Alert the Media: Oprah Is Hypothyroid!
Sunday March 23, 2008
She may not get front-row tickets to the Oprah's Favorite Things show taping, but Laurie Friedman-Fannin is pretty funny. Check out her column about talk show host Oprah Winfrey in the Appleton Post . Here's a quote that especially cracked me up:
"Poor Oprah was gaining weight (what a news flash) and feeling lethargic. My God, whatever could it be? Get the specialists, call the Mayo Clinic, contact her home planet — Oprah has an underactive thyroid! So do I. So does my mother-in-law, two sisters-in-law and several women I work with. I'll alert the media..."Read it now. (And read more about Oprah's thyroid problem.)
Photo: Paul Hawthorne / Getty Images
Comments
thanks for the much needed chuckle of the day
In one way, I’m really glad that Ophrah is so high profile. I can point and say “I feel just like she does.” Now enuf already. She now has to do what a gazillion others has to do. Get the proper meds, wait for the treatment to kick in, and suck it up and drag herself through her day until things start working. Be vigilant about what you put into your body. The least amount of processed food, organic if possible (and affordable) is best. Vitamin supplements, taken at least 4 hours after your meds. No one told me about that one. I found out about that on this website. Self kindness and self love (not self pity) are also essential. Be well, everyone!
That was really funny! I totally agree with the writer. Thanks for the chuckle.
Now that we see that high-profile people can have health problems that mimic the little people, we shouldn’t poke fun when somebody is overweight. It does hurt, even though they say words don’t hurt, they certainly can.
Arrogant or not, I believe Oprah should be entitled to effective or promising treatment options for Hypothyroidism, just like anyone else. I am Hypo & not a huge Oprah fan, but do believe like any other illness, it takes time to research true treatment options. If in her quest for Thyroid balance, she can help promote (on or off her show) more awareness options, so be it! Thanks for the article perspective!
Just when I think your newsletter can’t get any better! Humor is the best medicine. Thanks, Mary, keep it up. Or, should I say, KEEP it UP?
As far as this news article, Laurie Friedman-Fannin column, I disagree. Yes, I do think Oprah has more money than she probably will ever need, but guess what, it’s hers! It is stated that Oprah receives the gifts she gives out from advertisers. Well i’m sure this is true, she doesn’t have to do that on her show, promoting things that she uses, she is helping these companies by putting her recommendation on the product. Oprah also does many things that are outside the box. One example is the school she started for the girls in Africa. What a wonderful opportunity for them in a country who does not treat women as an equal. I pray these girls will go out and do the same. Listening to them speaking and watching the excitement in their faces was very humbling. As far as Oprah’s giving, she has started other people on a mission of giving back. No matter if she isn’t giving it all herself, she is instilling in people the lost act of “paying it forward”. There are other people who have $$$millions$$$, and they probably don’t do half of what she has done. Not everyone sees things in the same light… As far as her “Thyroid condition”, maybe it will bring more understanding or a new study that will help the rest of us. Why do people always look at the negative side of a situation. I will never have the money she has, but I can be thankful that the person who has it, is willing to think of others and bring some joy in this world. Thank you, Oprah.
I agree with Sherheim…and I think Laurie Friedman has a bit of a jealousy problem. I think that Oprah is so helpful to alot of people and is courageous to admit that she is very much like everyone else. What does she have to gain by discussing her hypothyroidism?
She certainly is not writing a book(and making money off of it)or promoting some new drug to cure it! I think she sincerely wants to let everyone know that there are treatments for it and she doesn’t want to see anyone suffer if they don’t have to.
Thank you Oprah!
I thought I was the only person on the planet that can’t stand St. Oprah. I was beginning to think that something was wrong with me!
Thanks for the chuckle.
Sherheim and Jill, I agree with you!
I was in my early 30’s when I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I would have benefitted from having a celebrity publicize the condition at that time, albeit someone who also took ownership of the disease and properly deals with it. I do hope that Oprah accepts the true nature of her illness and follows a good regime for her own sake.
I have was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in 1999. I qm now 44. Have MVP, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Migraines, Insomnia &
Depression…anyway, I have always been on Synthroid, my hair was beautiful, thick heakthy. It is stil dry, brittle & slowly falling out. Do I need to say I just don’t feel well & no I’m not exactly “myself”. But I’m not sure I remember who that is anymore. What else can I take. What can I do? Also is there A “best” mulsti vitamin especially for people like us, that will give us all the good stuff we need???? Please help, my DR doesn’t seem to care much, just keep s me on Synthroid & sends me on my way since 1999. Sadly, Michelle
….Hey ,in some ways I am glad Oprah has thryiod problems because I am learning more information which is needed,( the Dr.’s do not seem to care,ie…did you know that you have to wait a least 4 hr’s to take vitamins,after you take the thyroid pill)…maybe oprah can do am informative show for us who have thryoid problems….
Wow. All of you who “hate” Oprah - Do you know her? Where does all of your bitterness come from? How did “she” cause “you” to feel so bad about yourself? And you call that humor? It is sad to witness so many bash a person they do not even know and hide behind the humor flag.
