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A Belgium Doctor “Let it Rips” about Crappy Hypothyroid Treatment in France–Good Job Dr. Resimont!

Hypothyroid patients, whether from Hashimoto’s disease, thyroid removal, genetics, or any other cause of having hypothyroidsim, have been finding out the bald crappy truth about how poorly hypothyroidism is treated by medical practitioners, especially in the use of T4-only.

And even worse, this crap treatment with nothing but T4, a storage hormone, has been going on for decades…decades!!! clearly affecting millions worldwide.

It’s T3, the active hormone, which we have experienced as changing our lives, NOT the storage hormone T4 by itself. We have discovered that are NOT meant to live for conversion to T3 alone. Even a healthy thyroid provides some direct T3 with the T4. It’s about T4 with T3, we have experienced repeatedly!

It’s exactly why I, Janie A. Bowthorpe, started this patient-to-patient movement called Stop the Thyroid Madness in 2002. i.e STOP the scandal of T4-only. WE, not doctors, had to find out the truth by our vast experiences about better treatment protocols with T3, better understanding of lab results and so, so, so much more.

SO it’s extremely satisfying for patients if a doctor himself speaks the TRUTH of the scandal of T4-only. And in this case, it’s a doctor in Belgium who is expressing his frustration towards France!

The following was written in 2020 by Dr. Stéphane Résimont of Brussels in Belgium in French, and this is a google translation to English. It’s not a perfect translation, but I think you’ll get the drift.

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For the attention of the President of the French High Authority for Health.

Dear Colleague,

We, myself and other colleagues, are literally drowned in French patients who come to seek help in Belgium….

Indeed, the practice of French doctors, given the pressure from the medical order, completely overwhelmed in its medical knowledge, and have seen a high health authority imposing obsolete and unsuitable treatments. Their patient population is in great suffering.

I will only speak here of the problem of treatment of hypothyroidism (*) which as you know is imposed as being the T4 (TCaps, Euthyrox, Levotyrox old and new formula) in France.

I have been a thyroid lecturer for twenty years and I am particularly familiar with this subject.

I ask you a simple question:

“Do you know what it takes to turn T4 into T3? â€œ (Which 90-95% of the population can no longer do).

Mg, Zinc, Se, B12, Iron, PROGESTERONE: GOLD (or gold could be translated as BUT)

T3 is the active hormone, T4 is a pro hormone, which can even drift towards Reverse T3 which blocks T3 if there is a blockage when it is activated …

Attached you will find one or the other lecture I gave on this subject.

And I come across your attached recommendations …

I would calify your recommendations as of criminals, at best the simple endangering of the life of others in view of CURRENT scientific knowledge.

You should be fully aware of the complications of unsupported or poorly managed hypothyroidism: overweight, diastolic hypertension, increased LDL cholesterol, depression, non-activation of beta-carotene in vitamin A, water infiltration in the tongue or in the palate which gives sleep apnea, morning fatigue and throughout the day, depression, hair loss, water retention, etc etc …

And finally when I see the ever-increasing number of French patients arriving by train or plane,  they are still treated with T4 and they still show all the signs of hypothyroidism, since they do not activate T4 in T3!!

I’m shocked to see that even endocrinologists prescribe T4 without worrying in the slightest bit about the possibility of transforming T4 into T3: no dosage of erythrocyte magnesium, zinc, B12, selenium, and they are not overly worried about the fate of T3 since, as you know, it needs vitamin D, vitamin A with a good omega 3 status and the absence of cytokines leading to dysbiosis, so that the receptor that goes nuclear power can ultimately act.

In recent years, I have had absolutely  no  patient in whom these assays were done… and these same patients are on T4… !!

I call it a monumental scandal!

It is very urgent that you bring your institutions up to date and that you stop forcing French doctors to work badly with your stupid recommendations.

Confraternally.

Dr RESIMONT

(*) the other big concern is the failure to take charge of pre-menopause and menopause (we would therefore leave without worrying to run a car without water, without oil because we are in our fifties …) by estradiol, progesterone, DHEA, testosterone when the clinic deficiency is there and biology confirms it.

