thyroid book

[mcarthj]

This is not a question so pardon me if i am on the wrong forum?  The book titled  STOP The Thyroid Madness by Janie A. Bowthorpe  and her website will give you excellent info.
You need to have your thyroid antibodies tested (TPO-Ag  & TP-Ag) to determine if you have Hashimoto's thyroiditus, an auto immune disease.  All the typical thyroid tests that doctors do will be in normal range ............  and they will tell you your thyroid is fine.  You will need to find a doctor that will then put you on a T3, T4 combination, preferably the homeopathic meds. Most regular doctors will not treat Hashi's with thyroid meds until it develops into full blown  hypo thyroiditus, even though you have all the awful symptoms.    

[stella5349]

Advocates are all out their to educate their followers or lurkers looking for infomation. Everyone who advocates for thyroid disease has some good points of service and suggestions.

Its up to the patients to gather all that is out there and take it in on their individual issues so they are better informed to speak to their doctors on the choices available.

Its not a book as gospel as Red says.. just one woman's devotion to the disease and healing and how her research paid off for her and some others with certain treatment options.

Good Luck

[redheadaussie]

It is agreed that what you say about testing is important. On this forum we always recommend that to be done as Barb above says.
Natural T3 and T3/T4 combination is often 'thought' of by patients as being homeopathic, when in fact it is not. It just means from an organic source, generally porcine. Homeopathy is a whole different field of medicine and rarely of any use for a diagnosed thyroid disease.

I have spoken with Janie, the author of the book you mention, and she is highly motivated to educate patients and doctor's alike, but I do find some questionable things in her book and take it as a learning aid, and not gospel.

Patients need to educate themselves and not believe 100% what is thrown at them.

[Barb135]

We almost always recommend that patients get tested for TPOab and TGab, along with TSI if it seems called for. In addition, we usually recommend a thyroid ultra sound.

Your comment that " All the typical thyroid tests that doctors do will be in normal range" is totally incorrect (though this may been your case)........ many times, the actual thyroid hormones will be low also.  These results will correspond with the amount of destruction of the thyroid gland.  If the thyroid is still functional, it's very possible for test results to be normal; however, for many of us who were diagnosed after considerable thyroid destruction, most of the labs will show either low normal or out of range.

It is not always necessary to be prescribed a T3/T4 combo med.  Many people do very well on a T4 only med.  I'm not sure what you are referring to as "homeopathic meds", but anything other than prescription replacement hormones will not work.  The prescription may be for natural hormones (Armour, NaturThroid, ERFA, etc) or synthetic hormones, such as Synthroid, generic levo, Tirosint, Cytomel, etc....

There are no OTC meds that will help hypothyroidism/Hashimoto's, so please clarify what you mean by "homeopathic" meds........ I think your comments are rather misleading, and seem to be, mostly, promoting the STTM website.   I will apologize if I'm wrong........