The only other shopper left—a tall, dark and handsome young man. And almost as quickly, he re-entered,  approached me, and asked if that was my car out there.

“My car?” I replied. “Yes, why?”

“I’m curious about the sticker you have on your back window,” he stated with a friendly but curious smile.

The sticker is of Calvin peeing on the word of a particular T4-only medication.  I give these away free if someone requests it with their current order of the STTM book.  And this was not the first time I’ve been asked about that attention-getting sticker.

So I proceeded to tell him that I’m a Thyroid Patient Activist, owner of Stop the Thyroid Madness, about the history of T4, how lousy many patients have reported doing on it for nearly 60 years with their own variety and intensity of lingering hypo symptoms, and how much better natural desiccated thyroid has been for patients all over the world.

I then innocently asked: “Are you on Synthroid?” I just knew I had one more victim of this treatment who needed enlightenment.

“Nope”,  he said with a confident and defiant air.  “I have until recently been a pharmaceutical rep with Abbott Labs.”

THWACK.   Standing before me stood a mighty well-trained Big Pharma champion for Synthroid who was going to reveal and defend his propaganda like a master. And that led to the most heated and piercing give-and-take I’ve ever experienced, right in front of the chagrined and wide-eyed sales person at the checkout desk. We were like sumo wrestlers butting our words against each other.

When I explained the slew of continuing symptoms reported by patients worldwide who have been on T4, and no matter how high they raised it…his response?  “Those symptoms can be the result of many issues other than hypothyroidism.”

I responded: “Well isn’t it odd that those who are hypo and on Synthroid, and who get on desiccated thyroid, find those symptoms completely removed.”

His reply?? “Heroin can do the same thing”.  Groan. I simply had to laugh at him. How many times have we heard the same kind of baloney.

He proceeded to tell me in great detail with each point he made that:

1. He has worked with many patients and they do well on Synthroid (A rep has worked with many patients? And what in the world does “well” mean?)
2. Clinical trials have proven that Synthroid works. (Ah! You mean those financed by Abbott Labs and which are contrary to the reported experience of millions of patients around the world? Those??)
3. The TSH lab test gives proof about the efficacy of T4 (Funny how patients all over the world have proven by their continuing symptoms that the TSH lab test for the diagnosis and treatment of hypothyroidism belongs at the bottom of a trash heap)
4. There are many differences in the efficacy of T4 brands to explain any issues in patients (Funny how not ONE brand of T4 has been exempt from leaving continuing symptoms according to the global rexperience of a huge body of patients) 
5. Blaming T4 for the amount of adrenal fatigue that “supposedly” some T4-treated patients find themselves with is silly since there can be other reasons for it. (Another laugh on my part.  Clearly, when someone isn’t adequately treated on T4, something has to kick in to keep them going, and voila–it’s those trusty dusty adrenals which eventually just poop out thanks to T4 and the TSH.)

There were much more machine gun stances between us, but that would make this blog post far too long.

One truth we did agree on? That “some” patients do get benefit from using T4. He specifically referred to the elderly. And my quick response? Why accept “some” when patients all over the world report getting rid of that “some” with desiccated thyroid (and especially for certain ones who also treat their low cortisol, low ferritin, and other issues most likely related to an inferior treatment.)

Clearly, we were each deadlocked in our positions.  And he concluded, looking at the sales associate, that neither of us were wrong; we just represented two sides.

And I turned my head, looked him straight in the eye, and said:  Uhhh, no. YOU are completely and totally wrong.

P.S. After he left, the sales gal said she was totally in tune with what I was saying, and wrote down the name of this website. lol lol

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See the blog post below about favored Canadian pharmacies, plus many more comments by patients.

What the heck is going on with desiccated thyroid and current shortages? Read about it here.

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.

