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The Kitchen Table

Low iodine diet for thyroid scan

9 years ago

Has anyone had to be on this diet for a nuclear thyroid scan? If so, I'd greatly appreciate any tips on what to eat for seven days. The 'not allowed' list includes almost everything I eat! A seven day fast, anyone?

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Comments (3)

sheilajoyce_gw
9 years ago
No fish or shellfish. No iodized salt.
morz8 - Washington Coast
9 years ago
Sarah, look it over, there should be things there you can fill up on and enjoy. Watch the vitamin supplements if you take one, when I had Graves I had trouble finding a brand that didn't include iodine. I wouldn't buy a special product, just don't take one that week.

Skip the seafood and plan that week around chicken, beef, pork. Unlimited fruits and vegetables, grains. Rice, oats are fine. I'd miss the dairy most of all, if you have a Trader Joe or Whole Foods they would probably have rice milk, coconut or almond milk you could use on cereal or in your coffee. Eggs could put you over the daily allowance so best to not have those. If you want a little heartier snack, try toasted nuts, unsalted, like whole almonds instead of salted crackers, cookies if you are a snacker.

I don't know if picking up low salt options would eliminate enough for that week or not, you may be doing some cooking from scratch. Get a container of non iodized salt if you are used to salting when cooking, the non iodized type is fine for your scan and you won't taste the difference.

Treat yourself, have a nice steak and sliced tomatoes for lunch. Do it again for dinner. And good luck with your scan, hope your results are favorable!
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And, worriedone, what if; and this is thekey here,the what ifs. Like what if you where wrong? What if you had cancer? And you just took iodine? Do you realize you could/would be dead from cancer. Years ago, 20 to be exact, a gentleman my husband worked with, had similar symptoms as you. refused medical treatment,swallowed iodine. goiters shrunk to not be visible any more for 2 years. He then got a cold, that developed into pneumoniaand was found to have 3 masses in his lungs, small tumors in 2 lymph nodes and the goiter had been cancer all along. Had he listened to his doctors, he would not have died 6 weeks after being diagnosed with metastatic thyroid cancer. You may be lucky ignoring your doctors advise, the best advise you could have been given and you could be nothing more than a walking, ticking time bomb that will regret the day you ignored your doctors advise. Time will tell you. You complaint about doctors advise is absurd. No doctor is going to tell you to ignore the potential of cancer without being sure it isn't and instead swallow some iodine. I can just see it now. If you had gotten that advise and it was wrong; would you be on this forum telling all of us about the doctor who missed your cancer?
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I felt "almost" normal today. I started with Trader Joe's version of Cheerios with almond milk, after taking a Pepcid Complete. For lunch, I went to my neighborhood Thai restaurant, where I'm a regular. They made a vegetarian coconut soup with ginger for me. It really soothed my stomach. They also made a white meat chicken with veggies for me--only stomach-friendly veggies and a light sauce, no spice, low sodium -- with white rice. It felt great to eat a real meal! It sat well with me, but I didn't overeat. I was careful. I didn't snack all afternoon because I was able to eat lunch. I had some cranberry juice mid-afternoon and that's supposed to be good for gastritis. For dinner, I went back to the protein bar and shake to keep it nutritional, but light. I drank mostly water today and ginger tea. Only one small Gatorade after breakfast. Water is usually difficult for me early in the morning. Thanks for all the tips.
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A ct with contrast is a good thing. It with show things that the doc will miss in a regular ct scan. I don't know why they aren't more common to give when any chance of cancer is in question. My mom had an under active thyroid and had to have part of it removed and was meds the rest of her life. You have to stay on top of the meds cause your needs could change and meds need adjusted cause if the meds are not right you can feel tired and run down and gain weight even tho you are hardly eating. good luck with scan...the only time i have had contrast was a scan of my bladder when i about 10 years old...mom treated me to an ice cream sundae afterwards...may i suggest a similar treat for you...
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sarahlee123
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks so much for the advice.. I greatly appreciate the info about vitamin supplements - checked labels and both my vitamin D and glucosamine contain shellfish. i never thought about rice , coconut or almond milk - I'll see if I can find them in our area. I did buy Eggbeaters, salt free peanut, almond and apple butter. Also, salt-free rice cakes and crackers. I can also have skinless baked potatoes with that nice steak.

Thanks so much for the advice and encouragement! And I'll keep telling myself, it's only for a week.....

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