Re: Iodine, again

February 8, 2011

Chuck:

I actually was not sure about the exact dosage when I typed that email, but was

in a hurry to get to work and did not have time to go downstairs and check the

bottle---the dose that I was taking from Feb 2007 until Dec 23rd 2010 was 50mg

elemental iodine per day. Upon reading the book by Dr Kharrazian, I became so

concerned that I had been poisoning myself, that I stopped cold turkey. I was

not feeling great when I did stop, but I really feel crappy now--and my

cognition and digestion, lack of sleep---etc--all my symptoms are back in a

rage.

I actually did feel very good once I got to the 50mg daily dose, and your point

about accelerating was likely what I had been experiencing while on it.

I am actually waiting for a practitioner to become trained in Dr Kharrazian's

approach so I can begin treatment.

To get back to iodine, though, I too have read many conflicting reports about

iodine and resisted taking in for years until my women's health practitioner

convinced me to try it. It was because I did feel a lot better, and actually did

not have heart palps, or thyroid hot flashes, and could concentrate and get

things done so much more effectively that I did choose to continue. I just wish

I knew where to turn here. I do not wish to destroy the thyroid I have left,

since I've had this disease since I was 17 yrs old and am now 54. I was force

fed banana flakes and soy milk as an infant, because I was losing weight and

could not hold the cow's milk formula down when I was 5 months old, and my mom

and doctor told me I was dying. I immediately put on pounds and was the fattest

baby on the block--with three chins. I'm pretty sure that soy and banana were

not the best curative for me. So, my health problems go a long way back.

In past discussions about taking supplements, many contributors here have stood

by the theory that if taking something makes you feel better, then take it. In

the case of being a long time thyroid sufferer, feeling better is like a gift

and is very precious, and many doctors are highly undereducated, or also

arrogant and narrow-minded, so we often are forced to research and try what we

feel could work, within reason, of course. Doctors try things on patients

anyway, and we have to pay for each bottle, and if it doesn't work, then we get

to try another and pay more. Based on the reaction my body had aside from any

scientific finding, I honestly did feel a good 40% better while on the 50mg

dose. I hate to be a crazy one here, but it's true. Once I got past the first

three weeks, it was worth it to keep taking it.

So now I feel like I'm back to square one, and sick all over again.

I do apologize for bringing up such a topic, but I do value your opinion and was

also wondering if you are acquainted with the book I mentioned, and if so, what

you thought about the iodine research he did.

Thanks again.

O'Connell

Iodine, again

,

You wrote:

>

> I would very much appreciate your opinion on the theory that a

> therapeutic dose of iodine, specifically Iodoral at 75mg per day, has

> been scientifically found to increase thyroid problems in the auto

> immune disease, Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. I'm referring to the writings

> of Dr. Datis Kharrazian.

That is a substantial dose, about 500 times the recommended daily intake

and about 75 times the safe upper limit. Are you sure you don't mean 75

mcg?

Many many studies have shown that doses at much lower levels, close to

the limit, do indeed seem to aggravate or even bring on Hashimoto's.

However, if you are already way down the hypoT road, this may not

necessarily be a bad thing. Iodine could accelerate the process, getting

you more quickly to a stable, replacement dose. When that happens, the

antibodies and peripheral symptoms can go away.

That is not a good enough reason to recommend large overdosing of iodine

by itself, and 75 mg could induce pseudo allergic reactions. The

threshold for these potentially life threatening conditions is around 3

mg per day. If you can get to that dose without an adverse reaction, you

are probably safe to go higher. However, I am highly skeptical that any

benefits accrue from such massive doses.

We have had lots of iodine advocates on this list who think the opposite

and recommend up to 100 mg per day. As I said, they have failed to

convince me. In fact, I suspect that massive doses of iodine may even be

addictive.

Chuck

February 8, 2011

,

You wrote:

>

> In past discussions about taking supplements, many contributors here

> have stood by the theory that if taking something makes you feel better,

> then take it....

Many addictive substances make you feel better in the short term but

eventually cause a downside. I just don't know whether iodine is like

that. The literature all points to problems in the short term, even from

modest doses, so very few have tested long term effects of high doses.

You are definitely past the 3 mg allergy threshold, which was my biggest

concern. So, continuing at your highest dose will probably not damage

anything except what is left of your thyroid or your pocketbook.

One possible effect you may have experienced while ramping up the dosage

is a temporary reduction in T3 due to the Wolff-Chaikoff effect. If your

heart palpitations and hot flashes were actually due to hyperT, then

this effect could be producing relief. So would a reduction in thyroid

output from progression of the Hashi's. Unfortunately, these would be

only temporary help, until things stabilized.

If you are having hyperT symptoms, why not simply try a reduction in

thyroid dosage?

Chuck

February 9, 2011

Chuck

Interesting that you would mention lowering my thyroid dosage, since on December

26th I began taking half of the 130 mg of the Westin Nature-throid that I've

been on since 2007, so I've been on 65mg and feeling worse and worse everyday

since then. So, I'm now completely off of any supplemental iodine and half of my

thyroid meds and feeling like I'm in slow motion with my head and body feeling

like they weigh a ton.

I am pursuing options here in my area and have been trying to get a referral to

see a specialist who does carry my health insurance, but I have to see my

primary care provider first. You know the drill, I'm sure. So, hopefully after

the information I received from the office assistant there, I can use the proper

terminology to get the referral. They have to approve it for reasons that fit

within their box of words. red tape

To speak to the long term effects of high doses, even though from Feb 2007 until

December 2010 is not too terribly long, I can tell you that for me, taking 50mg

of elemental iodine with ATP Co-Factors everyday, along with other vitamin and

mineral supplements like Vitamin D3, I really felt good. I mean, close to

normal. Sleeping, able to think well, stamina, aches and pains were much fewer

and less intense, very few headaches, no episodes of heating up and getting

suddenly flushed, no heart palps, dryness in my eyes very much relieved,

digestion much improved and really able to get on with my day and feel good.

It doesn't make any sense to me that if iodine is supposed to be toxic for the

Hashi's sufferer, why did I feel so good for so long?

By the way, I was admitted to a hospital December 21st, 2010, with classic heart

attack symptoms. One of the tests they did was to do an imaging test using

iodine given thru an IV. Not ONE person asked me about Hashi's, and I DID tell

them about it. The techs administrating the test simply asked if I was allergic

to iodine, and I had no reason to believe I was, since I was taking it everyday.

Could you please elaborate on what you meant when you said " until things

stabilized " ?

Thank you, Chuck

O'Connell, Owner/Operator

Cloud Nine Therapeutics, LLC

10555 Montgomery Blvd NE

Building #3, Suite 160A

Albuquerque, NM 87111

505.298.9000