Doctors tags

Answer: Most are duds.

On Monday, I had an enjoyable experience with an exception to the lemon cliche:  I was a guest on Dr. Steven F. Hotze’s radio program Health and Wellness Solutions, broadcast live from Houston, Texas.  You can listen to a recording of our conversation here on the lower right under the heading Dr. Hotze Radio in orange.

The commercials were like flies, zeroing in often and irritatingly. But we managed to briefly mention both Stop the Thyroid Madness as well as the Hotze Health & Wellness Center.

And two things struck me about our friendly chat: first, Hotze mentioned that he started prescribing natural desiccated thyroid in the 1990′s, far ahead of most doctors even today!  If only we knew.  And second, he made a quick mention of how disappointing most doctors are for patients, referring to the STTM page called Give Me A Break. If you haven’t seen it, or it’s been awhile, you will find it both hilarious and completely sad.

And it all made me ponder how in 2010, eight years after I personally found the life changing desiccated thyroid,  there are still so many family practitioners and Endocrinologists keeping thyroid patients sick all over the world, even if they mean well, even if they are good people, even if they do other diagnoses and treatments correctly.

So on one hand, it’s reality that progress is slow. But on the other hand, the thyroid treatment wall of ignorance is slowly tumbling down about better thyroid treatment thanks to patients who read about it and carry that information into their doctors offices.

So perhaps over time, the lemons who practice bad thyroid treatment will become less and less prominent in the name of enlightenment, wisdom and LISTENING to patients.

P.S. And by way, if you are lucky enough to have found one of those docs who prescribe desiccated thyroid, remember that NO doctor is all-knowing. YOU live in your own body, and can have your OWN wisdom and knowledge. So expect the relationship be a partnership. And if you can’t get that partnership, find a better doctor.

Want to read more about natural desiccated thyroid? Go here.   To read my own story, go here.

Several years ago, a large percentage of thyroid patients on yahoo groups like NTH were figuring out that they had adrenal fatigue, aka low cortisol, from years of adrenals working overtime due to the inadequate TSH lab test, or being on the lousy T4-only medications like Synthroid, Levoxyl, levothyroxine, Eltroxin, etc.

Not only does low cortisol keep desiccated thyroid from working well, it also causes all sorts of angst with paranoia, depression, anxiety, easy anger, sensitivity to light and/or sounds, reclusiveness, sleep issues and more.

First, patients discovered the importance of using the 24 hour adrenal saliva test rather than blood or urine. When low cortisol was confirmed, the treatment was using cortisol, aka hydrocortisone, to give themselves back what their adrenals were not, to allow thyroid hormones to reach the cells, and to give the pooped out adrenals a rest.

And success was achieved! When all other issues were discovered and treated, patients were finally able to heal their adrenals with cortisol use, wean off, and be successful in their continued treatment with desiccated thyroid! That success continues today!

Yet in spite of clear success in the treatment of low cortisol with supplemental cortisol in the correct amount for each individual (which can range from 15 to 40 mg generally–men often need the higher end), as well as excellent books on the subject by Wilson, Peatfield, Jeffries and the STTM book, patients like RD below still encounter doctors who fill their minds with all sorts of fear and warnings:

I bought your book and later on I discovered your website which are both great. They are a superb source of information and support for thyroid and adrenal fatigue sufferers. Thank you so much!

Personally I got adrenal fatigue by a sustained lack of sleep for several years (crying babies).  I found a doctor who prescribed Hydrocortisone (17.5 mg/day, 5-5-5-2.5), Fludrocortisone, DHEA and Testosterone. Symptoms disappeared in about 2 weeks.

A first attempt to wean off after 6 months made some serious symptoms reappear very quickly, so I returned to the original dose.

It is very stressful that many established doctors (our family doctor, and my wife’s thyroid-endocrinologist) are scaring me like hell that I am taking HC. They are saying I am destroying my body and I will never succeed in weaning off HC.

My wife is a T4-only thyroid-patient with low-cortisol symptoms. She also has been scared about dessicated thyroid and HC. Reading your book I was however convinced she could benefit a lot from a better treatment…

Keep up the good work, as patients we are really left alone in the dark by our doctors…

And unfortunately, it’s true. Thyroid and adrenal patients are left in the dark by many doctors about a variety of issues related to better thyroid treatment, adrenal issues, low ferritin, and more.  So here’s where you can read more, and in turn, take this important information into your doctors offices:

• All about the problem of adrenal fatigue
• How to treat
• Symptoms of having an adrenal problem
• The STTM book, which not only has more detail, but can be taken right into the doctor’s office
• Talk to other patients, including a group targeted for adrenal fatigue

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If you missed the excellent Part 2 with researcher Dr. John C. Lowe last Thursday evenings, you can listen to the recording, as well as sign up to be a Follower of the Thyroid Patient Community Call, here.

This coming Thursday, January 7th, Dr. John C. Lowe DC, PLLC will be joining me for the Talkshoe THYROID PATIENT COMMUNITY CALL and it’s one you don’t want to miss.

Dr. Lowe has been highly respected by thyroid patients for years for the excellent information he has disseminated about better thyroid treatment on his website drlowe.com.  In fact, he’s one of a handful of doctors that I mention with gratitude in the Acknowledgements of the Stop the Thyroid Madness book.  His website and wise understanding played an empowering and self-educating role in the early movement by patients for better thyroid treatment with desiccated thyroid and better labs.  You can read his own written biography here.

