My Journey of Hell and Healing - Joy

[Sheila]

My feet don’t have ulcers any more. They’ve improved. Yes, there is a whole list of detox symptoms that come together when they come. I drink TONS of water. I am taking Spanish Black Radish as part of my detox, and it made me shed water initially, but has stopped doing that. I’ve probably habituated to it. But, I think the water retention is also a thing the gut does to protect the rest of the body from whatever it is – bacteria, parasite – that is in the gut. It should get better with time. Also, I don't get enough sleep, which I'm sure is making me retain water, and generally making things not work. The potassium is tempting, but I don’t want to add anything right now, and I’d probably habituate to that, too! That’s what I have always done – even before psych meds -- I habituate to things fast.

Re heat – I’ve noticed that, in w/d, the least of the problems is feeling hot. It’s more that the heat shuts down all sorts of body functions. I think it makes it harder to breathe for us. It triggers dysautonomia and things just stop working as well.

[Joy]

Hi sheila,
I will respond more later,...but, I DIDN'T MEAN YOU SHOULD TAKE POTASSIUM..THAT COULD BE DANGEROUS. I was just giving an example.

Talk to you shortly, dinner is on the table.
xox

[Sheila]

Don’t worry, Joy. I know potassium is an intervention you have to be knowledgeable about. I’m nowhere near considering it. Mostly, I was just trying to show my appreciation for what I thought was your suggestion. :)

[Joy]

Hi Sheila,

We talked about iodine...I want to update you. There has been some surprising good results quickly from iodine for myself and for my partner.

Him first as there has been a dramatic result. Briefly..since Jan my partner had developed sore muscles in legs. Pain that shifted. Cramped. low grade fever at times as it was shifting..and very tired. He went from an active strong farmer to walking with a stick and limping badly. Unable to lift right leg from knee down..muscles still there but not useful. Recently seemed to be moving..started up his arms. Special interest...he had a CAT scan in the winter and that was the first time he had been free from pain..he walked in struggling. He walked out fine..no pain. This lasted him until the following afternoon. We expected that it was due to the iodine in the dye they use. No doctor would comment on that. He has been seen by several specialists that point him to the next one. Seems he has some neuromuscular problem and will have to see someone about that. ...so..as he was getting worse and no help was offered we were desperate.
We bought some iodine/salt for animals..problem is we can't measure the amount the same as you would with a pill...
Ed has been taking some several times a day. He started to notice results yesterday. He is clearing up. He started to walk the stairs without holding the railing. I saw him run and leap while playing with the animals. Today we were out and he took his stick and didn't need too!!! He still has some aching and the muscles are weak but improving. He can lift his leg now. CRAZY. This has to be the iodine..it can't be anything else except spontanious remission.. We haven't gotten a diagnosis yet. His fever and tireness is gone. This happened suddenly. Yesterday morning he was not doing well..feeling things were getting worse..had to go to bed for a sleep. Woke up and never looked back.

Me, my experience..I take it more sparingly than he does. I have more energy. Today I was out and about, met a friend for coffee. Had my doctor's appointment went for a walk tonight and generally had a very good day. There is much less agitation inside. I feel like my core is stronger. I feel like my old self at times. I began to feel the feeling in my head that I was overdoing it while out...and even a little dizzy at times..but it passed. BUT I DIDN'T CRASH. Tonight I am very tired and have to go out tomorrow again. I am really thinking this is working for both of us!!

I will keep you updated incase this is a fluke..a coincidence.. My thyroid did show fine on my tests. However, by belief after reading is that our bodies store iodine in muscles, breast tissue or fat. Our thyroid needs iodine to function and therefore when it gets insuffcient amounts leaches it from the storehouse of supply..I believe that levels test fine..but our storehouse it is limited and on a cellular level we are deficient. Just my personal thought.


i hope to feel good again tomorrow. I am already making some plans for the weekend...so I must be feeling better. lol.

[Sheila]

Wow, that is such good news about your partner Ed and fascinating about the iodine. What good medical detectives you were to notice that the Ctscan stuff correlated with his moving better.

From your reading, what do you think the mechanism of action is, and what does that indicate the original problem was?

And very interesting about your benefits from iodine. I eat seaweed every week to get iodine. I just assume my thyroid is out of whack from the meds.

[Joy]

Hi Sheila,
I wonder if iodine is used for more than just thyroid in the body. We know it is stored in tissue, highest in breast tissue. All I read on internet about low iodine only mention goiters. I don't think that is a complete answer. Ed looked up what the symptoms were in North America that led them to add iodine to salt but he didn't find out much.
Interesting that potassium iodide is the only antidote to nucler radiation. Also, Bromide, which is used as a preservative of wheat flour blocks iodine uptake as well as floride and chlorine which are water treatments used in drinking water and hot tubs, swimming pools etc. I think these all take away iodine effect in the body and leads to what I read has become a world health issue again. Ed says he has watched farmers with oats sprinkle stuff on them to stop the weavels prior to going out the following day for human consumption. I knew someone else that worked for Quaker and says the oats were sprayed there too. So the chemicles we get in pesticides and everything have to test our bodies...organic would be the way to go if you can afford it.

