Bottom line, it can be maddening to find a GOOD DOCTOR when it comes to correct thyroid care, which has nothing to do with the TSH, total T4, or any T4-only medications like Synthroid or Levothyroxine. And many doctors simply don’t get it.
So what’s a GOOD DOC? He/She is one who
- willingly prescribes natural desiccated thyroid (or T3-only when you need to lower your RT3 levels),
- uses the labs free T3 and free T4
- is willing to let you dose by the elimination of symptoms rather than the inadequate TSH.
BOTTOM LINE: at the very least, look for an open-minded doc who will LISTEN to what patients have learned, and to your own wisdom. This site, and even more so the revised STTM book, will help you do so. You can have the book right with you, highlighted and bookmarked, if need be.
NON-US patients: see #10 and #11 below.
- WORD OF MOUTH: One of the best ways to find a good doc is by talking to others. STTM lists several good patient groups here. When on any group, put your location in the subject line and you’ll get better results.
- PHARMACY INFORMATION: Another great option is to approach the Pharmacist (NOT the employees) at a large pharmacy, and ask who tends to prescribe desiccated thyroid. Most Pharmacists are friendly and will let you know. Don’t hesitate to go to more than one pharmacy. To strike Bingo, see if there is a Compounding Pharmacy nearby or check your Yellow Pages for one, or go to Google and type in your city and “compounding pharmacy”. Doctors who use Compounding Pharmacies tend to prescribe desiccated thyroid!
- PHYSICIANS WEBSITE: Try either American College for the Advancement for Medicine or Functional Medicine where you might find doctors with a good knowledge of desiccated thyroid.
- BRODA BARNES WEBSITE: Also, email here: info@BrodaBarnes.org and see if they can help you find a Broda Barnes doctor in your area. Broda Barnes doctors understand the importance of using desiccated thyroid in treatment! Downside: you may be asked to pay for a list for your area.
- OSTEOPATH WEBSITE: Or, you can check out Osteopaths, also called DO’s, here. They can be overall more open minded. BUT, you’ll have to call and find out if they are a GOOD DOC as mentioned above in three ways.
- SALIVA LAB DOC LIST: A doctor who uses saliva labs may be a doc more open-minded about desiccated thyroid, and perhaps even cortisol. Diagnos-Tech, a lab for saliva (but not one we recommend–they seem to have gone downhill in quality as of 2009 and produce results that do not conform to symptoms), has a list of docs who use their lab: http://www.diagnostechs.com/ You type in a zipcode. Again, don’t stop. Call and ask the questions above of any doc you find. (Thanks to Harbormom for bringing this to my attention!)
- ENVIRONMENTAL WEBSITE: Doctors who are board certified in Environmental Medicine tend to be those who would prescribe desiccated thyroid and understand adrenal fatigue, says a doctor who emailed me in April, 2009.
- NATUROPATH WEBSITE: See if those licensed in your state can prescribe. Some can; some can’t. http://www.naturopathic.org/ An important warning from a few patients as expressed in patient groups: be prepared for some naturopaths to push you to buy their office supplements. Instead, it’s suggested to write the recommendations down, then go home and do comparisons on the net.
- RATE MD’s WEBSITE: This is a public page where patients can rate their doctors. You can simply put in your town, or a town near you. Read the ratings carefully, as ratings may have nothing to do with thyroid, or even the right treatment. http://www.ratemds.com/
- CANADA: Unfortunately, the Erfa thyroid website is not allowed to list doctors. But there are three ways to find a potentially good one: first and foremost, join the NTH Yahoo group from the talk to others page. They have a Good Docs file which includes Canada . Second down, here is a list of Top Canadian docs, but be careful with this list. It allows patients to recommend any doc for almost any reason, and that doesn’t necessarily mean they prescribe desiccated thyroid or do dosing correctly. And third, join several groups from the Talk to Others page, and put in the subject line of a post that you are looking for a good Canadian doc.
- INTERNATIONAL: join the NTH EUROPE Yahoo group from the talk to others page. RTH also has an Australian forum. And there is a European/Australian STTM Facebook group.
Finally, if you do find a doctor that seems good, you can send him/her a letter that explains who you are and what you want. Or you can use it to know what to say at the first appointment.
And remember: there is no perfect doctor, and they don’t know “everything”. You have to be your own best advocate and knowledgeable. Read this site and take notes, or even better, take the STTM book with you. Doctors tend to respect books and poo-poo references to websites. Learn what we have found that works, and what does not work, and teach your doctor! Become very familiar with the chapter concerning mistakes patients make, called The Ten Biggies. Understand that you have to stop giving all your power to the man or woman in the white coat when in the office. It’s your body, your wisdom…and what you seek in the doctor’s office is teamwork.
Want to order your own labwork?? STTM has partnered with two key labs just for you to discuss with your good doctor. No prescription required. Go here and see #1 and #2: recommended labwork
