Iodine, thyroid, and breast cancer??
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I'm feeling a bit more agitated than normal...actually, I'm feeling "nervous" and not quite myself....What on earth am I taking that could cause this swing? I'm not even on iodine! I'm really confused, I seem to be going from bad to worse.The only good thing is I may lose a couple of pounds !
Terri
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Hello have not posted for a bit but have a few questions. The Endo has been watching my thyroid as it has several nodules and is growing they say too fast. i have had 3 doctors tell me to have it removed, it may be cancerous as the biopsy says negative but with cancerous tendacy's, my TSH is in the normal range but I can feel the lump when I swallow now so I will get it removed next month, question is how hard is it to adjust to synthroid, I hear the natural one is not available, does anyone else have theri thyroid removed? I am 50. I found the lump in my throat prior to receving radiation.
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Carrollyn, please check out naturalthyroidchoices and stopthethyroidmadness before making any decisions. There are a lot of folks there who advocate for keeping the thyroid.
Terri, remember, it takes a long time for your body to feel normal again. You have been pumped with all kinds of chemicals and they will cause reactions as you detox. Have you tried any detox? I did a liver cleanse before I started the iodine. I had a lot of itching for months, while all that stuff tried to work its way out.
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Carolynn, you must go join this 3,000 member forum and lurk. Ask Stephanie the owner some questions. There are a lot of experts there. Some doctors. Stephanie got rid of her thyroid cancer, breast cysts and ovarian cysts--all iodine related. She is a patient of Dr. Brownstein and helped edit his book.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/iodine/
Before you have any surgery please tell them your story. That Synthroid made me so I couldn't get out of bed.
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carolyn, I would also urge you to investigate more options. Subscribe to the yahoo group for iodine. Lucy provided the link. There's a lot of traffic every day and it's overwhelming at first, but people there are shrinking goiters and nodules without surgery. The owner Stephanie is a thyroid cancer survivor. Her thyroid was removed and she nearly died from having RAI treatments afterwards.
If you have your thyroid removed, you'll be dependent on subscription thyroid hormone replacement for the rest of your life. By the simple fact that your endo is recommending synthroid tells me you'd be wise to seek addition opinions. There have been some shortage of the dessicated natural thyroid hormone Armour, but they reformulated their product last year and many people have switched to Naturethroid. Supplementing with iodine benefits people in many ways. Women with painful lumps from fibrocystic breasts are painfree and lumpfree after using iodine. Some doctors believe it protects against breast cancer and even reverses early stage developments. Just be sure to read about the 'companions' that comprise the protocol. You'll also need vitamin C, selenium, magnesium, unrefined sea salt and lots of water. Personally, there's no way I'd allow anything to be removed that didn't show a certain indicator of cancer being present. At least get a second opinion. If you go to the website for Armour thyroid, there's a physician locator. Or go to a local compounding pharmacy to see if any local doctors are prescribing armour or naturethroid.
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I was reading about bromine in how it competes for the same receptors that are used to capture iodine. It seems that bromine is in about everything we use, and eat. I take iodoral daily, and wonder if I am getting the full benefit due to possibly bromine being imersed in plastics, flour, can foods, and just about everything else we use. Have you read anything on this?
Staying away from everything for me is overwhelming.There is so much to do to keep the thyroid healthy...wonder where balance comes into play.
.
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I googled "how to get the thyroid healthy" I read this in two different articles:
A diet rich in fruits and vegetables is definitely good for you, but watch out: Long-term consumption of soy foods or eating too much oatmeal, fiber supplements and fiber-rich foods (like cereal) and cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower or Brussels sprouts) may interfere with proper thyroid metabolism or absorption.
If this is true then we ladies that are taking dim might be messing with our thyroids. Has anyone heard of this???
Patty
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Patty-
I'm praying for you~
As far as DIM and cruciferous - my pharmacist had confirned when I started DIM that my thyroid meds might have to be adjusted, but he agreed that DIM was just too important to let that stop me from taking it. SUre enough, I just got my throid numbers back and my T4 went up and my T3 went down - which means I am not converting from T4 to T3, as well as before. - My doc upped my T3 and we will re-test in 3 months.I knew something was up , because I had to raise the temp in the house 5 degrees and I have gained weight. I also think that the new higher dose of Iodoral, along with the addition of ATP co-factors, could eventually caue my T3 to go back up. It is such a balancing act, isn't it?
Beth
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Hi Beth! It just keeps getting more and more confusing. I'm switching to Myomin since I am post men. Maybe that will help with my thyroid. I have nodules on it so its important that the Iodoral works for me. Thanks for the prayers and keep them coming!!!!!
