Sometimes I ponder: the current movement away from Synthroid & Levoxyl and all other T4-only meds to desiccated thyroid like Armour (as well as the understanding of the high prevalence of adrenal fatigue with thyroid patients), has been going on for ALL of the 21st century. In other words, patients were starting to talk about desiccated thyroid like Armour by the year 1999, and Yahoo’s Natural Thyroid Hormones group was started in 2002. Other patient groups sprung up around the same time. The latter group is also where the knowledge about adrenal fatigue in thyroid patients grew, which was further added to on STTM. So….has there there been any changes in the way thyroid patients are treated for their hypothyroid and related conditions?
The YES
Sometimes I can say a resounding yes! There are many doctors around the world who are looking at Stop the Thyroid Madness (STTM) and listening to what is says. STTM is about the real life changing experience of patients! Some doctors tell me outright, either via the Contact Me form or by responding to my blog posts here, that they are reading it and approving the information. Or, I find out about other doctors second hand by patients who tell me their doctor TOLD THE PATIENT to read STTM. The latter definitely makes me chuckle when so many doctors tell patients that information on the internet is DANGEROUS! 😆
I can also say yes when I read the comments of patients on various thyroid patient groups on the internet. Because of the information patients have learned from STTM, which is in turn passed into the groups, patients all over the world are making demands in their doctor’s offices, and some progress is being made all over the world.
And a final yes can be uttered by me when I see a few but growing number of websites promote desiccated thyroid.
The NO
But there are so many situations where I have to say no. 1) When doctors on internet forums TO THIS DAY continue to give lousy advice to thyroid patients, it’s disheartening. 2) When patients on thyroid patient groups TO THIS DAY continue to have doctors state each and every ridiculous give me a break comment, it’s sad. 3) When a famous female talk show host continues to ignore each and every email sent to her for years about the deplorable situation across the world with thyroid patients, as well as seem to misunderstand her OWN thyroid and potential adrenal problem, it’s maddening. 4) And when I can run into patients DAILY when I go to the grocery store, or to the gas station, or to any public place, who are still on Synthroid or Levoxyl and coping with innumerable symptoms of a poor treatment, not excluding adrenal fatigue, it’s scandalous.
So the complete answer? Yes and no. The ball has definitely been rolling for better treatment. Some doctors out there are truly listening. Many patients out there are learning and demanding change. It’s happening. But baby, we have a LONG WAY TO GO. And the power will be in the hand of patients who question their treatment, find answers via STTM and other websites and patient forums, and continue to demand change from their doctors and the entire medical establishment. I just hope to see more change sooner than later, don’t you?!
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Important notes: All the information on this website is copyrighted. STTM is an information-only site based on what many patients worldwide have reported in their treatment and wisdom over the years. This is not to be taken as personal medical advice, nor to replace a relationship with your doctor. By reading this information-only website, you take full responsibility for what you choose to do with this website's information or outcomes. See the Disclaimer and Terms of Use.
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8 Responses to “Has progress been made with thyroid treatment??”
Brittany
I know exactly how Brooke feels, to me it’s as if I’m helpless, but what makes it worse is how it’s affected my speech and how I put sentences together. I no longer sound intelligent when I speak to doctors and try to express my physical and emotional problems because of this.
I was 18 when I was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer and Hashimotos in May of 2008 and had a Complete Thyroidectomy in September of 2009. Ever since my doctor had released me (due to ONE appointment I missed because of my fatigue) it’s been horrible for me! Depression, Brain Fog, extremely bad memory and memory loss, not to mention I gained 25 pounds in 2 months. I see a Family Practice nurse who calls my old Endocrinologist for advice on what to do with my treatment. I currently take 125mcg of Synthroid, which was never a problem until I gained weight. Reading all the information I have about Cytomel and the amazing effects it has on hypo patients make me so happy to know yet so depressed that my doctor won’t let me try it. 5 doctors have denied taking me on as a patient because of that one appointment and it’s tearing my health apart. If anyone knows where I can find a place to search for doctors who prescribe Cytomel, please email me, I live in San Angelo, TX and will drive to Austin, San Antonio and Dallas to find a doctor who listens.
