81 North Blog

The following rules are based on my own observations over the past year and a half - some of it spent hyperthyroid, some spend hypO thyroid. Almost all of it during beta-blocker usage. It doesn’t matter what your labs are, a great number of you will find yourself battling weight issues at some point during treatment.

And since we are often unable to work much, plus we have a lot of medical expenses, I’ll keep the advice as low-cost as possible.

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I finally went to see my new and very expensive Endocrinologist. For the past 13 months, I’ve been treated for my hyperthyroid condition by the local health clinic. I live in the country and this was my best option when roads were bad. It was also cheaper (by a LOT!) since we pay cash. But despite my begging them to test for antibodies (Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulin) they would not. My left eye pushed outward and stared at me whenever I looked in the mirror. I could not stay at the computer very long (still can’t on some days) because of the double vision and burning sensation…

So they referred me to the only endocrinologist for my area. Continue Reading »

Although I’ve had a few bell peppers and even some tomato’s (in salsa), I’ve cut out the one nightshade plant that seems to give people the most trouble - the potato.

In the time since cutting out MSG by all it’s names, and not eating potatoes, I can say that my thyroid seems much more stable, as does my heart rate. While I haven’t had the biopsy or Fine Needle Aspiration of the thyroid yet, I feel like I am more well than before.

All this past fall and winter, I’d bring home potatoes that had hints of green under their skin. The bags of potatoes, hidden from the light by the brown lined paper bag even seemed to be the worst. And yet the green means exposure to light, and increased solanine levels. Those are spuds that will make you feel worse.

I served the better-half some breaded onion rings the other night, and he was happy about that. We both prefer onion rings to french fries. On other nights, we have sweet potato, pasta or basmati rice. There are so many things you can eat that don’t have to be from the nightshade family.

What I am reading this week:

Nightshade Free Pain Free
Author: Michael Fowler

• Paperback: 204 pages
• Publisher: Grass Fire Media (August 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 097977280X

An overview of how nightshades plants (potato, tomato, eggplant, etc) in the diet may be a leading cause of many “incurable” diseases, such as arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, migraines memory loss, chronic fatigue, and more. (Thyroid/Grave’s Disease symptom trigger too)

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