Jkw (Monterey, Ca) on 07/17/2015

I have been trying to use Lugol's 5% iodine - I follow the protocol, but have rather bad detox reactions: heart palpitations, resting heart rate over 100, muscles feel very stressed, I feel an overall uncomfortability/restlessness, and have insomnia. I was up to 4 drops a day for about a month. At that point the symptoms were so bad I thought I would have to go to the hospital. I started heavy salt loading and the symptoms went away in a few days - thankfully. I have been trying to go back to the iodine but can only do a few days of 1 or 2 drops and the symptoms come back but never as severe as before because I do very heavy salt loading, every 30-40 minutes a half tspn. But even a week of no iodine I still have remaining symptoms - mainly high heart rate and stressed muscles. I have not had an iodine loading test, and currently do not have a GP (I have insurance but have not found an MD that has an alternative approach and can't afford an ND).

Last June I was diagnosed with gallstones. I am 34 and after research of gallstones, believe I have had gallbladder pain since 18 which I though was severe heartburn, as well as pain under rib cage and R shoulder.

Upon diagnosis, I began a strict vegan diet for 2-3 months from Healing with Whole Foods. After those months I began having extreme throat burning - the doctor diagnosed this as GERD, but it was unlike anything I had ever felt. Nothing helped - ACV, magnesium, etc. Now I believe this was fermented foods from the heavy grain diet I was on and my body not being able to digest well. After about 7 months the symptoms have abated (no more throat burning) though I still will get a lump in my throat when eating hard to digest foods. However I still feel food coming up, have gall pain, and a slow digestion. Thanks to research from earth clinic and various other orthomolecular articles, I believe the below supplements have helped.

I also took the Candida questionaire which I had a positive response from.My thyroid tests come back normal, though I still suspect hypothyroid.

I am currently taking:

B50, selenium, chromium, mag chloride, cod liver oil, dessicated liver, vit e, milk thistle, ox bile, unrefined sea salt, I just started alkalizing but I haven't had the chance to regularly do this.

I just started on Betaine HCL with pepsin again - had bad pain the first time (I wasn't doing it right).

I also just started l-glutamine (from Diet Cure book) for severe sugar cravings in afternoon/evening. I am also almost constantly hungry. I wonder if this is insulin resistance or adrenal-related?

Unfortunately my diet is not perfect - I manage unprocessed, lower-carb about 5 days a week, but with the sugar cravings I cave about once or twice a week. I will continue to try to improve this.

I also recently started trytophan and DLPA (from Diet Cure book) - so far I don't think this helps

I will start Chanca Piedra.

Overall, I do feel better than 9 months ago, but would like to continue to improve and ultimately be able to eliminate a lot of unnecessary supplements as well as get any advice on the iodine supplementation which I believe I need. I feel much more energy and less brain fog.

Thank you in advance.