)
-Popcorn (oil and popcorn kernels in a pot on the stove and then add non-iodized salt)
-Almond Butter unsalted from Costco - pretty dang good
Treats
-No Bake Cookies
- Iodine Free Brownies
Essentials
-Carton of Egg Whites
Things you can still eat
- Jam or Jelly
- Skittles
- Orange Juice and other juices
I wish I knew about doTERRA essential oils and DDR Prime earilier on in my Thyroid Cancer journey. They have helped me feel more comfortable and I feel like they helped with my final negative result post my 3rd surgery. If you want to learn more about it go here.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Day of the Surgery
I was not sure what to expect but I really thought that the surgery was going to be no big deal. I got there around 1pm. Got ready in scrubs or gown with an IV in me. I waited for a little while with my wife before going under.
When I came to it was passed 7pm. I felt horrible but the dryness in my throat is what was killing me the most. I was also very hungry since I had to fast.
Sheena was there and I was so happy to have her there with me.
They removed the large mass, the small mass, my thyroid, and around 13 lymph nodes.
It was weird to have a tube for fluids to drain out of my neck and to wear weird socks hooked up to some machine that pumped my legs.
After a day or two I checked out of the hospital and I did not have mobility in my neck for what seemed like weeks.
Now that the surgery was over and I was almost recovered, it was time to figure out when the radiation was going to be. (Radiation is just swallowing a radioactive iodine capsule after going 3 weeks on a low iodine diet)
When I came to it was passed 7pm. I felt horrible but the dryness in my throat is what was killing me the most. I was also very hungry since I had to fast.
Sheena was there and I was so happy to have her there with me.
They removed the large mass, the small mass, my thyroid, and around 13 lymph nodes.
It was weird to have a tube for fluids to drain out of my neck and to wear weird socks hooked up to some machine that pumped my legs.
After a day or two I checked out of the hospital and I did not have mobility in my neck for what seemed like weeks.
Now that the surgery was over and I was almost recovered, it was time to figure out when the radiation was going to be. (Radiation is just swallowing a radioactive iodine capsule after going 3 weeks on a low iodine diet)
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
First Signs
I finished running a Ragnar Relay Race here in UT around the end of June 2009. The day after my wife was giving me a much needed massage ( I know what I nice wife huh?) when she noticed a slight bulge on one side of my neck. She wanted to have it checked out, but I told her not to worry about it. We went on a family trip and I told my wife I would have it checked out when we got back if it was still there.
A week or two later I went to the doctor and after looking at it they ordered an ultrasound. I went and got an ultrasound on my neck. After the ultrasound they were decided that it was not my thyroid and that I should see an Ear Nose Throat Dr to have the bulge looked at and removed.
I set up an appointment with Dr Denys and he looked at my neck and thought it was just some type of growth that just needed to be removed. He asked that I get an MRI so he can be sure before he removes it. I went and got an MRI with iodine contrast.
After the MRI he asked that I come in and told me that there was another mass found on my thyroid that was small. He had me lay back and did a fine needle aspiration (biopsy) on the two masses.
A few days later he called me back into his office to tell me that I had papillary carcinoma. (Aka Thyroid Cancer) We scheduled Aug 25 2009 to have it removed and I was very sad I could not run the St George Marathon I was almost completely trained and ready to run.
A week or two later I went to the doctor and after looking at it they ordered an ultrasound. I went and got an ultrasound on my neck. After the ultrasound they were decided that it was not my thyroid and that I should see an Ear Nose Throat Dr to have the bulge looked at and removed.
I set up an appointment with Dr Denys and he looked at my neck and thought it was just some type of growth that just needed to be removed. He asked that I get an MRI so he can be sure before he removes it. I went and got an MRI with iodine contrast.
After the MRI he asked that I come in and told me that there was another mass found on my thyroid that was small. He had me lay back and did a fine needle aspiration (biopsy) on the two masses.
A few days later he called me back into his office to tell me that I had papillary carcinoma. (Aka Thyroid Cancer) We scheduled Aug 25 2009 to have it removed and I was very sad I could not run the St George Marathon I was almost completely trained and ready to run.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
