Low Iodine Scan - Uptake

I thought doing the scan or uptake was a waste of time after doing it a few times already. Dr Maturlo had me do an ultrasound which I also thought was a waste of time.

The good news was that the scan came back negative, there was no cancer tissue that was responsive to the radioactive iodine (r131).  But I did have a higher than normal level of thyroglobulin during my blood test while I was hypothyroid. So when Dr Maturlo called with these two tidbits of news she also asked that I go and get an MRI. My wife encouraged me to go that day so I went and got an MRI. An MRI, must be a form of torture in some countries. Sitting still with a cage on your head reminds me of that movie, the man with the iron mask. When I got there they asked me to change into a set of scrubs. I did bring my Serenity essential oil with me this time around to help me relax and sleep. It helped and the 45-60 min went by fast as I was mostly asleep.

I asked for my own copy on a CD on my way out. I figured since I just paid around $1000 for that torture device, which was actually pretty relaxing this time around, I might as well have something to show for it. When I got home my wife and I looked at the MRI, and of course it all looked crazy and we did not know what we were looking at.  As you would guess my wife found many things that made her worried from looking at the MRI.

We got a call the next day from Dr. Maturlo and she wanted to meet with me right away. That could not be good, right? As we guessed they found a mass that was around 8mm x 12mm. I assumed it was like a jelly bean or so. The next step was to either remove it or try and figure out if it is thyroid cancer coming back or not. We decided on me having a biopsy with a guided ultrasound.

Low Iodine Diet the third time around

The low iodine diet was much easier the third time around.

I started to make my own almond milk by soaking one cup of almonds in water for a few hours and then blending them with 4 cups of water. After they were blended I would strain out the gritty stuff using an unused nylon of my wife. I would usually add vanilla and some sugar to make it taste better.

Once I had my own almond milk I could make a protein shake using it as a base. Using protein powder from brown rice (vegan). Which also helped that after watching the movie Forks Over Knives, we started getting plant based protein powder instead of whey or animal based protein powder.

I also already knew I could eat Frosted Mini Wheats cereal. But now having milk was a nice addition.

My wife found unsalted peanut butter and I added iodine free salt to it.

She also made fresh bread a few times. Both wheat and french bread.

The ginger snaps that she made that did not have iodine in them were especially yummy.

Annual check up 2 years since thyroid was removed

It has been two years since I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and had surgery. I did a blood test and my endocrinologist (Dr Susan Maturlo) told me that I needed a higher does of Synthroid. So I started taking the 225 a day instead of 200 mcg. She also told me that she wanted me to do an ultrasound again. I need to do the low iodine diet for the third time (its an annual tradition now) and do one more scan to make sure I am clean. ARGH! Not what I would prefer to do, but I guess safer than sorry right?

In the last 6 months I have been introduced to doTERRA essential oils. They are natural oils from plants. They have medicinal properties and are natural remedies to hundreds of ailments (see my blog for that at www.doterraexperiences.blogspot.com ). The Frankincense oil has helped many people with cancer so I decided to start taking around 3-4 drops a day under my tongue. This way I can prevent cancer from starting anywhere else and kill any off that may have started. This way I can ensure my scan at the end of January is clean. For now I will have a fun Christmas and Hanukkah and New Years and save the low iodine diet till Jan.

Back to the low iodine diet

So it has been over a year since I was treated with the radioactive iodine. It is now time for another scan to make sure that there is no more thyroid tissue or cancer in my body. If there is some I will need to do the radioactive dose again. So I need to stop taking my synthroid and do the low iodine diet for 2 weeks to prepare for it. This second time around we felt a little more prepared and I wanted to document what I ate during this time.

Snacks
Almonds (unsalted)
Dried Mangos
Frosted Mini Wheats
Homemade Wheat Bread
Cornbread
Gingersnaps

Breakfasts
Egg Whites with
Oatmeal
MaltoMeal
Hashbrowns
Toast
Waffles
Pancakes

Dinner
Roasted Tomato, Garlic, Basil, and Oregano Spaghetti Sauce and Pasta
Turkey, Mashed Sweet Potatoes and Potatoes, Gravy, and Corn
Turkey Noodle Soup (Made with broth from Turkey) with Cornbread
Flour tortillas with Chicken, avocado, black beans, and onions. (Yes you have to make your own tortillas and make the black beans from a bag since the canned ones have iodized salt in them)
Steak and roasted veggies and sweet potatoes
Chicken Fruit Salad. Mandarin Oranges, apples, lettuce, candied almonds (dressing with Jam, Oil, Vinegar, and sugar in blender)

Lunch (the hardest part if you dont have leftovers)Leftovers
Sandwiches
Salads

Radiation Story

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!

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.

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 time 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.