Thyroid Problems? - Page 2

Ailsa · #16 (**permalink**) 01-01-2008, 10:11 PM

[quote= I also had a goiter and will be having another thyroid ultrasound this month. [/QUOTE]

Have you tried iodine for that?
Iodine defficiency is a major cause of goiter & some thyroid problems.
Iodine was used to treat goiter & thyroid problems before the modern drugs marketing machine came along.

It is not digested well, but is absorbed through the skin.
You can test for iodine defficiency by getting some iodine solution (the yellow sort they used to put on injuries when I was a kid) & painting an 8cm square on your stomach after your shower. See how long it lasts. If the yellow colour lasts less than 24hrs you are low in iodine.
If you are low, keep painting on the 8cm square until it lasts 24hrs

I've tried it myself .

markr · #17 (**permalink**) 01-01-2008, 11:45 PM

I was just treated for subacute thyroiditis. Originally I was being treated for hypothyroidism and the meds were making me were worse off. At the same time (but my doctor did not put the two together), and after doing a colonoscopy, I found out I have celiac. Looking back,

I now know that the two are related for those of us with Type 1.

JasonJayhawk · #18 (**permalink**) 01-02-2008, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ailsa

It is not digested well, but is absorbed through the skin.
You can test for iodine defficiency by getting some iodine solution (the yellow sort they used to put on injuries when I was a kid) & painting an 8cm square on your stomach after your shower. See how long it lasts. If the yellow colour lasts less than 24hrs you are low in iodine.
If you are low, keep painting on the 8cm square until it lasts 24hrs

I've tried it myself .

That's dangerous advice.

It is a urban legend that is spread by some people claiming medical knowledge without any scientific understanding of the skin barrier ("neuropaths" come to mind).

The iodine molecules (I2) simply are unable to pass through the skin barrier. It is not a diagnostic tool for clinical use. It's about as good as using a random number generator for picking lottery numbers.

Iodine sublimes (goes directly from a solid to a gas) no matter where you put it. The rate at which it sublimes depends on the exposure to air (e.g., if you have a fan blowing on it, it will leave the skin faster). Humidity is a factor (such as body sweat) and body oil.

Iodine is a solid which is "dissolved" into a tincture solution of ethanol. The alcohol evaporates, leaving the solid iodine behind on the skin. The only thing a "patch of iodine" will do on the skin is make it sterile for surgery.

But it will not mysteriously tell you if you're deficient on iodine.

I'd just hate to see someone hurt thinking they're deficient on iodine, when they're really not, and end up consuming dangerous amounts of it.

Ailsa · #19 (**permalink**) 01-02-2008, 03:42 AM

Not sure why you believe this is an "Urban legend Jason".
I have heard this from several sources in the medical field.

It is true that this is not a quantitative test, but anyone using this test can follow up with a lab test if they are concerned.

I understand the rate of absorbtion is 6-12%..

There are plenty of articals on both iodine deficiency & iodine absorption on the internet if anyone wants to form their own opinion.

The reason I have brought up this simple treatment is that I believe the medical profession are too quick to prescribe drugs for every possible thing these days when in some cases simple remedies may be helpful .

I wuld like to add that this treatment is only suggested for iodine deficiency related thyroid problems & is not suitable for Hashimotos

JasonJayhawk · #20 (**permalink**) 01-02-2008, 12:48 PM

Source:
Abraham, G.E., The safe and effective implementation of orthoiodosupplementation in medical practice. The Original Internist, 11:17-36, 2004.

"From the published data, the skin iodine patch test is not a reliable method to assess whole body sufficiency for iodine. Many factors play a role in the disappearance of the yellow color of iodine from the surface of the skin. For example, if iodine is reduced to iodide by the skin, the yellow color of iodine will disappear because iodide is white. In order to regenerate iodine on the skin, one needs to apply an oxidant such as hydrogen peroxide, complicating the test further. The evaporation of iodine from the skin increases with increased ambient temperatures and decreased atmospheric pressure due to weather conditions and altitude. For example, the yellow color of iodine will disappear much faster in Denver, Colorado at 5,000 feet above sea level then Los Angeles, California at sea level, irrespective of the amount of bioavailable iodine."

