Women on the forum:
Hello! I'm new to the forum and have been browsing for a while. I have noticed people sometimes provide advice for medical situations with no cure and want to give it a shot. I'm 18F and have had practically unbearable period pains since I started my cycle around age thirteen.
Symptoms of these periods include:
- moderate to extreme abdominal pain and cramping
- vomiting multiple times within 30 minutes of starting the cycle
- stomach trouble i.e. constipation, diarrhea, severe food sensitivity
- numbness from the waist down
- muscle spasms and physical shaking from pain
- headaches and/or migraines following vertigo spells
- stiffness and swelling in arms and legs after medication
Symptoms I don't experience:
- irregular or unpredictable period cycles
- heavy or uncontrollable bleeding
- periods that last longer than seven days
- no clotting or random spotting outside of the cycle
For more background info, yes, I have talked to a doctor and seen a gynecologist. Both suggested FIVE different forms of birth control as the only solution, otherwise toughing it out of course. I am unvaxxed (no vax since 1st grade) and don't take any other medication for my cramps besides Midol. In general, I practice healthy habits in my eating and exercise frequently and nothing seems to make my periods any different.
Almost every month is terrible, with the occasional month of peace where my period is "normal" and no extreme symptoms are present. No family history other than my grandma who also had terrible periods, but she passed away and I wasn't able to ask questions.
When I start my cycle, it can be so debilitating to the point of being bedridden all day. I've had to miss work and school for my periods and am desperate for some kind of aid to put a stop to these symptoms before I begin a long-term career. Sometimes during my cycle, I've been known to throw up blood as a result of the vomiting and stomach acid build-up solely because of cramps.
Friends and family are familiar with my issue but no one I know can come up with or recommend any diagnosis or possible solutions. No other medication I've tried besides Midol will subside the cramping, but now the Midol is giving me adverse reactions.
Though this post is aimed at women who menstruate, I ask that anyone with any possible answers, advice, or recommendations comment and leave their two cents. I'd love to read and research anything left below. Thank you for reading!
Hi fren
Can you post this in general chat please?
It counts as off topic.
I'll leave it up for a short while here.
So sorry, had no idea! I will try to do that soon, thanks!
No worries, In the end I left it up, no need to remove this post now, it's two days later.
I really hope you got some useful suggestions.
Back in the day there was "Lydia Pinkham Liquid Herbal Supplement for Menstruation and Menopause Support".
For the debilitating pain, I went to work with a heating pad on my abdomen. Used one arm to press the heat down. My men subordinates understood, they had wives, sisters, and mothers! The alternative was staying home in bed, which due to how often it happened, was NOT AN OPTION!
THEN they invented Ibuprofen. I was able to be functional in all environments without the heating pad, including in the field. I can't tell you how much difference that made! I mean for the symptoms, not the cause.
Get evaluated for: "Endometriosis is a disease in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. It can cause severe pain in the pelvis and make it harder to get pregnant". The docs back then said that was an explanation for the pain!, but did NOT tell me it could affect fertility! and did NOT tell me there were treatments!
Hello!
I forgot to include in my OP that my GYNO had included extreme doses of Ibuprofen as a counter to the cramping and other symptoms I experience, and though I considered it I just wanted a diagnosis more than anything else.
I will start doing more research on diseases that target menstrual cycles and such too, endometriosis seems like a viable option but I won't know for sure until I see a doctor.
It's so sad you had to go through that as well, and I hope you see doctors who can give you more information! Thank you so much for sharing your personal experience.
Your situation looks quite complex and at 18 very few gynea are going to want to actually help you.
What I would suggest to try immediately is to get on a non-hormonal BC and skip the sugar pills. IE: don't go through a period at all. This will buy you time to figure things out and actually have a bit of a life during the process.
