Hypothyroidism - An introduction

2nd September 2008

Hypothyroidism - An introduction

posted in Health/Nutrition, New Research, Personal |

Some 27 million Americans are estimated to have hypothyroidism, a disorder in which the thyroid doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone. The thyroid gland is an essential organ because the hormones it secretes regulates the body’s use of energy and metabolism. Ironically, while every cell in the human body depends on these hormones in some form and we are unable to live without them, very little is known about hypothyroidism. Many who suffer from thyroid deficiencies go undiagnosed, while those who are diagnosed usually have about a fifty-fifty chance of getting proper treatment. Because weight gain and an inability to lose weight are among the chief symptoms of hypothyroidism, this issue is especially relevant for readers here.

To help educate more people about the common disorder, I’m introducing a week-long series on hypothyroidism, covering issues ranging from signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism to explaining setpoint weight ranges and dietary concerns to the many different forms of treatment for it. I’m not going to go much into the anatomy and physiology of the thyroid or the causes of hypothyroidism, but you can read primers about both here and here. To kick off the series and to help explain my motivation for it, I’ve posted a personal story of my own recent experiences with hypothyroidism after the jump.

Since meeting my husband three years ago, my diet and eating disorder has largely stabilized. Brandon reintroduced me to foods like chocolate and pizza, but before we met, he had recently lost some 40 pounds in an Oh-My-God-I’m-Turning-30 crisis and so we both shared the goal of eating healthy. I’ve had eating disorder relapses since then, but they’re usually minor and short-lived.. A few months ago, however, some of my former eating disordered behaviors resurfaced with renewed intensity and stubborn vigor. I’ve had a 25 – 30-pound unexplained weight gain in the past three years and as the needle on the scale creeps closer to a number I consider a personal weight-loss milestone, so too returned the desperation, anxiety and weight-obsession. The very thought of the vigorous weight-loss calisthenics I put myself through during my eating disorder is exhausting and there is no way I can sustain that kind of grueling mental, physical and emotional havoc and stress again, especially without the unique life circumstances that drove my disorder. But even my half-hearted eating disordered behaviors did not appear to work as they used to. I began to skip breakfast and lunch on weekdays, eating only when my husband came home and dinner was inescapable. I slashed my 1,800-calorie-a-day average by 600 – 800 calories and began purging again several times a week. I found myself mentally counting calories with obsession, and I increased my physical activity levels. After two months of this renewed craziness, my weight remained exactly and stubbornly the same.

It was about this time I stumbled across some new findings on hypothyroidism. I was diagnosed with the disorder when I was about 20 or so by happenstance and a vigilant doctor. At the time, I was sleeping some 13 hours a day, which caused me to miss my morning college classes often and eventually led to me dropping out of college altogether. I assumed it was because I was just fat and lazy (the two were inextricably linked in my mind) and so I overlooked the fact that I also had no energy, my period was irregular to non-existent, I bruised often and easily, I had gained weight continuously for much of my life without a marked change in eating habits, I forgot minor details and was generally living beneath a dark cloud of ugly depression. My doctor suggested a thyroid test and recommended a regiment of Synthroid, a drug I have taken religiously since. I had no idea until just recently how astute and competent a doctor that man really was. I’ve since read heartbreaking accounts of so many fat women who suspect a thyroid deficiency and yet when they ask their doctor to be tested, they are told that their unexplained weight gain – a chief symptom of hypothyroidism – is all in their head and that they just need to eat less and move more. Some women have even had doctors flat out refuse to administer thyroid tests, despite the fact that thyroid disease and deficiencies strike women five to seven times more often than men.

Each year I go to my family doctor for the requisite blood test and evaluation of my thyroid medication and save for one year when my dosage was increased, my thyroid levels all test in the normal range. So, when I began to gain weight again three years ago and didn’t stop gaining despite a healthy plant-based diet and regular physical activity, I assumed it must be because I wasn’t active enough or maybe I was underestimating how healthy my diet really is. I didn’t think it at all odd that of all my attempts to lose weight, only prolonged starvation and 3 – 4 hours a day of exercise resulted in any real weight loss. I attributed my sense of feeling rundown and fatigued to a combination of the demands of being a part-time graduate student while holding a full-time career. I didn’t think it odd that I have two sweaters stashed away in my car even in the dead heat of summer. I popped Aleve for muscle and joint pains and wrote off my carpal tunnel syndrome as me just not practicing proper desktop ergonomics. I assumed my mitral valve prolapse to be caused by my abuse of ephedra and syrup of ipecac during my eating disorder days. All are classic symptoms of hypothyroidism, but because my levels all tested consistently normal, I assumed – as so many dieters do – that the problem was with me and not with my thyroid.

