Penelope lazing in the sun.
On August 8, I undergo Radioactive Iodine at the Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU). I'm currently preparing my body for the adventure.
I've been off all Thyroid medication for five days now and I'm feeling tired, yet functional. In fact, I feel fairly good. I feel like I did MOST of last year (tired and lethargic, yet able to get through my day with injections of caffeine and chocolate). Except now I can't have the chocolate and caffeine comes in the form of tea instead of cola.
The low-iodine diet has not been as challenging as I had heard. I hardly had to change my way of eating. I'd already gotten rid of most processed foods from our diet and have switched to a low-meat one (after reading The China Study by Dr. Campbell.) And during the summer months we eat tons of vegetables from our garden.
I admit the three hardest things to forgo were my diet cola, yogurt, and ice cream. That's why I have a weight problem. I love ice cream. I could eat it every. single. night! (I usually do).
I've started having headaches, but don't know if that is from cola-withdrawal or the actual loss of thyroid hormone. It is probably a combination of both. And being tired? Well, I feel that is a norm for me since I've been living with tiredness for years.
I am anxious for August 20th. I figure by then I'll be done with all of it - the full body scan and the results! Then - I hope to be headed toward the future. One where energy plays a key role in my life!