But I was wrong. There really is a difference in our journeys–even if we both end up with hypothyroidism—and four strong ones:

1. It’s no picnic to lose one’s thyroid. Surgical removal, called a thyroidectomy,  can come with neck soreness, loss of one’s voice, and other complications. including the loss of parathyroids.  Treatment with RAI, or Iodine 1-131 to kill the thyroid, has it’s own lifelong side effects, including gastrointestinal issues, parotid salivary gland problems, and more.  A good website about the controversy of RAI is atomicwomen.org.
2. The stress of surgery and/or RAI can do a number on one’s adrenals. I suspect that there is a high percentage of those who had surgery and/or RAI who also have adrenal fatigue with it’s nightmarish side effects, whether simply from the physical stress of removal and/or treatment, or having a Synthroid, T4-only obsessed doctor.  Being on T4 is the number one predictor of adrenal fatigue.
3. Some have a unique anguish about their vulnerability. No one can live without a thyroid.  And that thought with the absolute lifelong dependency on thyroid meds is not a comfortable state.
4. Life long regret can be huge. Many patients came to realize, after removal, that they may not have needed the removal at all if they had known about the fallacy of the TSH lab test, or the idiocy of T4-only meds, or potential benefits of iodine, or natural desiccated thyroid like Naturethroid, compounded, or Erfa Thyroid.

Read the latest personal and gut-wrenching blog post by thyroid cancer Stephanie Buist, who is thyroidless after treatment for thyroid cancer nearly 10 years ago.  Also see the Talk to Others link below to find the Thyroidless yahoo group.

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Curious what’s going on with Naturethroid or Westhroid production and availability? RLC Labs has a Patient Information Line you can always call for the latest information on Naturethroid and Westhroid availability: 877-600-4752.

Want to write a post for the STTM blog?? Beginning in 2010, I will be reviewing and accepting “thyroid patient guest posts” on the STTM blog in between my own. You can read about it here: www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/writing-a-guest-blog-post-on-sttm/

Want to honor someone who has helped you?? See the blog post below and thank someone.

NOTE: if you were receiving email notifications about these posts,  the company doing them is out of business. Instead, use an RSS Feed.

And in my mind, these individuals deserve praise and recognition. They are just as important in their direct one-on-one influence and helpfulness as those of us who gained public recognition.

Where are these people? They are those who own and/or moderate and/or contribute often to thyroid forums, such as Deborah and her mods on Real Thyroid Help, and Pam and others on Low Carb Friends.

For helpful Yahoo groups, there is Linda aka Topper of The Thyroid Support Group,  Sam and her mod Darla of the Thyroidless group, Valerie Taylor and her excellent and patient mods Diane and birrdyy of NTH Adrenals and RT3/T3 group,  Darla, Linda, Meleese and Pat of NTH,  Jan Nathan with her Texas group plus other state groups.

There are many who voluntarily helped others in the last few years who aren’t as active anymore, but still deserve praise.

And there are many other individuals who own, moderate, or give helpful feedback to patients on forums and yahoo groups I could mention, but I don’t know their names or am just drawing a distracted holiday blank.  I also noticed several thyroid cancer groups.

So, if you want to recognize an individual who has helped you and others but is less publicly well known, use the Comments below and give 1) their name, 2) what group or forum if applicable, and 3) specifically how they helped you on your path in finding a much better thyroid treatment protocol and good health.

“We have amply supply and so do the distributors for compounding pharmacists”, underscores Soejoto when I chatted with him today.

He also added in response to the recent shortages:  “We didn’t spare an expense to push it along”.  i.e  “American Laboratories have caught up with all backorders, with the exception of one major company which has tight specifications, but they should be caught up by the first quarter in 2010″, explained Soejoto.

So what about specific rumors we keep hearing??

