Dare I.. ?

[Gazdad]

Can, i dare try minimising my Mother's dose of Levo ,she is on 75 a day with one drop of a quality 12% lugols iodine, I personally use this brew x 2 drops daily with NO ill effects whatsoever, was considering , removing ,with mums knowledge,the 25 of the above with a substitute of one drip of the above 12% lugols,has any one done this or ever over time weaned of the levo entirely. ? ,many thanks

[greygoose]

You cannot replace thyroid hormone with iodine. Iodine is just one of the ingredients, and is not going to make the thyroid work better or anything else. Unless her hypothyroidism is due to iodine deficiency, iodine won't help her and could make her a lot worse.

My personel opinion is that it would be criminal to do that. If my daughter did that, I'd disown her.

[Gazdad in reply to greygoose]

Hence my request for information & joining the site ..message fully understood..nb. iwas only requesting a more Holistic Cure not a Kill.. with thanks

[greygoose in reply to Gazdad]

Levo doesn't kill you. What sort of problems is she having? Perhaps she's undermedicated. 75 mcg is only a small dose. Levo won't help unless you take enough of it. But iodine might. In excess it can cause thyroid cancer. And she'll be getting about 49 mcg daily with her 75 mcg levo. And it's recycled in the body - and that at a time she needs less iodine, not more.

I'm afraid your question was a bit ambiguous, and it hit a raw spot with me. Sorry if I was a bit excessive.

[Gazdad in reply to greygoose]

On my Mother's next blood tests I will beam them in on yourself for your thinkings, my Question was NOT for a quick fix ( health improvement )or to risk her health ,it was as to find out what the ,result of iodine application would have been simply put, abruptly answed & NOT to be actioned , thank you

[greygoose in reply to Gazdad]

Well, why didn't you just ask that? Or at least give a bit of explanation. Pretty certain you're going to get knee-jerk reactions from those of us that have been harmed by iodine. A bit like shouting at a child that's about to scald themselves with hot water. Well, I've apologised, not much else I can say, really.

And I didn't think it was for a quick fix, that never entered my head but we get so many people on here that think you can just take iodine instead of levo because for whatever reason they don't like levo. But you can't, that's not how it works.

[Gazdad in reply to greygoose]

All fine thanks, I' did not realise realise the aversion to iodine on the site, I had my initial question answered in 5 minutes by the team thank you..

[greygoose in reply to Gazdad]

You're welcome.

[TiggerMe]

If you don't know how much functioning thyroid gland your mother has this would be an incredibly stupid thing to do to her!

Iodine will further poison a struggling thyroid, if she is happy and functioning on Levothyroxine why would you want to mess with her??

I'd keep your experimenting to yourself as you might need someone well enough to look after you

[Gazdad in reply to TiggerMe]

Many thanks ,concise reply

[Gazdad in reply to TiggerMe]

Thank you

[TiggerMe in reply to Gazdad]

If you'd like to share your mothers most recent blood test results then we will happily give some advice, full thyroid panel along with folate, B12, Vit D and ferritin... also any antibodies results to show whether she has auto immune hypothyroidism.

Same for you would be good too... why are you taking iodine are you deficient?

[Gazdad in reply to TiggerMe]

Just read your user info , after advising me on my first site visit to" experiment on my self.." ? I surely would not follow your long trail of experimenting, hope you recieved better and more concise answers to any queries, during your adventure to health..

[TiggerMe in reply to Gazdad]

I've received great advice from the group which has brought me back to health, hence I've swerved the iodine as it can be very damaging, I have stuck with tried and tested 'experimenting' and private testing as it would seem in this field we can with a little research all be much better informed than the medics we would have to pay to see and who would likely still keep us unwell....

I'm assuming you have done your own research before experimenting on yourself with iodine as you said you were already using it and going to try it on your mother? You haven't given us a lot to go on so you have received knee jerk reactions, you might want to tell us why you are using Lugol's?

None of us here are medically trained so all you are getting is a bit of shared experience... some good, some bad but all valuable on this path of discovery

Perhaps you could have worded your opening post rather better?

We'll help if we can.... I've personally had a pretty steady climb back to wellness but if you don't like my style there are plenty of others here to guide you 🙃

[Gazdad in reply to TiggerMe]

Er.? Please re. read my initial comment,simply put , no lectures required on my first visit, no knee jerk reaction ? required ie , Dear Gaz Dad don't think this would be good medicine for your dear Mum send more info/:results / amounts, to see if the team can help , Simples..

[TiggerMe in reply to Gazdad]

Sorry, we tend to do straight talking here, no mention of it being your first visit but stick around and you'll learn lots... Welcome aboard 🤗

[Gazdad in reply to TiggerMe]

Ok Tigger, I was starting to sound like Victor Meldrew..Thanks for advices..