To give perspective: I've had excruciating periods since they started that necessitated in me hyperventilating and going hypoxic and passing out in order to actually sleep. I've had multiple surgeries without any sort of guarantee that anything will be solved. The worst thing you can do is remove your gynae organs, because if it results in you still having a gynae condition without the required organs, a regular internist won't do anything for you. This is why so many women who receive hysterectomies put themselves in very perilous positions.
It would be best to just put a pause on your periods so that you can buy yourself time. Stopping my periods has been the best thing I've done. No pain, no bleeding, no disease progress.
Hi!
I do agree my situation seems super complex, and it was clear my gynecologist was hesitant to diagnose me with an actual disease.
Reading your comment, it sounds like you had a tough time with yours as well and I'll take your recommendations to heart. I can see why putting a pause on your periods is your best option as well, but I haven't found any non-hormonal BC in my research yet. I'm honestly nervous to start BC as I've heard horror stories about women never getting their period back after usage, but if my symptoms worsen that may be the route I must take.
Thank you for sharing your personal experiences with me, and I hope you continue to get the care you need as well!
Hi Aqstof10
I am so sorry that you're having to deal with something so difficult so young, but there are new developments all the time and it seems that you have a research mind to find a solution, which will serve you well.
I see that you haven't received a diagnosis yet, but would recommend a facebook group to you: nancy's nook endometriosis. It is a research board with vetted doctors and surgeons. It talks about various diseases and how to find a doctor who can actually help. It could be a good resource for you.
I understand your fears. Making a choice, is it the wrong choice? What will the consequences be? And being right at the beginning of your life, these decisions carry a heavy weight and can preclude you from some life paths. You sound like you already understand the weight and significance of choice so I would just give you a hug and remind you that you are your best advocate.
Message me any time if you need. xx
Hello! Thank you so much for understanding my situation! I do fear the possibility of making the wrong decisions when it comes to my menstrual cycle and overall health, but making this post has helped me a lot to not only cope with my symptoms but work to find a way to control them. It is better to try than to give up, even if I'm a little scared. Thanks for the recommendation of the Facebook group, I'll be sure to check it out. I hope it will help as much as the forum has helped me!
Get all of your hormones tested, saliva tests. Look up Dr. John R. Lee. He’s passed away but has excellent advice. One of the first to recognize the hormonal imbalance of women and it’s causes. Just type in his name, his website is still up, others run it in his stead now that he’s gone. You can also find books by him as well. Don’t try to fix it yourself by just trying something until you get a FULL hormonal work up, including progesterone. Go find his website and do some reading.
Hi!
I really appreciate this recommendation. I completely forgot about how much hormones can make an impact on your body, especially since it's naturally what causes periods in the first place!
I've never had mine tested, but I've learned about them in school to know that they can mess up your cycle and lead to bigger problems down the road. I'll also look into that website and ensure I have the right info before I do any huge medications too.
Thank you for your input! It means a lot and I'll consider it greatly.
I hope you’re able to resolve your issues. I know how crazy our cycles can be and how they affect us so much.
MAGNESIUM - I highly recommend Magnesium oxide 400 mg - 1200 mg. Take it daily, forever. I do. Period cramps are often a symptom of magnesium deficiency. Lower back pain, constipation, leg cramps, spasms, restless legs are also from this deficiency.
ENDOMETRIOSIS - Also get yourself checked for endometriosis. This is a possibility and should be known about if you have it.
EXCEDRIN FOR HEADACHES/MUSCLE PAIN - If Midol used to work, but doesn't now, try Extra Strength Excedrin. This has worked for me for muscle pains, but especially headaches like nothing else.
