Iodine, thyroid, and breast cancer??
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I just got my thyroid function test results back. All looks pretty normal. I have decreased my iodine dosage, and will continue to take my drops daily.
Free T4: 16.2 ---------Units - pmol/L - Ref Range (10.0 - 19.0)
TSH : 1.46 --------- Units - mIU/L - Ref Range (0.50 - 4.00)
Free T3 : 5.8 --------- Units - pmol/L - Ref Range (3.5 - 6.5)
Victoria0 -
Victoria, although your t4, t3, and tsh are normal, your antibodies may not be. There was a time when tsh, and t4 was low normal, t3 slightly below...but my antibodies were way off the charts. My most recent thyroid tests read the same, all low normal, (except t3 was low) but my antibodies are 950...although improved from 1150 (naturalpath took me off iodine) I still struggle with taking iodine or not...now that my antibodies have decrease I wonder if its due to not taking iodine. I've read opposing view points and I'm not sure what's right....so I'm listening to my naturalpath hoping she knows more than I
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It takes time for those who are on thyroid meds to feel as if they are in a normal range. I didn't think I was overweight. I'm 5'8" and was 156 ... in June I lost about 12 to15 pounds....no change in diet this summer, and I'm now 140 pounds. But, for a few years there's been no change in weight. I'm not taking iodine (my naturalpahtic doc asked me not to take it due to high antibodies) ... but I now sweat (rarely sweat before this summer).
In summary, it takes time for us to find what dosage of t3 and t4 we need, and for our bodies to heal itself. I also want to insert again that I also believe that B-12's are important factor in helping the t4 to make t3 (stored in the liver and that's where the t4 makes the t3) Also B-6 is important for the B-12's.
I'm not anti iodine...my daughter takes it for the health of her thyroid.
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I was looking for this thread! I am having some serious issues too, I had Rads and no shielding. My TSH is close to 12 on Synthroid. My lymph nodes are swollen, my throat/neck feels "full" I just had layngitis, and have hot flashes/sweating and feeling rotten for months.
I wish I had seen this before, sigh. At least I can come here to learn....we just upped my Synthroid after I was outraged to see no one called to tell me my levels were off. I had my Psychiatrist look for me as I have been also having shortness of breath, anxiety. Basically, I feel like my thyroid is trashed, and see the endocrinologist for the first time Oct.6th. I am going to read, but would really appreciate anyone's take on what's happening to me. So tired too...nodule on thyroid, PET showed "chronic thyroiditis."
Thanks in advance,
Traci
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Traci, so sorry for what you are going through. You need to see a naturalpathic doctor. Sorry to say, but most conventional doctors give cookie cutter answers or prescribe you a med's that may have nothing to do with your problem. My natualpathic doc did a series of test to get to the root of my problem or why I had cancer. I was surprised when I learned that my thyroid wasn't working...or hardly functioning. I was on thyroid meds for a year...and, I didn't see a big difference after taking t3 and t4 for a year.
It sounds that your problems maybe complex...I would hestitate to say what you should do...only a doctor can address what's really going on. There's good info on this treads that's encouraged and helped me. I hope you feel better soon. EB
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EB,
Thanks so much for you response. It has been really rough, but I know I am not the first one to have a tough go. There is a naturalpathic MD affiliated with the Breast Cancer program. She would work on a sliding scale I think for payment. I met her once in the multidisciplinary clinic before chemo started. I think we also need to do an ultrasound, and I will most likely have a biopsy of the nodule (just thinking logically.) I'm just sick and tired of being sick and tired
I can't tell exactly when this all started, because I didn't go into Rads feeling very good, but I kept getting worse during rads and had some heart arrythmias as well. When I told them how badly I felt, they just kept saying they didn't expect me to have these side effects with Breast Rads...0 -
The Stop the Thyroid Madness Forum which would be perfect for you is reformulating in a couple of weeks.
Meanwhile, Squidwitch, PM me. I have some ideas for you.
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will do...I fell asleep again, second time today. Can't stay awake!
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I was wondering if anyone is doing iodine and DIM together to reduce estrogen in the breast. They seem to have similar benefits but not the same. I am supposed to start on AI's in a few weeks and not interested in doing so - way too many side effects and still feels sort of like it's in the guinea pig stage...
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My doctor now has me on Broccoprotect (formerly OncoSGS) instead of DIM because Broccoprotect is patented NOT to effect the thyroid.
