Here I am – Day 12 of 19! By this time next week, I will be able to eat whatever I want. Surprisingly, I am finally starting to get into a groove and I don’t feel achy and starving anymore. I have also gotten a lot more creative since Week One.
Strawberry-Banana Smoothies – my new breakfast! I make my own, but also have found that the Tropical Smoothie Jetty Punch is LID-safe.
Hummus is one of my favorite foods…and I learned to make my own! I used dried garbanzo beans, imported tahini, lemon juice, olive oil and garlic.
What’s hummus without homemade whole wheat pita?
I even borrowed my mother-in-law’s breadmaker and made some french bread! It came out pretty well…I use it for natural unsalted peanut butter sandwiches.
I am still using MyFitnessPal to make sure I don’t overeat. Since I feel so deprived, I am worried that I will binge out on the foods I can have. This is the best I have ever eaten in my life. Here is what my food intake looks like:
Week One: I was right at an average of 1200 calories a day.
Week Two: I am averaging well under 1200 calories a day. In the old days, I would be so skinny!
I have lost two pounds, but I feel like they could come back at any moment, so I don’t know if I should count them yet. I also got my pre-scan bloodwork back and it is as follows:
- TSH: 0.04 (I am sure Dr. E will try to take me off of Cytomel)
- FT4: 1.1 (I would like it to be a little higher)
- Thyroglobulin (tumor marker): <0.02 (I think that counts as undetectable, which is good!)
I see Dr. E on July 24 to get my scan results. I am preparing myself for the “you are on too much Synthroid” conversation. I may need to meditate on the drive down so I don’t scream at her. I have decided that if I clear this scan, I am going to have my holistic doctor, Dr. L, manage my thyroid replacement medication. Dr. L already started me on monster iron pills (Ferrex) and B-12 injections that have made a huge difference. My only remaining struggle is losing weight, and I will try ANYTHING to make that happen. If that means staying off dairy even after my low-iodine diet is over, then hold the cheese, please!
Even though I am obsessively focused on the way thyroid cancer has affected my appearance, I am also anxious to get the “all clear” from my scan next week. The last thing I want is more surgery or the dreaded radiation treatment. I really appreciate your prayers! I will update you after my week-long U of M “vacation.”
Thyroidless 
That smoothie looks good. How do you make it without milk or yoghurt? I would love to know so I can make it for my wife who is going through exactly the same as you, but is just 1 week behind you.
Mark, I am sorry to hear that your wife is in the same boat! Very nice of you to help her with food prep…it is the worst! Smoothie recipe:
1 cup crushed ice
1 cup chopped strawberries
1 banana
1/2 cup orange juice
Blend in a blender
Sometimes I put the finished cup in the freezer for awhile and then eat it with a spoon.
Best wishes!
Hi Sarah,
Have you had progress regarding depression? I remember it was something you were struggling with before. It sounds like from this post, you are in a better place with it. If that’s the case, what has helped? How much Cytomel do you take?
Thanks! I always enjoy your posts.
Jill
Hi Jill! I am doing much, much better with energy and depression. My Endo lowered my dose of Synthroid to 112 mcg for a few months because of my low TSH, and I gained all this weight I can’t lose and I struggled with all sorts of symptoms. I added 5 mcg of Cytomel in January, which helped a bit, but I didn’t really come out of the fog until I got back on 125 mcg Synthroid (along with the 5 mcg Cytomel). My holistic doctor gave me a script for B-12 injections, vitamin D, and Ferrex last month, and now my hair has stopped falling out and I am bruising less. I actually feel pretty normal most days! I am not sure which of the medications are helping most. It may be the combo. My holistic doctor said she is going to try an extra 5 mcg of Cytomel at lunch to see if that helps the weight loss, but I have to wait until after my scan. If that doesn’t work, she said we would move to a Nature-throid/Synthroid combo and gradually see if Nature-throid is better for me. I am grateful that most of my symptoms have subsided. If I could lose weight, I would officially declare myself “normal!”
Thanks for reading!
Hi Sarah,
I am really glad to hear you have found what works for you! I am still on the journey myself. Struggling a lot with depression, stamina, etc. It’s been a really hard road which started with adrenal exhaustion (made worse by the tt after the incidental cancer finding). If I could go back I’d never have the thyroid out but I did opt out of RAI and will continue to do so. (Thanks for the Reuters.com article by the way.) Luckily, I have come a long way with the adrenal problems but I still don’t feel “normal” and haven’t been able to go back to work. Headed to LA see a thyroid specialist with Holtorf Medical Group soon and hoping they can help me get there. Hearing your story helps me keep fighting.
I will be praying for you! Cut yourself as much slack as you can…losing a major organ is a pretty traumatic event. I highly recommend seeing a naturopath or a holistic doctor as well to help with adrenal support. I was blown away by how much my body needed iron. Best wishes!!