Comments on: The irony of the Oprah debacle for thyroid patients

By: Amy

Amy — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 23:10:09 +0000

Agreed, agreed. I have tried different forms of thyroid medication, including synthetic and “natural”. I am now 26 and have taken thyroid supplements since the age of 17. At different times, probably in part because I was still growing, different thyroid pills worked best. I now take armour and compounded T3. Most of the time, I need supplemental T3, which is the main reason for taking the armour. Thyrolar just makes me feel funny. Levothyroxine and others have worked fine in the past…everyone’s different! There are and always will be advantages and disadvantages to everything.

By: Karen

Karen — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 01:05:49 +0000

clvngodess: may I ask what non-porcine medication you are taking that works? I would love to avoid animal products, but I also need to feel better, so I’m wrestling with my values versus my desire to get well.

By: clvngodess

clvngodess — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 14:56:18 +0000

You know, I’m a huge critic of Oprah. I find most of her “advice” to be more about either ratings or corporate agendas, or ego, or marketing or what ever the flavor of the month may be.

However, I do take issue with the comments regarding bio-identicals, and Suzanne Sommers. I am a patient of the clinic that treats Ms. Sommers. I’m using bio-identicals and a non-porcine thyroid medication, which is working. WORKING. I don’t take animal products, and won’t. I don’t eat meat. And will not. This goes against everything I stand for in my life.

I find it selfishly naive to say it’s pork thyroid or nothing at all. Armour or nothing. That’s buffalo chips. Each body is different, reacting differently to what is consumed and processed on a biochemical level. What’s good for one, may be dangerous or unhealthy for another.

While some may be devoted to pig/animal products and others opt for more vegetable/less harmful (non-violent) solutions, there needs to be an acceptance of the choices we make as individuals. There are reasons, very sound biological reasons for taking bio-identicals. Less stress on the liver is one of them. This is scientific. It’s documented.

Oprah may be a twit or just shilling for the flavor of the month “thing.” But she does bring some things to the forefront of mainstream consciousness. And for that, I’ll give her the thumbs up.

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(from Janie: just so there’s clarification: this patient movement is not “porcine thyroid or nothing at all”. Yikes. That would be far too reaching. This movement is that “porcine thyroid” gives you back what your own thyroid would be doing, and has been found by a growing body to be a superior choice. There are always going to be some reason that someone stays on T4, and if you feel it works, great. Just watch out as you age. And thanks your wise comments about Oprah.)

By: Lily

Lily — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 04:47:49 +0000

You are so so right. I think this backlash is really about belittling alternative medicine and hormone therapy.

I wrote a comment on Mary Shomon’s Blog saying that while it is good that these articles point out the wrong thyroid advice Oprah’s experts have given, the articles also belittle the therapies that have helped many thyroid patients (bio identical hormone therapy).

If we, as thyroid patients, align ourselves with these criticisms of Oprah, we are only supporting those people who want to dictate synthroid/tsh tyranny.

People love to criticize Oprah’s show with Suzanne Sommers, but I read the Oprah message boards after she was on and women were really suffering with complaints that were being dismissed by doctors. They finally felt empowered to have a conversation abut their symptoms and quality of life. Any show that can start that conversation, should be commended.