Iodine/Sharon/ Kathleen/Abbe Was: Re: Other's opinions

[Guest guest]

>Abbe, it is refreshing to read your experience regarding Iodoral. I >too had tried it and have since stopped/put on hold. The jury is >still out on that supplement/treatment for me. I had tired legs and >low energy till I stopped my 1xday tab. Thank you for sharing>Kathleen

> Hi Sharon,

<snip>

> He asked me to take it slow with the iodine staying> with the one tablet for three weeks and then he wants> to run tests. He said doctors use iodine to shut the> thyroid down and he doesn't want my thyroid to be shut> down.> > Well, I had one week when I felt so good I could not> believe it. So many symptoms I had that were> frightening to me went away. My energy increased and> I got some of my old spirit back. Then I began to> have digestive problems. For a day, I had the> attitude that I didn't give a damn about the digestive> stuff because this is the first thing I have tried> that really seems to work and continued taking iodine.> > By the next day, however, it was clear I could not> continue with it. So, this morning makes the 4th full> day off iodine and the digestive symptoms are slowly> resolving. I want to mention that I have read others> messages here about having the digestive stuff too and> that was quite helpful. Another symptom developed but> I am not sure it is directly related to iodine. I> have never had it before, though, and that is weakness> in my lower legs, especially calves. It is not pain,> it's a sensation of weakness. I have continued my> exercise program, however.> > Abbe

Hi Abbe, Kathleen, Sharon!

In hopes of reaching a better understanding of iodine, I thought I would share my recent experience with Iosol.

I have been taking a very low dose of Armour--15 mg.--with excellent results since february 2006. There have been times when I've tried to raise the dose, but I have never been able to without becoming hyperthyroid. Anyway, my experience on 15 mg. has been excellent, w/o complaint. I supplement with lots of minerals, incl.a multi-mineral plus extra magnesium, calcium, selenium, chromium, zinc, etc. Also iron to bring up a recent low ferritin.

Mid-June, I began by painting 1 drop [1 drop =1.83mg] of Iosol on inside of wrist. When that went well, I quit painting and added 1 drop to water. After one week, I added a 2nd drop of Iosol to water. Then,

after 10 days I increased the dose to 3 drops {~6 mgs]. At this dose, I began to notice fatigue and brain fog, dry skin, constipation. When I stopped the Iosol, the sx went away. When I re-introduced the Iosol, even back to 2 drops, the sx returned.

This weekend my sx rose to such an unacceptable level that I doubled my dose of Armour just to get through the day.

I have been off Iosol for 2 days and continue at the 30 mg. dose of Armour. I feel pretty awful with sx of low thyroid.

I'm guessing that the iosol shut down my thyroid (?); I don't know what this means...is it temporary? or forever? I wonder what your doctor meant? Of course I'm hoping it will return to previous function off iodine, so that in a few days the 30 mg. of Armour will make me hyper. as in the past.

I only post this b/c I'm wondering if it's possible that people with certain thyroid conditions (mine is goiter/nodules after being hyperthyroid for 7 years) can't take iodine--anybody else?--or need to take it differently from other folks. Unfortunately I have not been able to find any knowledgeable docs to advise me on this. I have tried Ioderal, Lugol's, Prolamine and Iosol. So far, I've had the best experience with Iosol, but even so, I don't seem to do well on it, or at least over a dose of about 3 mgs.

B/c I want the benefit of iodine, I would still like to go back on the Iosol if this episode clears up--but I think I really need to understand the mechanics of iodine supplementation better...I guess we'd all like that.

Any thoughts/ideas/suggestions/comments most welcome!

Dahlia

[Guest guest]

Hi Dahlia,

> everything you say makes tons of sense and I sure appreciate your

taking

> time to go into detail re the rate at which you increased your

iodine. I

> plan on taking your advice and going way more slowly....you're

right, I

> did think I was being patient, but I guess my thyroid has other

ideas.

I'm really hopeful that will help you. In the beginning, if I felt

any effect at all from increasing the dose, I waited until the side

effects stopped and then waited another week before increasing

again. It was hard to be that patient but it worked at least for me.

> btw, I don't seem to be able to tolerate kelp, perhaps because it

is (?)

> or breaks down to (?) iodide.

My husband doesn't tolerate kelp either. I'm not sure why not but he

does ok on 1-2 drops of Iosol. Iosol also has some iodide as I

recall. If you are looking to increase very gradually you can always

add Iosol to water and then toss part of the water, in order to take

less than the 1.83 mg iodine per drop. I did that when I first

started Iosol - just used 1/2 drop.

>

> So, you currently are taking no thyroid meds at all? And are you

still

> taking kelp, or just 18 drops of Iosol?

I am still taking kelp in addition to the Iosol. There is research

indicating kelp has a normalizing effect on hormones, particularly

estrogen. Which is what I'm hoping for. They are not certain what

the mechanism is for that effect, and one of the main researchers

thinks it is NOT iodine. I believe she said that she used a kelp in

at least one study that either didn't have iodine or that the iodine

was removed. Anyway, in case kelp really does have something

different from iodine that effects hormones, I take it too. And no

thyroid meds right now. Knock on wood...

Good luck!

Sharon

[Guest guest]

Hi Dahlia,> everything you say makes tons of sense and I sure appreciate your taking> time to go into detail re the rate at which you increased your iodine. I> plan on taking your advice and going way more slowly....you're right, I> did think I was being patient, but I guess my thyroid has other ideas.I'm really hopeful that will help you. In the beginning, if I felt any effect at all from increasing the dose, I waited until the side effects stopped and then waited another week before increasing again. It was hard to be that patient but it worked at least for me. > btw, I don't seem to be able to tolerate kelp, perhaps because it is (?)> or breaks down to (?) iodide.My husband doesn't tolerate kelp either. I'm not sure why not but he does ok on 1-2 drops of Iosol. Iosol also has some iodide as I recall. If you are looking to increase very gradually you can always add Iosol to water and then toss part of the water, in order to take less than the 1.83 mg iodine per drop. I did that when I first started Iosol - just used 1/2 drop. > > So, you currently are taking no thyroid meds at all? And are you still> taking kelp, or just 18 drops of Iosol?I am still taking kelp in addition to the Iosol. There is research indicating kelp has a normalizing effect on hormones, particularly estrogen. Which is what I'm hoping for. They are not certain what the mechanism is for that effect, and one of the main researchers thinks it is NOT iodine. I believe she said that she used a kelp in at least one study that either didn't have iodine or that the iodine was removed. Anyway, in case kelp really does have something different from iodine that effects hormones, I take it too. And no thyroid meds right now. Knock on wood...Good luck!Sharon

Hi Sharon,

Thank you so much for your helpful thoughts. I will keep you in mind as I increase!

I'm knocking on wood for you,

Dahlia