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Here we go again, thyroid friends: Endocrinologists wear their pointed DUNCE hats.

Duncecap

Ah me.

Ever heard of Clinical Thyroidology?

It’s a physician-targeted publication by the American Thyroid Association (ATA). The ATA states they are the “leading organization devoted to thyroid biology and to the prevention and treatment of thyroid disease through excellence in research, clinical care, education, and public health.”

And a Letter to the Editor in the December 2013 publication of Clinical Thyroidology only underscores why so many thyroid patients report that they…

  1. Avoid Endocrinologists like the plague for the treatment of their hypothyroidism.
  2. Can hardly contain their disgust about Endocrinologists they have seen!

The letter is based on the March 2013 study I have mentioned before, titled “Desiccated thyroid extract compared with levothyroxine in the treatment of hypothyroidism: a randomized, double-blind, crossover study.” It was done by the Department of Endocrinology at Walter Reed Military Medical Center and headed by Thanh D. Hoang, DO and associates.

The objective of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of DTE (acronym for Desiccated Thyroid Extract, which is more popularly termed Natural Desiccated Thyroid for thyroid patients) compared with L-T₄ (more popularly known as T4-only for thyroid patients).

At the conclusion of the 16-week study, they found that…

“34 patients (48.6%) preferred DTE therapy, whereas 13 (18.6%) preferred levothyroxine; 23 (32.9%) did not specify a preference, he said. Further analysis confirmed those who preferred DTE lost even more weight over a 4-month period.” i.e. the patients who preferred it “lost 4 lb during the DTE treatment, and their subjective symptoms were significantly better while taking DTE as measured by the general health questionnaire-12 and thyroid symptom questionnaire (P < .001 for both).”

Yet the study concludes: “DTE therapy did not result in a significant improvement in quality of life”.

And why did the study conclude there was no significant quality of life improvement? Is it possible that this study was flawed in ways they don’t understand…

Two easy answers:

  1. Patients canNOT be held hostage to the TSH lab test (which the study did for those participants) if we want to find that “significant” quality of life improvement!   When thyroid patients are at their very best with desiccated thyroid, they end up finding their TSH is below the so-called “normal” range, and without one iota of “hyper-like symptoms, i.e. no bone loss or heart issues”. (Hyper symptoms will only occur if there is an undiscovered or untreated cortisol or iron issue. See #4 below).
  2. We have to have optimal cortisol and iron levels with desiccated thyroid to achieve that “significant” quality of life improvement!

Back to the Letter to the Editor….

Doctors David S. Rosenthal, MD and Kenneth H. Hupart, MD proceed to present misinformed criticism and obtuse conclusions. The last part of their letter states the following…and I have bolded what I’m going to respond to:

…..Such nonphysiologic changes in serum T3 [serum T3 rose 23% and 36% in the participants] after DTE administration and resultant risks have long been known (2) and are the subject of concern (3). 

 

Exploring a role for DTE in the treatment of hypothyroidism with a well-designed, blinded, randomized clinical trial is laudable. However, when evaluating a therapy for a condition that affects millions of patients and for which an effective treatment already exists (4), this clinical trial should be powered and designed to detect adverse consequences. When the goal is physiologic replacement, care also needs to be exercised that normal physiology is restored. The study of Hoang and colleagues is provocative, but it does not achieve the minimum standard required to alter current clinical practice.

And my response to what I bolded:

