Hi All,

I just got some labs from my doctor. She had tested my iodine (made me pee in a jug for 24 hours). She tells me my iodine is low and wants me to start supplementing. Has anyone done this? I'm a little nervous about the possible effect on my thyroid. I have heard iodine supplementation can bring on hyperthyroidism, and possibly other problems.

Just wondering what people think. I also have tested deficient for D, magnesium, and zinc, and have low iron and low-end B12, so I'm taking all those supplements already.

Thanks,
Missy

Wow, sorry I have no input on iodine. Please let me know what happens when u start taking the supplements. Tell me how it effects the thyroid. I haven't been to a doctor in years.

First congrats on getting all those test, at the least you know where you are at, and should start seeing some improvement.

As for the iodine, dang not sure. Aren't some foods rich in iodine, not really sure either. Perhaps do some research on the net, sure you will find something.... But iodine, that's new to me as well....

Sorry could be much help, but again, I think it's great your doctor tested you on all that!!!

I am using iodine (under dr. supervision). Started out very low dose and increasing slowly. I was a little nervous at first (I started a thread about thyroid storm) but it's okay so far.

JUst start very low and only increase every 2 weeks. There seems to be a trend on the internet of people advocating high dose iodine, and while it is helpful for some, it's caused many problems for others. Studies show it can cause Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and hypothyroidism. It made me hyper, a few other women on another group ended up in the ER from going hyper with heart racing, etc. It's safer and easier to start low and go slow than to try to backtrack after you've had too much and are having symptoms.

Just posted about the powers of watercress!Great for iodine and iron,and malnutrition of any kind[google;watercress thyroid]It's great in salads and blended with pineapple juice as a drink.You can monitor your thyroid by taking your body temperature and your iodine by staining [a spot] on your thigh or arm and if it goes away in 24hrs you have enough iodine in your system[christine Northrop has talked about this]I have taken iodine drops and have had no problems but watercress or kelp has added vitamins. Lumz

I've been taking it for 3 weeks in tablet form. My T4 isn't converting my T3 as it should so she preferred iodine rather than meds that would affect my T4 and TSH. I still feel tired, my hair is still falling out and is beginning to feel like straw and I'm not losing any weight but I have noticed I have more energy and I'm not hungry at all so.. I wonder if I should continue at this dose or increase it. Any opinions? I'm taking Prolamine Iodine 3mg.

Hi Carol .. if you are still around ..?

I have been on an iodine protocol for about three years. (I see Dr. Brownstein, who is a very "iodine literate" dr.) Have taken 50mgs of Iodoral iodine during these past three years. If you dr. isn't really iodine literate, he may not have you on the companion supplements you should be taking while on the iodine. Did he put you on any additional supplements, when he "prescribed" the Prolamine Iodine?

Best,
Rustie

Hi Rustie,

No, she didn't. She just gave me the iodine. I have sense stopped taking it and I'm not on Cytomel. I didn't find the iodine to help at all. How do you feel on it? Has it helped your energy levels? What about weight loss?

The funny thing is, when I started the iodine and later the cytomel it was because my T4 and TSh were normal and my T3 low. 3 weeks after starting the cytomel, I went to an endo who ran test and his test show my T3 high and my T4 and TSH low.... go figure? I am beginning to feel better, have lost about 12 lbs, my hair isn't falling out as much but.. my stanima isn't very good. I still can't complete a workout like I did just a year ago.

Will be anxious to hear how you are doing on the iodine and why you started taking it.

Thanks!

Hi Carol,

I went to Dr. Brownstein (near Detroit, MI) as mentioned, over three years ago. At that time, I presented with Hashi's and perimenopausal symptoms. I had been (previously) fighting for a long time with being estrogen dominant, also. My thyroid antibodies were at that time (imo) still pretty high. As I think back, I believe that my "estrogen dominance" issues (at that time) were probably nearing the end, because I have since found out (after over three long years) that adding EstraGel to my protocol is doing a lot for me. When I initially started Dr. Brownstein's iodine protocol, I also went on what was (in my opinion), high dose P cream. I was getting 200mgs daily of P and the T that was incorporated into that cream was 2mgs daily.

I'm trying not to go into a really long detailed infomercial about me , because I just joined this group and plan on posting all "my stuff" on my own thread .. for feedback, etc.. I have been trying to read up on some threads before I start my "official" posting. Your iodine thread caught my eye though. Of course, because of my own protocol.

After being on the iodine (and companion supplements) for six months, my thyroid antibodies came down dramatically. I mean we're talking about those numbers being in the thousands and they are in the "200's" now. When I went to my initial appointment with Dr. Brownstein, I had thyroid nodules. Those are totally gone. I continued on this protocol for, as already mentioned, over three years.

Okay .. I think those are the "basics". Throughout this protocol, even though my lab test numbers were looking better .. I wasn't feeling any better. In fact, there were many times that I was feeling worse. I had always thought it was because I wasn't detoxing totally .. and was always adding/trying different things, to get my body to detox. I have gained 30 pounds since I have been on this protocol. I became (too many times) pretty despondent/depressed. So .. this past July, I finally backed way off of the Iodoral. I am now only taking 12.5mgs daily. I also took myself totally off of the P/t cream.

Okay .. this response is already becoming a book. (sorry!) I'm trying not to go into too much detail, I'll "try" to save that. By the end of August, I began adding EstraGel to my daily regimen and things are totally brightening up for me.

I know that this doesn't answer your question, other than I do know that the Iodoral helps a lot of people. There are groups (Yahoo) that discuss this 24/7. Maybe I was overloaded with P cream and it wasn't the Iodoral that was "hindering" me from feeling better, I don't know.

I'm sorry this is so very long. It seems, as I type this out .. one thing leads to the next. I know that my post is kind of all over the place. (Still working on losing my brain fog.) So, please don't hesitate to ask away if you have any questions or thoughts about this.

I hope you're doing well today!
Rustie

Thanks Rustie, I appreciate your taking the time to tell me your story. I was on continuous P cream for over a year and stayed tired all the time. No energy at all. I was also on compounded Estradiol creams too but I wasn't absorbing it so I didn't experience any advantage. I then went on Estragel and that helped greatly, I started to feel alive again. I switched due to switching insurance companies and needing something cheaper. I'm now on the estradiol tablets and they seem to do the best for me. I don't like taking a pill because it has to bypass the liver, however I like the convenience of the pill over the gel. I now feel like a woman again instead of a slug. I think if I could get my thyroid straightened out and get my energy back I would feel grand! Not just good, I actually feel good now but if I had my energy, I would feel fabulous! And if I could lose 30 lbs, I'd look fabulous too.