1. My compounding pharmacy said they weren’t able to get it. Kenny explained that a small compounding pharmacy often can’t afford the minimum order that American Laboratories requires, nor does the smaller pharmacy want that much, which is an 110 lb drum of powder.  So, says Soejoto, they need to contact their distributor, who is the middle man between a compounding pharmacy and American Laboratories. “The distributor for compounding pharmacies, “ explained Kenny, “will buy the larger amounts, make smaller packets, and then sell those to the compounding pharmacies”.
2. American Laboratories can’t be the only North American makers of powdered thyroid because my compounder told me a different name. The different name you heard is the middle man mentioned above–a distributor for the thyroid powder to the compounding pharmacy. But that distributor got their supply from American Laboratories.
3. My regular pharmacy said there is a supply issue for the brand I wanted. Again, Kenny explains there is no supply issue–they have plenty. Any pharmaceutical company that makes desiccated thyroid has to have ongoing credit worthiness and documentation before AI can sell to them. Also, we are simply experiencing continued demand being greater than supply, and it can take time to catch up.  i.e. there may be more to the story than you hear under any comment about a supply issue problem.

In conclusion, Kenny Soejoto said they simply got into trouble from the growth of interest in desiccated thyroid the past few years, and they are much better prepared. Even Europe is inquiring more about it, he said. And my response to him?? Get ready, because you are doing millions of potential thyroid patients a HUGE favor by making it,  and we’re going to continue to spread the world about natural desiccated thyroid. 

Check out posts below about other important issues, including more from Erfa, plus the problem of cellulose in compounded and regular desiccated thyroid.

*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!

I think back about my mother.

At age twenty-one in 1939, she had most of her thyroid removed due to Graves disease and hyperthyroidism. Because a small part remained, hyper set in once again by 1960 complete with bugged eyes. So Radioactive Iodine I-131 was the next step to once-and-for-all annihilate the thyroid.  Not long after, as her thyroid hormone levels fell, she was one of the early victims of the “new and modern” T4-only medication called Synthroid.

And all hell broke loose. Depression enveloped her everyday life—one of her worst lingering symptoms of hypothyroidism due to the shoddy treatment of a T4-only med as well as the TSH lab test.  I remember her moods, her frequent anger and lack of patience, and her constant counseling appointments.

By 1963, and right before President Kennedy was shot, she submitted herself to Electric Shock Treatment in a futile effort to control her depression.  What a crock.  She was never again the bright and quick-witted woman I remembered as a younger child. Her brain was fried and she had a new dull flat reaction to life. And for the rest of her life, she lived on her antidepressant/anti-anxiety med Elavil and had daily constant naps, weight gain, rising cholesterol, dry hair, heart surgery, stiff joints, brain fog and inability to stand on her feet long–her own manifestation of lingering symptoms while on the lousy thyroxine.

And she did the T4-horror show…all…by…herself. No internet,  no patient groups and forums, no Stop the Thyroid Madness website, blog or book,  no good doc, no thyroid Facebook or Twitter groups, no other good thyroid books or websites. Nada. I came along as a Thyroid Patient Activist too late for my mother, who died in 2003.

It makes me shudder thinking of that lonely hell. But then again, it’s not just in the far past: it happened to her only daughter, me, for nearly 20 years. Complete lonely hell of my own with intense and disabling Dysautonomia induced by my continued hypo state while on Synthroid and later Levoxyl.

And today, because the mass media or any media personality refuses to speak the truth of the 55 year scandal of T4-only meds like Synthroid, Levoxyl, levothyroxine, Eltroxin, Oroxine, or the cuckoo’s nest of the TSH lab test and range, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS of individuals still suffer. How stupid can they get.  This is a scandal that has effected a huge mass of individuals globally, past and present,  including those today who STILL linger with undiagnosed hypothyroidism thanks to the worthless TSH lab test or lingering hypo on the lousy T4-only medications. And all the above when we, as patients, have learned a far better way to treat our thyroid problems

Did you have relatives like my own Mom (who died in 2003) who lived the T4-only scandal alone?  Use the Comment form to tell us about them.  Have YOU suffered from a T4 med? Report it to the FDA here.

Also below, read about Jane Pauley and the health issues that make you wonder, since they can all be connected to a thyroid problem, either undiagnosed or untreated.  Below that, you’ll see posts about Oprah, Reverse T3, the problem of cellulose in our meds, the desiccated thyroid shortages, and more.

*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!

