Replied by Karlapep (Mandeville, La) on 05/15/2012
I am having difficulty and really desperate for help at this point. Have had digestion problems (nausea, stomach ache, bubble-in-chest feeling, just to name a few), all growing slowly but steadily for the past year. In addition, for the past 6 months I have had dry mouth, sometimes severe and sometimes goes away for a few hours during the day but always seems to return not long after I put anything in my stomach. Now even water affects me to varying degrees.
Naturopath did bloodwork last week for thyroid panel testing and awaiting the results since I suspect this could be the cause of slow digestion and hence the dry mouth. I've also been tested for Sjogren's which came back negative, but primary physician feels I should still see a rheumatologist to get further feedback.
I'd rather be hypothyroid instead of having Sjogrens for sure, but if not my thyroid at the root of all of this (I have classic symptoms, female 57 with thinning hair, cold all the time, dry skin and mouth, pale, sparse outer eyebrows, plus I have ALWAYS gotten a red patch right over my thyroid and surrounding area for as long as I could remember. Lasts for 30 minutes then goes away with no rhyme or reason). But if not thyroid issue, I feel like this is something else affecting my gut causing ALL the symptoms, and not necessarily Sjogren's.
Have had testing for diabetes, gall bladder, etc. , and all stellar. TSH testing alone was over 3, normal by my regular PCP's standards, but naturopath tells me she is concerned with anything over 2 so she ordered the complete panel as well as nutritional panel to check for vitamin deficiencies.
Also did an iodine loading test after I read on this site that deficiency can cause dry mouth. Mine was 84% however lab tells me that this is quite impossible for someone who has never eaten seafood and does not take iodine supplementation to come back with such a decent score, that I must have some type of symporter issue with iodine absorption, to take iodine for 3 months and get retested.
OK, all that said. Here are my questions:
I've read Dr. Brownstein's book on the need for iodine. Will iodine work for me even if I do not take thyroid meds (if that is the cause of the dry mouth/digestion issues), and if so, what dose iodine should I be taking?
Does anyone have any insight or experience with that iodine symporter issue hindering absorption?
Could some type of bacteria in my intestinal tract, stomach or small intestine be causing all this discomfort and dry mouth? If so, how can I treat this?
Anyone who can lend some insight or alternate ideas will be most appreciated. Like I said, I am quite desperate for answers at this time.
