[cathycnm November 12, 2008 at 12:56 pm Post count: 284]

#1075449

Killikat – Well, sounds like you are on a health roller coaster and I can identify. BTW – I have noticed I drop into the 50’s fairly often with blood sugar since this started but I have had some tendency that way my life and have a dad who had metabolic syndrome as a kid and my mom’s dad was insulin dependant diabetic – so my new high cholesterol has really been creeping up for awhile.

So – as a nurse-midwife I dealt with lots of anemia. I am assuming yours is an iron deficiency, from what you said. A couple of remedies that might work: Be sure you cook in an iron skillet as much as possible; try a tablespoon full of blackstrap molassis daily if you can stand it and it does not though your sugar/diet off and talk to a pharmacist about the thyriod/iron issue. There are many kinds of iron that are absorbed in different ways – so find out which you can take with your thyroid.

On the carbs – it is usually best to go with complex carbs because they take longer to digest. Whole grains, etc. These may help with your cholesterol.

Lastly, you might benefit from a referal to a dietitian! Ask your PCP to refer you. My mom was a dietitian and I was always amazed at all she knew about getting everything matched for people with multiple issues. I think you may find this really helpful and most hospital dietitians can see you on an outpatient basis through a referral. I think, given your situation, this might help a lot. Cathy

[mlpp25 November 12, 2008 at 1:34 pm Post count: 1]

#1075450

Kallikat…
I went through the same thing as you did…
Clinically, my sugar and blood levels say I’m within the normal range but near the low end already… My doctors did not recommend anything despite telling them that I don’t feel well and I have different symptoms…It was only when I saw a nutritionist who recommended a healthy diet and some herbal supplements that I started feeling better. Now, even if my TSH is in a roller coaster, I still feel better because at least this time I have the strength and energy I needed to do my daily tasks… unlike before…
Candy and sugar are temporarily relief when you are suffering from low sugar but they spike up your sugar and what happens is that your sugar levels will be like a roller coaster going down and suddenly up. You need to maintain your sugar by eating the right food and do not omit snacks. Do not let yourself go hungry. Use nuts and fruits for snacks instead of candy. I always bring food with me werever I go because when I get low in sugar, I really shake. Get more info about the hypoglycemic diet and stay on it… It will help you a lot.
As for alcohol, avoid it. I used to go out every week and drink with friends but since I have been diagnosed with this disease, it is difficult for me to get stable with alcohol. My doctor tells me it’s okay to drink it occasionally but I don’t think so. Our body changes and different people have different tolerance level.
Goodluck…

[kallikat November 12, 2008 at 3:22 pm Post count: 29]

#1075451

I’m having a real "DUH!" moment right now….you see, I work for a food distirbution company and we have 3 registered dietitians on staff….their office is right across the hall from mine! LOL How great is that?!
I really appreciate the comments – especially the one about staying away from alcohol – I’m upset my Dr even mentioned that.
I’m not sure about the iron skillet, though – I have a glass-top range! Maybe I’ll get a separate burner, if it really makes a difference. It does make sense…iron.
Well – I’m headed across the hall to get a diet plan! Then I’m going to find out where to get "blackstrap molasses" – God, that sounds too sweet, but okay!
THANKS!

[cathycnm November 12, 2008 at 3:42 pm Post count: 284]

#1075452

Kallicat – Good luck – glad you have RDs across the hall. The American Dietetic Assn has a nice web site, too – I believe it is http://www.eatright.org but if that does not work you can google it. Please ask them about he molassas and iron pan also – unless their is newer research – that is correct.

I just returned from my PCP and talking about lipids (cholesterol and LDL) – funny, she suggested a couple glasses of red wine a week to bring the HDL back up. And, of course, everything I was doing to prevent this – flaxseeds, fish oil, low fat, etc to lower the LDL. I can hear my dear mama talking to me today – even though she is no longer alive. I sure learned a lot growing up with a dietitian! I may ask for a referral myself – as weight mgt, lipids and osteoporosis are a lot to juggle, too.

My PCP and I decided to wait on meds for the lipids, as I am still in a moderate risk range – and see if fixing the thyroid will help with this before we mess with anything else. I will fax this to my endo, too, to see what he says. What a journey this is turning out to be!

