Things have changed significantly in the past ten years for thyroid patients. But what are the biggest thyroid stories or developments that specifically affect thyroid patients? Is Oprah's on-again/off-again thyroid problem on the list? What about the ongoing fracas over the "normal" TSH test range? How about the rise of natural thyroid -- and the more recent shortages? I've taken a look back at the years 2000 to 2009, and identified The Top Ten Thyroid Stories of the Decade, the developments I personally believe had the biggest impact on us as people with thyroid disease.

What Do You Think?

I want to hear from you as well. As thyroid patients and practitioners, do you agree with my choices? Do you disagree? Do you have other developments or stories you feel should be included on the list? Share your thoughts and input now, and see what other thyroid patients and practitioners have to say.

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On December 21, 2009, NBC Nightly News did a short piece on the unexplained rise in thyroid cancer in women. There was nothing earth-shattering in the report, but I was at least glad to see something thyroid-related at least making it into the national news, when the national media typically go out of their way to deliberately ignore and overlook thyroid-related stories.

You can watch the NBC News piece online, as well as the additional web exclusive video piece.

And while you're at it, read more about the rise in thyroid cancer rates for women. And don't forget to do a Thyroid Neck Check yourself to check for thyroid cancer.

About Mary Shomon | Thyroid Forum | Twitter | Facebook

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Right now, there is no official word on the cause of 32-year old actress Brittany Murphy's tragic death, other than she suffered cardiac arrest. Rumors are flying, as they often do after the death of a young celebrity, suggesting that Murphy may have been using drugs. The actress had become extremely thin in recent years, and the tabloids had suggested she might have an eating disorder such as anorexia.

Some of the rumors have also suggested that Murphy may have had a thyroid disorder. Her rapid weight loss may have contributed to that rumor. Interestingly, at one point, in vehemently denying allegations of drug use, Murphy told reporters "I can't even take an over-the-counter cold remedy like Sudafed, because it will make my heart explode!" (Interestingly, some thyroid patients are extremely sensitive to stimulants like pseudoephedrine, which is in some formulations of Sudafed.)

I don't know what killed Brittany Murphy, or if she did have a thyroid condition. We need to wait for official word to find out the truth.

But could Murphy have been suffering from an undiagnosed thyroid condition? It's possible. There are millions of women in the U.S. with undiagnosed thyroid conditions. Sadly, some younger women who develop Graves' disease/hyperthyroidism -- an overactive thyroid -- experience rapid weight loss as a key symptom. Far too often, however, these women are assumed to be anorexic, and friends, family and even doctors do not recognize the signs. So when they see a teenage girl, or woman in her 20s and 30s, who is experiencing hyperthyroid symptoms such as rapid weight loss -- often accompanied by anxiety, insomnia, and even panic attacks -- even the doctor may assume that the woman is suffering from anorexia, bulimia, or an anxiety or panic disorder. Many of these women never get proper medical tests -- including thyroid evaluation -- and are instead sent off to therapists, or given antidepressants and antianxiety medication. I've heard so many stories like this that I can say that this sort of midsiagnosis is more common than is acceptable.

If someone has undiagnosed or untreated hyperthyroidism at any age, they are also at risk of a condition known as thyroid storm. Thyroid storm is extremely dangerous and frequently fatal, as the heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature can become uncontrollably high, and cardiac arrest or stroke can occur.

If it turns out that Murphy did have a thyroid condition, she would not be the first celebrity to have had a thyroid condition.

Note: Our terrific Heart Disease Guide Dr. Rich Fogoros has an informative post, Brittany Murphy: Sudden Death In the Young that talks about some of the reasons for cardiac arrest in someone as young as Murphy.

About Mary Shomon | Thyroid Forum | Twitter | Facebook

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I just had the chance to speak at length with Dai Jinn, Chief Pharmacist and Chief Science Officer at RLC Laboratories, the manufacturer of the natural desiccated thyroid drugs Nature-Throid and Westhroid.

I'd had a conversation with Dai back on November 23, and at that point, Dai had said that RLC would begin shipping 1 grain Nature-Throid that week. That didn't happen, and on December 2, I checked back in with Dai to get an update. At that time, Dai said that erratic quality and availability of raw materials were making it difficult to meet their manufacturing goals, but that they expected to begin shipping 1 grain (65 mg) Nature-Throid later that week -- but more likely the following week (which would have been last week). Unfortunately, as of today, RLC is still not shipping product, as they'd hoped.

Patients and some practitioners have become increasingly concerned, to the extent that some have suggested that perhaps RLC is under some sort of gag order from the FDA, or that RLC has been forced to shut down production by the FDA, or some other action has taken place that has prevented RLC from moving forward.

I wanted to reassure thyroid patients that, according to Dai, Read more...