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

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

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

avoid Endocrinologists like the plague for the treatment of their hypothyroidism. 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:

We 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).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:

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!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.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?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.

View the original article here

Investigation of thyroid patients as to how they View their doctors — not a pretty picture!

Thyroid patient survey as to how they View their doctors — not a pretty picture!

Recently, stop the thyroid madness LLC implemented a survey to discern the thyroid patient observations and opinions on medical professionals who have used. And the results of this survey alarming negative opinions of current 1,870 thyroid patients to doctors who have used.

Of course, more knowledgeable thyroid patients are not surprised by the results of this survey. But to see the answers and especially the comments made in response to questions 2-5, everything certainly points out how deep is the problem.

Up to which doctors gave the worst treatment according to patients, endocrinologists led the Pack with result of MD in second. On the contrary, given better treatment naturopaths, although they got barely 1/3 of respondents.

Comments made by patients in response to question 3 (see below "– actions that would raise patients ' opinions of doctors) were the most enlightening. They ranged from having better knowledge about T3 or desiccated thyroid, understand the lab work just the TSH, listening to their patients (frequently stated), better understanding of thyroid symptoms, stopping to tell patients to eat differently or exercise more, don't be so afraid of higher doses of NDT, understanding nutrition, stop with the labelling/mille/hubris/patronizingrespecting patients educated ... and a lot more which you can read below the # 3 on the page linked below.

Five questions with the answers of the survey were:

Question 1: how satisfied were you with the way that most medical professionals you've seen over the years have treated the thyroid problem? (Choose only one answer)

1) very satisfied – most medical professionals have helped my thyroid problems.

2) MODERATELY satisfied – some have done well; others have not done so

3) neutral-I have no opinion one way or the other

4) not satisfied – most of my experiences with doctors have been
negative when it comes to help me

Question 2: If you chose # 1 above, because you feel very satisfied about the treatment of the thyroid by the majority of medical professionals who have seen over the years? (Choose any that apply)

1) I feel much better than I did before

2) I have no symptom that I understand that I am related to hypothyroidism.

3) most of those physicians were good listeners

4) most of those doctors seem to know what they are doing.

5) most of those physicians respects my opinions and he sees me as a partner in my healthcare.

6) taxes were accessible

7) other (133)

Question 3: If you have selected 2, 3 or 4 in the first question above: which of the following actions from medical professionals would raise the cure thyroid cancer that had gotten his opinion? (Choose any that apply)

1) pay more attention to my symptoms, rather than to focus solely on laboratory results.

2) understand how to read lab results

3) being offered of natural desiccated thyroid or T3 instead of just T4

4) going more of free T3 and free T4 more symptoms, TSH

5) understand the reality of problems besides cortisol saliva test and treatment

6) understand the problem of low iron, curling iron workshops, treatment

7) being more open-minded about nontraditional therapies

8) understanding that my depression could be related to my hypothyroid State.

9) other (395)

Question 4: when you choose a thought about the types of health care professionals who have used over the years, a guy who feels he did the worst job in your treatment.

1) endocrinologists

2) MD (physician)

3) what to do (doctor of osteopathy

4) on NP (nursing)

5) PA (physicians Assistant)

6) naturopaths

Comments (122)

Question 5: when you choose a thought about the types of health care professionals who have used over the years, a guy who feels done the best job in your treatment.

1) endocrinologists

2) MD (physician)

3) what to do (doctor of osteopathy

4) on NP (nursing)

5) PA (physicians Assistant)

6) naturopaths

View the original article here