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I’m amazed at lingering problems since being on T4: Though I’ve been on desiccated thyroid for 8 years, and do quite well since correcting low ferritin twice thanks to the lousy T4-only treatment, I discovered that my RBC magnesium is low, as I suspect my RBC potassium is, as well–all probably down due to chronic economic stress from this lousy economy.  But it underscores that we all have to be vigilant and not hesitate to periodically get minerals and electrolytes tested, especially RBC (Red Blood Cells), as well as anything else your doctor recommends, or you read about. Labs you can do yourself are here, then share with your doc. You can read about potassium issues here.

Under stress with the economy or the holidays? When stressed, I love and use the herb Ashwagandha. It’s been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic healing, helping your immune system and stress response.  High dose B-vitamins are said to help counter anxiety and depression. Vitamin C is huge for your adrenals like the B’s, and has been known for years to counter the effects of stress. In fact, stress depletes it, so they state you are wise to raise it when under stress.  (Is Vit. C why I never got adrenal fatigue when I deserved to get it? I always took a lot.) Also recommended include the herbs Valerian Root, Marshmallow, Lemon Balm, Chamomile tea, Passionflower, and more. But first do research on any herbs and talk to your doc.

Hypothyroidism can falsely raise your A1C, implying you have diabetes even with normal blood glucose. Just got word from thyroid/adrenal patient Jackie about this study concerning the A1C test, here.  In turn, those on thyroid treatment saw their A1C fall.  We don’t know what the thyroid meds used were, but imagine even better results if on desiccated thyroid, which many patients report does a much better job than T4, especially in the presence of optimal ferritin/iron and adrenal function.

Don’t be complacent: register yourself: Sheila of TPA-UK is working to create a register of patients who have had continuing hypothyroid symptoms while on T4.  After she creates this register of patients, which right now only involves a couple of questions, she will create the a  Worldwide Register of Counterexamples to Levothyroxine (T4)-Only Therapy for. Register yourself here. This will also run alongside Dr. Gordon Skinner’s Worldwide Register, which you can also be a part of here.

Listen to a new video produced by the FDA about drug shortages here. I wonder what our own 2009 shortages with Armour and Naturethroid played a role in this video? Wonder if the FDA will ever admit that they were partly to blame for this shortage by shutting down the 2009 generics? Has anything been left out of this video?

No, Las Vegas Review-Journal. Hypo get undiagnosed because of the lousy TSH, not “subtle” symptoms. Yes, this journal did a recent article, quoting AACE as stating half of thyroid patients remain undiagnosed. The article then states it’s probably due to symptoms being very “subtle” or “very similar to other health problems such as anemia, fatigue, depression, slow metabolism and a wide array of other diseases.”  GROAN. It would be nice if these articles on hypo got it straight: hypo remains undiagnosed because of the lousy TSH lab test, which too many Endocrinologists worship, and because they fail to noticed the obvious symptoms of a hypothyroid state, which include anemia, fatigue, depression, slow metabolism and a wide array of other diseases. i.e. those ARE the symptoms of hypo, not “other health problems”.  When oh when will reporters DARE to state what patients have learned??  (Oh, and guess who included a link to this article in their email Thyroid Weekly? The Endocrinologist-loving, TSH-loving American Thyroid Association.)

Have a great holiday season!!

Janie

P.S. HO! HO! HO! The publishing company will send a book for you to a friend or loved one for a Christmas present. Go here.

It’s a continuing travesty, and you see it in patient groups.

i.e. many patients still find themselves sick and disabled, stumbling miserably from one uninformed doctor to another…in spite of the wonders of natural desiccated thyroid, the testimony of changed lives, the education of patients thanks to the STTM website & book, and a small but growing body of wise doctors who seem to be “getting it”,

So what’s the problem?? It lays with our doctors and the entire medical profession.

1. Heavy-handed control over your medication: You go to pick up your prescription, and find your medication has been lowered by your doctor without your agreement or knowledge, as happened to Terry here (scroll down to find her post).
2. Ignorance about adrenal fatigue and treatment: You clearly have an adrenal problem, and one doctor dismisses its existence, another doctor poo-poos the saliva test, another doctor tells you cortisol supplementation is dangerous, another doctor thrusts all his herbal supplements at you, another doctor thinks that 5 or 10 mg cortisol is enough…and on and on and on.
3. Dismissing the Ferritin test: You want to know what your ferritin is, but the doctor’s nurse underscores that they’ve already checked your iron levels, so there’s no need for more testing.
4. Dismissing you: You are wise thanks to reading, researching and living in your own body, yet your doctor calls you a problematic patient on your charts, dismisses you, or gets angry.
5. RT3 huh? You have strong suspicions that your Reverse T3 is too high thanks to adrenal fatigue, low ferritin, undiagnosed gluten issues, or other reasons, yet this doctor refuses to test you, that doctor says an RT3 excess is rare.
6. Look at me! Look at me! You make an appointment with that great doc who has a fabulous website/book and who shouts that he uses desiccated thyroid with a big smile…yet any or all of the above and below occurs with him/her or his “trained” associates.
7. Continued worship of the TSH lab test:  Too many doctors still think the TSH lab test is from God Almighty. So when you finally start to feel well on desiccated thyroid with a TSH at zero or below…WHAM…you must lower your meds because you are somehow “hyper” in spite of no symptoms to match.
8. Pharmaceutical addicts: You mention your lingering hypothyroid symptoms, and you are bandaided with anti-depressants, anti-anxietal meds, statins, BP pills, pain tablets, acid reflux pills, calcium for your thinning bones…instead of understand that these are ALL side effects of poor treatment or undiscovered issues.
9. The country you live in: The desperation of UK thyroid patients is deep thanks to a thyroid association and a College of Physicians which tightens the screws if a doctor dares to prescribe a life changing medication with T3 in it.  Or just as frustrating, having a government which forbids desiccated thyroid to arrive to you in the mail.
10. Reformulations and Big Pharma apathy: Forest Labs turned one of the most popular and effective desiccated thyroid brand, Armour, into a pill with too much cellulose and too little sucrose , causing a massive return of symptoms in many, sooner or later. RLC also reformulated their Naturethroid, and though some patients still do well on it, others do miserably, and we are left wondering WHAT to take. (Thank God for Erfa’s Canadian “Thyroid”, but will we be able to continue with this fabulous desiccated thyroid product?)

And there are more reasons you might want to bring up in the Comments part of this post.

So you see, it’s no wonder so MANY patients feel forced to self-treat, yet they are also condemned for doing so. I refuse to condemn them for exactly the reasons above.  Petty. All I ask is that we all try to find a good doc, but it may be quite hard when you consider all the above.

All-in-all, we still have  a way to go, baby, and especially with the doctors we try so hard to get help from…but can’t.

P.S. Are you brave? Walk into your doctor’s office with the STTM shirt.