Ed continues to do well. We go out around the farm now and he walks without a stick or weakness in his legs. The right leg he hadn't been able to lift from the knee down and now he can lift it high. He moves faster in general now. He seems think it is just easing the pain and might not be solving the problem..I am not so sure. I think the changes have been happening fast enough that I think there must have been a significant deficiency there and will have to be seen in a few months to know for sure.
I notice I am calmer and feel more insulated emotionally. Otherwise no huge difference. I have haven't been feeling great still...last week had one great day and the second day I was crochety and negative and couldn't get over it.

Good for you eating seaweed. I think many people's thyroids are not adequately functioning even when they fall into an acceptable range on the lab tests.
I like the idea of treating by symptoms rather than numbers. sing me to have galbladder issues. I will drop to 6 pills a day for awhile and see if I clear up. The last 4 days I have had issues.

My CAT scan showed different cyst type thing on the kidneys which I knew were there but a new growth on the inside of of kidney and another on my liver. Probably nothing to worry about but as I had refused the radioactive dye they couldn't get a clear picture and suggested it be redone. My blood tests all came back good except the low potassium which I continue to supplement with Slow K, 600mg/2xday.

Hugs,

[Sheila]

Joy -- Wow, that is fascinating about the iodine. So, basically, you think Ed had a deficiency and it just came out in his case in the form of muscle weakness and pain.

How did you determine how much for you and for him to take?

There's a typo in your text -- what is it you're cutting down because of gallbladder?

I think you may be on to another important tool for people in w/d. Maybe you'd like to read that Jacques Romano bio by Schwartz. I have it but haven't gotten to it yet. I'd like to know more about iodine and the nervous system.

[Joy]

Hi Sheila,

I have another piece of the puzzle re the iodine theory that has fallen into place and changes my thinking on any thyroid involvement.
First, Ed's leg muscles were notably ropey and there is no extra fat on them. More recently I noticed that the indentation around his long muscles had deep groves and the muscles were hard as rocks. Not in a spasm but just hard. His legs thinning but no apparent muscle loss.
Tonight we noticed there has been a change. This is significant. The change is that the muscles although still sore, are softer and more pliable. There is more flesh to his legs that I believe is water/moisture returning to the muscles. Very noticeable in this thighs. His legs are more healthy looking and fleshy. The clicking around his knees stopped (he doesn't have knee issues). .......
So now my theroy is that the iodine is involved in the balance of water in the cells. There seems to be enough in Ed's thyroid. The reading I have done suggests that the iodine in the body is 'reserve' for the thyroid..I don't think so. I think the body uses the iodine to regulate the moisture content in probably all the cells including muscles and organs. He had a lot of pain in his kidney too which has mostly subsided. So the body uses this iodine for other reasons that isn't as readily apparent as thyroid which is the popular thought. Ed's muscle pain and weakness was moving up his arms. This has entirely halted.
He began taking the iodine about 10 days ago. he noticed 'healing' or improvement by the 6th day and it quickly has been getting better.

Iodine may be available in health stores, I haven't checked. It is not available in pharmacies in Manitoba. They only offer kelp tablets. I don't believe they are strong enough to help a deficiency although maybe to supplement a healthy person, I don't know at this point.

What we did, I don't recommend...but we are willing to try it. Our dosage isn't as tidy as taking a pill. The iodine/salt looks like table salt but is a lot more potent than table salt. There is a recommendation by weight for a larger animal. Basically we did the math and figured out approx how much to take. We based the rough amount on figures from the website I posted on the iodine thread. It isn't exact by any means. It has given very good results so far. We will eventually drop the amount down. I am more conservative that Ed, and I take approx 1/4tsb/day. He takes a little scoop on the back of the spoon handle..about 3 of these scoops/3xday.

Yes thank you for the reminder of reading that story..I forgot about it but am interested.

I have some bad days still...but my w/d has changed. Where everyday was bad with some obvious windows I now have at least as many good days as bad if not more. I still have speech problems at times but not noticeable to others. My partner thinks the problem is done...I can feel it but it is improving. My energy is much better recently but it is not an agitated energy but a calm one.

I don't know if you are interested in trying iodine Sheila. If you are please let me know how it goes for you. It has been an interesting find for me.
...oh..another thing, Iodine apparently flushes Bromide, chlorine and floride from our bodies. Apparently it can take up to 3 years to clear the bromide. So, why wouldn't this be helpful in clearing all toxins in w/d as well? I think if Omega 3's are the building blocks..iodine is the morter that holds the blocks together.

