Thoughts on extra Iodine intake in pregnancy (history of Graves)

[HannahStevenson]

Hi there,

I am currently in remission for Graves disease and am 19 weeks pregnant.

I heard that there is more need for iodine in pregnancy and am considering taking extra (in the form of liquid iodine - a few drops absorbed into the skin daily). However I am a bit apprehensive about whether this is a good idea or not.

Just wondering if anyone had any opinions on this?

Thanks!

[tattybogle]

my initial thoughts are :

" Noooo don't mess with iodine"

.. especially if you already have a history of thyroid disease.

Iodine is capable of having very complex / contradictory effects on thyroid. It can worsen hyperthyroidism AND it can worsen hypothyroidism .

So it should not be supplemented unless you know for sure you are deficient , ( the 'patch test' is not a reliable method of testing iodine levels... and then it should be done under the guidance of an experienced practitioner.

iodine Drops ( i assume you mean Lugols ?) contain quite a lot of iodine i think ,so it would be easy to really complicate your situation if you did this .

I don't have any references for this ( I don't know that much about it , my comments are just base on what iv'e read from others on here ) but others on here do , so hopefully they will be along shortly .

[HannahStevenson in reply to tattybogle]

Thanks so much for this reply! Really useful.. yes I definitely don't want to shoot myself in the foot here! Best wishes

[tattybogle in reply to HannahStevenson]

just pulled up a few iodine posts at random from the(rubbish !) search facility .....if you look around on 'related posts' etc , there is lots of info on the issues caused by iodine on the forum .including some people for whom over enthusiastic iodine supplementation is what caused their hypothyroid problem .

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[pennyannie]

Hey there again Hannah :

Congratulations !!

It's been 2 years since you last posted - where are you now in your Graves treatment ?

I do not know the answer to this question - but just wanted to send a hug or 3 !!

[HannahStevenson in reply to pennyannie]

Hi PennyAnnie!Thank you so much!!

Well it's been quite a journey! From diagnosis of Graves in July 2020, I was on carbimazole which worked in the beginning but then was unable to maintain stability of my thyroid. It came to a head in April 2021 with the docs telling me I had a TRAb of 40+ and time to consider surgery. I didn't feel right about this so swapped docs and started B+R therapy. I was on this for a year, as well as big dietary changes and lifestyle changes. Weened off with a low dose of carbimazole for 6 weeks before being medication free since June 2022. Regular bloods since and fell pregnant in November. Managed to get through the first trimester with PTU waiting in the wings but never needed it. TRAb is now normal at 0.8. Phew!

I have found the BEST Endo consultant - he is wonderful and listens, is influenced by both western and alternative medicine - he goes with what 'the research' is telling us and considers the bigger picture. Unfortunately he is private but worth every penny...

Hope all is well with you x

[pennyannie in reply to HannahStevenson]

I'm doing ok, thank you, self medicating and much improved.

So pleased to read of your progress :

You have worked really hard and had to change and review much of your life style and it does seem to have allowed you to turn your back on the more rigid straight jacket treatment offered on the NHS.

Graves is poorly understood and historically badly treated and I guess as with any AI disease - Graves can wax and wane - but I'm sure this endo will work with you as you move on with your life.

I'm sure Thyroid UK would love to know of this endo if they don't already, so they can include him on their recommended list of doctors, endos and specialists that is held in Head Office and available to all forum members who are looking for reliable, knowledge help with thyroid health issues.

thyroiduk.org

I've just been looking back at your journey and need to add this research paper since I'm not sure you ever received it :

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/338... -

though guess your endo already has has his own copy !!