Brittanyultra@gmail.com
Brooke
Ruth, I am in the same boat as you. I am 27 years old and have thyroid problems and I also believe I have a pituitary gland problem. However, my doctor in Gadsden, AL put me on Synthroid 100mcg a day. I have constipation, fatigue, depression, dry hair and skin, weight gain, no menstrual cycle at all. Most days I can’t even get out of the bed. My doctor sent me for blood work for my thyroid and it came back semi-normal, but he still put me on Synthroid and said within a couple of months I should feel better. Well, I don’t and I think I may even feel worse because now I spells where my heart races and feels like it is beating out of my chest. Not one of my symptoms have went away. I’m at the end of my rope. I cry all the time and have tried anti-depressants, but they don’t help because I’m not just depressed I feel terrible. I asked my doctor about Armour and checking my hormones and pituitary gland and he just said I was reading too much on the internet. That pituitary problems are rare and at my age it is unlikely. He sent me back for another thyroid test after being on Synthroid for 2 months, which came back that my levels seem to be perfect, but I still feel terrible. I went from weighing 90 lbs to weighing 180 lbs in a matter of a year to a year and a half. I hadn’t changed my diet or exercise. It doesn’t matter what I do the weight won’t go away. I need a good doctor that will try the Armour and send me for the tests I need. I mean I am paying for it, not them. If anyone knows any good doctors that do prescribe Armour in the Alabama area ( I live in the Boaz-Attalla) area, I’d drive to Hunstville or Birmingham or even further if I have to, but I need a good doctor. I don’t know how much longer I can keep going like this.
Ruth duncan
I have started to stand up for my rights as a patient that for years have been going from .88 to .125 Synthroid being precribe for my Thyroid. I have changed doctors. But it is still that the general doctors do not want to prescribe Cytomel or Amorall nor the Endcronolgist either. I am really ticked that they want listen to me. I got a resounding No from the doctor I changed to and cannot find Encronolgist in my area that will prescribe. I hope someone can tell me of someone the the Gadsden, Birmingha, or Huntsville, Alabama area that does. Thanks
Tom Taylor
I couldn’t agree with you more.
Tasha kiwi
a huge thank you to those who recommended sttm to me. i am newly on thyroxine sodium as of nov 07. and became concerned at seeing the news on kiwi’s reaction to eltroxin. i havent suffered any of those side effects but i now have an idea of why i have huge mood swings and go into flash rages…. i am deeply concerned as i have 3 children and find myself having to exert great control so that they do not bear the brunt of it… i will go to my gp now in hope that she will be open minded enough to put me onto whole thyroid. once again thank you for your informative and non pc opinion on thyroid medication.
David J Michael
Thank you so much for this site! I was found to be hypothyroid during my first psychiatric hospitalization in 1995. My TSH was over 100! Of course I was put on synthroid and nothing changed except my bloodwork. Since then I have gained over 100 pounds, and have been hospitalized for depression four more times. In 1999, I underwent a course of 11 treatments of ECT which is Electro Convulsive Therapy, the nice term for shock treatments. I see a psychiatrist monthly, and I am on FIVE different meds for depression. I take .288 mcg of synthroid daily and at one time I was up to .310 mcg.I need to find a doctor who will prescribe cytomel, but I would never have gotten any of this knowledge without this site. Again Thank You! Dave M.
Jennifer Bennett
I have been reading your site for the past week. I cant believe how eye opening it has been for me. I was diagnosed with thyroid Cancer with severe Hasimotos in November of 2005. I had a total thyrodectomy in Jan 2006. I have not been the same since. I was reading some of the stories and could not believe that I felt the exact same way. (Tired all the time, foggy brain, Dry skin ect..) I just wanted to say that I really like the information on your site.
aprillv68
Let me say for once and for all about that famous female talk show host: &*$#@! her! Her billions won’t be worth a thing when she ends up in the nearest hospital emergency room because she would have already slipped into a coma. I emailed a long post to her and the truth is i don’t care anymore. She is bull-headed and is not going to listen.
Also i don’t know if this is progress or not but several months ago the co-pay price of my Armour went up….wonder why…