I didn’t know that the “normal” range for thyroid levels can vary according to the lab testing the results or that some national thyroid organizations have called for a narrowing of the range that defines thyroid health. I didn’t know that there existed alternate forms of treatment or that Synthroid’s effectiveness has been questioned and disputed. I didn’t know that the hormone T3 was every bit as important as the hormone T4 or that Synthroid only worked on T4. I didn’t know that many of the seemingly unrelated health problems I have, like carpal tunnel syndrome, mitral valve prolapse and leg/joint pains, are actually related to my thyroid. I didn’t know that your thyroid levels can fall in the normal range, and yet you can still be hypothyroid or that I should measure my health by how I feel and not by my lab results.

Now I know.

I met with an endocrinologist in July to discuss my concerns that I am being under-treated for hypothyroidism. I’ve read that even endocrinologists can be overly reliant on test results and skeptical of the links between hypothyroidism and weight gain, so I came prepared. I kept a food journal for a couple weeks before my appointment and I prepared a two-page agenda of questions and concerns to go over with the doctor. I was prepared to still be handed a prescription to Weight Watchers, but to my relief, my doctor believed me and even validated my concern that my unexplained weight gain is most likely because of my thyroid. She bumped up my medication and will reevaluate the prescribed plan of action when I go to see her this afternoon. It’s difficult to articulate just how relieved and reassured and buoyantly optimistic I felt walking out of her office. My eating disorder relapse disappeared almost immediately.

I’ve since educated myself on hypothyroidism and frankly, I’ve been shocked and angered by what I’ve discovered. More Americans are estimated to have hypothyroidism than type 2 diabetes, which is commonly associated with obesity. Yet while obesity is the talk of news and talk shows, undiagnosed and under-treated hypothyroidism is rarely mentioned as a possible key contributing factor for millions of Americans. Until recently, many fat people with both diagnosed and undiagnosed thyroid deficiencies have suffered in silence, believing their fatness to be a direct result of a lack of willpower and laziness, and not the butterfly-shaped gland situated behind their Adam’s apple. Hypothyroidism isn’t the magic bullet explaining away weight gain and even treatment of it may not result in weight loss, but thyroid deficiencies hold ramifications beyond one’s weight and can escalate into very serious medical issues if untreated or are under-treated. The journey in taking back your life and your health begins by educating and asserting yourself. Hopefully this series better prepares you to do exactly that.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008 at 2:57 pm and is filed under Health/Nutrition, New Research, Personal. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

1 On September 2nd, 2008, luckycharmer

said:

I’ll be looking to your dispatches. I find myself among the newly initiated world of thyroid disorders, although in my case it turned out to be thyroid cancer. After a year+ of low energy and unexplained weight gain, I assumed that I was mildly depressed. Thank god an ENT noticed my thyroid was enlarged. It’s been three weeks since my thyroidectomy, and I’ll be heading to the doc tomorrow to discuss the radioiodine treatment I’ll be receiving in a few weeks. Then I’ll have the joy of trying to get my body regulated levothyroxine (right now I am on a T3 only drug, Cytomel). The scary thing is that I had probably had the cancer for at least 4 years, but as a fat woman, never thought this was anything other than my own “failing”. So thanks for the primer.

posted on September 2nd, 2008 at 3:58 pm

2 On September 2nd, 2008, MrsDrC

Wow, I’m really glad you are going to do a series on this issue Rachel. My best girlfriend in the whole world (my otha sista)has been diagnosed and I’m sure will enjoy the series very much.

But on the other hand, much of what you are talking about for syptoms I’VE HAD MY WHOLE LIFE! I’m just kinda sittin’ here with my jaw on the keyboard. I’ve been very lucky in that most of my GP’s have wanted a thyroid run first thing upon meeting me, but I assumed I was “fine” because it’s always come back in the normal range. Now I’m wondering, maybe I’m not.

I have not taken on the depressing task of finding a new doctor since the move, but once I finally suck it up and do. I will insist on being tested, once again, and being told the levels not “you’re fine”.