WEDGE PILLOW SAVES THE DAY - You may have some spinal issues that may benefit from chiropractic treatments or deep tissue massage. The numbness and spasms may be due to pinched or compressed nerves in your neck or lower back which may stem from improper sleep positioning. Seriously. One cheap fix that helped me immensely when I had some chronic pinched nerves that caused my entire body to be paralyzed while sleeping and also a long-time ulnar nerve compression and also a knee issue. ALL WERE COMPLETELY CURED when I realigned my back while sleeping. Just purchase an inexpensive 'wedge' pillow at Walmart. If you have any spinal misalignments and pinched nerves, sleeping flat on your back with head elevated with the wedge pillow for a period of 2-3 weeks may completely restore everything back to normal. You must remain straight on your back with head facing forward. No side or face sleeping. Arms may be above head or down. Legs may be bent or straight but hips must not be twisted. Trust me. This was a miracle.
CASTOR OIL - Another old remedy that you can try is the CASTOR OIL treatment from Edgar Cayce who was a famous clairvoyant from over a century ago. He received important information 'from beyond' that he shared with the world. My mother used his remedy successfully back in the 1960s and I still use it myself, today.
Here is what it does:
"It improves assimilations, eliminations and circulation (especially of the lymphatic system) and in particular breaks up adhesions of the lacteal glands. Although this therapy may seem unusual, it is one of the best documented. It was recommended, as part of a holistic approach, for epilepsy, gallstones, scleroderma, constipation (and other intestinal conditions) – just to name a few."
How to do it:
Obtain a piece of clean, natural fabric (he recommended flannel or wool) and after folding over a few times to approximate a 1 ft by 1 ft piece, soak thoroughly in 100% pure cold-pressed Castor oil. Place this 1ft x 1ft fabric on your abdomen and cover with Saran wrap and then overlay with a heating pad. You can make more than one and place one on the lower back and one on the abdomen to use simultaneously. After placing the heating pad on top of the area, allow the heating pad to remain on low for 30 minutes. When done, remove the oil-soaked fabric and place in a Ziplock bag or Tupperware-type container to use again. Do not wash! You may reuse over and over. It is not recommended to share with anyone else.
Here are his actual instructions: https://content.edgarcayce.org/media/10822/castor-oil-pack-instructions.pdf
Good Luck!
Hello!
Let me start by saying thank you so so much for the detailed explanation of each of the recommendations and tips! I am so grateful for your suggestions.
I will seriously start considering starting magnesium soon, since not only is it a main ingredient in my current medication MIDOL, but it seems to be the leading tip out of all the comments with your explanation being the most detailed so far. I had no idea that this supplement could help with more than just the cramps and period in general, but with the other symptoms too. Additionally, I will consider investing in a wedge pillow as when I experience cramping, it is so hard to feel comfortable and stable in a normal bed. I use normal pillows for support but never considered using one of those for my back pain.
To add on, I bought some castor oil in the past via a family recommendation for a different health issue but was told to consume it rather than apply it bodily. I'll dig it up and look at the instructions soon since it's one of the solutions I actually have on hand.
Thank you so much for your tips again! I appreciate it greatly and hope to let you know what works in the future.
Of course! I hope they help you.
I am so sorry for you to have to go thru so much pain. You sound like a very strong woman!
I would post your question on the ladies forum:
communities.win/c/ladies
It's a shame you aren't getting proper medical treatment. I've never liked stopping a natural cycle (for instance, birth control to treat a condition, or surgery, to remove an organ) unless absolutely necessary.
I hope you get some advice that can help you. I would recommend finding a naturopath if they are available in your area.
Hello!
Thank you so much! I think I will add my post to that forum, it seems like a good spot to get different kinds of tips too.
I completely agree, nope with the removal of organs or big surgeries and life-changing drugs.
A life goal I have is to start a family, so I truly hope nothing I experience now will impact my fertility; removal of an organ would run this as impossible but unless it's something like cancer, I would never consider it.
A close family member just started treatment with a naturopath nearby, so I think that's where I'm heading first, and soon.
Thank you for your encouragement and advice!
Look up "magnesium supplement for menstrual pain". Cheap and effective.
I did see this in my research after posting! My MIDOL has magnesium in it, so I think after I get hormone-tested I will invest in some supplements too. Thank you for the tip!