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If you are impressed as I am, reply to this blog post with your praise to Dr. Resimont. And you can also express your total disgust about what STILL goes on today in the treatment of hypothyroidism.

NOTE: if you are reading this via the email notification, you need to click on the title of the blog post in the email to get to the actual blog post and where you can add a comment. Replying to that email does not allow anyone to see your comment.

**The original letter in French: https://www.asso-malades-thyroide.fr/wordpress/index.php/2020/01/05/lettre-du-docteur-resimont-a-la-haute-autorite-de-sante/

**Stop the Thyroid Madness’ page on the scandal of T4-only: https://stopthethyroidmadness.com/t4-only-meds-dont-work

**And guess what being on nothing but T4 raises the risk of?? A cortisol problem due to the stress of still being hypothyroid. Here’s a saliva cortisol test you can order if in the US or Canada: https://saliva-cortisol.squarespace.com/ 

Or click the graphic below to see if being on nothing but T4, which is a lousy way to treat one’s hypothyroid state, has stressed your adrenals! This is for those in the United States or Canada only. 

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Finally! The 2011 REVISED SECOND EDITION of the Stop the Thyroid Madness book!

YEEHAW!!

Three years ago this month, the book Stop the Thyroid Madness: A Patient Revolution Against Decades of Inferior Treatment came out with quiet fanfare–a complete patient-to-patient book chock full of information based on the successful experience of thyroid patients worldwide.  As the messenger of that information, I had a strong purpose: to create INFORMED patients who can then demand change in their doctors offices. Pro-active patients!  Educated patients!

But the reaction to it wasn’t quiet!

Thyroid patients have reported it was changing their lives.  To date, the STTM book has been sent, and in multiple copies, to Antiqua/ Barbuda, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Malaysia, New Zealand, Netherlands,  Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, and the UK. That doesn’t include the high volume amount of copies sent to US patients, doctors, and individuals in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

Amazingly, yet not surprisingly, patients were discovering new information even a few months after the First Edition was published three years ago.  As a result, Laughing Grape Publishing LLC had to add, and continually update, a bookmark of updated information into all its books ordered directly from the publishing company.

Today, in the REVISED SECOND EDITION, all that extra patient information has been added, plus a LOT more.

  • 36 more pages, by and for patients, plus changes & additions in every single chapter
  • Much more detail on adrenal and HPA dysfunction and how to treat it
  • Recognizing and dealing with Reverse T3
  • Identifying and treating gluten issues as related to Hashimotos disease
  • Iodine-use information in relation to hypothyroid, breast disease, Hashimotos, adrenal dysfunction, etc.
  • More details on labwork preparation, plus what to look for in your results
  • Why you need more than ferritin testing, and details on iron testing
  • Updated information on brands of desiccated thyroid throughout the world, T3-only products, hydrocortisone, and more
  • A completely NEW CHAPTER on supplements & foods which thyroid patients appreciate and use!

And, the price has been kept exactly the same.  Our loss; your gain, in the name of an important movement of needed education and change!

This was NOT an easy book to revise!  I had to go through it with a fine-toothed comb, removing some information, correcting other information, adding a lot more…besides working on making it more readable. I am not a writer by profession. Sometimes I felt like a “cuckoo’s nest mental case”  trying to balance the work on the Revised edition with my other activist responsibilities and a busy private life.  Is it perfect?  Nope.  But as I stated in the First, some information is right on target, some is at least close to the bulls-eye, and other info will fall into place as we continue to learn. That’s why you need to see it as “guide” of patient experience, and to use it to become PROACTIVE in your relationship with your doctor and the entire medical profession.

Today, you can order either copy. As of today, the First Edition has been lowered to 14.95 until supplies run out, which will be soon. The Revised Second Edition is taking pre-orders, and it looks like books will start being sent out in about 7-10 days.

You can go here to see a stand-alone website about the book, as well as here to be among the first to pre-order your copy.

