Re: salt-loading difficulties ...

[Guest guest]

Are you having issues with the iodine that causes you to continue to do the salt loading. I think many get the mistaken idea that the salt load is a requirement of taking iodine and it is not. You should just get at least 1/2 tsp of unrefined sea salt per day.

I am not sure why you are getting those headaches. Maybe you need to do some liver and kidney support to help clear some toxins from your body that may be building up.

salt-loading difficulties ...

I need help figuring something out...

I recently posted how I finally have been able to tolerate some salt-loading, at least in a more diluted way than is suggested ... I have been adding 1/4 tsp of salt to every 32 oz of water that I drink. And ingesting 1/2-3/4 tsp salt/day in this way (yay) + whatever I eat in food (to taste). For 3 days I had no problem which was very encouraging because before when I tried to do the salt-loading I got headaches, bloating, and unquenchable thirst... Well today I have been fighting a headache all day. As soon as I lay off the salted water it goes away but when I try it again it starts to come back. I've had what seems to me like a lot of potassium and magnesium today also to try to balance whatever is happening, but I'm still having trouble drinking the salted water - even though it tastes good to me ...

Here is another factor - years ago when I tried taking natural hydrocortisone to see if it would help me to respond better to Armour, that is when I first began to get this type of headache. Even after I got off the hydrocortisone and my adrenals seemed to be ok, I would still get that headache when under stress- as if it is a high cortisol thing. Also I know that my potassium reserves were depleted from both the hydrocortisone and licorice (both of which never helped me to feel any better, strangely). Although it seems like I have adrenal fatigue in a lot of ways (though last 4x/day saliva test showed they were pretty good), such as chronic fatigue, muscle weakness, less ability to cope with stress, insomnia, low blood pressure etc. adrenal support always seems to make me feel worse (except for cortisol modulating remedies such as Seriphos which I take at night for a calming effect)! It's frustrating and confusing!!

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Marlena

[Guest guest]

> Also I know that my potassium reserves were depleted from both the

>hydrocortisone and licorice (both of which never helped me to feel

any >better, strangely). Marlena

I am still trying to figure out minerals. Looking at all the articles

again I see that hypoth need more Ca than Mg, 2:1. This goes along

with my aching teeth. Since I am deficient in all minerals evidently,

I need to just take more of my multi-mineral supplement, not mess with

the balance. Except for potassium, Since the FDA will not allow them

to put the RDA in. RDA for potassium is 5000mg/day. There is a lot

available in food, but I am still going to add some, since I think the

additional salt needs to be balanced and all the other stuff in the

pill. Looking at the huge RDA I am not sure I need to worry about

overdose as long as there is no underlaying adrenal or kidney problem.

So I am going to bring my potassium supplement up to at least match

the added calcium.

Unless someone can convince me otherwise.

Dorothy

[Guest guest]

Hi , Yes it seems that my fatigue and muscle weakness have been worse since being on 50mg Iodoral (thought it's hard to tell for sure since I fluctuate anyway and I have gone down in dosage and up again but I'm still having trouble getting clarity) - that is why I thought I need to do more salt loading. I should find out more once I get my bromide and heavy metal results in addition to a new iodine loading! I can't wait! I'm guessing that I do need salt but that my potassium and magnesium get low very easily - I think that is what causes the headaches and bad thirst, not sure though -- it's hard to keep it all in balance once it gets off ...I'm sure I probably need extra detox support. But I am already taking so much!! Here is my current list (which is often in flux) Metagenics Ultra Clear PH that you recommended and I like it a lot (wish it wasn't so expensive though!), Pro-Optimal Whey powder, about 4 grams Vit C/day (half of which comes from Thorne buffered C), Gaia Herbs Liver Support, Wobenzyme, Optivite, extra Methyl B12 sublinqual, extra P5P, extra zinc, Floravital iron, extra magnesium (various forms), Body Bio Phosphatidyl Choline, VSL#3 high dose probiotics, aloe vera juice, Omegazymes, started Vitex again for PMS and PMS-like symptoms around ovulation ...OY I didn't realize this list was so long!!! I'm probably forgetting something but you get the picture!!Thanks for your consideration!Marlena>> Are you having issues with the iodine that causes you to continue to do the salt loading. I think many get the mistaken idea that the salt load is a requirement of taking iodine and it is not. You should just get at least 1/2 tsp of unrefined sea salt per day. > > I am not sure why you are getting those headaches. Maybe you need to do some liver and kidney support to help clear some toxins from your body that may be building up.> > > salt-loading difficulties ...> > > I need help figuring something out...> I recently posted how I finally have been able to tolerate some salt-loading, at least in a more diluted way than is suggested ... I have been adding 1/4 tsp of salt to every 32 oz of water that I drink. And ingesting 1/2-3/4 tsp salt/day in this way (yay) + whatever I eat in food (to taste). For 3 days I had no problem which was very encouraging because before when I tried to do the salt-loading I got headaches, bloating, and unquenchable thirst... Well today I have been fighting a headache all day. As soon as I lay off the salted water it goes away but when I try it again it starts to come back. I've had what seems to me like a lot of potassium and magnesium today also to try to balance whatever is happening, but I'm still having trouble drinking the salted water - even though it tastes good to me ...> > > Here is another factor - years ago when I tried taking natural hydrocortisone to see if it would help me to respond better to Armour, that is when I first began to get this type of headache. Even after I got off the hydrocortisone and my adrenals seemed to be ok, I would still get that headache when under stress- as if it is a high cortisol thing. Also I know that my potassium reserves were depleted from both the hydrocortisone and licorice (both of which never helped me to feel any better, strangely). Although it seems like I have adrenal fatigue in a lot of ways (though last 4x/day saliva test showed they were pretty good), such as chronic fatigue, muscle weakness, less ability to cope with stress, insomnia, low blood pressure etc. adrenal support always seems to make me feel worse (except for cortisol modulating remedies such as Seriphos which I take at night for a calming effect)! It's frustrating and confusing!! > Any ideas?> > > Thanks,> Marlena>