I also take Iodine.
This strategy is a double whammy as a substitute for Tamox --but they both do other healthy anti-cancer things. Too many to name.
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heartnsoul ~ I use I3C and iodine, as well as quite a few other supplements. Check out the Natural Girls thread for discussions about DIM, I3C, Grape Seed Extract and Myomin, as well as other lifestyle modifications to modulate estrogen in lieu of an A/I or Tamox. Deanna
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Excellent answers. ladies. I will have to check into these ideas and present them to my onc. She seemed somewhat receptive when I mentioned DIM, she wanted to know what the chemical name was, so I'm going to email her some links to look over all this stuff and get her input, hopefully her approval because I do not think I'm a candidate for AI's - too much blood clotting in my family history. Last thing I want to do is get on the coumadin track - ugh! I do have a appt with an endocrinologist after some other tests that must be done first, including something that looks like an adenoma on my adrenal gland, which is probably interfering with the thyroid balance. But first things first. My hope is to straighten out all the medical problems first, then get guidance from an integrative/naturopath with cancer experience and follow the most wholesome eating and exercise plan I can find/devise. I just don't think more powerful prescription drugs will keep the problem away - maybe at bay, but that's what I'm worried about. This is really hard to figure out, especially on day 2 after chemo, but I better get my thinking cap functioning NOW because she is going to want this stuff in about a week. Then give her a while to think about it. I love this onc so I hope we can work it out to both our satisfaction - I do think she'll give me about 4 months to see if things are improving.
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heartandsoul: It sounds like you have a great dr who listens to you and is receptive to new things. That is so hard to find and a large part of the battle so I am glad that you have her on your side!
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First let me say that I also am taking DIM and iodine. I am also hypothyroid and have switched from Synthroid to Armour last Feb which is about the same time I started my iodine. At 37.5mg of iodine my numbers T3, T4, TSH were all within normal range. Once I upped my dose of iodine to 50mg my TSH has jumped from .1 in April, 1.36 in May, 12.3 in July, 20 in Aug and now 28 in Sept. I realize that in some cases it is normal for TSH to raise for 6 months and then normalize but I've been at 50mg for 4 months now and it shows no signs of slowing down. I'm starting to get worried. My FT3 an FT4 are still within normal range. I have noticed that for the last 2-3 weeks I'm starting to feel cold again. Should I maybe stop the Armour for a while?
Terri
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Terri-
My TSH stayed up for about 6 months and then came down, I was glad that Brownstein had warned of that as a common occurence.
As far as being cold - that to me says that you are still hypo, so it seems to me that if anything you need your Armour and maybe at a higher dose. I know that I have had to tweek my thyroid meds upwards after being on DIM. Some people have been able to decrease thryoid meds after Iodoral, but You could be like me, in that my bromide levels are still too high for my body to be getting the full benefits of the Iodoral. I just had my consult with Dr. Fletchas and he said that I should up my unrefined Celtic sea salt to at least one teaspoon a day in 32oz of water to really push the bromide out.
I'm no doctor, Have you tried posting at the Iodine yahoo group. Steph or one of the doctors may chime in.
Beth
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Beth, I did post on the iodine site but not much came back in the way of advice and what advice did come back said to stay on the iodine and up my salt to 1-3 tsps a day to detox. That seems like an awful lot of salt to be drinking down with water. I started taking 1 tsp with water yesterday. I have to say that I don't always do the salt protocol....I forget to do it and what reminds me is that I get a headache. I'm on 60mg of Armour but was taking 90mg when I first started after switching from Synthroid. Blood came back out of whack and so he lowered my does to 60mg. Everything was OK at 60mg and 37.5 mg of iodine but when I went to 50mg of iodine, that's when my numbers went awry.
Terri
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Here is one of my favorite links.... a lot of good info related to breast cancer and natural choices including info on iodine as a supplement .... you can order it from this site too.
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my 560 -- you want to make sure you are taking Vitamin C and selenium too. Oh and magnesium. Pam
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Mollyann -- I just tried the STTM website and couldn't get on.... then I saw your post. Thanks for the info.... hope they are back up and running soon.... they are very resourceful. Pam
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Vanderlady, I am taking 2,000mg of Vit C and 22 mcg of selenium. I have to say that I do feel a bit better now that I am doing the salt protocol.
