Hyperthyroidism and iodine?

My 75 year old mom has very low TSH and hyperthyroidism. This week she has been very anxious, she shakes badly, can't sleep, very high blood pressure, fast heart beat, etc. We even called an ambulance that took her to the hospital because she can't walk anymore. Her balance and strength is gone. But all they did at the hospital was do a very simple blood test and gave her some medication for blood pressure and brought her back home. I worry for her heart. She takes Thiamazole and blood pressure medication sometimes but not every day. I give her all the supplements that are supposed to work for hyperthyroidism but with no luck so far. I also put her on carnivore diet since i suspect she has graves which is an autoimmune issue.

Now here is the most frustrating part. Some doctors say iodine is needed for hyper and other doctors say iodine is dangerous for hyper. She never takes iodine because her doctor says it is bad for her. But in the last 2 days i gave her a few drops of lugols iodine with a xanax so she could sleep and maybe benefit from the iodine without the side effects. I wan't to avoid big pharma pills but the natural route does not seem work. She has been dealing with this for 2 years.

Anybody here that can please tell me if i made a mistake giving her iodine? I spend all day reading about this topic but still have no answer.

Sorry to hear about your mom's troubles. Why doesn't she take her blood pressure pills every day? Too many side effects? You're right about the difference of opinion on iodine. Iodine has always been a go-to for thyroid problems. And then you see this on Google....

"Lemon Balm (Melissa Off)

This herb has long been used in the treatment of hyperthyroidism and is often used in combination with Bugleweed, nutritional therapy, and a low iodine diet. It is most commonly taken in capsule or liquid tincture form.  Jan 18, 2020"

There's radioiodine treatment too but might be hard on older people.

She already takes lemon balm, bugleweed, plus all the other supplements that are supposed to help.
She only takes blood pressure medication on bad days because her BP is not high every day. But these medications have side effects and ruin the liver long term so they are not ideal either.

She felt terrible after taking the iodine so i'm gonna stop giving it to her. Most information you find online is about hypo...and hyper gets either ignored or the doctors contradict each other.

Maup wrote:She already takes lemon balm, bugleweed, plus all the other supplements that are supposed to help.
She only takes blood pressure medication on bad days because her BP is not high every day. But these medications have side effects and ruin the liver long term so they are not ideal either.

She felt terrible after taking the iodine so i'm gonna stop giving it to her. Most information you find online is about hypo...and hyper gets either ignored or the doctors contradict each other.

Thiamazole aka, methimazole inhibits the enzyme thyroperoxidase, which normally acts in thyroid hormone synthesis by oxidizing the anion iodide (I−) to iodine (I2), hypoiodous acid (HOI), and enzyme linked hypoiodate (EOI), facilitating iodine's addition to tyrosine residues on the hormone precursor thyroglobulin, a necessary step in the synthesis of triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4).

This is an allopathic method, which translates almost always sanctioned poisoning.

In other words, Rockefeller based medicine (in reality, symptom suppression, while ignoring causes).

Not even 1 doctor in 10,000 even understands iodine equation.
This is because they have 1% of the total picture, which is primarily erroneous.

For example taking high-dose iodine for 6-months will raise TSH levels, however this does not cause clinical symptoms, instead it is a sign that the body is seeing equilibrium.  

The natural approach for treating Graves' disease and other thyroid-related conditions, often favoring natural iodine therapy over traditional medications like methimazole.

Preference for Iodine Over Methimazole:

Iodine deficiency is part of the root cause of many thyroid issues, including both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, including cases of Graves' disease.

Discussed on here from the inception of this forum are the various misconceptions from so-called doctors.

So, let's clear a few things up.................

#1 - Doctors in most cases, have to adhere to the protocol (so their first concern is keeping their license)
#2 - They memorize and regurgitate the messages found in text-books and their curriculum regarding iodine.
#3 - Their knowledge is extremely limited outside of the very few that perform independent research.
#4 - Iodine is much more complex than most people, including doctors realize.
#5 - Various prescription drugs 'interfere' with iodine, exacerbating the problem. This includes a lot of common drugs.
#6 - Co-factor nutrients often required for an uneventful iodine dosage with simultaneous poisoning (taking Rx drugs) will potentially ruin iodine experience.

Finally there are safety precautions.