[Guest guest]

For several months a couple years ago I measured my BP lying down and then rising every single day, and sometimes it would go down after standing and it's usually low to begin with ... I know that orthostatic hypotension is a low adrenal issue ... I have a lot of the signs and symptoms of adrenal fatigue, but adrenal support did not and still doesn't make me feel better - this is what is always so confusing and frustrating!! I even did the more elaborate adrenal test, the ACTH stimulation. If I remember correctly, what was interesting about the results were that my cortisol was too high before the challenge and then it was supposed to double after but it could not quite make it. Taking hydrocortisone, adrenal glandulars, licorice, or even ginseng just makes my cortisol too high without giving me more adrenal reserve ... and I get bad high cortisol symptoms - like headache, insomnia, restless leg syndrome, water retention, etc. when I take adrenal things. I'm hoping that supporting myself in other ways will somehow help my adrenals... I've never heard of anyone else who has this situation quite like this ... But if anyone has any ideas PLEASE don't hesitate to share :-)Marlena >> That is how we monitory my adrenal status. Dr. B takes my BP laying down and then has me stand up. When I stand up if it drops and how far it drops tells him how badly my adrenals are struggling.> > Steph

[Guest guest]

Betsy,Thank you for your reply. No I have never tested for a pituitary tumor. But now I think I should. How do I do that? What is a functional tumor? And what is the treatment? Is your daughter doing any better now? I only have catastrophic health insurance right now ... I know that I have other pituitary-hypothalamus problems like low MSH and ADH, low melatonin which are all hormones from the hypothalamus and stored in the pituitary, or something like that, I think... I was exposed to toxic mold for a long long time without knowing it and that was the explanation from the mold doctor ... but it doesn't make sense why I would not respond well to things that should help ... Contemplating all this...Marlena> > From: marlenaappletree marlenaappletree@...> Subject: Re: salt-loading difficulties ...> iodine > Date: Thursday, August 21, 2008, 4:34 PM> > For several months a couple years ago I measured my BP lying down and then rising every single day, and sometimes it would go down after standing and it's usually low to begin with ... I know that orthostatic hypotension is a low adrenal issue ... I have a lot of the signs and symptoms of adrenal fatigue, but adrenal support did not and still doesn't make me feel better - this is what is always so confusing and frustrating! ! I even did the more elaborate adrenal test, the ACTH stimulation. If I remember correctly, what was interesting about the results were that my cortisol was too high before the challenge and then it was supposed to double after but it could not quite make it. Taking hydrocortisone, adrenal glandulars, licorice, or even ginseng just makes my cortisol too high without giving me more adrenal reserve ... and I get bad high cortisol symptoms - like headache, insomnia, restless leg syndrome, water retention, etc. when I take adrenal> things. I'm hoping that supporting myself in other ways will somehow help my adrenals... I've never heard of anyone else who has this situation quite like this ... But if anyone has any ideas PLEASE don't hesitate to share :-)> Marlena >

[Guest guest]

