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...

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?

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

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.

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!

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...

Trying to be Positive today...

Well, I am more and more convinced that I am going back to HypER. 
The symptoms keep mounting. I posted earlier, my list of symptoms from when this all started and I have the majority of them again now. Not still, again. 
The Vitamin D helping my mood has been the biggest improvement since all of this started and I can't say how happy (truly happy) I am that I've seen at least that change.


Ok, so I told myself I won't complain today. I'll look at things in a positive light, well maybe just make up excuses... ;)
  

• The weight loss, it's gotten me back to where I was when I was diagnosed. I look pretty good!
• I don't have to drink as much coffee in the morning as I was.  Save time.
• I'm making myself think of the pains I get, are aches from walking so much.
• My lonely feelings, they are for my bed, to just have a lazy time during a gloomy weather day.
• The shortness of breath, that's just cause I have on a tight shirt and I slouch... My own doing...

Is it wrong that I want to look at things this way?

List of symptoms...

I was diagnosed in Oct. 2009.  Here's my list of symptoms with an asterisk by each I still have:

*Shortness of breath
*Extreme hot flashes
Shortened periods/*Extreme cramps
*Insomnia/*Exhaustion!!!
*Joint pain/Muscle pain/Jaw Pain
*Lack of concentration!!!
*Short Term Memory Loss
Shaky hands/mind
*Lightheaded
*Insatiable appetite
*Weight Fluctuation
*Snippy/Irritable
*Dry/Heavy eyes
*Depression
*Swollen Throat/difficulty swallowing
*Digestive inconsistencies
*Hair Changes - texture, loss, curl
Nails even more brittle than ever before
*Increased Allergy Symptoms

This is my life...

My head has been pounding for two weeks or so now, it'll wear off later in the day, it's joined then replaced by congestion. But, I can't tell where the congestion is in my head. I just feel it everywhere. These are the same symptoms of people around me, yet they have had the worst of it in a few days and done with it all within a week or so. This just doesn't seem to want to actually take me down, just haunt me that I could feel worse at any point.

I yet again, have no motivation to get things done, even though I feel pretty "good" today. I have some energy, but can't concentrate on anything for more than a few min. at a time. I have so much cleaning to do and errands to run. I just want to sit and do nothing. I hate feeling so blah.

My symptoms seems to continue and get worse everyday. This past Thursday was the moodiest I have been in quite a while. I felt on edge the whole day, ready to cry at any second, or snap for that matter.The pains running through my arms, hands and legs are getting more often and intense. I hope that my body "readjusts" to less medication soon...

The need for change

Since starting this blog, I believe this is the third template I've used. I think this is the one that will remain the longest. It suits me I believe, I've customized it to my liking, but as anyone, I do get bored. Who knows, maybe in a few more months it will change again.I like change, but mostly only if I initiate it. Change that I cannot control makes me irritable. Watch out world!

The weather lately here in SoCal has suited my moods quite wonderfully. Ever changing!

It's cold, that's how I feel toward my Dr. (even though I know she has my best interest in mind). 

It's overcast with a chance of sun, this is how my days progress, gloomy with a chance to see my best shine through.

It's Sunny and bright, this is how I feel when left to my own devices. When I can sink into my own little comfort zone of JulieWorld.

It's warm, this is how feel toward the people I care about, they have seen me go through so much and are still by my side, even if only in spirit and phone calls/texts.

Speaking of weather, this brings to mind what my Dr. said about Vitamin D (The Sun Vitamin).

I will be tested next round of bloodwork, to see if I really need to continue taking a supplement. I am nervous about this, what will I be like if I'm not taking it? Will my good moods be suppressed again? Will I become depressed again? I think I'll do some research. If anyone has experience with this, please let me know. =)