If you are not getting iodine in iodized (evil) tablet salt , I'd
get some sea kelp and take that daily. One or 2 tablets. The typical kelp supplement has 150mcg per tablet. Basically iodine deficiency is a real problem in the US. Some all in one vitamin mixes have iodine in them, so check your labels. Since you take thyroid hormone, you are getting some Iodine in those too.

I don't believe the hype with expensive salt extracts. However we do have a Sea Salt grinder that hubby uses. I don't salt my food. I use Potassium chloride substitute lightly on eggs and some veggies at times. (this is because of my GI woes, which lead to chronic intermittent diarrhea= GI angioedema and my birth defect there). Potassium is lost in the bowel that way.

The salt in processed foods or in restaurant foods is not iodized.

I had a right sided goiter for many years... which is now gone with treatment.

I rub the mag lotion into my hands, top and inner wrist and up the inside of my arms to the elbow bend. That is as far as the dollop goes on me so I stop there. The skin on the palms is really thick, so I don't concentrate on that part...only on the thin skin where you can see veins easily. I don't have prominent veins on the backs of my hands so I don't put much there either, but just a little. Some helps with stiffness for me. I do this at night, and it helps with sleeping too.

Oh I totally believe the hype about table salt vs Himalayan or celtic salt. I will never use regular salt, or regular sea salt again. I know I get it in many of my foods but I wont use it myself ever again.

I dont even know if Himalayan salt has iodine, I was not doing it for the iodine, I was going to do it because it talks about how it helps the body regulate electrodes and I thought it might help my body as I get off this diuretic.

I am going to do the soul water, as it is healthy in other ways and was gonna do it for thyroid so no time like the present. The thyroid wasnt for the iodine, though they do say take iodine, but they say to do the salt loading for adrenal fatigue which is important for thyroid function.

Thanks for all your help! I will start tomorrow with my salt protocol, the magnesium lotion daily on the arms and weening the meds.

I would suggest doing the mag lotion for a week before weaning off the HCTZ.... that might give you a buffer and support.

Ok thanks! I am going to start with every other day first so I have done that before with no problem.

I sure pray I can get off it, that would be great.

Oh and I use to take Idoral for my iodine needs. Havent done it for a long time though.

I just would like to add something about the magnesium lotion.

You see, for maybe 3 years, I was having problems with my neck. I had several PT sessions, various muscle relaxers. It was a very very uncomfortable feeling on the sides of the front neck. Mrs.D suggested the magnesium lotion. I used it for months, until i noticed that the tightness was significantly reduced that sometimes I hardly notice it now. Thanks to Mrs.D.

Till today, I use the magnesium lotion every night at bedtime. I use it now in my feet. I apply it in the in-steps (again suggested by Mrs.D) and ankles, legs and thighs. It helps me with the prickly sensation. I use it too in hands (for my osteoarthritis). The only difference I do from what MrsD suggested in some of her posts is the amount. She said to use, "pea-size or thumb-size" while i use it very generously as I need to cover a larger area. The brand I am using is Epsom It, but after i finished with it I will buy the brand from Walmart (what brand was that Mrs.D?). Why did you stop the Epsom It? Something wrong? Is Walmart brand better?

I also strongly believe that it helps with my blood pressure. As you know, my family's medical history is high blood pressure - from grandparents to parents and now my siblings. My BP was already fluctuating before the start of PN but when I start using the magnesium lotion regularly and the epsom salt soaking, my BP is consistently normal.

Mrs.D, is there an overdose with how I use the magnesium?

Mary

I think if you are using too much, you may feel tired the next day.
I get that sometimes. (it is a feeling that makes for craving more caffeine/tea, etc. )

If I use the mag lotion liberally on my back and legs etc, I don't put it on the wrists that night.

People with normal kidney functions should be okay with a topical. If you choose to use it liberally, I'd avoid oral versions.
The new Morton's is the one at WalMart and Amazon now.
I'm happy for you that it is working well for you so far. I think it is really miraculous in fact...and is so affordable too.

I never did the Epsom-It... seemed pretty expensive to me.
The new Morton's BTW does not have capsicum in it. I still was using CVS brand (I bought 3 bottles when it was discontinued)... when the Morton's came out. The Morton's is by far better than the CVS one, IMO. My WalMart has it in the first aid section.

I used a large amount on my back (more than usual), shoulder and lower back areas, last night....I slept really deeply too, more than usual.
I seemed to have strained something carrying Maya up the stairs in her cage, when we returned. Maya does not go outside.
Weezie does still only in the daytime. (since we lost Houdini).
So I let Weez out in the car, at the curb but had to carry Maya up 20 stairs to the front door. Combined weight about 20lbs, she is 9lbs and I have a large new type plastic crate for her, which is nice but heavy.

I hobbled up one stair at a time, placing her on the next step up.
It was slow going...my neighbor wasn't home, or I'd have asked her for help. (she is a fitness buff).
Hubby follows me in his car later in the day as he puts up shutters, and does other outside close up. I do the interior of house, and linens and packing, and get finished early in the morning so I leave ahead of him with the cats (who hate the trip). When I do the beds I take off the good linens and comforters and seal them up airtight, and put older ones on to get mildewy (which at least looks "neat and tidy"). That takes time but I usually get done about 9am. We take 2 minivans up each year. In case of breakdown, and because we have alot of stuff, and I take planters of flowers too for the shore and porch.

I make it home faster than he does...he likes to stop and rest more often too. This year I had alot of GI problems --probably from that Chobani recall...so I didn't even eat on the trip back.
I had two Zone bars slowly...and a few pretzels, slowly with water, to keep me alert so as not to need endless bathroom stops like happened on the way up there! And that worked. I had stopped the Chobani yogurt a week before thinking it might be a factor in my misery. And it looks like I was correct on that one!

So it is better for the kitties to be with me on the return trip.

But I seem to have strained something in my right back -- all the way down, so it is the Morton's Epsom Lotion at night for me this week! This year was a more painful vacation all around than previous ones. The really cold weather and mega lightning storms were also difficult to endure. Maybe we are getting too old for this?

MrsD Im so sorry you had such a rough time!! Sounds like you need a vacation from your vacation! Hope you are back in top shape real soon!!

Well, feeling tired is a regular thing for me so, i dont know if its due to the generous use of magnesium. My kidney function is okay except when I had once incident of a high BUN/Creatinine Ratio. The doctor said nothing to worry about it, the impt thing is the creatinine, he added. The ratio is back to normal in my last test.

I am using Epsom It because when you mentioned the product, my choices were only this brand and CVS. Our local CVS did not carry the product. I still enough Epsom It, i purchased 3 bottles. I dont take Kefir anymore because of the volatile BS instead I take the Jarro Formula Probiotics. It seems it helps with my GI distress. I dont take oral magnesium.

My trip back home has long been overdue because of my medical issues. With the frequency of of monitoring and low immune system, the trip is likely will be until after my treatment. The trip back home is 17 straight hours, excluding the lay-overs. Just thinking about it, with my PN pain, I feel stressed!!! But, i am hoping we can make the trip next year. It all depends on the success of the treatment... please help me pray for the success.

Thank you so much.

Mary

Mary I am praying for you and all of us pn folks!

Thank you Stacey. I truly appreciate it.