hi bex, it sounds like you have a great doctor. Iodine is great stuff wether you have thyroid issues or not,i take 7 or 8 drops a day sometimes,i heard it chelates mercury too. I give it to my kids, i dont want them to get thyroid probs like me. Pigs thyroid is a natural hormone, its great stuff, i only need 2 and half grains per day, even though i have no thyroid, was taking 4 but it was too much. I think once you get the thyroid stuff sorted your immune system will be better, your energy levels will rise and pains in the chest is very common with people with low thyroid so hopefully that will go, hang in there, hang on to that doctor of yours, Dawn xx