Yes, it’s being announced today that there will be no more Oprah Winfrey Show on CBS after Fall of next year.  She’s saying goodbye. And the rumor is that she will move her talk show to The Oprah Winfrey Network, which replaces the Discovery Health Channel. We’ll see when she formally announces it today on her show.

But the change sure does shine a bright spotlight on a colossal and complete failure by Oprah and The Oprah Winfrey Show for hundreds of millions of thyroid patients. Though she had her own bout with thyroid disease (and may still be dealing with it when you consider her weight issues), we all winced a year ago when she stated that a month long Hawaiian vacation and eating fresh foods with soy milk (a goitrogen) were a great way to treat her thyroid condition. Yikes.   We equally squirmed in our seats when Dr. Christiane Northrup made the comment that our thyroid problems were due to an “energy blockage in the throat region, the result of a lifetime of ’swallowing’ words one is aching to say.” Double yikes.

And since then, we have watched nothing, zilch, zero from Oprah and The Opray Winfrey Show about a horrendous 55-year medical scandal of thyroid treatment that has negatively affected the lives of hundreds of millions of thyroid patients worldwide. T4-only meds like Synthroid, the darling medication of the medical community for hypothyroidism treatment, has left hundreds of millions sick.  The TSH lab test has equally sent us to hell.  Because we have been forced to live with continuing symptoms of hypothyroidism, we’ve endured much more testing and have been put on many other medications to bandaid our continuing symptoms. And a majority of us have had to deal with the additional burden of adrenal fatigue thanks to all the above.

It’s been hell, Oprah. But you never listened.  So for me personally, I could care less what you do now. You’ve let millions of us down.

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On a far better note:  Last night’s Thyroid Patient Community Call on Talkshoe was excellent. From thyroid/adrenal patient Valerie Taylor, who is absolutely one of the most knowledgeable patients in the world about adrenals and RT3, we gained good information how it raises its ugly head when you have high or low cortisol, low B12, low ferritin and other untreated issues, and how to treat it. You can go back to Talkshoe and listen to the broadcast, which was Episode 7.  See my blog post right below this. As far as future Talkshoe Community Calls: they will always be announced here first.

Below that, you’ll read how cellulose as a filler just may be a huge problem in natural desiccated thyroid meds. But we are also discovering that a good desiccated thyroid like Naturethroid, even with its cellulose, can seem even worse if we have undiscovered and untreated issues like low B12, low Vit. A, low ferritin, low Vit. D and other conditions common with hypothyroidism.  Make sure you have tested for these.

*HO HO HO! Have a STTM book sent to someone  you care about as a CHRISTMAS or HOLIDAY present. All the work is done for you!

But the real cuckoo’s nest for many thyroid patients, who knew firsthand the life-changing benefits of natural desiccated thyroid, was a maddening return of serious hypo symptoms on the new Armour and subsequent new stress on their adrenals, sooner…or later! You can read several horror stories in the comments of the post below, or go here.

So patients turned to other alternatives: Naturethroid and Westhroid by RLC Labs…then when the desiccated thyroid shortages hit in the Fall of 2009, Erfa’s Thyroid, Compounded desiccated thyroid, and others. And there have been problems for some patients on most everything they switched to.  The LEAST problematic has been Erfa’s Thyroid, and the most problematic was Compounded.

So what has been the common thread in the most problematic desiccated thyroid products? CELLULOSE, a plant fiber, and more commonly known by the trade name Avicel. And what does fiber do in your stomach? Inhibits absorption. Armour’s cellulose was raised, and bamm…problems.  Compounded desiccated thyroid, with cellulose as a filler, has been problematic for many patients with a return of hypo symptoms,  especially if  it was Methyl Cellulose, a larger particle size product. But some have even had problems with compounded containing Microcrystalline Cellulose, the smaller cellular product. And a certain body of patients even had problems with Naturethroid before it became scarce. And Naturethroid uses cellulose as a filler.