I’m shocked as well. So under diagnosed, and still with treatment no real success rate? Yet ALL the fatties are just lazy and need to lay off the baby flavored doughnuts. Grrrrr.

posted on September 2nd, 2008 at 4:18 pm

3 On September 2nd, 2008, Yorke

I had my levels tested two years ago as I fit the symptoms. I was told my levels were “normal” and I’m fine and I probably looked up the symptoms online (how nice of him). My doctor blamed birth control pills so I quit taking them and went on a diet that led to one of my worst ED relapses that led to major depression. I returned to the doctor who put me on ADs (as I put on the AD thread) and that opened up a whole new bag of worms. I give up! I work out 12 hours per week, run half marathons, and bike to work every day but eat mostly what I want (usually with some guilt but I’m working on it) which happens to be healthy as I’m a vegan; as to not trigger another ED episode. And I’m fat. I can’t help but wonder if there is some kind of metabolic issue going on but it’s clear bringing that up doesn’t work. I’ve also been told I wrecked my body with the ED and I’m doomed to be fat, and that perhaps I should lift more weights (if I get any She-Hulkier it’ll be scary). I need to find a new doctor.
/end rant

P.S. I look forward to reading the rest of the series! I always love the topics you pick and the grace with which you handle them and the comments they bring!

posted on September 2nd, 2008 at 4:29 pm

4 On September 2nd, 2008, devil

I know that not all doctors are condescending jerks and I do try not to hate the entire lot of them. Really, I try.

GAH!! A few years ago a friend’s doc told her that he wasn’t even gonna test her for thyroid levels (after she asked). He said that every female patient that came to see him wanted a thyroid test so she could justify eating like a pig and not getting a lick of exercise. Yeah, he really said that.

You know, the Dr. Phil “You’re fat cuz you wanna be” treatment.

posted on September 2nd, 2008 at 4:52 pm

5 On September 2nd, 2008, The Bald Soprano

It took me 20 years to get my hypothyroidism treated (yes, from age 9.) I got told repeatedly that I couldn’t have fatigue, I was too young, or I didn’t have fatigue, I was just a college/grad student. I’ve had doctors refuse to test me. My current endocrinologist is treating me for it (thanks to a narrower reference range in use here in Germany than they usually use in the States), but theoretically only “until I get down to a normal weight” *snrk* I’m still in the stepping-up-the-dose stage.

I look forward to reading the series… I’m especially interested in the alternative forms of treatment you mentioned.

posted on September 2nd, 2008 at 6:16 pm

6 On September 2nd, 2008, La di Da

Readers in Australia should note that Medicare only covers free testing of TSH, and free testing of FT3 and FT4 only if your TSH comes back outside the “normal” range, thus doctors only often get the basic TSH done for their patient and if it comes back within range, do nothing. If you suspect thyroid problems even just a little bit, it is well worth asking the doc to order the FT3 and FT4 and pay for those yourself. It’s not prohibitively expensive, but if you really can’t afford it your doc might know ways of negotiating payment (I understand some charities can help with simple medical costs sometimes - don’t quote me on that though). Private health insurance might cover it depending on your level of cover and individual policy.

If you’ve already been diagnosed with a thyroid condition the Medicare will cover FT3 and FT4 as well.

posted on September 2nd, 2008 at 6:49 pm

7 On September 2nd, 2008, Simply Mac

I’ve only just found your site (found you through Shapely Prose), but I’ve just recently started wondering if I might have hypothyroidism. I have recently started experiencing newer symptoms that, combined with things I’ve experienced my whole life, have begun to make me wonder. I started gaining weight (seemingly inexplicably, as I was always slender) at the age of eight or so, and have had bursts of weight gain (like, 30 pounds in two months) without related changes in diet, I have always had a low basal temp, and I’ve suffered from depression most of my life. Also have frequent fatigue (which I always thought was just because I was a fat, lazy slob), cold intolerance, irritability (was diagnosed as bipolar at one point because of the mood swings/irritability combined with depression), memory loss, and recently abnormal period.