No "standard" rule can be made for "home iodine deficiency testing" because altitude also has an effect on the rate of the iodine molecules subliming directly off the skin.

The only place I could find the technique taught is by people going into self-medication practice (homeopath therapists without medical licenses).

pixelgirl · #21 (**permalink**) 01-02-2008, 08:32 PM

I was dx with low thyroid when I was only 19. I currently take 88 mcg of synthroid. My mother who is also a diabetic has thyroid problems as well.

yester · #22 (**permalink**) 06-08-2009, 11:28 AM

Hi,

What info do you have about thyroid problems? Any specific types of thyroid issues?

jensw61 · #23 (**permalink**) 06-08-2009, 04:41 PM

Your doctor needs to check your T3, T4 and TSH.

I have just started with a new doctor and get my blood test results back on Saturday for these three. Many docotors just check TSH but it's not enough.

I have been on medication for underactive thyroid for 23yrs, Type 2 diabetic for 4 1/2.

Once you start taking medication, you need checking regularly until you are on the right dose.

underactive - tired, sluggish,
overactive - anxious, unsettled.

KB24 · #24 (**permalink**) 10-19-2009, 12:04 AM

I am 20 years old and i have black circles under my eyes...and also i feel so tired all day that i can't even concentrate on my studies.well i been having this problem for almost a year now so im finally going to the doctor tomorrow to find out if its a Thyroid problem. I hope it is not too late.

ODAR · #25 (**permalink**) 10-19-2009, 01:21 AM

OMGosh I have had a thyroid problem for years and years way before I had kids.. it is chronic however and I am on the low dose thyroxine. My doc did do a T3 and T4 test and all results came back normal. I was first dx when my gland on my right hand side of neck was unusually huge. Also I and others at work have noticed that if I am coming in for a cold or flu - my thyroid would swell up - medication or not. I've had radioactive scans ( I thinks that's what they were) about 2 years ago because my Doc suspected nodules. I have 3 nodules but the sizes was relative small so the endo decided that nothing was wrong with me and didn't need to have nodules removed. Havn't had them checked again and since dx and new woe my throyid has posed no problems - (crossing fingers) In fact I had remarked to my Husband and my Mum that since changing my diet to low carb - my neck seem to have shrunk a lot in size - before in all my recent photos my neck look really really huge!

Priscilla6985 · #26 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 04:45 PM

You know I have been on Synthroid for 14 years! I have hypothyroid. I think that with the changes in your body it always seems like a ride. I feel tired sometimes and sometimes I feel like i've been sleeping for days! I'm only 24 years old and i wonder myself if this thing would get regulated. I think as you get older and your body changes so does your throid. I was regulated for a good period of time then one day it changed and I wasn't.......It bothers me because I started having these very bad nightmares so I reached out to a regular physican and they asked me if my throid levels were normal. Can you believe that your throid can cause nightmares?

imac · #27 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 05:12 PM

I too have thyroid problems, am on thyroxine, it would be interesting to do a poll of all diabetics who have thyroid problems, the results may be interesting.

foxl · #28 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 07:47 AM

I had hypothyroidism first.

GAD antibodies are present in both T1.5/T1, and Hashimoto's apparently. It explained a lot ...

I think you will find managing thyroid disease to be a piece of cake after D!

AJ21 · #29 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009, 02:24 PM

i have thyroid problems too, however almost every female on my moms side of the family does, so i've known it was coming for 5 years prior to when i got it.
I'm taking synthoid as well, and it's been a year.... i'm guessing i won't be off of it ever however due to my whole family being on it.

foxl · #30 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJ21

i have thyroid problems too, however almost every female on my moms side of the family does, so i've known it was coming for 5 years prior to when i got it.
I'm taking synthoid as well, and it's been a year.... i'm guessing i won't be off of it ever however due to my whole family being on it.

I have never heard of anyone be able to go off it.