Iodine

[laura1967]

Okay here we go....to Iodine or not to Iodine....lol!  Seriously though......lets discuss Iodine in its glory:
What type is best: potassium iodine only
Where can you find it? This can be a tough one.....
How to test for deficiency... scratch skin test and or hair analysis is best
What are the many many health benefits of Iodine? MANY!
There are soooo many benefits to Iodine.....did you know that if you take Lugols at the first sign of infection it can help to destroy viruses, bacteria, etc.?  How about at the first signs of food poisoning to neutralize toxins?
Lets roll on this one with everyone joining in.

[allmymarbles]

I never read past your post - there are so many - so this information may already be available. The normal supplement for iodine is 2 drops of 5% Lugol's per week (taken on separate days) if you are a light-weight, and 3 or 4 if you are larger. I take more than 2 because I am hypothyroid. One of the the most important benefits of having enough iodine is the restful sleep it provides. Until I took iodine I was a miserable insomniac.

[ojbjmom]

Just reread my post from a minute ago, and noticed a mistake.  The dose of iodine complex was two 25 mg capsules of iodine complex daily, for a total of 50 mg.
Thanks!

[ojbjmom]

Hey, everyone.  I am new to this community, and newly diagnosed as hypothyroid based on symptoms (50 yr old female with menopausal symptoms, weight gain, etc.) and the test for blood levels.  TSH was 3.6, T4 0.86, and free T3 2.9.  The practitioner  suggested iodine deficiency so she put me on a daily dose 50 mg iodine complex capsules (5mg as molecular iodine, 5 mg as sodium iodide, and 2.5 mg as potassium iodide).  After a few days I noticed my voice became hoarser, and I felt worse.  I stopped the iodine.  I suggested to the practitioner that maybe I didn't need all that iodine, so she had me do the iodine loading test (24 hr urine test).  I excreted ALL of it, so she says I'm not absorbing any and must have a deficiency.  She wants me to take 3000 mg of vitamin C daily for better absorption for two weeks and repeat the test.

I don't like supplements.  I'm looking at food sources of iodine such as sea vegetables (Maine Coast Sea Vegetables) which I feel would be better absorbed than a supplement, plus they contain vitamin C naturally, which I would also like better than a pill!  I've read lots online about the use of bladderwrack and dulse, wonder what are your thoughts?  I should add that I am vegan.  And I do use sea salt regularly.  

Also, I'm thinking of trying the iodine patch test and wonder if anyone has tried that recently and if you think taking Lugol's worked for you.  You all have more experience with this than I do, so I appreciate any help from you all!

[sick and tired 47]

Allmymarbles,
Are you on thyroid meds too?? If so what meds and how did it affect your doseage of the thyroid meds?
Thanks for the info.

[allmymarbles]

I haven't read through all the posts so I don't know if you already have this information. The standard supplement (5 per cent Lugol's), is two drops per week (let's say, one on Tuesday and one on Friday) if you are on the slender side, and three or four drops if you are a large person. I take more than the standard supplement because I am hypothyroid. As a bonus, if you are an insomniac, iodine may cure that.

[LazyMoose]

My endo clinic made a huge lab mistake.

But I still have some weird things going on.

This did help me find a new GP that looks at thyroid free's, listens too. Seems to be open to treating the body as a whole - her own words. See how it goes.

Wish I could handle cytomel - tried it this time last year at minimal doses.