****please remember that what I have mentioned here is just my understanding..I don't say it is correct and I may change my thoughts as time passes and I can see more what is happening. *****


Sheila, I am going to cut back on the Omega 3's from 11/day to 6/day for a while and see how things go. My gallbladder issues have subsided this afternoon and i feel good again. I have been feeling that the oil might be bothering me..but not sure. I was burping fish oil more lately until this latest problem. I haven't been diagnosed..I am guessing what is the issue.

I enjoy having you to talk to about all this Sheila. Thank you.
Joy

[Joy]

Hi Sheila,

I have another piece of the puzzle re the iodine theory that has fallen into place and changes my thinking on any thyroid involvement.
First, Ed's leg muscles were notably ropey and there is no extra fat on them. More recently I noticed that the indentation around his long muscles had deep groves and the muscles were hard as rocks. Not in a spasm but just hard. His legs thinning but no apparent muscle loss.
Tonight we noticed there has been a change. This is significant. The change is that the muscles although still sore, are softer and more pliable. There is more flesh to his legs that I believe is water/moisture returning to the muscles. Very noticeable in this thighs. His legs are more healthy looking and fleshy. The clicking around his knees stopped (he doesn't have knee issues). .......
So now my theroy is that the iodine is involved in the balance of water in the cells. There seems to be enough in Ed's thyroid. The reading I have done suggests that the iodine in the body is 'reserve' for the thyroid..I don't think so. I think the body uses the iodine to regulate the moisture content in probably all the cells including muscles and organs. He had a lot of pain in his kidney too which has mostly subsided. So the body uses this iodine for other reasons that isn't as readily apparent as thyroid which is the popular thought. Ed's muscle pain and weakness was moving up his arms. This has entirely halted.
He began taking the iodine about 10 days ago. he noticed 'healing' or improvement by the 6th day and it quickly has been getting better.

Iodine may be available in health stores, I haven't checked. It is not available in pharmacies in Manitoba. They only offer kelp tablets. I don't believe they are strong enough to help a deficiency although maybe to supplement a healthy person, I don't know at this point.

What we did, I don't recommend...but we are willing to try it. Our dosage isn't as tidy as taking a pill. The iodine/salt looks like table salt but is a lot more potent than table salt. There is a recommendation by weight for a larger animal. Basically we did the math and figured out approx how much to take. We based the rough amount on figures from the website I posted on the iodine thread. It isn't exact by any means. It has given very good results so far. We will eventually drop the amount down. I am more conservative that Ed, and I take approx 1/4tsb/day. He takes a little scoop on the back of the spoon handle..about 3 of these scoops/3xday.

Yes thank you for the reminder of reading that story..I forgot about it but am interested.

I have some bad days still...but my w/d has changed. Where everyday was bad with some obvious windows I now have at least as many good days as bad if not more. I still have speech problems at times but not noticeable to others. My partner thinks the problem is done...I can feel it but it is improving. My energy is much better recently but it is not an agitated energy but a calm one.

I don't know if you are interested in trying iodine Sheila. If you are please let me know how it goes for you. It has been an interesting find for me.
...oh..another thing, Iodine apparently flushes Bromide, chlorine and floride from our bodies. Apparently it can take up to 3 years to clear the bromide. So, why wouldn't this be helpful in clearing all toxins in w/d as well? I think if Omega 3's are the building blocks..iodine is the morter that holds the blocks together.

****please remember that what I have mentioned here is just my understanding..I don't say it is correct and I may change my thoughts as time passes and I can see more what is happening. *****


Sheila, I am going to cut back on the Omega 3's from 11/day to 6/day for a while and see how things go. My gallbladder issues have subsided this afternoon and i feel good again. I have been feeling that the oil might be bothering me..but not sure. I was burping fish oil more lately until this latest problem. I haven't been diagnosed..I am guessing what is the issue.

I enjoy having you to talk to about all this Sheila. Thank you.
Joy

[Joy]

One more thing I think has been positive for me and belive the iodine is responsible for..
I had the cogwheel tremors I mentioned at the beginning of this thread. I showed my doctor the tremor only 2 weeks ago. It was less then it was last year but still there. Today I checked it and it is so mild nobody could see it. I can only notice it if I pay particular attention and move very very slowly with muscle tension try to find the tremor. That is improvement. I believe the problem was from taking Serequel and Effexor. However as iodine is effecting this positively, it makes me think that these drugs perhaps impact the absorption of minerals or block the iodine in some way and the medication induced Parkinsons syndrome is brought on by cellular changes/deficiencies and can be corrected in a similar fashion.

Similar for Ed...Last week I had Ed raise a heavy book in one hand only using the muscles from the elbow to the hand and to raise the book very slowly. He was upset to see he had a tremor and the book shook badly. He was very distressed when I pointed out that the other hand during this exercise which had been resting on his lap was twitching noticeably. We redid the book test today...the book was steady. His resting hand still.

Although we will still keep the appointment with the neurologist who specializes in nuromuscular disorders..I don't believe it is a neurological disorder at all!