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Category: American Thyroid Association

Electrolytes, Stress, A1C and diabetes, FDA, Las Vegas and more!

I’m amazed at lingering problems since being on T4: Though I’ve been on desiccated thyroid for 8 years, and do quite well since correcting low ferritin twice thanks to the lousy T4-only treatment, I discovered that my RBC magnesium is low, as I suspect my RBC potassium is, as well–all probably down due to chronic economic stress from this lousy economy. But it underscores that we all have to be vigilant and not hesitate to periodically get minerals and electrolytes tested, especially RBC (Red Blood Cells), as well as anything else your doctor recommends, or you read about. Labs you can do yourself are here, then share with your doc. You can read about potassium issues here.

Under stress with the economy or the holidays? When stressed, I love and use the herb Ashwagandha. It’s been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic healing, helping your immune system and stress response. High dose B-vitamins are said to help counter anxiety and depression. Vitamin C is huge for your adrenals like the B’s, and has been known for years to counter the effects of stress. In fact, stress depletes it, so they state you are wise to raise it when under stress. (Is Vit. C why I never got adrenal fatigue when I deserved to get it? I always took a lot.) Also recommended include the herbs Valerian Root, Marshmallow, Lemon Balm, Chamomile tea, Passionflower, and more. But first do research on any herbs and talk to your doc.

Hypothyroidism can falsely raise your A1C, implying you have diabetes even with normal blood glucose. Just got word from thyroid/adrenal patient Jackie about this study concerning the A1C test, here. In turn, those on thyroid treatment saw their A1C fall. We don’t know what the thyroid meds used were, but imagine even better results if on desiccated thyroid, which many patients report does a much better job than T4, especially in the presence of optimal ferritin/iron and adrenal function.

Don’t be complacent: register yourself: Sheila of TPA-UK is working to create a register of patients who have had continuing hypothyroid symptoms while on T4. After she creates this register of patients, which right now only involves a couple of questions, she will create the a Worldwide Register of Counterexamples to Levothyroxine (T4)-Only Therapy for. Register yourself here. This will also run alongside Dr. Gordon Skinner’s Worldwide Register, which you can also be a part of here.

Listen to a new video produced by the FDA about drug shortages here. I wonder what our own 2009 shortages with Armour and Naturethroid played a role in this video? Wonder if the FDA will ever admit that they were partly to blame for this shortage by shutting down the 2009 generics? Has anything been left out of this video?

No, Las Vegas Review-Journal. Hypo get undiagnosed because of the lousy TSH, not “subtle” symptoms. Yes, this journal did a recent article, quoting AACE as stating half of thyroid patients remain undiagnosed. The article then states it’s probably due to symptoms being very “subtle” or “very similar to other health problems such as anemia, fatigue, depression, slow metabolism and a wide array of other diseases.” GROAN. It would be nice if these articles on hypo got it straight: hypo remains undiagnosed because of the lousy TSH lab test, which too many Endocrinologists worship, and because they fail to noticed the obvious symptoms of a hypothyroid state, which include anemia, fatigue, depression, slow metabolism and a wide array of other diseases. i.e. those ARE the symptoms of hypo, not “other health problems”. When oh when will reporters DARE to state what patients have learned?? (Oh, and guess who included a link to this article in their email Thyroid Weekly? The Endocrinologist-loving, TSH-loving American Thyroid Association.)

Have a great holiday season!!

Janie

P.S. HO! HO! HO! The publishing company will send a book for you to a friend or loved one for a Christmas present. Go here.

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Tongue-in-cheek yet sincere thankfulness from Thyroid Patients…and more

As the United States approaches Thanksgiving, it’s appropriate to offer our thanks as thyroid patients to the following:

THANKS go to the American Thyroid Association (ATA), who in their Nov. 10th email newsletter, had a NATURE-THROID desiccated thyroid ad right under their logo and gave us a great chuckle! Why? The ATA has always rigidly recommended T4-only medications and the TSH–both which have failed too many thyroid patients for sixty years. Loved your faux pas, ATA, in the name of making $$!! Are we going to see it again? Huh??