THE STTM BOOK IN OTHER LANGUAGES

Yes, you will eventually be seeing the Revised Second Edition in various languages. That’s in the works right now, and no, I don’t yet know the dates. I’ll announce that here, so be sure and be signed up for this BLOG NOTIFICATION to the left under the links.

KINDLE and E-BOOKS

With no projected dates other than much later this year, you will first see an E-book. Later, we’ll be looking at Kindle. Again, announcements will be made, and you’ll have to be patient.  In the meantime, ordering the book is your best choice right now. Besides, having this book in your lap in the doctor’s office is powerful to many of them, since doctors can have silly thoughts about “internet” information.

And more is coming which will be announced as they occur. 🙂

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Erfa’s “Thyroid” has been our saving grace–here’s more info from Dr. Knafo and Erfa!

erfalogoThe year of 2009 will long be remembered for two nightmares straight out of Twilight Zone for thyroid patients: 1) Armour desiccated thyroid by Forest Labs was reformulated with patients globally reported a return of symptoms and new frustrating ones, and 2) shortages of all US-made natural desiccated thyroid like Armour, Naturethroid and Westhroid occurred, as well as no more generics thanks to the FDA.

Additionally, as I write this, Naturethroid and Westhroid by RLC Labs are still hard to get–making too slow a return on pharmacy shelves which may not improve until 2010. You can read details and a good summary about this on about.com.

But there’s been a silver lining to this situation: Canada’s “Thyroid” by Erfa.

Many patients made a switch to this desiccated thyroid product, using online pharmacy websites and their prescriptions from their doctors. And overall, the experience of patients with Erfa’s Thyroid has been extremely positive.

I had a wonderful chat this week with Dr. Henri Knafo, the Director of Medical Affairs at Erfa Canada Inc.  My first and most important question: Is there enough Thyroid for all your patient customers?? And I got an unequivocal “Yes” from Dr. Knafo.  He explained there are no concerns with running out and they have plenty in stock, now and in the future. He stated that if their stock gets low from sudden demand, they can easily get more and quickly.

I also asked: Is shipping timely? Definitely yes, Dr. Knafo stated. But he also qualified that Erfa is overloaded with orders. And though they are keeping up, your prescription order can take time to process. But, he stated “Be Patient. It will arrive!”

What is going on with the FDA and Erfa? He underscored that the FDA is cooperating completely, and they see a good future with the FDA.  They are completely tolerant, said Dr. Knafo, because they seem to understand the shortages. Erfa’s Thyroid is also completely approved and regulated by Health Canada. As far as the future and the FDA, Dr. Knafo strongly feels that once the FDA is reassured about desiccated thyroid, things will only get better for US patients with brands and availability. He feels that issues with the FDA are far more positive than many thyroid patients and leaders seem to get or want to see.

Do you see changes towards opinion of desiccated thyroid?  Definitely, yes. Dr. Knafo recently attended a European medical conference with over 50 specialists and he saw many doctors not satisfied with Synthroid and noticing the better treatment with desiccated thyroid. “It’s booming in Europe”, he underscored about Erfa and desiccated thyroid  “Even Endo’s are noticing”.  He also said that Belgium was experiencing a huge medical trend away from T4 and towards desiccated thyroid.

Why has the cost of Erfa’s Thyroid gone up even more than 50%?? His explanation was three-fold:  it was first a financial decision, since they have never made much of a profit on desiccated thyroid. Second, Health Canada requires a lot of expensive testing from Erfa on products. And third, since they buy their powdered desiccated thyroid from Europe, an increase in Euros meant they needed to increase the price.

Any final comments? Dr. Knafo clarified: Erfa has been making Thyroid for 30 years and not only will that continue, they will not change the formula. He thinks the sugar in Thyroid is what makes absorption so good, and that will continue as an ingredient just as it is.  Nothing will change! To see ingredients of Erfa’s Thyroid and other brands, go here.

You can read more about Erfa from my September 2nd post.   Thank you to Dr. Knafo for being so candid and informative!

See my post below about my mother, who lived her entire adult life undertreated on T4 with depression and electric shock treatment and had no internet to compare notes. If you have a relative from the past with a similar story, add the story to the Comments.

