I wanted to start a new thread, so as not to interfere with Aries51's. The Post Title should be: Chlorine, Bromine and Iodine, in an effort to be more accurate. Or Chloride, Bromide and Iodide.

I am only putting information out here because anything we put into our bodies can harm us, help us or both. I know you guys check with your doctors but I also know that some people do not.

You wouldn't think dairy products could hurt anyone, right? Well, as I just found out, in some people dairy can cause a system-wide inflammatory mucosal reaction. I can no longer have dairy. Nothing is benign.

In any chemical experiment, just like with the drugs, supplements and foods you intake, all it takes is adding one of the wrong thing and you have side effects, adverse reactions or interactions. So please be careful and cautious about what you decide to "try" to make your health better.

Chloride displaces bromide.
Bromide displaces iodine.

What does that mean? Well, chloride is used to "detoxify" someone of too much bromide. And bromide is used to detoxify someone of too much iodine.

Bromide is an element in Mestinon. It may or may not "displace" iodine from your body. Most people get enough iodine from foods or supplements like multivitamins. Do you guys read those labels? Whether or not you even absorb your Mestinon is complex, depending upon liver function, kidney function, amount of stomach acid, pancreatic enzymes, etc. And Iodine has not been "proven" to cure MG, or even make it better. I'm all for anecdotal tales because you never know what might help but I hope you guys will seriously consider the MG studies as well.

Iodine often has potassium attached to it, which can make your MG worse.

I realize that iodine has some health benefits because not enough of it can make you sick too. But taking iodine may mask hypothyroidism or rev up Graves Disease.

Chemical reactions in the body are both complicated and poorly researched. It is not as simple as some websites selling products might suggest.

Please check with your doctors before taking anything new. Even check with your pharmacists. Don't blindly try anything unless you have really done your research and spoken to your doctor(s). I don't wish for any of you to have your MG get worse.

Annie


Some interesting reading:


http://dermnetnz.org/treatments/potassium-iodide.html

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/d...nt-iodine.html

http://www.breastcancerchoices.org/b...ncetheory.html

http://www.antipersonnel.net/links/R003.html

Keep in mind that the Gulf War vets took Mestinon when they didn't have MG and were exposed to a wide range of chemicals such as pesticides and Sarin gas.

http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player...-0-7216-0693-4

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/173444

http://www.tutorvista.com/content/ch...s-chlorine.php

Thank you Annie.

This post reminds me of a PA gal I met at a conference who had attended another conference where Bromine was discussed as displacing iodine in the thyroid.

So I just looked this up and found this:

http://holistichorse.com/index.php?o...743&Itemid=113

It is an article listing environmental and food sources for bromine by Dr. Mercola.

I don't think the real proof is available yet, but it is something to consider. (esp if one drinks alot of brominated drinks).

mrsD and Annie,

Thank you for this information. I have been concerned about the Bromine in the Mestinon from the beginning and all the information I read strengthens my opinion that I should be sure to be eating enough Iodine.

None of the supplements I take have Iodine nor do I use salt or other foods that have Iodine added. I do use a small amount of natural salt ("RealSalt") which naturally contains a small amount of Iodine (0.002%). I am going to look at a supplement that contains Iodine...I think most people get Iodine from a multivitamin, but I don't take multivitamins, something in there doesn't agree with me so I take specific supplements seperately as needed.

Again, thank you for the wonderful information.