Thyroid Cancer

iiRenity
iiRenity Posts: 22 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi everyone! I was wanting to see if there was any one else on here that's dealing with, or have dealt with, Thyroid Cancer? I was diagnosed after having a left thyroid lobectomy last month, and I'm going in to remove the right in a week, as well as the lymph nodes. I've read up a bunch on Thyroid Cancer, as well as Hypothyroid, so I can better understand what I'll be dealing with from here on out. However, I've found very little regarding food plans, as well as exercise. This is kind of my wake up call to start taking better of myself. I'm 184 lbs, 5ft, and 26 years old. I want to get myself down to 135, but I'm also looking to make a life style change.

Exercise
I plan on getting a gym membership once I'm fully recovered from my surgery, but I was wanting some suggestions from others. What are some light exercises I can do at home while I'm still recovering? If my recovery is anything like my last, I know that I'll be easily exhausted. I want something that I can do from my living room--maybe video work outs, and nothing too stressful. After recovery, what exercises have worked best for you?

Food
Are there any foods that I should avoid or cut out? I'm not looking for a "diet", but I know that some foods make thyroid problems worse. I know that when I go to my first RAI treatment, I'll be on low-iodine, but for now I'm just looking at the big picture. What foods will slow my metabolism down? Did you find cutting any particular thing out helped the way you feel or helped you lose weight? What foods made you feel worse?

In general, I'm just looking for advice and support from those who are where I'm at, or have been where I'm at.
Thanks for taking the time to read and respond!

Replies

  • VioletRojo
    VioletRojo Posts: 597 Member
    I was diagnosed almost two years ago. Life has been...different since then, but not worse, just different. I still run long distances, actually, I run better now. I still maintain a healthy weight. There are no foods that are off limits, nor are there foods that will help the situation.

    The important thing to keep in mind is that it will take a while to stabilize your meds. But once they are stabilized, you should be completely normal (For the most part. there have been a couple of odd surprises, but for the most part I'm better than I was before the surgery.)
  • theledger5
    theledger5 Posts: 63 Member
    Hi. I've had thyroid cancer. It spread to my lymph nodes after radioactive iodine treatment. I've had 4 surgeries on my neck. I would say it can take a while for the meds to get right. I also lost my parathyroids so I have to increase my calcium intake. This is something you will need to keep your eye on as well as vitamin levels and iron- it's common to have deficiencies when you are hypothyroid.
    Exercise wise - I do as much as I can as it all helps. But listen to your body as you will fatigue more easily and muscles can take longer to recover.
    Diet - as healthy as possible. Lots of veg and lean protein as well as healthy fats. Losing weight is HARD!! I'm 5'8 and 190lbs, I've done slimming world, body coach, low carb etc etc. None of it works long term. I would look at what your resting metabolism is- then deduct 5% as this is the reduction that being thyroidless will have. Create that calorie deficit as everyone else has to do but be aware it can take longer. I find I have weeks with no losses, weeks with a small gain and weeks with a big loss. Overall it does work- but only if your meds are right. Make sure they test TSH, free T4 and free T3.
    Happy to answer any other questions, good luck with your treatment. I am 10+ years of being stable now
  • iiRenity
    iiRenity Posts: 22 Member
    @ VioletRojo - Thank you for your response. I've heard that it can take a bit for the doctors to find the optimal dose of medication for you. At this point, I'm getting excited for the meds as this fatigue is kicking my butt and I'm only one thyroid down so far. I'd hate to see what it feels like after the other's gone.

    @ theledger5 - Thank you for taking the time to respond! I've heard that losing weight is super hard, and that definitely worries me. It's also a little frustrating that I'll have to take such a long recovery time, since it'll prevent me from heavy exercise for a while. I was thinking about maybe trying to find some beginner yoga videos that I can do while I'm home. Some exercise is better than none, and I'm so sick of being a couch potato during recovery times.

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