Terri
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For some reason, it seems that iodine will deplete me of my magnesium so I always make sure to supplement magnesium. On the boards, many ladies use the magnesium oil spray as well. The selenium you are taking is low.... I'll typically try to take 100 mcg twice a day.
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I would like to know more about magnesium oil spray. What brand? Is it organic? Is it better than pills?
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Luna-
The magnesium spray is a frequent topic on the Yahoo Iodine Group. I forget the exact conversion - but I think each spray is equivalent to @20mg of magnesium.I take 450 mg of magnesium glycinate orally - so that would be a lot of sprays. A number of people apparently do both pills and spray because of the high doses they need. I am looking into it for my son who needs higher doses, but takes a lot of pills already.
It is supposed to be very absorbable and does not have any effect on the bowels/gut that high doses of some types of magnesium. The ANcient Minerals brand is the one that is the best known - but the folks on the IOdine group swear that the Swanson version is from the exact same source at a fraction of the price. SOme people even make their own magnesium spray. SOme have said that you can initially experience itching - in which case they said to dilute it. SOme leave it on their skin and others shower it off after 20 minutes.
If you google Dr. Marc Sircus - he has a lot of info on transdermal magnesium.
Beth
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Thank you Beth! I too take over 400 mg of magnesium glycinate orally. I just didn't know if I should switch to spray. I have also read that some do epsom salt baths.
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I use ancient minerals magnesium. The main thing I don't like about it is the drying effect it has on my skin. Magnesium 'oil' is sort of misleading. It's not very oily at all. Whether rightly or wrongly, I use it just on my arms. My ability for math has seriously tanked, so I try to fit 10 sprays on each arms. Each spray has 18 mg, so easy math tells me I get 180 mg on each arm times 2 equals 360. My daily multi says 150 mg, but it's magnesium oxide which has pitiful rates for absorption.
I also use epsom salts in my bath. I don't count on it much for absorbing though, since I take hot baths. I''ve read that bath water that's hot enough to make you sweat will result in the epsom salts drawing toxins out.
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Hi all. VERY INTERESTING. The only thing I can add is that there was a published article( can't remember if it was nursing or a medical journal, + - 2000. I think 1998. Regarding temperature. The article suggested that normal be considered between 96-99 degrees. There method was solid. I expected that with in a few years it would become accepted knowledge or more research would be done, but it didn't happen.
As part of their research they looked at the history of how 98.6 was established . It was a hoot. Now it wouldn't be worth a 2nd graders science project. The history---- Over 100 years ago ---50 people temps were taken and then AVERAGED- Thats how 98.6 was established as the NORMAL. So, since there were no follow up studies that I know of, the one lone study brings into question the value of what is considered normal for temperature.
It only raises more questions? Someone earlier on had suggested doing a temp every morning, to evaluate TEMP. But how useful is the info when there has never been any further research to see what is normal?
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Did anyone with thyroid disease have a burning feeling in the mouth? I have it most of the time and docs and dentists say there is no reason for it.
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Claire,
B vitamin deficiencies seem to be related to the mouth burning or "ugly tongue." I had that myself when I was younger. I tried the B-50 formulas but they are too strong and make me jittery like too much coffee. But B-25 formulas are okay for me. You may need to experiment. Some prefer to get their Bs from whole foods like Brewer's Yeast. I would too except the tablet is more convenient. My doctor is very big on B-12 shots for a lot of things. Apparently B-12 is hard to absorb except by shot or losenge.
http://www.simplestepsdental.com/SS/ihtSS/r.==/st.31848/t.35193/pr.3.html
Best of luck.
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I take Vitamin B from my local vitamin store called B Total Sublingual and it is the best! It comes in a two pack each lasting 30 days and includes Folic Acid 400 mcg, Vit B2 1.7 mg, Vit B3 20 mg, Vit B6 2 mg Vit B12 1000 mcg, Vit B5 30 mg. The B12 sublingual in this dose is equivalent to the injectable and because it is in liquid form and taken under the tongue and held for 30 seconds it is easier to absorb!
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I just wanted to post that my recent iodine loading test results were at 89% saturated! I am so pleased. The last two tests were 54 and 59%. I was thinking it may not be possible, so glad I stuck with it. I think it took time and also I take powdered Vit C, 1 tsp 3x a day so that is 12K a day. Also, doubled my magnesium. I also take 2 ATP co-factors now (Dr. Flechas suggested this) and also a B-complex.0