Mark your calender and set your cell phone alarm: the Community Call starts at 9 pm Eastern, 8 pm Central, 7 pm Mountain and 6 pm Pacific.  You can log on anytime within 15 minutes before the call starts and participate in the Chat box. That same box will be right there during the entire call.

The entire live audio chat with Janie and Dr. Lowe will come right on your computer, so remember to turn your audio up.

Additionally, those who log in can also choose to call in and ask Dr. Lowe direct question. Don’t miss this great opportunity!

The Stop the Thyroid Madness Talkshoe page: http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=62603&cmd=tc

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See the blog post below for a very insightful Guest Blog Post by Amy about her role as an Undercover Thyroid Advocate. Below that, you can read how I was wrong about what it was like to be thyroidless, and several great comments.

The year of 2009 will long be remembered for two nightmares straight out of Twilight Zone for thyroid patients: 1) Armour desiccated thyroid by Forest Labs was reformulated with patients globally reported a return of symptoms and new frustrating ones, and 2) shortages of all US-made natural desiccated thyroid like Armour, Naturethroid and Westhroid occurred, as well as no more generics thanks to the FDA.

Additionally, as I write this, Naturethroid and Westhroid by RLC Labs are still hard to get–making too slow a return on pharmacy shelves which may not improve until 2010. You can read details and a good summary about this on about.com.

But there’s been a silver lining to this situation: Canada’s “Thyroid” by Erfa.

Many patients made a switch to this desiccated thyroid product, using online pharmacy websites and their prescriptions from their doctors. And overall, the experience of patients with Erfa’s Thyroid has been extremely positive.

I had a wonderful chat this week with Dr. Henri Knafo, the Director of Medical Affairs at Erfa Canada Inc.  My first and most important question: Is there enough Thyroid for all your patient customers?? And I got an unequivocal “Yes” from Dr. Knafo.  He explained there are no concerns with running out and they have plenty in stock, now and in the future. He stated that if their stock gets low from sudden demand, they can easily get more and quickly.

I also asked: Is shipping timely? Definitely yes, Dr. Knafo stated. But he also qualified that Erfa is overloaded with orders. And though they are keeping up, your prescription order can take time to process. But, he stated “Be Patient. It will arrive!”

What is going on with the FDA and Erfa? He underscored that the FDA is cooperating completely, and they see a good future with the FDA.  They are completely tolerant, said Dr. Knafo, because they seem to understand the shortages. Erfa’s Thyroid is also completely approved and regulated by Health Canada. As far as the future and the FDA, Dr. Knafo strongly feels that once the FDA is reassured about desiccated thyroid, things will only get better for US patients with brands and availability. He feels that issues with the FDA are far more positive than many thyroid patients and leaders seem to get or want to see.

Do you see changes towards opinion of desiccated thyroid?  Definitely, yes. Dr. Knafo recently attended a European medical conference with over 50 specialists and he saw many doctors not satisfied with Synthroid and noticing the better treatment with desiccated thyroid. “It’s booming in Europe”, he underscored about Erfa and desiccated thyroid  “Even Endo’s are noticing”.  He also said that Belgium was experiencing a huge medical trend away from T4 and towards desiccated thyroid.

Why has the cost of Erfa’s Thyroid gone up even more than 50%?? His explanation was three-fold:  it was first a financial decision, since they have never made much of a profit on desiccated thyroid. Second, Health Canada requires a lot of expensive testing from Erfa on products. And third, since they buy their powdered desiccated thyroid from Europe, an increase in Euros meant they needed to increase the price.

Any final comments? Dr. Knafo clarified: Erfa has been making Thyroid for 30 years and not only will that continue, they will not change the formula. He thinks the sugar in Thyroid is what makes absorption so good, and that will continue as an ingredient just as it is.  Nothing will change! To see ingredients of Erfa’s Thyroid and other brands, go here.

You can read more about Erfa from my September 2nd post.   Thank you to Dr. Knafo for being so candid and informative!

See my post below about my mother, who lived her entire adult life undertreated on T4 with depression and electric shock treatment and had no internet to compare notes. If you have a relative from the past with a similar story, add the story to the Comments.

*HO HO HO! Have a STTM book sent to someone  you care about as a CHRISTMAS or HOLIDAY present. A card will be included, and the book will be in an envelope with a red bow!! Save money the more you buy!

Wish you could talk to others about relevant facts concerning the current shortage, the FDA’s actions with Time Caps Labs, DESI and the New Drug Application, clinical trials, and related concerns? Have important information to share?

A new group has just been created to work alongside other groups, including save natural thyroid. Smartly called the Coalition for Natural Desiccated Thyroid, it  represents unity of concern and is created for patients, advocates, medical professionals, representatives of pharmaceuticals who manufacture desiccated thyroid, or anyone with an interest in the four aims of this group:

1) Sharing of factual information concerning natural desiccated thyroid
2) Discussion of current issues related to desiccated thyroid
3) Unity among all concerned
4) Coordination of grassroots action where needed.

The discussion, support and action of this group does not limit itself to any one group, advocate, website or forum, and welcomes any mention of information from websites, advocates, medical professionals or etc. which/who post about or have the same concerns as the aims above.

Join the group here: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/CoalitionForDesiccatedThyroid