Thyroid/Adrenal Recovery May 13, 2008
I got my new Lumiscope thermometer yesterday. It was only $6.19. (And I ordered some other things so I got free shipping.)
I’m so happy I got it. I took my temperature right away when it arrived in the mail. We had just come back from a long walk so I figured my temperature would be at least 98.6 or maybe even higher.
It was 97.5! I took it again. 97.5.
Then I took my temperature with the thermometer I had been using.
98.9!
Just to be sure, I took my temperature first thing this morning with both thermometers.
Lumiscope: 97.1
Old thermometer: 98.6
So. Now we know. You really have to get a Lumiscope if you want any kind of accuracy at all.
I also just heard back about my lab results. I am deficient in iodine. Got Seth’s too — he is also deficient; his numbers are very close to mine.
Not a big surprise — the doctor’s assistant said that 9 out of 10 people come back deficient. This is also not surprising — since we have such low levels of iodine in our soil and there are so many things in our food supply that block iodine uptake (bromide, fluoride, soy).
Dr. Flechas’ assistant said that for people who are iodine deficient, he usually tells people to take 50 mg of Iodoral per day, which is what I have been doing. She says he usually recommends this for 3-6 months, then you do another test. But most people who are iodine deficient need to take Iodoral for life.
This does not surprise me either. The Japanese get 13 mg per day just from their diet. We get very very little from our diet. One pill of Iodoral supplies your body with 12.5 mg. I’m beginning to believe that everyone should take iodine (either Lugol’s or Iodoral). I will take cod liver oil for the rest of my life — I think Iodoral is a necessary supplement too for most of us.
The thing is, you don’t see results right away. It takes months. Dr. Rind said that darker haired, darker skinned people tend to recover faster from adrenal exhaustion (and you have to have healthy adrenals for your thyroid to function properly). He said blue-eyed blondes take the longest to recover. That would be me. Oh, well!
I will get my heavy metal test results in the next few days, and I am scheduled for a phone consultation with Dr. Flechas next Tuesday.
I’m excited to download my spreadsheet from Dr. Rind’s site and start charting my progress. I’m going to take Seth’s temperature as often as I can, too. I’ll keep track for both of us, since I’m already doing it.
So does the Iodoral heal your thyroid? Dr. Rind’s website suggests a giant list of supplements, but that seems pretty expensive to me! What is the treatment for hypothyroidism and how long does it take?
Jess -
Yes, Iodoral helps.
The treatment for hypothyroidism is iodine (Iodoral or Lugol’s). It can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few years — depending on the severity of the condition. Usually a few months I think.
I am taking 50 mg of iodine per day. I am going to ask Dr. Flechas if I need to take more if I am breastfeeding (since I want to try to restart that.)
I am also taking selenium because it helps with the uptake of iodine. I bought some by New Chapter at Whole Foods. I just take 1 per day. I am also taking extra cod liver oil, since the thyroid gland needs a lot of vitamin A.
Look at Dr. Rind’s site at the “metabolic score card”. That will tell you if you have low adrenal, low thyroid, or a combination of both. I believe I have a combination of both.
If you have exhausted adrenals, you have to heal those before the thyroid can improve. They work together.
For adrenals, I am taking 1-2 Standard Process adrenal gland supplements per day. I also quit coffee (I drink Dandy Blend now) last week. (Yay! Never thought I could do that!) Coffee is a no-no for adrenals.
I think vitamin C is also important for the adrenals. We are juicing (leafy green vegetables, celery, apples, oranges) as part of the GAPS protocol, so I think we’re getting lots of vitamin C. We’re also eating lots of sauerkraut and we drink beet kvass daily (8 oz per day).
I am also taking chaste tree extract (a tincture you can buy at the health food store) to help my body produce more progesterone. This helps reduce estrogen in the body, which in turn, helps the adrenals and thyroid.
I’ve been doing this for almost a month now and I have a LOT more energy. I have lost about 5-6 pounds.
I hope that helps!
Ann Marie
Oh, and of course — you need to eat plenty of good saturated fats. The body needs enough cholesterol to produce hormones. Coconut oil is especially good for the thyroid. I try to take 3-5 TBS per day (warm it in a tiny bit of filtered water and I also add to smoothies).