I don’t have insurance right now so I can’t really be tested…but I will read this with much, much interest. THank you.

posted on September 2nd, 2008 at 7:44 pm

8 On September 2nd, 2008, kmg

I was also fortunate to have been diagnosed by a sharp-eyed physician. I attributed my lethargy, irregular periods, weight gain, mild hair loss, to real stressful events which were occurring in my life at the time (cross-country move, etc), perimenopause, whatever, and just happened to go in for a new patient visit. In fact, I didn’t even tell him about those symptoms, because in my mind I had already attributed them to stress. My HMO mandates that all female patients over 40 be tested for TSH, just like cholesterol and other routine blood work, so that’s how I was diagnosed. This is an important topic in womens health and I’m glad you’re doing this work!

posted on September 2nd, 2008 at 8:39 pm

9 On September 2nd, 2008, lilacsigil

I’ve posted about my 18-month battle with doctors here but I’m really excited to see this series. Doctors are so uneducated about thyroid conditions, and you have to really fight to get proper treatment. Although my (now just half a) thyroid continues to give me problems, I have now educated my local doctors and they are very willing to listen and research on my behalf!

posted on September 2nd, 2008 at 8:45 pm

10 On September 2nd, 2008, Rachel

Lilacsigal: Sometimes I think patients know more about their thyroid disorder than some doctors. The field isn’t an exciting one and most endocrinologists prefer the practice of diabetes to thyroid disorders and disease. I’m lucky that my endo is very competent, but my family doctor would just run a test and if it was normal, she considered me “fixed,” regardless if I still experienced symptoms of hypothyroidism or not. I mean, who do you listen to? Test results or the patient?

posted on September 2nd, 2008 at 8:50 pm

11 On September 2nd, 2008, ecogirl73

I recently saw a new doctor (not by choice, my regular MD had dropped from my insurance group when they were bought by a larger conglomerate) who was really horrible - I had a slightly elevated blood sugar reading, and a high TSH reading. She said the thyroid was fine, and then suggested I join Weight Watchers or get a gastric bypass (which I later learned would most likely have exacerbated the situation - not to mention that it is not something I need - AT ALL). After a couple of days of feeling like a complete failure (I exercise a ton, eat right, etc. - so this threw me for a loop), I decided to get a second opinion, but from a naturopathic MD. I tend to be much more comfortable with naturopaths because they do treat you holistically - everything from your energy levels to your libido (and never once did she ask to weigh me) - things you rarely talk with a “traditional” MD about. I am happy to report that she recognized my thyroid problem right away, said I’d probably had it for decades, and that it probably led to an overall compromise of my metabolism. After just six weeks of working with her, I have been able to drop my blood sugar into the “normal” range, lose over 15 pounds that had come out of nowhere in the past couple of months, stabilize my menstrual cycle, and am feeling more mentally clear than I have in ages. Granted, it has come with some pretty big dietary restrictions and other lifestyle adjustments, but after watching my mom struggle with the same issues and being given prescription meds for three years that had no effect, I am really amazed. I am so grateful to have the resources to see a naturopath (not covered by insurance for me at all, so I’ve had to make some real trade-offs), and wish that everybody had access to this approach - it’s such a relief to be treated as a whole person.

posted on September 2nd, 2008 at 9:14 pm

12 On September 2nd, 2008, Amethystrose

I been experiencing rapid weight gain and fatigue for 6 months now and I am convinced that I have hypothyroidism. I’ve been tested twice now and my doctor says there is nothing wrong with me. The only advice I get is “eat less and exercise more”

posted on September 2nd, 2008 at 9:33 pm

13 On September 2nd, 2008, Carrie

Rachel,

Looking forward to reading the rest- it sounds fascinating. I’m glad you found a good doctor, too. They make all the difference.

posted on September 2nd, 2008 at 9:52 pm

14 On September 2nd, 2008, Weightless One

I’m looking forward to reading this series. I was diagnosed as hypothyroid when I was 19 (I’m 35 now), but I probably suffered from it since the start of puberty. The only reason my then idiot doctor agreed to even test me was because my mother had recently found out she was hypothyroid and the disease does have a hereditary component. I require 5x the medication that my mother takes so that should give you an idea how badly I was suffering. Recently I went through another bout of medication adjustments that my mental health almost didn’t survive. You can read about it http://weightlessone.com/2008/05/15/hypothyroidism-and-the-last-12-months/. if I managed to include the link properly.

posted on September 2nd, 2008 at 10:38 pm

15 On September 2nd, 2008, Tiptoe

Rachel, good series. Hypothyroidism is often overlooked. It took an astute Dr. to realize my step-brother’s hypothyroidism was a cause for why he continually missed all his college classes. I’ve also seen people, myself included, have depression due to low thyroid. It’s good that your Dr. diagnosed you appropriately.

