Thyroid Update

I got a call from the Endocrinologist's office yesterday. I'm set up for the full body scan next month. This time however, I will stay on my daily Thyroid medication (thank goodness), but will be put on a low iodine diet two weeks prior to the scan.

Here's a little run down on the scan and why the diet is so important:

• Thyroid cancer patients also have further testing, whole-body radio iodine scans using a “tracer” dose of RAI (Radio Active Iodine). If their results are not “clean,” they may then receive treatment with another dose of RAI in an attempt to eliminate remaining thyroid cells left in the body after Thyroid removal.
• In preparation for an RAI scan or RAI treatment, patients are usually asked to go on a low-iodine diet (LID). The diet is to prepare for the RAI. The patient follows the diet when preparing for RAI either by temporarily stopping medication (withdrawal) or by receiving injections of Thyrogen (recombinant TSH) while continuing on medication (levothyroxine).
• The purpose of a low-iodine diet is to deplete the body of its stores of iodine, to help increase the effectiveness of the radioactive iodine scan or treatment. The premise is that when the radioactive iodine is administered, the thyroid cells will “suck” up the iodine, because the body has been so depleted.
• This diet is for a short time period. The usual time period is around two weeks (14 days) or slightly more. The diet usually begins around two weeks before testing and continues through the testing and treatment period. However, recommendations for the time period can vary, depending partly on the individual patient’s circumstances.
• The diet is a low-iodine diet, NOT a low-sodium diet. Remember: LOW IODINE has NOTHING TO DO WITH SODIUM. Sodium is in most foods. Table salt is sodium chloride, not sodium.
• Sodium in any form is OK, as long as it is not provided as IODIZED salt. NON-IODIZED salt is OK for the diet, as long as it is not sea salt. As noted below, you should avoid any product or ingredient from the sea. That's because sea-based products are high in iodine.
• Also, this is a "low-iodine" diet, NOT a "no-iodine" diet and NOT an "iodine-free" diet. A low-iodine diet reduces iodine consumption—on most diets to below 50 micrograms (mcg) of iodine per day (on some diets to below 80-100 mcg per day). One teaspoon of iodized salt contains 400 mcg of iodine.)
• During your time on the diet, you may freely eat any foods that are low in iodine (up to 5 mcg per serving). There are a lot of foods that you can eat. However, avoid foods high in iodine (over 20 mcg per serving). Also, many thyroid cancer specialists' guidelines recommend limiting foods that are moderate in iodine (5 to 20 mcg per serving).

So basically in a nut shell, my life for two weeks will consist of fruits and veggies. I guess this will be the diet plan I've been only dreaming about.

What I have scheduled is Monday & Tuesday (March 18/19) I will receive my first and second dose of Thyrogen via shot followed by a pregnancy text and my tracer dose of RAI via pill that Wednesday the 20th. Then have the body scan that Friday, March 22nd.

I'm looking forward to getting this all behind me and hopeful for a "clean" scan .