I just recently ran into a site about Wilson’s Temperature Syndrome. I believe I suffer from it. My basal temperature has run low for years and has seemed to be decreasing, so I decided that I had better do something about it. I bought raw thyroid supplement at the hfs to tide me over until I did more research. I think I’m going to start taking the Thyrocare supplement suggested by the Wilson’s Temperature Syndrome main site after this runs out. Since I’ve started taking the raw thyroid days ago, my temperature has increased by an average .5 degree for the past six days compared to charts from previous months.
Just curious. With a sample size of 2, how do you know the new thermometer is the accurate one? The website says it’s “Fast! Measure Temperature in 10 Seconds.” Seems like it would take longer than that to heat up the sensor to body temperature. Do you get a different reading if you put the thermometer in for a minute and *then* press the button?
LOL! John you are so funny. You are always questioning my logic and scientific method.
I’m not basing this on just these 2 thermometers — I am going by what it says on Dr. Rind’s website.
He says:
“I have tried 20 or so thermometers. This one seems to be the most accurate at the best price. Regardless, make sure you use a non-mercury, digital thermometer for taking temperatures when filling in the temperature graph.”
He also writes:
“I have found digital oral thermometers most appropriate for monitoring metabolism. There are many good models available. I have found the Lumiscope Digital Thermometer to be one of the most accurate for the price and use these with my patients. I do not recommend mercury thermometers because: they expose you and the environment to toxic mercury when they break; they are too slow; and, the accuracy depends on leaving them in your mouth the same length of time each time you measure. I do not recommend axillary temperatures because the axillae are relatively cooler and more variable in people with stressed adrenals. Ear thermometers are the least accurate of all.”
Hi, Lisa,
I have heard of Dr. Wilson before but I’m not sure about his practice — haven’t read about him yet. That Tyrocare product looks like it’s very low in iodine. Oh, I see — the main ingredient — fucus — in the product is kelp.
I’m not sure about it. I’d have to read more about Dr. Wilson.
The other iodine docs I have studied all recommend either Lugol’s or Iodoral. Dr. Rind also recommends Iodoral. I also think Dr. Flechas said he didn’t like to use kelp or other seaweeds because it is not as exact as using Iodoral.
Hmm — I just found Dr. Wilson’s e-book — I’ll read it.
Ann Marie
How does that Dandy Blend taste in comparison to coffee? Is it worth the switch?
Yes, definitely! I love it. And it’s so good for you!
It doesn’t taste exactly like coffee but it’s close enough for me. Especially good with raw milk or cream. When I wasn’t doing dairy (on GAPS), I also had it iced which was really good, too.
I’m curious why a doctor wouldn’t just recommend eating as much seaweed as the Japanese do, since they’re not iodine deficient and most Americans are. Why the Iodoral instead of a diet full of seaweed? Thoughts? (I’m a bit hesitant about the idea of taking supplements for life if you can get something from your diet, but thyroid health is very important.)
Hi, fervid_unicorn,
Eating as much seaweed as the Japanese do is recommended.
Iodoral is only recommended when you have thyroid disease. That way they can very accurately keep track of how much you are taking.
I think once your thyroid recovers, then it would be fine to eat lots of seaweed.
The other thing is — most Americans don’t and/or are not willing to eat lots of seaweed. So there’s that.
We used to get plenty from the soil — at least in the coastal regions. But our soil is so depleted now.
I am so glad to have found your site. I am also taking Iodoral since I am hypothyroid. I’m going to add you to my own blog.
Ann Marie,
I just wanted to let you know, it ONLY took 3 weeks, but finally I have everything I ordered! I actually received the iodoral last week, so I have been taking that for a little over a week. I started with 2 tablets (25 mg) and now this week I am taking 3, and finally 4 tablets (50 mg) beginning next week. I figured I would ease myself into it, just in case of any detox like symptoms. So far, so good. I also just received the supps. from Dr. Ron’s 2 days ago. 2 caps. each of the female herbs (with chaste tree), adrenal gland and thyriod gland. And, just today, the lumiscope finally arrived. So, I tested it in comparison to my other thermometre. Lumiscope 97.9 at about 3:30 pm , and old therm., 98.5. So, there is quite a difference!
I will let you know of any changes over the next couple of weeks.
Hi, Christine,
That sounds really smart, the way you are doing the Iodoral.
You went to a lot of effort to get that Lumiscope — but clearly it is worth it. Can you believe the difference? I was stunned when I first checked it. I had an almost identical experience!
I can’t wait to see how you do. I’m excited for you! Please do keep me posted.
Hugs-
AM