Thanks Stephanie for taking the time to set my mind at ease about "Dr. B", I "know" who you are from the Yahoo group and I also know your story so I respect and value your opinion. As a matter of fact, I want to take this opportunity to let you know that I was very impressed by your blog. I meant to write you to let you know about it and that I was praying for you and your family but I can't remember what got in the way then and then I couldn't go back because my history had been erased and I had not bookmarked the site and I also noticed you stopped including the link in your signature.
So, with everyone's permission I'll take this opportunity to give you my comments. First, let me tell you that for the most part I've always avoided blogs, however, for some reason I felt compelled to read yours and, boy, it was an emotional trip and a half! I found it at a rather inconvenient time for me because I should've been going to bed and ended up staying up straight through that day because I couldn't stop reading. Since your account of your orthodox treatment ordeal filled me with so much frustration and sadness (it made me cry and want to wring some doctors necks, lol!!!) I just "had to" keep reading to get to the "good part", which, of course, was when you found Dr. B and I really, really loved that part so I have no trouble believing what you say about him and it's a great relief as my first impression of all three doctors has been one of pure admiration. It's just that when you reach my age you've already gone through a few disappointments so it's easy for doubt to creep in but I think what I should really do is to keep praying that God will continue to guide these men in their mission.
My disappointment is not worth complaining to them about and, as I mentioned before, the books won't go to waste. As you say, those of us who like to take charge of our health problems do end up learning a lot more than others and that has always been me. When I was first dx'd with hypothyroidism (7 years ago as a matter of fact), the first thing I did was go to the public library and check out 3 books and that lead me to request treatment that included T3. I also joined a thyroid forum which is also a very good way to learn fast due to the constant exchange of information, so in the years that followed I devoted countless hours reading other books and everything I could find online. Part of my disappointment was due to my having stretched myself financially at the moment to buy them BUT as I mentioned in my previous message I've already found a use for them.
As I write this, my mother who lives in another country (where I was born), is probably still bedridden as the consequence of radiation (after chemo...) for her metastasized b/c, an ordeal that began early in '04 with a mastectomy. She wants to see me so I'll probably be traveling there in 2 weeks. As I was madly struggling to try to apply for a passport, I learned that my favorite female cousin (who lives there too) had been diagnosed with thyroid papillary carcinoma. She had her thyroid removed last week and I just shook my head in frustration. She's suffered from depression/mood swings and PCOS, which over the years lead to ovarian cysts removal (on more than one occasion), a breast reduction and even a histerectomy 3 years ago; also diabetes, hypertension and some brain disorder before she even hit 40. Even though the rest of my family has been having more serious health problems than I have, they do not have the inclination nor the capacity to understand things that come easily to me so I feel it's up to me to teach them what I've learned and these books will provide "official" credibility to what I will have to say. I will also go "armed" with a 16 oz. bottle of Lugol's and a bunch of supplements so I can get all those interested started on iodine. I think after 5 cases of cancer in the family and already 2 deaths from it they're terrified enough to listen to anything.
I want to clarify that when I started reading about iodine I felt as if God was guiding me to this info and my confirmation to that and maybe the best I got from Dr. B's "Iodine" book were Dr. Abraham's words to the effect he himself felt guided by God through this project.
Please know that your post has helped me restore my faith and I'm sincerely very happy to know that you're thriving. I think I've just been having some very awful days and feeling lost not knowing what's really going on, if iodine is working for me or not. I'm very interested in what you said about your NIS been destroyed. Since I'm just supplementing on my own I've wondered "what if" I'm not absorbing the iodine or if it's really hurting my thyroid after all as lately my hypo symptoms are at their worst. I started out formal supplementation in April and even though I did it slowly I had a very scary reaction with intense palpitations, pressure on my chest, etc. so I had to back off. Then I got Celtic salt and magnesium chloride oil and began taking the C and selenium and was able to increase steadily until I reached 75 mg. a couple of weeks ago.
However, I got a virus about a month ago, the 2nd in about 2 months, which puzzled me because I had not had a cold or anything in years. By then I was taking almost 50 mg. so I thought iodine should actually help my immune system. I was also in the middle of a 35 day PC so I would've expected progress instead of regression but I have been feeling totally awful ever since and the past week has been the worst. So I don't know if it's been the virus which further affected my thyroid or the 75 mg. was too much. Just in case I scaled back to 50 (and yest. did only 25 due to forgetfulness and not wanting to take the last 25 at bedtime) but it has made no difference so far. I've even gained a couple more pounds and look every bit as bad as I feel, face very puffy - not "me" at all - and only pray I'll feel better before I travel because it's going to be a very stressful trip as it is. So, if you don't mind I will contact you privately as maybe you can help me find out if there is any "iodine doctor" here in S. FL or if maybe I can have a phone consultation with one, as at this point I feel it would be wise for me to get some guidance.