My daughter experiences some of what you are talking about. Her gyno feels like it is fibroids and they are looking into that. My daughter starting taking iron supplements and believe it or not, it stopped the heavy flow and number of days it lasted. Good luck to you as it seems it takes a lot of time to discover and treat such conditions.
Hello! So sorry your daughter has similar symptoms as well. I have iron supplements at home but was scared off as I heard it can be easy to receive too much and not know how much my body needs. I think I will get hormone-tested and try it though, in addition to magnesium as it seems to be the two highest recommended supplements to help.
Thank you for the advice and good luck!
I have had horrid periods throughout my life. The only thing a doctor would ever do was put me on birth control. I'm pretty sure I have PCOS, fibroids, or endo, but I have never been diagnosed because every gyno insists I try birth control before anything else. And the birth control worked (at least when I was younger, as I got older I had horroble reactions), so they still wouldn't evaluate me further. See if you can get an ultrasound. I've never been able to get one, but I probably should have had one when I was 15.
I read a great tip on Reddit, of all places. Tell your gyno that you're concerned about your fertility, and you're worried these menstrual problems indicate something that will affect your fertility in the future. That should get them to bend over backwards to find out what's wrong. I wish I had thought of that when I was young. Now I'm too old for that to work.
Barring any of that, I second the ibuprofin. I have to take 4 at a time when my cramps are at their worst. But be careful with it.
Hi!
I knew I wasn't alone when my doctor only recommended big pharma and birth control as the only solution to my problems. I've heard so many from school who have had horrible symptoms from strong, hormonal medications such as 'the pill' that give acne, weight gain, and life-altering symptoms. I'm so sorry that you didn't get the care you needed as well.
I considered going back to a GYNO with that in mind to try to sway away from birth control but still get some kind of care or diagnosis. I will see at my next doctor visit if an ultrasound is an option as well.
I'll try with the Ibuprofen over MIDOL next time and hope for the best. A big thanks for your advice!
The ultrasound will not find endo, but maybe something else. Endo is an invasive procedure, eyes on to find. My daughter did birth control for 9 years, no period no endo. That was after having it surgically removed, so it would not grow back. The birth control ended up with tons of negative side effects, both physical and mental. Thus the quest for diet
Hello! I had no idea that ultrasounds can't find endo, maybe that's how my GYNO overlooked it if I end up getting that diagnosis. So sorry she had to end up with the side effects of birth control, I have many friends in high school who would tell me all their horror stories of it as well. I have been watching my diet more closely just incase it might have some effect this time around too.
Feel free to DM me with questions. I might be able to hook you up with her as well. She's on here somewhere
Yeah, you're definitely not alone...it seems like prescribing birth control is just about all gynos know how to do. Good luck with the advil, just be aware that, like all drugs, it can cause problems if you overdo it (stomach bleeding, ulcers), so only use it when you really need it and try not to take it too regularly when you're not on your period.
One more thing you might want to check out. I don't know if it will help you, but it's worth looking into. There's a book called the "Period Repair Manual" by Lara Briden. I just got a copy so I haven't had a chance to read it, but I've heard good things about it. It's full of natural ways (diet, vitamins, etc) to try to make your periods more manageable. You can get a copy off of ebay for only a few bucks, and it's also available as an ebook.
Hi! The more I do my research, the more I find that fact of GYNOS slapping the band-aid of birth control on the bullet hole sized wounds of period symptoms. It's crazy how long this has gone on for so long and I hope there will be better solutions available for our situations soon. I read something about that book as well and will consider finding a version of it online! I'll for sure be careful with the big pharma drugs too, it can be too easy to overdo.
Hello!
I'm sure this is an oversight, but since you are new to the forum, you should know that when you ask for help and community members put in the effort to aid you by responding with helpful instructions, links, directions, and remedies for your benefit, it is customary for you to upvote their comment and thank them, or respond in some manner to their efforts as a matter of courtesy.