Is this problem true with T3-only products? Yup. Patients have noted that generic T3 is far less effective than the brand name Cytomel (both Liothyronine Sodium)  And what filler it up to 70% in the generic T3?  CELLULOSE.  See the percentages here for Paddock’s generic T3.

Why have less problems been reported with Erfa’s Thyroid? Perhaps because it has no cellulose as a filler! See this list of ingredients, which STTM has been working on lovingly for a few years.

What does literature say about the use of Cellulose as a filler in medications? Plenty. Cellulose is from wood. Wood is fiber. And fiber in your gut affects absorption. From http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/fiber-000303.htm we get this:

* Dietary fiber has been reported to lower the blood levels and effectiveness of tricyclic antidepressant medications…Reduced dietary fiber intake increased the blood levels and improved symptoms in these patients.

* While fiber supplements may help to regulate blood sugar levels, they may also interfere with the absorption of anti-diabetic medications….Therefore, fiber supplements should not be taken at the same time as these medications.

* Taking soluble fiber such as psyllium with carbamazepine (Tegretol), a medication used to treat seizure disorders, may decrease the absorption and effectiveness of carbamazepine.

* Fiber in the form of pectin (from fruit) and oat bran reportedly reduces the body’s ability to absorb cholesterol-lowering medications known as “statins,”… and could lead to decreased effectiveness of these medications.

* Fiber supplements may reduce the body’s ability to absorb digoxin (Lanoxin), a medication used to regulate heart function.

* Clinical reports suggest that psyllium or other soluble fibers may lower lithium levels in the blood, reducing the effectiveness of this medication.

* In one clinical study, the fiber supplement guar gum reduced blood levels of penicillin.

Cellulose can clearly be a problem, especially when it’s ratio is too high as compared to the desiccated thyroid. So what can you do?

If you are using a compounded medication, strongly request powdered acidophiles, also spelled acidophilus, as your filler.  One gal states her compounding pharmacy uses powdered Ginger (but beware of too much Ginger if you have Mitral Valve Prolapse. It can cause palps if you take too much–my experience).  See what other fillers your compounder can offer.

Another possibility is Cellulase, an enzyme which helps the splitting and breakdown of cellulose, and which was proposed to me by Naturopathic student Stephanie Buist. Google “cellulase” and find supplements that contain it.  If it looks promising to you, I’ll be curious to read your experience with swallowing a cellulase supplement, then swallowing your problematic desiccated thyroid.

And leaning towards Erfa’s Thyroid can be a plus.

Have other ideas or comments about Cellulose in our desiccated thyroid? Use the COMMENT function below and let’s talk!

(This post garnered a lot of attention, up to FIFTY comments just a few hours after it went up. People are very interested in sharing their experiences in coping with the shortages! See below and add your own.)

This year will go down in history as shockingly miserable for enlightened thyroid patients on natural desiccated thyroid.

First came a reformulation in the most popular brand–Armour by Forest Labs. Patients worldwide in groups and forums reported a serious return of their hypothyroid symptoms on this product. A huge disappointment.

Second came the production shutdown of the two generic makers of desiccated thyroid: Time Caps Labs and Major Pharmaceuticals. It’s the first step in the FDA’s compliance plan to corral all grandfathered-in drugs (drugs already in existence when the the FDA was created in 1938) and make them each prove the efficacy and safety of their medication via very expensive clinical trials.  i.e. over 110 years of safe and effective use of desiccated thyroid is not enough for the FDA?? We are still waiting to see the outcome of that plan with RLC  and Forest Labs.–the two who were actually in existence before 1938.

Third came demand being greater than supply and shortages. Because of informative patient websites like Stop the Thyroid Madness,  Sheila’s TPA-UK, Lyn’s ThyroidUK, Stephanie’s Natural Thyroid Choices, some areas of about.com (and other good websites I don’t mean to miss here), plus many fine patient forums and groups,  patients found out why they had continuing symptoms on T4 thyroxine, and demand for natural desiccated thyroid grew exponentially.

STTM then created a list of options for all thyroid patients until the shortages resolved themselves, and also created CDT (Coalition for Desiccated Thyroid) where patients could discuss alternatives in a supportive and factual atmosphere.