So on that note, when taking iodine with a disease, the preexisting drug would have to be discontinued.
Common co-factor nutrients required are Magnesium (proper dose), Selenium (proper dose), Boron, Zinc, and especially copper (for hyperthyroidism and/or Grave's Disease).

If symptoms actually occur with iodine without any of the precaution measures, then the antidote for this is to use warm salt water (full glass) and/or 10,000 mg of Vitamin C (as in plain ascorbic acid). This will stop the symptoms.

So, let's get back to Methimazole:

Methimazole is commonly prescribed to reduce thyroid hormone production in Graves' disease by inhibiting thyroid peroxidase. Potential side effects, including liver damage, immune suppression, and risk of agranulocytosis (a severe reduction in white blood cells).

Then, with long-term use of methimazole may not restore thyroid health but can potentially lead to other complications that could be avoided with a more holistic approach.

Natural approach to Graves' Disease:

Once drugs are dropped and adequate iodine supplementation, dietary changes, and nutritional support (such as selenium and other key minerals) to address Graves' disease from a root-cause perspective.

Thanks CS. It is such a dilemma. I don't want to give her these big pharma poison but her TSH has to go up. She is shaking like crazy 24/7. When i give her iodine together with zinc, selenium, copper, magnesium, C, etc...she basically gets an anxiety attack. How can i convince her to take something that gives her such an attack and when her doctor and 99.9% of all the other doctors tell her iodine is dangerous for her. Even holistic doctors like dr Eric Berg says iodine should not be taken with hyper. I'm sure she has graves disease too, she has literally every symptom, so this means the root problem is an autoimmune disease. I pretty much cured my autoimmune disease with carnivore so hopefully it will help her too.

My poor mom is a wreck because of this terrible disease. She can't even walk anymore without help, her hair fell out, i even have to shower her, feed her and help her to go to the bathroom both day and night. I don't sleep much anymore but i'm holding on because mom took care of me when i needed it and now it's my turn. Not gonna put her in a nursing home where she will be treated like cattle and wear a diaper and be drugged up. I'm lucky i retired young so i can take care of her, otherwise my mom would be screwed.

I'm giving her lemon balm, motherwort, bugleweed, acetyl l carnitine, plus all the other basic vitamins and minerals, plus carnivore diet. But nothing seems to help so far. Hope she will improve in the next weeks. I don't know what else to do really. It sucks.

Its rough but you have to think about yourself too. Maybe a nursing home might by ok for her. Constant care and meds and you can visit her everyday 24/7. She might make a lot of friends there too. Her age is also a big factor too so there may not be too much you can do. Don't run yourself down.

Or have some personal support workers (PSW's) come to the house a couple times a day to help out. Its usually a service provided by the gov't. At least here in Canada it is. Good luck!

I live in eastern Europe and the nursing homes here suck, and you can't just visit whenever you want. And the decent ones are so expensive that it's cheaper if she just hires a nurse to take care of her at her apartment for 5 or 6 days a week, she has a relatively good pension so she can pay for a private nurse.

She was relatively ok until a week ago, but the shaking and hyper symptoms were so bad this week that she took xanax for 7 days in a row now, it turns her into a zombie, i really hate that drug but it's the only thing that can calm her and make her sleep. I'm gonna take her into a private clinic asap to see what is going on and do some extensive blood testing. I hope she recovers and can live on her own again. Thanks anyway.

The dosage of the right form of iodine minus the drug (which slows the thyroid)....

The anti-thyroid drug does not mix with iodine.

Plus the dose is key as well:

Maybe it's possible to book a consultation with Dr. David Brownstein, who advocates for the use of iodine in higher doses as part of a holistic approach to support thyroid health, including cases of hyperthyroidism and Graves' disease.

He understand the concept of iodinated lipids, which are compounds containing iodine that have regulatory effects on thyroid function and inflammation.

Iodinated Lipids and Thyroid Regulation:

Iodinated Lipids: These are iodine-containing compounds that play a role in modulating thyroid activity and inflammation.

One well-known iodinated lipid is 6-iodo-5-hydroxy-eicosatrienoic acid (5-HEI), which has shown potential in regulating thyroid hormone production and reducing inflammation in thyroid tissues.

The dose of iodine to even produce iodinated lipids is 100 times higher than the trace amounts 'recommended' by mainstream doctors. Translation - low doses will do nothing and worse then nothing if also using an anti-thyroid drug.