When you do not acknowledge their responses to your request for assistance, there will be less interest in responding the next time.
Also, it would be good form to report back if you try any of these remedies and tell everyone how you fared. The community here is interested in being useful and helpful. We'd like to know the outcome, if there is one. Good Luck!
Hello!
I for sure want to be familiar with the norms around here and want to be as polite as possible while receiving suggestions. I'll do my best to acknowledge all of the comments like so.
I'll take the time in the future to give an update and provide my own experiences with what worked, what didn't, and what I discovered on my own after I seek personal care.
Thanks for the advice and for welcoming me so nicely!
Of course!
Thank you for thanking everyone so politely fren.
Please check out this guy. He absolutely knows what he's talking about, and how to fix it. Short answer is that whatever is causing your pain is only suppressed, not cured, by the medication ... which is why it never goes away and you need more and stronger pain killers as time goes on. And for that reason, a detox will resolve and eliminate the issue instead, which is much better for your long term health.
I'm a guy, and so is this doctor, but his advice has helped resolve a lot of issues I've had. https://darkovelcek.wordpress.com/2018/03/06/menstrual-problems/
His intro page is here, and gives his approach to diseases in general. https://darkovelcek.wordpress.com/introduction/
Hi!
I will check this out now! Detoxing and cleansing is a solution I'm now looking into, so I appreciate this! The more research the better, and you are very right about the medication not curing, just a short-term solution to my problem.
I'll use these links in my research soon, thanks for the advice!
My pleasure. WWG1WGA, fren.
I wonder if CBD would work for menstrual cramps/pain?
Hello!
I never considered that! I know a family member who used it for a different kind of pain so I might ask them about it.
Thanks for the tip!
My wife found relief from pain in a different context with PEA (Palmitoylethanolamide, in the form of a Life Extension AM/PM product), and we have a friend who uses it for "phantom limb" pain from a lost finger joint. As an adjuvant therapy, this might be helpful.
PEA is unlike typical pain relievers -- it may take weeks or months to begin having an effect -- but many people find it works well to reduce chronic pain.
https://yandex.com/search/?text=Palmitoylethanolamide+for+menstrual+pain&lr=10122
At least one study found that PEA (in this case, at a much smaller dose than in the LE product, and without the second ingredient -- Honokiol -- in that product, but with added α-lipoic acid) took 6 months or more to begin really having an effect: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320978795_Chronic_pelvic_pain_quality_of_life_and_sexual_health_of_women_treated_with_palmitoylethanolamide_and_a-lipoic_acid
EDIT: The two people I know who have used PEA got results much quicker than six months -- a week or less in both cases -- but they were using the LE product which, again, has a higher dose plus an added ingredient.
As an aside, your post is incredibly well-written. Welcome to GA!
Best wishes in finding relief for your problem.
Hi!
I have seen this once before but didn't know what kinds of chronic pain it was used for. I haven't seen many kinds of pain relievers besides MIDOL and Ibuprofen so I think I'll note this as an option! I will also add these links to my research notes. Thanks for the suggestions!
What helped me the most was high dose omega 3 fish oil. Minimum 2400 mg DHA and EPA daily. It only took one month to make a huge difference. Hopefully mods don't delete this thread before you see this.
Also, I've read that parasite cleanses can dramatically reduce symptoms and heal endometriosis, so you may want to look that up.
Hello!
I know a family member who also takes that! They have talked to me about how it has helped them so I think even if I don't get my hormones tested, I'll consider taking them anyway.
A parasite cleanse is something I've heard about, but I never knew it could help with period pains. I will for sure look into it and do more research.
Thanks for sharing your tips and experience!
