Thyroid

[Guest guest]

Dear Group,

 

I do not know that much about thyroid problems, but I have read that a lot of

thyroid problems can come from enviournmental toxins, chemicals in the diet,

especially pharmacuetical drugs, and low or high iodine levels.

 

My first choice would be a check on iodine level and proceed from there.

 

It has been a very popular medical practice for some time to " kill " the thyroid

by cutting it out or injecting a poisonous substance to do it.

 

This to me seems very counterproductive to health.

 

Then the patient has a lifetime of either animal thyriod or an artificial

substitute and is a guaranteed customer for some doctor and drug company.

 

just my thoughts,

 

Frank

 

Here is what Dr. Saul says,

 

 

 

http://www.doctoryourself.com/thyroid.html

 

Thyroid

 

(If you have come to this page for advice, you might be surprised to see a book

review instead. My advice is to read this book. The review will summarize it,

but cannot replace it.)

 

THYROID POWER

by Richard L. Shames and Karilee H. Shames. NY: Harper Collins (2001) ISBN:

0-688-17236-9 (296 pages, plus endnotes, bibliography, index, and glossary.)

If you are one of the “millions who struggle with subtle low-thyroid

conditions,” this book is right up your street. Richard Shames, M.D., is a

general practitioner with special interest and experience in treating thyroid

problems. Compared to so many physicians who literally laugh patients out of the

office when they ask about thyroid supplementation, Dr Shames and his wife (who

is a registered nurse and PhD) offer a reasoned, compassionate alternative to

just “learning to live with it.”

Thyroid Power clearly explains the important difference between T-3 and T-4

thyroid hormone. T-3 (triiodothyronine) would seem to be the one to watch.

Doctors characteristically over-emphasize your T-4 (l-thyroxine, or “storage”

thyroxine) level and effectively ignore T-3 (fast-acting or “active” thyroxine)

levels. Physician fixation on test results’ numbers, which are inadequate to

detect borderline conditions, results in masses of people suffering the symptoms

of low thyroid. These all-too-common symptoms include fatigue, depression,

weight gain, insomnia, difficult menopause, endometriosis, and quite a variety

of others including arthritis and rheumatic complaints, low sex drive,

infertility, and skin problems. Many, many persons are therefore “uncomfortable

but still normal.”

What to do? First of all, if you feel crummy, insist on thyroid testing, and get

a copy of your test results. By law, your doctor must provide them to you if

you ask. So ask! Interpretation of the tests is likely to be better if you are

in on it, and easier if you have Thyroid Power in your hands. The book provides

case histories and the numbers to look for. Since a “normal” or even somewhat

high T-4 can coexist with the symptoms of low thyroid function, do not accept a

test for T-4 alone. Insist on T-3 testing as well, and pay special attention to

it. TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) testing will almost always be done. High

TSH levels “means that the brain and pituitary (gland) are asking for more

thyroid hormone.” (p 62) (By the way, “pituitary” was left out of the index, and

should be added.) The authors consider any TSH number over 3.0 to be

“suspicious, and anything over 4.0 merits treatment” if symptoms are present (p

75).

Second, use the self-assessments provided in the book on pages 20-21, 39-40 and

55-58. They will walk you through and assist you, and your doctor, in making a

proper diagnosis. For example, one thing you can do is take your basal body

temperature using a sensitive ovulation thermometer, or mercury basal

thermometer. This you do before you even get out of bed in the morning.

Third, with tests in, be prepared to require your doctor to take action. The

authors say you should “obtain a trial of thyroid medicine, regardless of blood

test results.” This statement will not endear them to the entire medical

community, but who cares about that any more? Your health is not a popularity

contest. Still, the authors wisely provide what amounts to a letter of

introduction for you to show to your physician. It is tucked away at the back

of the book on pages 261-266, but don’t leave home without it. It is very to the

point and complete with many recent references from scientific journals. On page

80 you learn what to say to a doctor who wishes to deny you thyroid

supplementation because your T-4 is high. These were brilliant inclusions. You

will need them.

Fourth, learn the side effects of too much thyroid. These include: rapid

heartbeat, unusual difficulty sleeping, sweating and otherwise feeling hot,

hyperactivity, a racing mind, and twitching. Contrary to popular medical myth,

thyroid medication does not cause osteoporosis; it helps prevent it.

The attitude of Thyroid Power essentially is this: If you have symptoms, here’s

something you can do about it. “Each person is his or her own best physician,”

the authors say (p 103). I like that. I also like their many natural healing

recommendations, including stress reduction, avoiding chemicals in both food and

environment, choosing organic foods, and taking vitamin supplements. I was

disappointed that the text recommends only 1,000 mg of vitamin C, which is

wholly inadequate to supply the adrenal support the authors call for in chapter

7. In the back of the book, the suggested supplement list (p 296) calls for as

much as 2,500 mg of vitamin C, but this is slightly contradictory… and in any

event, still too low to do the job. The B-complex recommendation is likewise

overly conservative. The balance of the supplemental recommendations are

generally quite good, notably the one calling for at least 400 IU of vitamin E,

plus calcium, magnesium, zinc and chromium, and other nutrients as well.

Many practical hints are provided. Stop caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, and

aspartame (“Nutrasweet”) use. Excess iodine supplementation will not help low

thyroid sufferers. Take thyroid medication on an empty stomach. If you still

have low thyroid symptoms with a TSH of 2 or lower, order a TRH (Thyrotropin

Releasing Hormone) test. All the different brands of thyroid medication are

discussed. (p 87-106) How to tailor the dose is on pages 88-89. Why you will

gain weight if you do not have enough T-3 is on page 168.

The sections on herbal remedies are entirely too brief. Readers are interested

in herbs, their specific dosage, preparation and side effects. A two-page

presentation (p 164-5) and scattered mentions here and there is just not what we

expect from a work authored by a holistic physician. Homeopathy is similarly

praised, but sketchily treated (p 204-206). No specific, low-dose homeopathic

remedies are recommended for thyroid conditions. That is a major omission. At

the very least, much more complete homeopathic and herbal bibliographies are

needed in Thyroid Power.

An unexpectedly pleasant surprise was the authors’ uncompromising criticism of

water fluoridation. It takes a bold medical author (and publisher, for that

matter), to so solidly slam fluoride, which though “currently touted as harmless

enough to be put into the water supply, has been used in the past as a powerful

medication to slow down overactive thyroid activity.” A citation to the Journal

of Clinical Endocrinology backs up this most interesting statement. The authors

clearly state that water fluoridation is a significant cause of low thyroid

illness in millions of people. They also mention the curious origins of water

fluoridation, first employed in Nazi concentration camps to allegedly “force

inmates into submission.” (p 173) The authors’ unequivocal conclusion: “Do not

allow your children to be treated with fluoride.” (p 175)

Thyroid Power is a very good work. I rarely say this about a book that

recommends medication, but I have personally seen what thyroid can do. In her

early fifties, my mother suffered from arthritis, depression, skin problems,

fatigue, unexplained weight gain and assorted other miserable symptoms. Nothing

seemed to help, until she got a new, younger family physician. He promptly put

her on thyroid medication, and she was a new woman. Her singing voice came back,

along with her get-up-and-go. Her weight came down, her joy of living came up,

and her skin looked great. No more bags under the eyes; no more three-hour daily

naps. If this is you, then Thyroid Power is for you.

 

Reprinted from the book FIRE YOUR DOCTOR, copyright 2001 and prior years by

Andrew Saul, Number 8 Van Buren Street, Holley, New York 14470 USA Telephone

(716) 638-5357

 

 

 

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