I have a terrible cold right now. I'm concerned my immune system is down 
. Oh, it's always something!!!Love, Patty
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barry, pepperidge farm does not use brominated flour, so that's one way to avoid brominated bread products. Any organic flour will not be brominated. I started using King Arthur's unbleached, 'white whole wheat' flour. Haven't investigated it much and can't fathom how a white flour can still be whole grain, but it's my new 'white' flour that I use for cakes and cookies, and my baked goods come out better than ever.
We are exposed to bromine daily from household items treated with fire retardents. Driving a new car is like diving into a pond of a thousand chemicals, including bromine. Computers, cell phones and tv also are sources of bromine expsoure. Chlorine and floride also compete for the same receptors. Bromine, chlorine, flouride and iodine are all 'halides', and iodine is the only one that benefits our health. Drinking filtered water helps a lot. I buy mine from a kiosk and store it in a big glass jug. Filters are available for bath water and shower heads to cut down chlorine exposure.
seaotter, I was aware of the cruciferous veggies and soy affecting thyroid function. They're classed as 'goitrogens', which are foods that interfere with the thyroid's ability to absorb iodine, which subsequently contributes to underactive thryoids. For this very reason, I've never tried DIM.
Supposedly, we can consume the goitrogens in modest quantities and receive benefits IF we are iodine sufficient. But in view of all the exposure to the toxic halides, achieving iodine sufficiency while suffering from hypothyroidism is no small feat.
I took an iodine loading test last may after supplementing with iodine for 5 months at the rate of 65 mg/day. My absorption rate was lousy. I became more compliant with the full protocol, and increased to 100 mg/day of iodoral in july. I've sent in samples for another loading test, and a bromide test this time also. I continue to feel tired all the time, brainfog is my too familiar companion, and I suspect that despite all my months of iodine protocol that I'll still have lousy numbers. Will share my results when I get them.
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althea, if you knew why didn't you tell me. lol!!!!! Are you taking myomin? I have only taken it for 2 days now. It seems to be giving me some much needed energy. In fact if I take it at night I don't sleep well, like I had some caffeine before bed.
Love ya, Patty
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Several people on the iodine forum noted that their numbers went up and they had some weight gain went starting iodoral. It seemed to level off. I take myomin several hours after the iodine. That way they do not interfere with each other.
Patty, do not worry about having a slight cold. I never got colds before, and I read that is not a good thing. My immune sys. was so good at fighting bugs, it missed the bc, or something like that. Just double your dose of c and d for a couple of days. That always knocks out bugs fast for me. The only thing I take before bed is mag.
Althea, it will be interesting to see what your tests say. I cannot believe you did not feel any differnce when doubling the iodoral. Let us know.
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vivre, thanks, now I will appreciate this cold!!!! Yep, I did double up on the vit c. What kind of mag do you take??? How much iodoral are you taking? How many mg's of myomin are you taking? Thanks
Patty
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I got my test results this week from my second iodine loading test and my first bromide test. I'm sooo disappointed, but not really surprised. My bromide level is 31.35 (normal less than 12). My iodine loading is 31 (normal greater than 44), saturation 63 (adequate saturation greater than 90).
My iodine numbers are nearly identical to last year's test in June, and at that time Dr Flechas told me I have a low absorption rate. Since then, I started taking ATP cofactors, added more magnesium (transdermal spray from ancient minerals brand), more vitamin C, brazil nuts for more selenium. At the time of last year's test, I'd already been taking 62 mg/day of iodine for 5 months, and switched to unrefined sea salt at the same time I started iodine supplements.
My ass was still dragging in july after a full month of ATP cofactors, so I upped my iodoral to 100 mg/day in july. I still feel tired all the time, so I guess my test results are consistent with that. My iodine absorption rate is still lousy, and I have plenty of bromide to get rid of. I'm grateful for the yahoo group for iodine. With this kind of result, I'd be ditching the iodine and trying something else without the help of the iodine group. The owner of the group has more dismal labs than I do. She's had labs that show bromide at 66 while taking 125 mg/day of iodoral! Dumping the bromide literally takes years, so I'm going to stick with the iodine protocol.
editing to fix saturation number; had it transposed
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patty, I don't take myomin. Vivre and fairy have been tooting the hormone balancing horn for months now, but venturing into the cost of testing and finding someone to help me has been beyond my reach. I wouldn't want to take myomin unless I had a good idea of what my overall hormone picture looks like. I've been reading Breakthrough by Suzanne Somers this month and I'm so ready to get hormone balancing racheted up the list.
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Althea, did you have your consult with Dr. Flechas yet about your recent results? I'd be interested to hear what he says....
What does your Iodine group say that makes you want to stick with this?
My absorption was not great either last time, so I am wondering if I'll be following you in this sort of scenario!!!
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spring, did you get a bromide test also? I haven't scheduled my consult with dr flechas yet. I've been noticing references to 'detox pathways' and how they can get blocked. I want to learn more about them and possibly quiz dr f on the possibility of my pathways being blocked and what might I do about it. With my bromide levels being so high, I've learned from the yahoo group that taking big doses of iodine will compete with the bromide and it can take years to detox bromide.
