(This page was updated in July 2015! Enjoy!!)
I get a lot of emails, and some are quite heart-wrenching. And though I can’t get into email advice and still have time to do what I do, I so appreciate reading what I get.
Here is one from a gal who, after ten successful years of Natural Desiccated Thyroid, was put on Synthroid and went totally downhill! Mental health issues like bi-polar, excess weight gain and more. THIS is why patients have to become knowledgeable (which is what Stop the Thyroid Madness gives you), instead of putting all your eggs in the doctor’s basket. And yes, she agreed to let me post this.
Hi Janie,
I just found your website and I’m going to order some copies of your revised STTM book. I’m nearly forty-eight years old. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in 1985 shortly after the birth of my first son. My doctor put me on Armour, and for ten years I was fine. When my doctor retired, I transferred my medical records to his son’s newly opened practice. His son took me off of Armour and put me on Levothyroxine, although I was having no problems, because he said it’s “better”. He basically used the same wording you quote on your website, “Armour is ‘unreliable’, ‘inconsistent’, ‘dangerous’, ‘outdated’…”. Naively, I trusted him.
Since starting Levothyroxine and subsequently, the brand-name Synthroid, I have been diagnosed with the following:
– Morbid obesity (I have gained 100+ pounds in 15 years with no prior history)
– Menstrual problems (heavy, prolonged, painful periods)
– Uterine fibroids
– Bipolar Disorder
– Generalized Anxiety Disorder
– Sleep Apnea
– Posterior Tibial Tendonitis (plantar fascitis)
– OsteoarthritisI was beginning to believe that I have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome!
Without going into a lot more detail, I’m taking nine prescriptions for these health problems. Now I realize that most, if not all, of these “health problems” are actually symptoms of improperly-treated hypothyroidism.
All I can say is, THANK GOD FOR YOUR WEBSITE! I’m going to talk to my doctor and take a copy of your revised STTM book with me. I’m going to make him listen to me. If he won’t cooperate, I will transfer my medical records elsewhere. If I can’t get any satisfaction from any other doctor in my area, I’m going to take matters into my own hands with the help of your book and website. I talked to my psychiatrist today (to get refills for my meds) about my suspicions — he told me that he believes I could be correct (hmmm — that in itself is quite disturbing).
God bless you Janie — I will remain a “fan” forever and I promise to send you additional follow-up information.
And here’s another one from a 24 year old in Australia who badly needed what STTM gives her:
Thank You! As a person who was diagnosed with hypothyroidism when I was sixteen, I’ve been through the works. I used to be a dancer, singer and a gymnast. All of that has gone by the by, and I am now plagued with debilitating bone problems and white hairs. I have been so confused. Then I was angry. Then I was just depressed. I’m twenty-four. I was sitting around, waiting to die. Then I came across your website. I want to say thank you. Thank you so much for being angry and doing something about it. I can never do anything about my condition. I live in Australia, with one, stupid incompetent doctor at my disposal, which I get in to see every few months at the most. I’m poor, and I have never had a medical practitioner listen to me. So I want to say, please, on my behalf, continue to do what you’re doing. Please keep campaigning. So that one day people won’t have to suffer from this debilitating disease.
Sometimes being an Activist for the truth of better thyroid treatment is stressful. But emails like the above are what keep me going! So thank you to these two gals for communicating with me and agreeing to let others to see what I get to see. It’s all from their hearts.
* LAUGHING GRAPE PUBLISHING HAS A NEW FACE (in 2012) and a new book (in 2015). Check them out here: //www.laughinggrapepublishing.com
* Join the STTM Facebook page for tips and inspiration: https://www.facebook.com/StoptheThyroidMadness
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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5 Responses to “Taken off Armour; put on T4–heartwrenching! And young Australian’s plea”
too long in the tooth
To all women on here reporting early menopause from early hypothyroidism. You will get this because (although this is not proven but is logical) hypo suppresses the hormone DHEA massively. Without it you don’t have estrogen. Without estrogen you go into menopause. In fact they are now looking at DHEA instead of HRT. So I do not know why women are not told to take DHEA when they are hypo and before menopause age. It’s criminal in my view. The only outcome with low estrogen is early menopause and all that this in turn implies. Get it checked. Also you can buy it from Amazon so please do not hesitate and don’t be fooled you need 50mcg or 100mcg. I’ve seen reports where DHEA is suppressed by as much as 80%. This is not just from weak adrenal action but is primarily from thyroid assault on the hormone which if you have weak adrenals combines to devastating effect. A very important fact.
(From Janie: I would strongly recommend doing DHEA labwork before assuming one needs DHEA. Be safe and informed.)
Donna
That first email Janie posted was from me – now I’m posting an update:
First, I fired not just one, but TWO of my doctors: the general practioner (the one who took me off of Armour and put me on Levothyroxine) and my psychiatrist. Next, I found a wonderful chiropractic neurologist to replace them. My new doctor ran nearly sixty different tests on anything that could be extracted from my body! When the results came in, my doctor and I created a new term for me, “Metabolic Disaster”. To make a long story short, I’m in the process of recovering with the help of my doctor. I’ve quit smoking and I’ve quit taking all of my prescriptions (my personal choice)! All I take now is five grains of NDT (Thiroyd), 2 teaspoons of organic, cold-pressed coconut oil, 2 teaspoons of Bragg’s apple cider vinegar, the supplements my doctor recommends (including adaptogens), and 5-HTP. I’ve even stopped eating processed foods completely. I’m starting to feel like a human being now rather than a zombie!
Janie and this website saved my life – without Janie’s vision and determination, I would not have gained the knowledge and courage I needed to change my life for the better. Thank God I stumbled upon this website – now I’m spreading the word to STOP THE THYROID MADNESS!
Nic
My symptoms (unexplained weight gain, etc etc) have been growing since I was 12, I’m at a point now where I consider suicide every week. My husband is an angel, but he deserves his wife at her best, and we need to sort this out before having babies.
I’m trying my 7th doctor to have this diagnosed and treated finally – fingers crossed this one’s the charm.
THANK YOU for your information – I found it at Low Carber Forum, and it all resonates with me. So much so it’s frightening.
gayle
im a mum of 5 and at the age of 31 i was diagnosed with hashimotos disease, i have been on oroxine for almost 7 years with my levels so called notrmal until now, they have gone hyperthyroid, my life feels like a horrible nightmare , my symptoms are through the roof, my anxiety almost debilitating, its like im menopausal at 37, im developing ovary cysts and breast cysts, been told i have low cortisol and adrenal fatigue, high testosterone for a woman and very low progesterone and oestrogen. im about to see if i can get a copy of your book for my doctor to read and see what can be done. i feel like im useless to society this way. like im just waiting to shrivel up and die. my kids nbeed their mum at her peak not crying and depressed or angry and cranky. i want to feel normal again, i used to sing, dance, go to the gym, now i have debilitating anxiety and vertigo that keeps me hidden from life. i dont want to keep feeling like im about to be wheel off in a white coat. i pray there is hope for me. i need it to, my kids need me to be better.
Marge Weiler
I can relate to the problems shown here. I finally found a chiropractor who followed the plan by Dr Datis Kharrazian and am now on armour and feeling a lot better. Of course this costs me a lot of money since insurance wouldnt cover it but it covered all the useless meds, tests and doctors that I went to in the past. When will they LISTEN TO US.