  1. Risks? Concern? When are the risks and concern going to be mentioned about T4-only medications—the latter which forces us to live on ONE hormone, in spite of the fact that a healthy thyroid would be making FIVE. Where is the concern about the fact that a huge body of patients worldwide have continuing hypothyroid symptoms in their own degree and kind, either at the beginning of T4-only treatment, or the longer they stay on it? To the contrary, WE have concern when our doctors repeatedly ignore or blame those clear symptoms of continued hypothyroidism on other issues!
  2. Why are you so concerned about a higher FT3?? Thyroid patients have been doing fabulously, and have seen their lives change, on desiccated thyroid for over a decade now, and especially when we find our FT3 in the upper quarter of the range. Before that, there were a good sixty years of near-exclusive desiccated thyroid use! A higher range FT3 has done nothing more than strengthen our hearts, lower our cholesterol and blood pressure, rid us of depression and anxiety, improved bone strength, helped us lose weight, taken away the need to nap, improve our gut health, given us back our lives…and so much more.
  3. Can you be SO blind as to think that T4 treatment is that “effective”? Are you that destitute of observation about the clinical presentation of your T4-treatment patients who, sooner or later, complain of depression, rising cholesterol, higher blood pressure, aches and pains, hair loss, gut problems, the need the nap, heart problems, anxiety, weight gain and more symptoms of a POOR treatment?
  4. Have you not figured out that “adverse consequences” on desiccated thyroid, or even T3-only, are related to either inadequate iron and/or a cortisol problem? Patients are so FAR ahead of you in knowledge about the problems that cortisol and iron problems can cause with desiccated thyroid…and what to do about it. Once we correct those, we SOAR on desiccated thyroid.

A better way to look at the Walter Reed study

Nearly 49% preferred desiccated thyroid! That is nothing to sneeze about! It means something. It sends the beginning of the right message. And yes, it would have been a far greater percentage if those in the Endocrinology department had understood why it’s important NOT to go by the TSH, and why the participants needed to first be properly screened for their iron and cortisol levels, then property treated! And by the way, lab results have NOTHING to do with just “falling in the normal range”.

To all thyroid patients and friends worldwide:

Sadly, we all know that the majority of Endocrinologists we have seen wear Dunce hats. Of course, there are some exceptions in the Endocrinology field! We applaud those few courageous Endocrinologists who have dared to listen to our experiences and positive clinical outcomes.

But too many remain in a stubborn, dark world of their own, represented by the comments above—a mindset which only keeps us sick.

Your solution? Give your money elsewhere!!! Give your money to medical professionals who live in a lighter world and have an understanding of the efficacy of Natural Desiccated Thyroid (NDT), or even T3-only use, and who will let you teach them about the problems of cortisol and low iron, how to treat both, and how to read labwork (as the book will also help you do). P.S. Spanish in on sale for a limited time.

Seize the wisdom,

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Speak your truth to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE)!

megaphoneA grass-roots campaign has been started by thyroid patients after the glorious AACE comment that “the TSH is best in most cases”. From ThyroidChange:

THYROID FRIENDS, TELL THE PROMOTERS OF TSH TESTING AND LEVOTHYROXINE (T4) TREATMENT WHAT YOU THINK!!!

PLEASE tell the ATA and AACE how YOU feel about their treatment guidelines that encourage TSH only testing and treatment with Levothyroxine (T4) only.

WE NEED CHANGE NOW!

Please write something that explains how their emphasis on the TSH test and Levothyroxine (T4) only treatment has impacted your life and health. Write as LITTLE or AS MUCH as you want. JUST WRITE!

Tell these organizations the consequences of their guidelines.

The way to do this is to post your comment on the first link and then copy & paste it on the other 3 links:

ATA FB post regarding their 2012 guidelines:https://www.facebook.com/ThyroidAssociation/posts/228435853958522

ATA main wall:
https://www.facebook.com/ThyroidAssociation

AACE FB post regarding TSH supremacy:
https://www.facebook.com/TheAACE/posts/757086797712215?comment_id=2587944&notif_t=like

AACE main wall:
https://www.facebook.com/TheAACE

POST THE COMMENT YOU MADE ON ANY OF THE ABOVE…also as a comment below. Let’s share what we are posting.

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SEND A VISUAL MESSAGE THAT YOU WANT THIS THYROID TREATMENT MADNESS TO STOP!!

See the new campaign here: flatsttm.com  Just have a photo taken of you in front of some kind of landmark where you live, holding your STOP THE THYROID MADNESS sign!

You can also add under the STTM name: THE TSH LAB TEST FAILS US! Or T4-ONLY IS NOT THE BEST TREATMENT!!  Or I SUFFERED BECAUSE OF THE TSH LAB TEST AND T4-ONLY. etc

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An Endocrinologist peeks through, RAI disaster, and why synthetic T4 is only a mirror image

The clueless Cuckoo’s Nest of Endocrinology just goes on and on, according to repeated negative comments by thyroid patients in groups after they have visited with an Endocrinologist.  i.e. you will be put on T4-only and dosed by the TSH, then told you are just fine and only need an antidepressant or statin or BP med.

