Hello there fellow iodiners! I wanted to post an update as I feel this is important.

PERSONAL BACKGROUND -
*42 years old
* Had bad periods my whole life, terrible cramping and clotting. This caused me to have anemia
* Thyroid trouble from a young age as my feet and hands were cold, bad periods, never sweat, terrible moods swings including depression.
* Poor detoxification as clean diet but cellulite
* Was diagnosed with DCIS stage 0 at age 27 and had a mastectomy (that is a whole other issue)
* Healthy breast was always hurting thus fibrocystic.

IODINE BACKGROUND -
* On the advice of Wombat, I started Iodine to try and prevent the Breast Cancer and to combat some hormone issues.
* I have been on idone for about 2 years. In the beginning I supplemented with 2 - 4 drops of SSKI and magnescent but I switched to Lugol's to address the FBD.
* I was taking magnesium malate, a b-complex 50 mg., selenium, 2000 of vitamin C, cod liver oil and salt loaded.

IODINE REACTIONS - (at one time or another everyone I think!)
* burning eyes and tongue
* moodiness
* headaches
* pimples
* anxiety
* weird periods

Then, in February, I increased it to 10 drops and got the period from hell! I bled for a month straight. I was kind of nervous because not only was I bleeding, but I felt so out of it and tired. The period was painless but was off and on for the whole month. Luckily, I was able to find people on here that had the same experience so I rode it out. I stopped the Iodine and got my period the following month but it was so painful (I had stopped taking all the supplements as well).

I started researching like crazy again and found out how important the B vitamins are in this protocol. So, I ordered Max stress B from Quantum (I had read that someone previously had done very well on that) and started buying local B-pollen, added coconut oil to the mix.

WHAT I DO NOW
* Still taking the companions magnesium malate, selenium (200 mcg.), vitamin C (2000 - 4000), B pollen (1 teas. twice a day), max stress B (1/2 teas. twice a day), coconut oil (2 tab. a day). Most mornings I make a smoothie with protein, blueberries, homemade yogurt and chia seeds and the coconut oil. It holds me over the entire day!
* I walk for 45 minutes a day and jump on my trampoline a few days a week
* Lugol's 5 drops of the 5% a day but I take a break on the week-ends

HOW I FEEL
* Emotionally I feel awesome! I am not sure if it is the B-complex or the coconut oil but I feel like they are both very important pieces to this puzzle.
* With women, our cycles and endocrine system are a big part of our health. I do judge a lot from that.
* I think something in my endocrine system "woke up" because with this new protocol my period is not like anything I ever had. Since doing it this way, my period lasts 1 or 2 days, very light, no clotting at all. Both months I did not know it was coming. This is something I have never experienced in my life.
* At one point last month my breast was KILLING me. It did not last too long, and again I read that this happened to Wombat a few times along the way.
* The other thing (for women only) is there is an increase in the vaginal secretions. There is some literature on that but I have not been able to explain why. Sometimes the secretion is ever so slightly blood tinged but that only happens once in a while. I know my hormones are doing something positive and when I do a search, I can't find much on the secretions.
* My eyes and mouth do burn and have not been able to figure out that side effect, but it could be hormones.
* Without Iodine, I tend to wake up a few times at night. With iodine, I sleep so soundly and peacefully.
* I go to the bathroom after every meal, but I think the coconut oil is helping this. Things are textbook perfect in that area and I used to have to use laxatives as I would go days without going.
* Overall, when you see the results from iodine, I think you really start to take full charge of your health. My diet consists of my wonderful smoothie in the morning, lots of water and companions during the day and dinner is a healthy protein with lots of fresh vegetables and such.
* At this point, I wish I knew more about the occasional discharge as I wonder what the hormones are doing to cause that. Is my body working really well that all the lining and fibroids, etc. are dissolving thus causing this? Not sure but to not be in such utter pain is great.
* I think that a lot of people run into side effects and don't stay the course. The literature is there it is just a tough job (not to mention expense) to continue.
* All I can say, is thanks to all that have given such great information to date. I really believe my health is going in such a positive direction.

~Kristen~