If you have regular and predictable menses, stop the midol and try Ibuprofen 600mg. two days prior to the onset of your menses. I am not a physician, but this is what my OB/Gyn. suggested for me prior to having children, and it seemed to help. After pregnancy and childbirth, the nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and severe cramping just went away. Usually one dose of 600 mg. of ibuprofen/motrin did the trick. I would avoid oral contraceptives, they have been linked to infertility issues and cancer. Big Pharma wants to kill us. Not that ibuprofen isn’t made by big pharma, but one tablet once a month, if it helps is not going to be as bad as taking oral contraceptives.
Hello!
I received the same medication recommendation from my GYNO as well, except she only stated 800 or more could be prescribed to me for no explanation known. I have heard stories about after having a child, the body can kind of do a "factory reset" and the severe cramping/ other symptoms disappear. From my research, it seems to do with the hormones possibly residing at normal levels after the intensity of hormone changes during childbirth.
I agree with the opinion against Big Pharma, and naturally, I think Ibuprofen is my next option since MIDOL seems to be failing.
Thank you for your advice and for sharing your personal experience!
Check with a functional medicine physician who has experience with wild yam cream.
Hi!
This is a new one and seems very interesting! I'll add this to my research list and look into it. I haven't heard of many natural remedies yet, so I am excited to do more digging on this.
Thanks for the tip!
From my 10 yesr history with daughter, you likely have endometriosis, getting quite common. Her bedt results have been diet. She is now following a fasting regimen from a book titled fast like a girl. Feel free to DM me.
Hello!
I've seen that tip a lot and now I do think I might have that as well. I heard it was common, and I'm not sure why my GYNO didn't consider looking into it after I asked about a possible diagnosis via my symptoms. I think I might consider changing my diet to more whole foods and less processed to see if it helps. Thank you for the advice!
Look up Magnesium 7 by Organixx. I'm sure you will check off every single other magnesium deficiency symptom.
Also, research how to unblock your Chakras, especially the Sacral Chakra.
Stare at the sun for 5-10 min every morning when the sun appears, and again each evening as the sun disappears. Do it barefoot for Grounding. When the sun is blocked by chemtrails, hug a tree instead, as their roots hold energy down deep.
Talk to our Father using the correct name, Yahuah, thru his Son, Yahusha, and He will hear you! (The evil ones changed the Bible names to trick us into worshipping satanic gods.)
Hi!
I saw magnesium mentioned in an earlier comment, so I think after seeing more recommendations I will try it soon!
I like grounding as well and try to whenever I go outside, but I've heard about how it can help more if you do it in the sun.
Thanks for your advice!
Black cohosh, decrease sugar and dairy intake, took about three cycles to totally eliminate the pain for me.
Hello!
Thanks for your input! This is another one I've never heard of! What kind of black cohosh did you take? When I look it up, it looks like a plant/flower but can come in liquids, gummies, or powdered form. The black cohosh looks like a good start in terms of a supplement solution online.
Sorry it took so long to reply, I was away.
I'm 71yo now, way back when, I had to special order the root , wash it , dry it, powder it, and put it in capsules.
I was surprised to see so many options on line. So... maybe look for highest potency and mostly or all root.
No worries! Sounds like a long process back then, but it also seems to be the best quality you could get too. I'll try my best to find some with that in mind. Thank you!
I feel for you, I've been there. All through my teens my period was debilitating. The only thing I could do was sit in a hot bath tub all day, filled up as full as I could. The heat and pressure was the best pain relief I could find. I don't believe taking Midol or birth control is the best thing for you right now. You may treat the symptoms but you aren't fixing the issue and over time could end up with even more problems caused by these things. I know endometriosis can cause horrid pain, but I never had a diagnosis for my issue. This terrible experience went away from me shortly after 18. I don't remember exactly when it stopped as I'm almost 50 now, but I don't really remember it being too disruptive in my early adulthood. It was the absolute worst all thorough high school. There were days I couldn't even stand on my legs. And I also was always regular, no heavy or long periods, everything seemed normal, just this terrible sickness and extraordinary pain upon starting my period. No one else in my family experienced it, which made it very hard to get anyone to understand or sympathize, and my own daughter now doesn't seem to have any issues either. I'm sorry I have no revelations for you, just wanted to say hang in there. With that said, throwing up blood is never normal. If it happens again please tell your doctor.
