Hashi's, selenium and iodine.

[DaizeeFoo]

When I first went on Levothyroxine in April 2013, my thyroid swelled so badly I would lose my voice often. After getting a Hashi's diagnosis last summer I tried the Brazil nut route in the hope of reducing antibodies. Terrible swelling continued and I gathered I was still under medicated so put up with it for a time.

One day it was so bad I trawled the net for info and finally found the info on STTM that some Hashis patients should take iodine, but is was a bit controversial. That evening I went shopping and after reading a good source of iodine is milk, I bought and drank a little chocolate milk bottle.

Within 20 minutes the swelling disappeared and my voice was back to normal.

So a few weeks ago I decided to just try 1 Brazil nut a day, as my levothyroxine is very close or is optimal. Swelling came back and loss of voice.

Anybody else know about of have experience or more information about iodine for Hashi's sufferers?

[Clutter]

Daizee, 2-4 Brazil nuts are usually recommended as a source of selenium to help reduce Hashi antibodies. If your throat swelled is it possible you have a nut allergy? Did you drink milk and find the swelling subsided?

There are very mixed views on supplementing iodine in Hashi's patients and as much disagreement on how much should be taken, if it is supplemented. healthunlocked.com/search/i...

[DaizeeFoo in reply to Clutter]

Sorry didn't reply to you just a general reply. I haven't got the hang of these forums yet lol

[Clutter in reply to DaizeeFoo]

You've got the hang of it now

Sounds like you might have developed a sensitivity to selenium. People do seem to suffer food allergies after being diagnosed with Hashi's with many eliminating gluten, grains, dairy and sugar. I'm not aware that Levothyroxine is linked with any allergies though.

[DaizeeFoo]

I don't think it's a nut allergy. The swelling is very different. I eat other nuts with no problems. I am actually allergic to milk though but yes the swelling went down after drinking it. I am not supplimenting with iodine and do not plan to but have found on several occasions my throat swelling in the same way it did when I first stated Levo, if I eat Brazil nuts. I am drinking a little more milk than I used to and have had no swelling. I also found I got swelling taking selenium suppliments.

I have never been allergic to Brazil nuts and wasn't a few weeks before starting levo. I never even had any throat swelling before levo.

I am not daft and am aware of the dangers of iodine but selenium seems to give me a swollen pressing feeling on my thyroid. I just wondered if anyone else had experienced the same?

I know when I spoke about my vit D being depleted to a doctor he talked about calcium and assumed I got it from milk which I didnt. I am 43 and stopped drinking milk when I was 12 and we never had any in the house.

I don't suppliment with iodine but drink some milk occasionally and I have no further throat problems.

[helvella in reply to DaizeeFoo]

I assume that you are in the UK?

Some of the source which quote iodine content in milk are very questionable. First, iodine used to be widely used as a teat disinfectant which would result in a significant increase in the iodine content of the milk. However there appears to have been a major change to chlorine-based disinfectants. Second, milk from organic cows tends to have less iodine in it.

Many sources also suggest that milk is a good source of vitamin D. It is not. The sources often base their statements on USA products - where much of the milk has been treated to enhance the vitamin D content. (Not unknown in the UK, but not nearly as common.)

Maybe it is the chocolate?

Rod

[DaizeeFoo]

I doubt it was the chocolate to be honest and it wasn't organic milk. Where I got the milk being a good source of iodine was from the BBC news site

bbc.co.uk/news/health-22607161

I kid you not - my voice was almost at a whisper before I went shopping that day with tightness around the throat. I told the OH who was incredibly sceptical. I downed the milk drink and within 20 mins I could breath properly, speak properly and the tightness had gone.

I can and do eat other foods with selenium in. I eat lots of turkey and chicken, seafoods like mussel and squid, mushrooms, mackerel, pork, beef, lamb, other nuts, etc.

I am only telling you how it is. I can't explain it. I am not taking kelp or anything, but I do know that the right balance of both iodine and selenium needs to be in place with Hashi's. If the balance is upset, I believe it can cause goiter.

This is the STTM link

stopthethyroidmadness.com/i...

and

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

Maybe I am getting plenty natural selenium and taking the brazil nuts is just knocking the balance out of kilter and taking something with iodine in will actually keep the goiter at bay? I don't know but just wondered if anyone else had suffered with this?

[Soldieress]

Hi DaizeeFoo,

Could your symptoms be due to the thyroid detoxing?

stopthethyroidmadness.com/2...

Maybe the milk is soothing the thyroid detoxing. I've started taking Iodine (through Vitobiotics: neurozan plus and visionace plus which also includes Selenium) alternating which pack and leaving a day off between. But just after reading the link I sent you I think I will get a good Vit C supplement too. My throat has been feeling a bit achy on and off.

Best of luck

[DaizeeFoo in reply to Soldieress]

Thanks for that. Interesting read. Not sure about detoxing, but it could be I guess.

I take 3000mg of VitC per day and have done for years. I used to smoke and took it to try to eleviate smoking effects til I could stop - I know bit daft but still lol. I am not on a multivitamin at the moment and the doc wants me to start to increase my magnesium. I take 800iu of Vit E, 6000iu of D3 as I was completely deficient, I also take a large dose of B12 Better You spray, Folic Acid 400mg, plus now 2 x 250mg Ferrous Fumerate per day. I eat lots of foods rich in vitamins and minerals too.

The feeling I get is if someone is placing 2 fingers across your wind pipe where the thyroid is. It doesn't hurt, just feels uncomfortable, gives me air hunger and a croaky voice.

Obviously as I have not been tested for either selenium or iodine and do not know my levels, I do not want to start supplementing if it is causing me to experience goiter symptoms.

Also, we are all different and just because most people with high antibodies, (mine was 350 and range <35 last summer), would need selenium, it doesn't mean I do. I may be getting enough through food.

[london81 in reply to DaizeeFoo]

Hello! Did you ever get an answer to your query? My throat is often tight and voice hoarse, I have hashis and Im supposedly medicated. Any info helpful! Thanks