Hi Rainbowz,

Here are some answers to your questions:

1. No, I've never had antibodies tested before starting iodine--I don't think regular doctors do that unless they have specific reasons to do so. I did have have a TSH reading of 2.7 before beginning iodine.

2. I do have mercury fillings but no root canals.

3. Diet - I really try to avoid grains and starchy, processed foods. My main diet staples are eggs, meats (beef, chicken, pork, fish), vegetables and limited fruit, limited high-fat dairy (cream, butter, full-fat plain yogurt, cheese), nuts and seeds. I eat this way 95% of the time.

4. Generally speaking I'm gluten-free since I try to avoid grains, but I don't specifically buy gluten-free brands. I may have an occasional piece of toast a few times per year.

5. Supplements: besides the protocol, I take DSF Formula by Nutri-west(adrenal support); bee pollen; Vitamins A,D, K2,B-complex; Milk Thistle and turmeric on occasion.

6. I don't drink coffee anymore (quit three years ago), and the only tea I drink is herbal (no caffeine). I drink a cup of tea daily.

7. Our main source of water is reverse osmosis; I use non-fluoride toothpaste.

8. I don't feel any different than I have ever felt. I'm not gaining weight, I sleep decently well and am not sluggish in the morning,etc.

Although I do feel cold--I don't believe it's abnormally cold. It's hard because it's very subjective--but when I feel cold, most women around me also feel cold. It's not like they are all sweating and I'm bundled up. Now my husband... that's a different story!

All the women in my immediate family seem to run a little cold--my mother and two sisters--but none of them have every been diagnosed with hypothyroidism.

I have never checked my temperature immediately upon waking up in the morning, but I've had my temperature checked at a 9am doctor appointment and have it read normal at 98.6F.

9. I was able to make an appointment with an iodine-literate doctor (NP) this Monday. Hopefully, he will help me get this whole ordeal straightened out and give me a plan to follow. Until then, I decided to take a break from Iodine (but continue with co-factors), and begin a strict AIP eating program to help with any underlying inflammation and auto-immune attacks.

I will definitely check back in... Thanks everyone!

There is a part of me that feels that way, but I'm concerned about the very high antibody levels.

Yes, I have seen this in numerous colleagues, the TSH skyrocketing or going down the drain. They never took iodine. Diagnoses not related to their symptoms; clearly hypo thyroid are diagnosed as hyper thyroid etc.
The ones with "hashimotos" simply have their thyroid removed, or treated with radioactive iodine. Talking about people in their 20-ies to 50-ies.

What I have observed, is that they listen to their lab test and doctors more than to their symptoms. It is an epidemic, and no one knows what to do other to follow their Dr advice. Several years on levothyroxine, still feeling bad, sometimes hyper, sometimes hypo; the tests say.

Back to the feeling of something going on with the thyroid. I had it a few times during my Iodine adventure. Pain and sensation of swelling. What I did was to back off the Iodine a few days, change type of iodine, increase selenium, strengthening adrenals and digestion (zinc, salt, enzymes, vit B)

After adding potassium chloride to my regimen + tiny amounts of lithium (last two years) no symptoms of this. I now take Iodine in the form of lugols, with vit C + sea food.
Type "detoxified iodine, even magnacent" made my thyroid hurt.

Just a side note to auto immune diseases; would we quit ingesting food or supplements with calcium; if your body started to attack the joints, or Phosphor, magnesium, etc? of course not. http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/autoimmune-diseases

Been a while since I posted. I had that same neck thing too. Just felt like it was pulsing.

Anyhow I quit Iodine back in may or maybe April after supping for 1.5 years. My neck has improved. Also my sex drive since I quit.

That said my hair has thinned, I'm tired, memory is bad again, I get cold, my vision has deteriorated. It's a bit of a dilemma as there are good and bad things.

I would maybe suggest cutting back to 10 Mgs and see how that goes, I'm guessing u are Iodine sufficient.