Let me add one more thing, this may be helpful but please research before jumping in. Look into iodine deficiency, you won't need testing, we are all deficient because the gov recommendations are deliberately kept low enough to keep us ill. But iodine is very very important for our hormone production and our lady parts, as well as thyroid function. I'm on an iodine protocol right now along with my whole family and after a few days of taking iodine my daughter's period started a week early, and she's always been very regular. So iodine is very strong and effects us immediately. Something to look into. I don't know if it will help with this problem but worth taking a look. Just please be careful and make sure you know exactly what to do before you start taking it. It's very strong and I don't want you to hurt yourself. Most doctors will treat you at surface level with a pill to mask your symptoms. I believe in finding the root cause and treating that instead.
Hello!
Thank you so much for leaving these replies. I appreciate you sharing your story and your personal experience with our similar situation.
I can relate completely to your entire first comment where you describe your side of the symptoms. All I can do besides MIDOL is a heated pad or blanket with pillows. I agree with your opinion on my current solution too. My current medication is just a band-aid on a bullet hole; it won't fix and could further damage what is already not right. Not being able to stand and the intense sickness is an indescribable experience too, but I am glad no one else but my grandma who passed had to go through this as well.
I learned in high school anatomy that iodine deficiency can help with an underactive thyroid, but applying it to our situation seems like a really great try. It seems by research iodine is easy to overdo however, so if I try it I will probably have a parent help me with the dosage and will for sure seek medical advice before doing so. I know it's very important for us though, so maybe I can find some vitamins that could supplement me in a slower dosage and see how I feel afterwards.
Thank you again for sharing so much of your own experiences. I will do my best to be careful and do enough searching before I try anything serious too.
We pee out excess iodine, so it's not that we overdo iodine (so much misleading crap out there about it) but that it needs to have cofactors with it or it can cause some problems. Read the book, Iodine Crisis and you'll be on the path. Look up Dr Brownstien on youtube, watch his interviews, there are several.
Every cell in our body needs iodine. All of our glands need it, not just thyroid but it's the most thought of when the topic of iodine is brought up. There is a specific iodine protocol that involves taking the right cofactors like selenium, magnesium, vitamin C, etc in pretty high doses. People who jump into iodine and don't take these supplements end up with severe problems because when the iodine starts doing it's work it uses up these nutrients in the body rapidly and if you get depleted you'll start getting worse.
Also there is a detox element involved. Iodine is a halide, like bromine and fluoride. Fluoride and Bromine are toxins found in our food and water supply, and bromine in is everything else from your clothing to mattress, car seats, and other cushions and so on. We are saturated with these toxins. When your body builds up with these two toxins they push out what little iodine we have in our bodies, but when we put iodine it, it will push out those two toxins. This is a very good thing. Toxic bodies are the root of so much disease. But the detox process can make you sick so you need to go slow.
So some people taking iodine think their symptoms were caused by the iodine but that's not quite true, it's either the lack or cofactors causing issues or the detox and in 90% of the cases it's both. Now there is a small portion of the population who are sensitive to iodine, and this could be a problem which is why it's best to start very slow. You'll need to find an iodine literate doctor to guide you (iodine literate is an actual qualification to look for, they would say it on their website), or if you do it yourself or with a parent, read that book, watch dr Brownstein's videos, join the facebook groups, read dr Brownstein's book too. And take it slow. I'm on this particular protocol right now too and I'm struggling with it at the moment but I have so many health conditions, starting since my teens, I've been fighting my health all my life. I'm really hoping iodine will give me my quality of life back.