Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Food and GD

So I've been trying to find lists of foods that are OK to eat with GD and lists of foods to avoid. But I can't seem to find either. Just lots of websites telling me to avoid foods rich in this or lacking in that. I don't know which are or aren't. Why can't there just be a simple list to follow. I did post a link in my last post that had a small list, but not sufficient enough for me.

Does anyone know of one, or have any personal experience with certain types of foods?
Right now I pretty much just avoid:
  • anything with artificial sweeteners
  • anything that I Know is really rich in iodine such as seafood, (which is not difficult as I don't really like seafood too much to begin with)
  • I've tried cutting back my sugar intake (which is really really hard because I have a Huge sweet tooth!)

My coffee addiction I'm sure is not helping, but I personally do not feel any negative results. My heart rate is always normal according to my Dr. but I have cut back, only because I haven't felt the need to drink as much anymore. I'm pretty much wide awake all the time even though I'm exhausted.

In the past I've tried to pay attention to what I eat and how I feel afterward, but that's so difficult to do all the time or I'll just forget to...

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Diet...?

Found this article today in search of diet restrictions for Hyperthyroidism.

I did not know that we are encouraged to eat Kale. I was under the impression that kale is full of iodine... Any thoughts?

Anyone have a successful dietary changes?

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Info and Inspiration

I found a few more links to check out. See below:


Informational Article

Alphabetical List of Symptoms associated with Graves'

Interesting Dr.'s views and info...


I also found some encouraging and enlightening quotes I thought I'd share.

  • Pain is inevitable.  Suffering is optional.  ~M. Kathleen Casey
  • Putting emotion into words gives it a life and a reality that otherwise it doesn't have... Similarly, expressing confidence in a person's ability to accomplish something actually strengthens that ability ~ Arthur Gordon
  • Today, see if you can stretch your heart and expand your love so that it touches not only those to whom you can give it easily, but also those who need it so much. ~Daphne Rose Kingma
  • Encourage each other to build each other up, just as you are already doing. ~1 Thessalonians 5:11 TLB
  • Although we cannot change the direction of the wind, we can adjust the sails. ~Unknown
  • When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.  ~Franklin D. Roosevelt
  • I know God will not give me anything I can't handle.  I just wish that He didn't trust me so much.  ~Mother Teresa
  •  We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey.  ~Kenji Miyazawa
  •  God uses suffering as a whetstone, to make men sharp with.  ~Henry Ward Beecher
  •  Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.  ~World Health Organization, 1948
 
Great Quotes

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Venting...? Not so much anymore...I hope

It's been a year now, almost to the day that I was diagnosed with this awful disease... 
I've used this blog more for venting then anything else, but I want to change that going forward. I want this blog to become a reference point for others who are suffering.
I've researched and researched throughout this past year, and even though I don't feel as educated as I had hoped, I at least know enough to answer the general questions asked by family and friends.

I wanted to list a few sites that I've found useful and encouraging in my search for understanding. I will post more when I get permission from the bloggers I've been following,  I've started making a list to the left under my profile at the suggestion of the first blog's writer. =] (Thanks Christy).

www.mayoclinic.com
www.about.com
http://endocrine.niddk.nih.gov/pubs/graves/
http://www.livingwithgravesdisease.com/
Facebook Group

Having encouraging people  who are dealing with this disease in my life, although I haven't met any of them, has been the best thing for me. I am so very grateful to them all.
I will continue to research and share what I find, whether it be fact or just someone's opinion.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

I'm feeling motivated...

...to not let this disease take me down.
I had a great night last night doing an aerial acrobatics class that really pushed my limits and yet I succeeded. It's a great feeling to know I can do that. I'm planning on starting a new exercise routine. Using muscles I forgot I had hurts, but I know the end result will be amazing, not just physically, but emotionally and mentally as well. I feel as though I am coming out of my latest "funk".
I've also been reading some blogs by other GD fighters and they reminded me that I really am Not alone in the battle. I need to stop feeling sorry for myself and to help encourage others. That in and of itself can be healing. I used to be such a positive person, always looking at the bright side of things, telling people it could be worse. Then, I was diagnosed and fell into a rut of self loathing and pity. Not anymore! I refuse to let it get to me as much as it did. I want to live life to the fullest and not let anything keep me from doing so!

Friday, October 1, 2010

My lab numbers did go up...

So I finally compared my labs last week from the past two times, and the numbers have gone up. I continue to feel hyper, so I believe they are still going up. My next appointment isn't until 11/1/10, a whole other month of dealing with feeling this crappy.
I am looking into new Doctors in the area, and hope to get a second opinion. Hope I can find one that my insurance will cover...