On a side note, another interesting thing is that the cases of hypothyroidism in dogs has increased significantly over the years, though it is still not always thought of for weight gain and problem behaviors.

posted on September 2nd, 2008 at 10:51 pm

16 On September 2nd, 2008, Kim

It is sad not only how many doctors are uneducated when it comes to what’s “normal” TSH (and of course there are other factors in hypothyroidism), but that there are still a lot of labs that haven’t updated their standards for “normal” range. I was SO fortunate that as I started to gain weight for seemingly no reason…same activity level (high), no dietary changes…and completely abnormal exhaustion, sleeping 12 hours a night and STILL flopping for a nap in the afternoon, which I simply do not do…fingernails breaking off…dry skin…hair brittle…all of this classic hypothyroid, right? But if I’d gone to a doctor who just read the lab report, I’d still be like that. Because the lab thinks that my TSH level was “normal”.

But it wasn’t normal. And by my reading I knew it and I was preparing for a fight because I KNEW I needed to be treated. Doctor saw the level and immediately prescribed Synthroid. What? No fight? And she explained to me that though the lab said it’s normal, it isn’t normal…basically explaining to me the argument I was about to give her! We had to up the Synthroid a month later because I wasn’t QUITE there, and I’ve been right as rain for about nine months now.

Amazing.

If you’re reading this, read about hypothyroidism, and learn about what’s REALLY considered normal. And pray your doctor gets it.

posted on September 2nd, 2008 at 10:56 pm

17 On September 2nd, 2008, Bree

I only a few symptoms of this disease (constipation, muscle aches & cramps, fatigue, although mine is not as chronic and more mild) and my old doctor said this was attributed to anemia. I have not had huge amounts of weight gain, but I don’t lose a whole lot either; I maintain. I have new insurance, so when I get myself to a doctor, I may ask for a blood test. My co-worker suffers from this and medicine helps her greatly.

posted on September 2nd, 2008 at 11:09 pm

18 On September 2nd, 2008, Ducky

Thank you so much for discussing this topic, Rachel.

It took me three nightmareish years to be finally diagnosed with hypothyroidism. It’s still a struggle to get my system balanced and the weight I gained when I was so sick has never budged. I am now working with a naturopath who has thyroid issues herself and although it hasn’t been a miracle cure, I am getting better and better. And that’s a lot more than I could say when I was working with my old MD.

I highly recommend the book “The Thyroid Solution” by Dr. Arem Ridha. That book saved my life and is reason I was diagnosed at all. It explains all about being hypothyroid when your “numbers are normal.”

posted on September 2nd, 2008 at 11:20 pm

19 On September 2nd, 2008, Kim

That’s the book!!! I couldn’t remember it. Oh what a (literal) lifesaver it was. Recommended to me by a Hashimoto’s sufferer, and it’s a great reference tool as well.

posted on September 2nd, 2008 at 11:33 pm

20 On September 3rd, 2008, hallie

this is me, too. it took over five years to get a diagnosis, thanks to TSH tests in the ‘normal’ range. how i wish that test didn’t exist, it gives useful information to practically no-one.

i’ve only been in active treatment for about two months, and it is shocking to me the difference it’s made - and i’m not even up to the med levels i will ultimately need to maintain, i don’t think. but it’s like waking from a long, disturbed sleep … i had no idea how checked out i had been until i was checked back in. now i’m wondering where i was the last few years. yikes.

i’m also thankful i got a diagnosis from a naturopath who prescribed a natural, dissicated thyroid replacement. it has the whole range of whatever i was missing, not just a nuclear bomb of T4 at varying levels like synthroid or levoxyl, and i think this may be why i am recovering so quickly.

i have not lost a single pound, and to be honest, as long as i keep feeling as good as i have the last few weeks, i don’t care if i ever do. my weight is a non-issue, i can always buy bigger clothes. what i couldn’t buy, under the care of my previous doctor, was a diagnosis that was worth a damn to drag me out of the pit i was in. she tried me on about four different AD medications, none of which did anything but make me feel worse. yet she kept after that group of drugs without questioning whether it was the right path. once i actually got the drug i needed, and had worked up to a level that made the difference noticeable, it was clear as the summer sky that we were on the right tack for a change.

three cheers for naturopathic physicians, i tell you what.

posted on September 3rd, 2008 at 1:40 am

21 On September 3rd, 2008, wellroundedmama

I think hypothyroidism is an extremely important issue; I’ve been preaching on this issue for years. Good for you for educating about it! I think I may do a piggyback post about it and the importance of testing thyroid function before, during, and after pregnancy in particular. Very vulnerable time for thyroid issues to occur (or recur).