But in a recent issue of the Clinical Thyroidology For Patients (A Publication of the American Thyroid Association), Volume 5, Issue, 5, 2012, there comes the question: Should patients with no functional thyroid gland be treated with both thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3)? 

Of course, the question is like asking “Should those starving be given food? ”  The article starts out stupid, stating (in bold):

  1. “…the absence of T3 production by the thyroid can be overcome by maintaining higher circulating T4 levels, resulting in normal circulating levels of T3. This is why T4 in the form of levothyroxine is the main treatment for hypothyroid patients”.  Patients all too well know how ludicrous this is.
  2. “Recent studies have generally found that there is no clinical advantage in adding T3 to the usual T4 replacement regimen.”  What about this study which reveals that there can be inadequacy of peripheral deiodination of T4 to T3 in some, or this study which found no support for the hypothesis that people with symptoms of hypothyroidism but thyroid function tests within the reference range benefit from treatment with 100 µg thyroxine daily, or this study which found that triiodothyronine added to thyroxine improved mood and neuropsychological function, and more.

But then comes the little peek from the door by the MD author after mentioning the 2011 study titled “Levothyroxine monotherapy cannot guarantee euthyroidism in all athyreotic patients.”  The concluding paragraph has this in it:

The present study identifies a subgroup of hypothyroid patients, namely those whose thyroid was surgically removed who do not have normal FT4 and F3  levels despite normal TSH levels on T4 alone. What is not shown by this study is whether or not combination therapy (T4 plus T3) is beneficial in these patients. Further studies are needed to sort this out.

Further studies are needed?? They are already out there! Besides, if 99% of Endocrinologists would use the proverbial toothpick to open up the eyelids of their minds, they just might notice all the continuing hypothyroid symptoms their patients have while on T4-only meds whether STUDIES prove anything or not. WAKE UP!!

MAN-MADE SYNTHETICS ARE ONLY A MIRROR IMAGE OF THE REAL THING

Scientists have always been able to synthetically duplicate substances by creating the same mix of molecules, aka a synthetic copy of the original compound. That’s what levothyroxine (l-Thyroxine) is a man-made copy of T4 (Thyroxine). Synthroid is an example. But it’s a mix of the left handed nature-made combination of molecules, aka L-(Laevorotary), along with the synthetic, man-made right handed version, aka D-(Dextrorotary), i.e. the latter is a mirror-image, not a direct image, according to this article.

The author feels it doesn’t act like a hormone.  So though your blood will show you have an increased level of levothyroxine, it’s not the same as having an increased level of the natural t4.  And of course, we as thyroid patients also know that the body is NOT meant to live on a storage hormone alone, even if it was pure. We also need direct T3 added to that T4. Even  natural desiccated thyroid provides direct T3. So with natural desiccated thyroid, we get T4, T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin.

REFLECTION ON WHY RAI WAS THE WORST THING SHE EVER DID

Read thyroid patient Robyn Thompson’s story on why she so regrets doing RAI (Radioactive Iodine), and how her Graves TSI antibodies are now worse than ever before, here:  //www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/robyns-experience-with-rai-graves/

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR ADRENALS IN THE FACE OF STRESS

I loved what thyroid patient Joy McHargue said to someone on the STTM Facebook group when asked what to do about high stress. Her answer:  Pray, salt, magnesium, rest, adaptogens of your choice, Vitamin C, talk about the stress to a calming person, take time away from the stress doing something fun regularly, epsom salt baths, fresh air?

THE STOP THE THYROID MADNESS BOOK IS NOW EVEN MORE REVISED! 

I added info about the T3 Circadian Method for Adrenal fatigue, refined information throughout, and cleaned up misspellings.  You can order the book at the bottom of any page on STTM, or via the tiny photo.

JANIE’S LATEST INTERVIEW: http://podroom.a2zen.fm/podcasts/krystalya-marie-energy-healing/stop-the-thyroid-madness-with-janie-bowthorpe-on-e

P.S. If you are receiving this via the Email Notification, DO NOT reply to the email to comment on this post. Click on the title of this, which will take you to the actual blog post, and Comment there!

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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.

6 replies