THANKS to Forest Labs, who though patients feel they ruined one of the oldest and best desiccated thyroid medications ever made when they reformulated it in 2009, gave thyroid patients the memory of a desiccated med far superior to press for from other pharmaceuticals in the future after the FDA gets their act together about the safety and efficacy of desiccated thyroid. (p.s. chew your Armour thoroughly before swallowing for better effectiveness, say patients)

THANKS to Erfa in Canada, who makes their own version of desiccated thyroid just like the old Armour, where we can do it sublingually and where it still has a touch of sugar to help with dissolution. Glory be to Erfa!

THANKS to the FDA, who had enough wisdom to allow thyroid patients to order Erfa desiccated thyroid from Canada–a far superior product than the lousy T4-only medications for a huge body of thyroid patients. We hope your wisdom continues.

THANKS to all the makers of important supplements–many which have played HUGE roles in the lives of thyroid patients trying to undo the damage done to us thanks to T4-only and the TSH lab test. They include high potency B-vitamins, selenium, minerals, sea salt, iodine, and so many more. We are behind you in the freedom to choose nutritional supplements without a doctor’s prescription.

THANKS to the growing body of doctors who have been listening to patient experience and email me of that fact. We bow to all of you who have LISTENED to the whole body of knowledge thyroid patients have learned, which is also Chapter 3 in the STTM book with more details.

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FULL BODY SCANS AT AIRPORTS: should thyroid patients be concerned?

If you are going to fly anywhere and are a thyroid patient, you may need to understand that you could be subjected to radiation in a full body scan. And since thyroid patients in various groups have expressed concern about the effect of radiation exposure on their own thyroids, this can be a concern.

Oh sure, John Pistole of the Transportation Security Administration says they keep us safe. And the FDA website is saying that these X-ray scanners pose “very low health risks.” But the FDA is also the agency who has always approved a certain kind of thyroid medication, T4-only, which has left millions of us with lingering hypothyroid symptoms for years, and which calls a medication which HAS worked for over 100 years as “unapproved”.

So, if you are going to fly anywhere while this controversial procedure continues, you might want to choose the intrusive pat-down instead, or look into a train.

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DO COSMETIC LASER DEVICES CAUSE THYROID PROBLEMS?

In the same vein as my comment above about radiation scans when you fly: I received an email from a gal who feels that a cosmetic laser device has not only injured her eyes, but may be the culprit in the fact that she now has hypothyroidism and a pituitary tumor. And she’s not alone, as others are wondering the same thing with support groups on the net. These laser devices are used to correct sun damage on your face, improve acne scars, improve rosacea, tighten skin, remove melasma spots, and even help with eyesight. She called herself and others with damage from these devices “modern day radium girls” . If you want to be more informed, research this on the net and decide for yourself.

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SEND THE STTM BOOK AS A CHRISTMAS PRESENT

The publishing company will do the work for you, sending a book as a holiday present for to a friend or loved one who needs to read what patients have learned. Included will be a holiday card with your name in it, or you can remain anonymous. Go here.

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HOW TO TACKLE A BAD COLD AND CONGESTION AS A THYROID PATIENT

A gal emailed me, asking if I knew of something that would help her terrible nasal congestion. She found out the hard way that using Afrin, a strong nasal spray, caused her thyroid to ache. I then recommended she look into a Neti Pot, which can do wonders to clear your compacted nose, and I faithfully use it if I do have congestion (which I did last week when I failed to take enough Vit. D at the onset of symptoms of an upper respiratory infection). Check it out here. And when you first try it, don’t panic. Let it do its miracle, because it really works!

COMMON QUESTIONS and ANSWERS are here.

HOW TO FIND A GOOD DOC is here.

WHERE TO TALK TO OTHER PATIENTS is here.

CURRENT OPTIONS FOR GOOD THYROID TREATMENT here.

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