Also, if you find some information on “cyclical hypothyroidism” please share it.

posted on September 3rd, 2008 at 6:28 am

22 On September 3rd, 2008, wellroundedmama

Oh, I forgot one other point….the importance of also getting your Vitamin D levels tested. I don’t know if there’s a direct causal connection, but hypothyroidism and low vit D levels often seem to go hand in hand. Joint aches etc. are often a symptom of D issues too.

More info on vit D issues on my blog…..search the archives.

posted on September 3rd, 2008 at 6:31 am

23 On September 3rd, 2008, guinea pig

Conversely to most respondent experiences, if you have anorexia (or weight loss), thyroid level is the first thing tested. And they repeat it again and again … just in case you’re not anorexic anymore but suffering from hyperthyroidism. It’s a rule-out lab, I know, but it also would be exclusionary for ED treatment (inpatient, at least).

How is it, though, that metabolic function slows and can be sluggish in “starvation mode,” yet anorexics continue to lose weight? And often struggle to gain weight during refeeding despite thyroid inefficiency. That’s contrary to organic hypothyroid patients who report (as here) unabated weight gain or weight that won’t budge regardless of starvation diets.

posted on September 3rd, 2008 at 7:48 am

24 On September 3rd, 2008, Hypothyroidism - Risk Factors, Signs & Symptoms » The-F-Word.org said:

[...] our series on hypothyroidism, part two addresses the risk factors and signs and symptoms of the [...]

posted on September 3rd, 2008 at 11:28 am

25 On September 3rd, 2008, Maritzia

Chalk up another person with hypothyroidism with absolutely slap dap normal TSH levels. It’s a constant fight to find a doctor to prescribe the thyroid I need. But it’s always a relief when you walk in the door armed with all your research, ready to fight for what you need, to have the doctor wave everything away and say, “Well, of course you need to bump up your thyroid dose.” *laughs* That’s what happened with my last new doctor. He’s great. I drive an hour to see him.

Unfortunately, though, he’s in the extreme minority. I sent letters to every family practitioner in a 2 county area on my insurance who was taking new patients (52 of them), and got 1 positive response and 1 maybe, and 15 extremely negative responses, who felt it was their duty to contact me and tell me that supraphysiological doses of thyroid were dangerous. *sighs* Still, it did get me the one really good doctor.

posted on September 3rd, 2008 at 6:47 pm

26 On September 4th, 2008, SSarah

I don’t have the time to read through the comments at this moment, but I did want to throw out there that I’ve been on Armour Thyroid, a natural T3 & T4 booster with great results. A lot of people find a world of difference between Armour and the synthetic thyroid. It wouldn’t work for veg*n people, as it comes from the thyroid gland of pigs, but other than that I’ve been very satisfied.

stopthethyroidmadness.com is where I did a lot of reading.

I’m really looking forward to the rest of this series!

posted on September 4th, 2008 at 1:05 pm

27 On September 4th, 2008, CordyQ

Thank you so much for doing this series!! I deal with alot of these symptoms they speak about in relation to hypothyroidism. I have been tested for it twice years ago when I was in high school because both my Dad and my oldest sister have hypothyroidism and they say the lvls came back normal so the doctors just brush it off now. I really wonder if maybe this could be the cause, reading this series has prompted me to ask about it further and press it a bit more when I can actually get to the doctor next. It had never crossed my mind to question the results.

I appreciate this, and your blog, it is wonderful!

posted on September 4th, 2008 at 3:41 pm

28 On September 6th, 2008, keshmeshi

I used to work at a naturopathic clinic. Those docs tested for hypothyroidism as a matter of course. Hypothyroidism can be a risk factor for cancer. If you live in a state that treats naturopaths as regular health care providers, Washington state (my state) definitely does, I think California does as well, then go to one* as fast as you can — although check with your insurance first. Even if state law requires them to cover naturopathic care, many of them find and exploit loopholes.

*The naturopaths I worked for were consummate professionals. They only recommended treatments that were clinically proven to work and, in the case of serious illnesses like cancer, only in conjunction with conventional treatment. But, beware. There are quacks out there. If a naturopath tells you things that sound too good to be true, recommends treatments that can’t be backed up with clinical evidence, or recommends treatments that just plain sound dumb**; go elsewhere.

**One patient came in after having seen another naturopath. That naturopath had recommended she undergo three coffee enemas a day. The patient preferred that doc, go figure.

posted on September 6th, 2008 at 11:17 pm