Iodinated lipids are thought to help suppress excessive thyroid hormone production, which may be beneficial in cases of hyperthyroidism.

So, let's dismiss whatever Dr. Berg says....he's just like most of the rest, not properly educated on the finer details on iodine.

Dr. Brownstein suggests that iodine supplementation may increase iodinated lipid levels, thereby helping to regulate thyroid function and potentially reduce hyperthyroid symptoms.

Iodine Dosage for Hyperthyroidism:

Higher Doses than Conventional Recommendations: Dr. Brownstein often recommends doses of 6-50 mg per day of iodine, much higher than the typical dietary recommendations. He believes that iodine deficiency is a root cause of many thyroid disorders, including hyperthyroidism, and that supplementation in higher doses may help regulate thyroid function even in cases of overactivity.

Gradual Introduction: For individuals with hyperthyroidism, Dr. Brownstein typically starts with lower doses and gradually increases them, monitoring thyroid levels and symptoms closely. He believes this approach helps the thyroid adjust to iodine without overstimulation, reducing the risk of adverse effects.

Combination with Selenium: He stresses the importance of selenium supplementation alongside iodine (usually 200-400 mcg daily) to prevent oxidative stress in the thyroid gland. Selenium helps balance iodine's effects and supports healthy thyroid function, which is especially important for people with hyperthyroid conditions.

Potential Benefits: According to Dr. Brownstein, iodine can help the thyroid gland regulate itself, potentially reducing the overproduction of hormones in hyperthyroid conditions. He asserts that many individuals with thyroid conditions, including hyperthyroidism, are deficient in iodine, and that supplementation can help restore normal function.

Remember than high-dose iodine will elevate TSH (without clinical symptoms).

I haven't watched the following Brownstein video, however I would suggest watching many, which will help understand the big picture.

Thanks CS.

I've been lurking on a forum for hyper thyroid patients and some people there cured themselves with iodine, while others became extremely sick after iodine and thought they were dying. So i'm a bit scared to give my mom iodine at this moment since she is so fragile right now and reacted so badly last time, but i plan on slowly reintroducing iodine to her in the future if she gets a bit better.

I read that some people got hyperthyroidism from magnesium stearate and other fillers in supplements. And their problems went away when they stopped eating these supplements. I give my mom loads of supplements with fillers every day and i'm not sure if i should be doing this.

I have over a thousand dollars worth of supplements with fillers in my kitchen, would be a damn waste of money if i threw them all away though.

All the topics on this site about fillers are over a decade old. Do you still take supplements with all these fillers?
Some are literally sand or wood dust. Not sure how i feel about eating so many of these supplements anymore.

Maup wrote:Thanks CS.

I've been lurking on a forum for hyper thyroid patients and some people there cured themselves with iodine, while others became extremely sick after iodine and thought they were dying. So i'm a bit scared to give my mom iodine at this moment since she is so fragile right now and reacted so badly last time, but i plan on slowly reintroducing iodine to her in the future if she gets a bit better.

I read that some people got hyperthyroidism from magnesium stearate and other fillers in supplements. And their problems went away when they stopped eating these supplements. I give my mom loads of supplements with fillers every day and i'm not sure if i should be doing this.

I have over a thousand dollars worth of supplements with fillers in my kitchen, would be a damn waste of money if i threw them all away though.

All the topics on this site about fillers are over a decade old. Do you still take supplements with all these fillers?
Some are literally sand or wood dust. Not sure how i feel about eating so many of these supplements anymore.

A claim like this has no basis for being real. Stearates (sometimes called vegetable stearates) are extremely common, such as stearic acid in chocolate
Stearic acid is a long-chain 18:0 saturated fatty acid found commonly in meats and dairy products. It's also in Cocoa butter, a fat derived from cocoa plants and predominantly found in dark chocolate, contains an average of 33% oleic acid (cis-18:1 monounsaturated), 25% palmitic acid (16:0 saturated), and 33% of stearic acid.

Absolutely no research supports this claim.

Maybe it's another ingredient?

If you watch the entire video above, Grave's had been mentioned a number of times. The take away here, might be that some of the halides (elements that compete for iodine 'receptors') could be creating a storm like condition. When salt, iodine, magnesium, and selenium, boron are added....remember that sodium-chloride (you can get unrefined salt) to improve mobilization of toxic halides.

Also, iodine will not do anything food if Thiamazole aka, methimazole is being used.