*HO HO HO! Have a STTM book sent to someone  you care about as a CHRISTMAS or HOLIDAY present. A card will be included, and the book will be in an envelope with a red bow!! Save money the more you buy!

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Erfa’s Canadian “Thyroid” — more details

erfathyroidOn my August 26th blog post below, I reported good information about US patients being able to use their doctor’s prescription to order the Canadian version of natural desiccated thyroid called simply “Thyroid” by Erfa.

And here’s more:

In each Erfa 30 mg tablet embossed “ECI 30”, there is 18 mcg. of T4 and 4 mcg. of T3;

In each Erfa 60 mg tablet embossed “ECI 60”, there is 35 mcg. of T4 and 8 mcg. of T3;

In each Erfa 125 mg tablet embossed “ECI 125”, there is 73 mcg. of T4 and 17 mcg. of T3.

Erfa’s very friendly and helpful Medical Director, Henri Knafo, MD, states that they follow the USP (United States Pharmacopoeia) specifications. But  I do see some slight differences.  The USP specifications ratio for one grain that we are used to in the US is 38 mcg. T4 and 9 mcg T3, i.e 38/9.  The above ratio is 35/8.

Likewise, US patients are used to 2 grains of 120 mgs having 76 mcg of T4 and 18 mcg of T3, i.e. 76/18.  In Erfa’s medication of 125 mg, you will get a ratio of 73/17. I don’t know if this will make much of a difference but want you to be aware as you work to adjust Erfa’s desiccated thyroid to the treatment you were used to.

Knapo happily states that most all “Thyroid” is making it across the border to the states without issue.  You will need your doctor’s prescription. And by the way, Erfa’s Thyroid is manufactured in Belgium, plus they have a huge supply of desiccated powder.

Erfa is also working with IDIS to get Thyroid to others. You can read about them here.

Need a doctor to work with who will provide a prescription for your needed desiccated thyroid? There are a growing body of  good doctors out there.  We also have a good list of  Canadian pharmacies you can consider using during the current shortages.

I have also received word from a gal that the FDA document 1572, a federal form that FDA requires for over-the-border movement, has not always been used, and Erfa’s medication is arriving fine. i.e. the FDA may be tolerating it.

*Want to be infor­med of this infor­ma­tive posts? Curious what’s on Janie’s mind? Use the Noti­fi­ca­tions on the left at the bot­tom of the links.

*The STTM t-shirts are now 50% off.  Spread the word!

*Need feed­back from other patients? Go to the STTM Talk to Others page.
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Dumb as boards; blind as bats

I use those phrases often. I can’t help it. Because it’s exactly what doctors are when it comes to thyroid treatment. It’s APPALLING.

Yesterday, I had the first of two book signings. It was announced in the paper, and I wasn’t sure what the turnout would be. I shouldn’t have wondered. It was a great turnout. People are GETTING IT that there is SOMETHING WRONG with their treatment. Around me stood several women, all still on T4 (Synthroid, Levoxyl, et al), and ALL suffering. All but one woman had weight problems. Several had rising cholesterol. Some admitted to being on anti-depressants. Some obviously had adrenal fatigue. And ALL were being told by their doctors that their thyroid treatment was now “normal”. Where can I go beat my head against the wall?????? They were eager to get the book and the knowledge it contained to change their lives!

So far, the book has been sent to Norway, Iceland, Belgium, UK, Austria, Sweden, Switzerland, Ireland, Australia and Canada, besides all over the US. The STTM website started the wheel to turn, and the book can only move it faster. And add it to other thyroid books which had begun to mention the truth (Broda Barnes being the first) as well as other groups and websites—we’ll eventually knock some SENSE and SIGHT in doctors, don’t you think?

The Stop the Thyroid Madness book, the bible of correct thyroid and adrenal treatment, by patients for patients, can be ordered here.

P.S. I live near one town which serves a population of nearly 35,000 people, and near another of over 4000 people, and there are plenty of doctors around here. Yet, there is not ONE doctor in this area that “gets it”. I sympathize with YOU if you are in the same boat.

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