We are exposed to bromdie daily. It's in our bread, it's in carpets and fabrics treated with fire retardents, it's in our computers and cell phones. I've been buying bread from the grocery's bakery, liking the idea that it's made from scratch locally. Their ingredients are in teeeeny tiny print, and I finally quinted at the list today. Duped again! They use brominated flour. I'll keep posting as I learn.
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Althea, hang in there. Eventually you will figure it out. I remember reading on the iodine group that someone mentioned that progesterone works in synergy to iodine. Remember, we are the pioneers here. Eventually, we will have established a protocol that will help others. I am just sending in my second iodine loading test too. It will be interesting to see.
Althea, you really need a complete hormone panal done. My doctor was able to discern that I have a methiolation problem and put me on a small amount of DHEA. I have not retested yet, but I am seeing a doctor today. The thing that is so hard, is that we all have to find that balance, in our whole system. It is not an easy task. But it sure makes me mad when I think of how regular oncs just give the same drug to everyone and pat us on the back and tell us to come back in a few months. No wonder cancer comes back!
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Althea, no I have not had a brominde test. Do you get that from the same place we order the Iodine test from? I will be doing the Iodine test again in the late spring. I am also doing a complete hormone panel in the spring too.
I am now buying bread from Trader Joes, and I don't think it has bromide, but I better look again!!!!!
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Bromide testing can be done with the same sample used for the loading test. Dr Flechas charges $80 for each test, and after I placed my order, I learned hakala labs charges $70 for the loading and even less for the bromide. I asked bcc if they would reimburse me for a second test, and they said they would. Generally, they reimburse just once, and they don't reimburse for the bromide, but it can't hurt to ask if you'd qualify.
The bread label I looked at yesterday says 'potassium bromate' in the list of 'enriched' items added to the flour. Pepperidge Farms uses non-brominated flour. That'll be my choice for a while, unless I take up making my own bread again. ...or go gluten free
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vivre, I just don't know that I can find any locally who can help me with hormone balancing. Could I do this long distance with someone?
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althea, thanks for the info....
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I just had my phone consultation with Dr Flechas re my test results. I told him my favorite soda as a kid was mt dew and is it possible that I'm still lugging it around with me? He said it's very possible, since toxin overloads get stored in our fat tissues when our intestinal tract is unable to dispose of it right away.
When I asked about my test results being so similar to my first test last year, he indicated my bromide levels are the most likely reason for my iodine saturation levels being so low. When I asked what I could do to dump more bromide, every single thing he mentioned is something I've been doing for months. Take 3000 mg vit C per day, use unrefined salt, increase iodoral to 100 mg/day.
So, more plugging along for me.
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Good Althea! GOsh, I wonder if it's also bromide for me. I do nearly 20K C per day, so glad to know something I am already doing may help.
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Dang, spring, 20K, as in 20,000 milligrams? Don't you get an upset stomach with that high a dose?
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Thanks all for your coments, I will have my thyroid removed, I have talked to my Endo, Surgeon and Oncologist again and feel it is the right decision for me. I am already having problems with when I cough feeling the pressure on my airway. I do not look forward to having to be dependant on the meds but sometimes we all have to deal with life with chemistry in one way or form.
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Althea, yeah, and my osteopath would rather I take more Vit C, but i think I'm at my limit - there are quality of life issues with all these supplements!. I take 2 tsp per meal (I had to move to powdered C as I could not handle swallowing all those pills) there is 3.2K per tsp- the powder with some juice & water is much easier to take, than all the pills. It it very sour, but does not upset my stomach, it's buffered C, maybe that's why? I also put L-Glutamin in there.
I hope my absorption numbers are better next time. We'll see.
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Springtime, have you tried lipospheric Vitamin C? It is very concentrated and comes in a gel. 1,000 mg equals 5-10,000 mg. Won't efffect your stomach or bowels.
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Quick question - Is anyone taking any other iodine supplement other than Iodoral or Lugol's? Has anyone heard of Pure Potassium Iodide capsules 225 mcg? Or is it best for me to order Iodoral...
Terri
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I've been taking DIM since Nov and around the same time my TSH level has been lowering. I'm wondering if the DIM has anything to do with it? Anyway, I went to a new Endo yesterday that was referred to me by my ONC. I was hoping to discuss taking iodine and maybe Naturethroid with him. My heart sank when I met him, the man had to be at least 75 years old. No offence but I knew right away I would be barking up the wrong tree. I did muster up the courage to ask him and he barely let me get the words out before poo-pooing me. I left there disappointed and with a new "lower dose" prescription for Synthroid.
It has taken me a while, but I'm now determined to order some iodine supplements. What type and where do I order from to get the best deal?
Terri
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