Ok I did some research - and answered my very basic questions, but anything else you might want to share is extremely welcomed. I think I will try to get more insurance?? and then get an MRI -- would be nice to be able to know or rule it out. Thanks,Marlena> >> > My daughter had symptoms similar to yours. But they were insidious in> appearance and growth. She tried adrenal support in the form of, among> others, DHEA and licorice. She puffed up and became sick every time. She> also had rashes and hives that came from nowhere.Finally, after many,> many years she was bad enough for someone to check her pituitary. She> had a small functional tumor that had been there all those years...and> was now big enough to affect her vision.  She went through many dx> including bi-polar, hypochondria and sensitivity to garlic and the> cabbage family.> >  > > Her adrenal glands finally sent her into Cushings bad enough that> someone listened. One of the bad things is that with a functional tumor> they have to catch it when it is 'functioning' or the hormones don't> reveal themselves and you test normal.> >  > > I am sure you have tested for this and this sounds so negative! It is> just something you read and then dismiss or use...whichever fits.> >  > > Betsy> >   

[Guest guest]

I sent my last message before seeing your reply. Thanks for sharing this.Marlena>> A functional tumor takes over the duties of the organ it grew in. So in my daughter's case, it put out the same hormones that her pituitary gland did, which caused her pituitary to shut down. But the tumor did not act on signals from other organs and put out hormones indiscriminately and wreaked havoc on her entire endocrine system.> The tumor was located because they did a scan on her pituitary based on blood tests and appearance. >  > She had a very hard time getting any doctor to listen or refer her out. She actually finally threatened her primary care provider with a lawsuit if she did not refer her out and it turned out she had serious endocrine disease. You might try Googling all the info you can find on the pituitary.>  > Betsy>  >

[Guest guest]

I sent my last message before seeing your reply. Thanks for sharing this.Marlena>> A functional tumor takes over the duties of the organ it grew in. So in my daughter's case, it put out the same hormones that her pituitary gland did, which caused her pituitary to shut down. But the tumor did not act on signals from other organs and put out hormones indiscriminately and wreaked havoc on her entire endocrine system.> The tumor was located because they did a scan on her pituitary based on blood tests and appearance. >  > She had a very hard time getting any doctor to listen or refer her out. She actually finally threatened her primary care provider with a lawsuit if she did not refer her out and it turned out she had serious endocrine disease. You might try Googling all the info you can find on the pituitary.>  > Betsy>  >

[Guest guest]

I've never heard of anyone else who has this situation quite like

this ... But if anyone has any ideas PLEASE don't hesitate to share :-)

>

> Marlena

Well, there is me. I have lots of symptoms of combined thyroid and

adrenal insufficiency. My night and morning cortisols are high. So I

have trouble sleeping. My ACTH is high. I tried Isocort and felt

totally exhausted and emotionally unbalanced the whole time I was on

it. It did not get me any sleep like I was told it would.

I am taking Holy basil and it seems to help as long as I don't take it

too late or it stops the morning cortisol from getting me going. I do

one midafternoon and one before bed. I am also taking pregnalonone but

I expect that will take more that a week to show results. Ashwaghanda

later in the day kept me awake, but I am taking one in the morning now

that I am off isocort.

My estrogen is at the top of normal limits and my progesterone is

close to the bottom. I found that Chaste tree berry is good for that.

It might be helping.

Like you, I am still trying to figure out mineral balance. Taking

extra minerals at bedtime seems to help with sleep. I am not sure if

it is potassium that loosens my bowels or too much thyroid. And could

it be potassium that is affecting T3 absorption? I was at 3 grains ATh

when my T3 went into high normal range, but my T4 was right at the

top. Diarrhea. I backed off to 2 1/2 and felt better for a couple of

days, stool was better. On the 3rd day my heart rate dropped 3 bpm and

I was so tired and sleepy after breakfast I had to take a nap. So I

went up to 2 3/4 grains. Now, 4-5 days later I am back to loose stool,

and a sleepless night-before-last. Dropped the last 1/2 grain and

slept better last night. I can't seem to have more than one good day

at a time. Still feel a little wiped out and dizzy this morning.

I am doing 50 mg iodine, salt load twice a day and put bentonite and

potassium in it. Have to stop every few days because the headache

won't go away. But if I stop too long that doesn't feel good either.

Have I become addicted to iodine?

I don't know what to do now except maybe work up slowly on the

potassium, adjust the ATh as needed and wait and see.

Sorry this is so long. If I don't put it all in, someone will ask. Any

input is appreciated.