[TiggerMe in reply to Gazdad]

😆

[Regenallotment]

Nope - this would be very worrying. What are her most recent FT4 and FT3 results? these plus her symptoms and how she feels about them would indicate the correct dose. Try her without iodine for a bit and see if she feels better. When I tried it for a brief period after some (ill advised) reading from an advocate of iodine, I felt dreadful, but was lucky enough to have agency over my own treatment and stop taking iodine.

Hope that helps 🌱

[Gazdad in reply to Regenallotment]

Many thanks..

[Regenallotment in reply to Gazdad]

PS if my kids suggested this it would be life changingly bad... I would end up bed bound, unable to work, anxious, depressed, in terrible pain, hurting to just be, deficient of nutrients, with horrific digestive problems, autoimmune system in free fall, (as I was at diagnosis). I'm not sure I could forgive them (much as I love them and they have my best interests at heart). Stuff like this scares me, imagine having medical power of attorney (as I do for my Mum when she needs an advocate I will share this with my older brother)... such a huge responsibility.

[Gazdad in reply to Regenallotment]

Again thank you, just to confirm my,first enquiry ,which were all replied to with haste, Nb. I contacted the site to get the info, NOT to jump in head first and action it, ...

[PurpleNails Administrator]

How long has she been diagnosed with a thyroid condition?

75mcg is a low dose, 1 step from standard starter dose. It might be she need an increase in levo.

Is your mother feeling well?

Do you have any results to share? TSH, FT4 & FT3.

Lugols iodine is given to those who are hyper thyroid - often in higher levels before surgery as it lowers blood flow to thyroid.

I don’t think Lugols will help, quite possibly the opposite.

Are you in control of your mother’s medication as she is unable to manage it?

Altering someone’s prescribed replacement without them knowing doesn’t seem the correct thing to do to me, but prehaps if you explain the history further and how you are hoping to help we can help advise further.

[Gazdad in reply to PurpleNails]

This was considered with my mother's knowledge , if you read again .. recap ,I joined to get the information which I have now recieved and understood..

[Buddy195 Administrator]

Please remember that the vast majority of people with hypothyroidism control their symptoms well with Levothyroxine Gazdad. If this standard treatment doesn’t work, even with optimal medication, we recommend members share thyroid results (plus key thyroid vitamins) with us, for further recommendations/ advice.

[Gazdad in reply to Buddy195]

Thank you,. Buddy ,A to the point( Polite )answer to my very first EVER enquiry re ,the above , all my Mothers next blood results and accompanying info ,i will beam in on site

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to Gazdad]

We always suggest to new members that they add information to their profile. Perhaps you would like to share your personal‘thyroid journey’ with us. We are a friendly & supportive group 🦋

[Gazdad in reply to Buddy195]

Promotion to TOP advisor from a fresher..many thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator]

assuming your mother’s hypothyroidism is autoimmune, it would be good idea to get full testing including thyroid antibodies for yourself as well as her

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once to see if your hypothyroidism is autoimmune

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high TPO and/or high TG thyroid antibodies

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

Significant minority of Hashimoto’s patients only have high TG antibodies (thyroglobulin)

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease

Also low vitamin levels more likely when we get older

Is your Mum taking any vitamin supplements

if based in U.K.

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing

thyroiduk.org/testing/

Medichecks Thyroid plus BOTH TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/testing/thyro...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/signs-and-sym...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

support.medichecks.com/hc/e...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

[Gazdad in reply to SlowDragon]

Wow ,Slow Dragon, thank you for so much,for the great information , will peruse /study with haste, sadly I think it will have to be dealt with privately as .very low interest from her g.p or nursing staff, have already on my mums behalf, read Dr, Brownsteins book, & scanned dr.sarah myhills readings (any thoughts on these out puts? )..re. my original treatment queries symptoms-wise ,mum has dry skin ,tired, cold weight gain, body temp,always low., third eyebrow loss..Eats good food NO microwave cook ups , v, low carbs, low sugar. high, 3000 vit d ,natural protein,feel its time for my involvement, she is 81.. thanks again, . With send in next tests approx June.. thanks again..

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Gazdad]

Guidelines on dose is that most people on levothyroxine will need approximately 1.6mcg Levo per kilo of their weight per day

possibly a little less as we get older

So unless extremely petite she may need dose increase in Levo

Levothyroxine doesn’t “top up” failing thyroid, it replaces it

Extremely common to leave people on inadequate dose Levo, this will exacerbate low vitamin levels

Essential to have GOOD vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 for good conversion of Ft4 (levothyroxine) to Ft3 (active hormone)

Assuming her hypothyroidism is autoimmune I would recommend reading The Thyroid Pharmacist- Isabella Wentz

thyroidpharmacist.com

[Gazdad in reply to SlowDragon]

,Slow Dragon Learnt more in 24 hours from the site than chasing my tail on Google, so appreciate it..got a Xmas Tips box?! Seriously , will diligently examine your info, Many thanks Top Lady..