And we’ve seen some interesting experiences and comments:

The new Armour: One grain tabs started to appear on some pharmacy shelves the past month.  Other pharmacies have still been waiting.  Many patients appear to have switched to other alternatives, though. One gal still on it feels she is finding success by adding T3 to the amount of new Armour she is on.  Time will tell if patients can ever find success with the newly formulated Armour, and most feel it’s a huge loss.

Naturethroid and Westhroid: Patients reporting on their switch to either of RLC Lab’s two identical products report doing well, having to raise it slightly or lower it slightly, or just not liking them at all. Others have had a hard time finding it on their pharmacy shelves, but have been seeing some appear in the last few weeks.

Erfa’s Thyroid from Canada: When it became clear that the FDA was allowing this excellent product to be shipped to patients, many switched and had their prescriptions faxed to a Canadian pharmacy. Prices at many of those pharmacy websites were doubled after prescriptions started to come in from the US. Most patient who stuck with it seem to love it, reporting you can do it sublingually, as well. A few haven’t been impressed, but were finding their former success by raising it.

Compounded desiccated thyroid: In spite of being a more expensive option, some patients found success with this. Others learned they preferred the filler to be Acidophiles.  If not the latter, Microcrystalline Cellulose was preferred over Methyl Cellulose–the latter which appeared to lessen the effectiveness of the compounded thyroid.

Synthetic T4 and Synthetic T3: some patients switched back to the synthetic combination, but many report that it hasn’t been as effective as desiccated thyroid was.

Other options: Patients moved to OTC products like Nutri-Meds, etc, which can be much weaker. Others sought desiccated thyroid from other countries and have found success.

So I’d like to hear from all of you.   Did you go back to synthetic T4?  What desiccated thyroid did you switch to? What worked and why? What didn’t work for you and why?  What product do you hope to switch to once you run out of your current meds?

I once cracked open an egg to find it had TWO shells.  And that oddity is equivalent to finding an Endocrinologist who supports the use of natural desiccated thyroid. 

Voila!! ~~ you can listen and talk to an Endo who does just that on this Thursday evening’s popular THYROID PATIENT COMMUNITY CALL on TalkShoe.

His name is Dr. Gary Pepper, Board Certified by the American Boards of Internal Medicine, and Endocrinology and Metabolism and editor-in-chief of metabolism.com.  Besides serving many years in distinguished leadership positions, he was selected as one of the top 100 physicians in New York City by New York Magazine and is also a featured expert with CNBC and ivillage on topics of diabetes and endocrinology. He states:  Almost daily I reread the words of Sir William Osler: “It’s often more important to know what sort of person this disease has than to know what disease the person has.”

i.e. this is one of a rare but growing breed of doctors who supports what we as thyroid patients already know–that desiccated thyroid is a five-star hypothyroid treatment and T4-only is about as effective as a doughnut diet for most. And lo and behold,  Dr. Pepper is an Endocrinologist! Of course, I can give no guarantees how he is as a doctor in his own office, but I do appreciate his understanding that T4-only treatment may not be the best way to treat hypo.

Join us this Thursday evening, 6 pm Pacific, 7 pm Mountain, 8 pm Central and 9 pm Eastern by clicking on the first link above titled Thyroid Patient Community Call.  When on that page, you’ll also see the exact day and time left before the call. You’ll be able to listen to the call right on your computer, or you can dial in and listen on your phone. There is also an option to talk one-on-one live with Dr. Pepper and Janie.

And remember: neither I or Dr. Pepper can offer personal medical advice or provide individual specific counseling. Those are between you and your personal physician.

***P.S.  PharmaTimes this month reported that this quarter’s sales of  Synthroid (levothyroxine) were up 3.7% to $134 million by Abbott Labs. Sad for most of those patients. If you know of someone who has been put on a T4 med, send them here: www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/t4-only-meds-dont-work or to the audio page here: www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/audio-shorts (third one down).