Dorothy

[Guest guest]

Hi Dorothy,Thank you for sharing. Gosh I know how difficult it is to juggle multiple problems and try to tweak everything just right. I too find relative balance one day only for it to be off the next. I am also taking Chaste tree berry (vitex), for pms and ovulation issues. And from the mineral tests I think I need sodium, potassium, and magnesium almost all the time!! I've found Seriphos is a good product for calming the adrenals down at night. And Tryptophan works better for me than melatonin for sleeping. I used to be able to use it but now I feel drugged when I wake up and my fatigue/weakness is worse the next day. Tryptophan doesn't have that effect on me. It's helpful for me to hear about another person who has some low cortisol symptoms yet did not do well on cortisol raising supplements (like Isocort, etc. I took that too for awhile). Even though I am hypothyroid I couldn't tolerate Armour at all. It didn't help any symptoms and that is when I first developed chronic fatigue!! Everyone said adrenal support would help, but it didn't. I tried finding a balance with thyroid and adrenal hormones for years but then had to give up and try with more gentle interventions. Now at least with the iodine I have seen some improvement of at least 1 hypothyroid symptom -- so I'm hoping to eventually heal my endocrine system -- because I have had such a complicated situation, like you, and from what others have said - I am now seriously considering trying to find a way to get a brain MRI ...Anyway, regarding your concern about 'addiction' to iodine - my theory about how it works is this (please correct me anyone!): The body adjusts to the amount of iodine taken daily, and will distribute it in the way it deems best ... When first starting a significant dosage, often people feel an initial improvement of some sort, only for it to subside after taking it for awhile, (until ...) because there is still a shortage and deficiency. And when we stop or decrease the dosage (due to detoxing or other difficulties with it), there is another adjustment the body has to make, since it had become accustomed to a certain amount of iodine ... I don't know - that's just how it seems to me. I wouldn't worry about dependency on it, as much as it is evidence that your body does want it...Hopefully we will find more answers to the multiple challenges ...Best wishes,Marlena >> I've never heard of anyone else who has this situation quite like> this ... But if anyone has any ideas PLEASE don't hesitate to share :-)> > > > Marlena > > Well, there is me. I have lots of symptoms of combined thyroid and> adrenal insufficiency. My night and morning cortisols are high. So I> have trouble sleeping. My ACTH is high. I tried Isocort and felt> totally exhausted and emotionally unbalanced the whole time I was on> it. It did not get me any sleep like I was told it would. > > I am taking Holy basil and it seems to help as long as I don't take it> too late or it stops the morning cortisol from getting me going. I do> one midafternoon and one before bed. I am also taking pregnalonone but> I expect that will take more that a week to show results. Ashwaghanda> later in the day kept me awake, but I am taking one in the morning now> that I am off isocort.> > My estrogen is at the top of normal limits and my progesterone is> close to the bottom. I found that Chaste tree berry is good for that.> It might be helping. > > Like you, I am still trying to figure out mineral balance. Taking> extra minerals at bedtime seems to help with sleep. I am not sure if> it is potassium that loosens my bowels or too much thyroid. And could> it be potassium that is affecting T3 absorption? I was at 3 grains ATh> when my T3 went into high normal range, but my T4 was right at the> top. Diarrhea. I backed off to 2 1/2 and felt better for a couple of> days, stool was better. On the 3rd day my heart rate dropped 3 bpm and> I was so tired and sleepy after breakfast I had to take a nap. So I> went up to 2 3/4 grains. Now, 4-5 days later I am back to loose stool,> and a sleepless night-before-last. Dropped the last 1/2 grain and> slept better last night. I can't seem to have more than one good day> at a time. Still feel a little wiped out and dizzy this morning.> > I am doing 50 mg iodine, salt load twice a day and put bentonite and> potassium in it. Have to stop every few days because the headache> won't go away. But if I stop too long that doesn't feel good either.> Have I become addicted to iodine?> > I don't know what to do now except maybe work up slowly on the> potassium, adjust the ATh as needed and wait and see.> > Sorry this is so long. If I don't put it all in, someone will ask. Any> input is appreciated.> > Dorothy>

[Guest guest]

> dont forget to look into the essential fatty acids...remember the

adrenals function off of good sources of omega 3's and I believe 6's

also ? Food for thought

>

I am drinking 8 0z whole milk kefir plus kefir cheese on my sprouted

grain bread. I went back to butter. Use e.v olive oil exclusively,

can't stand coconut oil. I keep looking at those fish oils but they

are so expensive and I am short on funds right now. Try to do raw milk

when I can afford it. I couldn't believe Dr Mercola's price today of

86 cents for 8 oz raw milk. Started Alaska wild salmon a couple times

a week. I don't know if that's enough or not.

Dorothy