[Bobbi November 12, 2008 at 4:16 pm Post count: 1324]

#1075453

OK — IRon supplements and iron skillets:

Iron is known to bind to thyroid hormone in the digestive track. (Is it track or tract?) anyway….. If you are on thyroid replacement hormone, you should not take in any iron or calcium or vitamin preparation within about 4 hours of taking y our replacement hormone. Once the replacement hormone has been absorbed into the blood there is no problem, but taking it too close to your morning pill has the potential to throw your replacement dose off.

Bobbi — NGDF Online Facilitator

[kallikat November 12, 2008 at 5:00 pm Post count: 29]

#1019984

Since having RAI 13 months ago I have had several "immune" issues – infections, illness, etc. I received a response from SKI to another posting, which prompted me to have my Dr look for other problems that could cause these illnesses. Turns out a past anemia problem has come back and my blood count is just under the normal range. Also found out I have low blood sugar (76 after eating lunch).
SO – here’s another can of worms!
I have finally regulated my diet so that even if I can’t lose much weight, at least maybe I won’t gain any more. I eat a good lunch, and a light healthy supper – fresh veggies, lean meat, etc. Now my Dr says I need more carbs and sugars and iron rich foods. If I can’t get these levels up with diet, I’ll have to take meds. I already have a slightly high cholesterol level to contend with, and my TSH is still not in normal range. I can’t take Iron supplements – they interfere with synthroid absorption or something. She also told me if I start feeling shaky to eat a candy bar! This after completely cutting candy and sweets out of my diet (even though I crave them SO MUCH!!!). She said a glass of red wine in the evening could help the blood count some.
How do I know if I’m shaky due to low sugar or high thyroid? (she said if I can’t tell, to eat something anyway)
How can I possibly keep a healthy diet and prevent weight gain when I have to gobble candy bars to keep from fainting? (she said don’t worry about weight)
This wine suggestion – I’ve noticed that I get bad headaches now (since taking synthroid and lasix) when I try to even have one glass with dinner, so I completely stay away from alcohol.
So does anybody have any suggestions that can save me from turning into a wine guzzling, candy bar gobbling, crazy person?

[cathycnm November 12, 2008 at 5:26 pm Post count: 284]

#1075454

Here is more info on the blackstrap mollasses – look under cane molasses http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molasses

Let us know how it went with the dietitian!

[kallikat November 12, 2008 at 5:47 pm Post count: 29]

#1075455

Thank you for clarification, Bobbi! I take a multi vit with good iron content with supper about 6-7ish. I take my synthroid at 5:30 am, then go back to bed for an hour before I have coffee – that’s when I take my lasix with a big glass of water. My Dr says the iron I’m getting in the multi vit is just the right amount of supplement.
So – I just spent almost an hour with our dietitian, and she’s digging up info and making a personal diet plan menu for me. She told me I had to learn to like liver and spinach! YUCK! She also said I need to eat 6 (YIKES) meals a day with balanced protein and carbs. And I have to learn to eat breakfast – which I have never done. I’m scared to see the menu she recommends – but she’s an expert and does this for our nursing home and hospital customers all the time. It’s a mixed blessing that she’s across the hall….she can help, but she can also check up on me constantly to make sure I’m following her instructions. Gee!

[cathycnm November 12, 2008 at 6:52 pm Post count: 284]

#1075456

Sounds like you are off to a good start. One recipe I love with spinach is to but that crescent roll dough in those pop open cans. You take the dough out and lay if flat (in one piece) on a cookie sheet. They spread it with a "little good for your heart" oil. Then put some grated cheddar cheese and some spinach on top (I use frozen and it works fine. Then roll it up from the short side. Then glaze it with a beaten egg and pop it in the oven at 350 until brown. This is the recipe that turned my 16 year old step grandson around as far as spinach.

Also – you will absorb more of the iron if you take it with something high in vit C – like OJ or a vit C tab. And don’t take it with milk, as this binds the iron. Hmmmm – well maybe the cheese and spinach recipe has that drawback but you would still get a fair amount of iron from it. Good luck – funny on her being across the hall ” title=”Smile” />

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