Off and on, I hear about a particular individual who has criticized this site for being a “self-treatment” site. I can only chuckle in dismay at that kind of hollow criticism and misinformation. So I want to explain what this site is, and what it is not.

This site is here to tell the world that patients have figured out that T4-only treatment does NOT work (anymore than an elevator in a 50 story building, which only rises to the 5th floor, “works’), and neither does dosing by the TSH. It is here to tell hypothyroid patients that they are not crazy for feeling awful on thyroxine treatment–that their depression, lack of stamina compared to others, constipation, dry skin and hair, high cholesterol….and SO many other symptoms, is due to a lousy medication and a poor adherance to a bad lab called the TSH and total T4.

Additionally, this site is here to tell patients, and hopefully doctors who are willing to listen, what we have learned! We are passing along INFORMATION, which I would say is the MAIN emphasis of this site.

This site also makes it clear that patients here are only expressing opinions, and the information presented is NOT intended to replace the relationship and personal medical advice between the patient and his/her doctor. It is meant to counter BAD information out there, and to provide YOU the patient with information to bring to your doctor so you can receive BETTER care.

Additionally, this site continually refers to the page called HOW TO FIND A GOOD DOC. We want you to find a good doc!

And here’s what we are NOT: we are not a “self-treatment site”. Does that mean that folks who choose to self-treat can’t get good information here? Nope. They can. Because this is a site of information to empower thyroid patients. But this is not a site that pushes patients to self-treat. If anyone uses this information to self-treat, that is THEIR choice, and is at their OWN risk.

And I will state that I totally understand why some patients turn to self-treatment. They do it because they can’t find a doctor who will put them on Armour; or, they can’t find a doctor who will pay attention to their screaming symptoms when labs are “normal”; they can’t find a doctor who will stop dosing them by the TSH alone: they can’t find a doctor who will pay attention to the free T3; they can’t find a doctor who understands about sluggish adrenals………and so on. Thyroid patients are sick and tired of being sick and tired at the hands of particular doctors who haven’t, and don’t understand what is going on!! And I CANNOT, and WILL NOT, criticize that. This site will support those who want to find a doctor, and will support those who make the personal choice to self treat!

So, we are doing our best here to spread the word about a MUCH better medication and a better treatment for doctors to use with their patients, to help patients be MUCH better informed when they enter the door of their doctors, and to help patients find a MUCH better doctor through the page mentioned above. Here’s raising my glass to PATIENTS, and to DOCTORS willing to listen, because we have walked a path to a much better life..and we are hoping you are LISTENING.