To Michelle D,
So many have gone through the same as you, and some have become healthy by taking the right medicins, supplements etc-. I suggest that you see these web-sites:
www.drlowe.com
www.drrind.com
Dr. John C. Lowe and Dr. Bruce Rind are specialists in hypothyroidism, and NOT like endochrinologists that just follow the test results. You’ll know that for sure when you read through their web-sites—. Dr. John C. Lowe has written some books that can be used for self-help, and to instruct other doctors. Try to find another doctor who will listen and understand, buy this book and ask if the doctor will read it.
Good luck
Considering Oprah is harpo, excuse me, I mean hypo, she’s walking in the same shoes that I’m walking in. No! Oprah doesn’t wear a size 5 shoe! With all jokes aside, maybe Oprah will donate some of her riches to science and they will find an automatic cure for hypothyroidism. Could she have a secret cure on her planet? My, my, sleeping on sheets that cost so much. I could buy me a used car to get back and forth to the doctors. Money done get you well, but it sure pays for good doctors to bow at your feet.
Will Oprah start a Hypothyroid Club?
I don’t know about you but I’m looking forward to the possibility that she might form the “Oprah Thyroid Club” and do webisodes for all of us to watch. That would be a gift worth receiving. Anyway you look at it, she’s powerful and gets info out there so we all can learn. All I know is I’m going in for thyroid surgery on 4/9 to have nodules removed after 4 years of monitoring them, will undoubtedly be realing hormonally for an undetermined amount of time, and thank my lucky stars there are people like Ms. Solomon who help us get the info we need. Goodness knows most of us have to pull our doctor’s teeth to get what we want.
I also agree that there maybe some jealousy in this article. Oprah is not like Paris Hilton, Mommy and Daddy did not get her started in life. she worked just like every one else to get what she has. The thing that did make me mad was she told every one we are at fault for our thyroid diseases. That was a slap in the face. I have never held back ever in my life. I have never just sucked it up. I also grow up in a place were we had a factory across the street from me. it made armor piercing bullets not the tool shop everyone though it was. If you don’t know how there made well let me tell you the main ingredient is uranium. We all know the factor was there we all were told they were making tools. There were no signs out telling us to stay away. So as kids we all use to run across there property and down the back to the woods and played in the stream that ran down there. Non of us know we were going to grow up and be sick. I have lost 3 friends to cancer and my sister has a rear skin disease and other friends all have autoimmune disease. My mother has had cancers moles removed several times and she has even lost her eye to it. I am lucky I only have thyroid disease. I think that this is no accident we are all sick with autoimmune disease. I think if Oprah really wanted to be helpful she should look into the epidemic of autoimmune disease this country are reporting. That is if you can get it reported. I was ill for 4 years before they found out it was thyroid disease. They gave me the test a few times but they keep telling me I have high normal so I was not ill I needed to get on Antidepressants and Ant anxiety meds. I refused them. Which started a war with all the Doctors I went to see. I know me and I knew that I was physically ill not mentally ill. So maybe Oprah should also take a long look at the medical care we get in this country. I think it stinks. After 4 years of being ill and not talking to the doctors about it any more they finally one day out of the blue told me you have Thyroid disease. I said to her oh you think.. . I have been in a two year Thyroid treatment. I now have Thyroid eye disease, my hair is falling out, I don’t have eye brows any more and I am a fat ugly pig. I use to be a size 9 130 lbs I was that my whole adult life. I also have uncontrolled high blood presser. I believe with all my heart and mind and spirit that if they diagnosed me correctly the first time I went to them. I would not be were I am now. I think she should do a show on the health care system of America and focuses on the bad care women get. If Oprah was just a working person like I am she would still to this day not be on a treatment for her thyroid. Now that is what I think she should do with all her power of the media..
The secret to thyroid balance is the right meds. If you take levoxyl, synthroid, etc.,try all manufactures of the drug to find the right fit. They are all made with different fillers.
Is Laurie a bit jealous?
I can agree on a lot that Laurie says about Oprah, …
But, ….Even if Oprah is full of her own ego, & very rich …
She DOES do a lot of good with that money of hers! (Would you blame her, for NOT giving it ALL away?…)
I might not agree with all of her choices and statements (I’m not so much ‘In God’ myself..)….
…But she DOES use part of her money to ‘do good’,…..
and THAT I find VERY admirable!
I would like to be able to spend my money, on helping the less fortunate,…but I do NOT have that sort of money …
..She uses part of her money for lots of different charities:
-building houses
-bookclubs
-supporting education/teachers
-providing X-mas presents to kids in Africa, whom NEVER got a present in their life before …
etc. etc..
You might well NOT agree with all she does/comments on/stands for …
But….she at least tries to give something back to society (to causes, that She believes in,…they might not be the same as mine or yours…)..
She could easily just keep ALL her money to herself,…buy more & more cars/houses/holidays etc.
At least, she gives some of her money away ..
..I believe, that she (of all people) knows exactly what it means to be poor/part of a minority community (that is where she came from herself…)..
She said once in a show:
I have my feet still properly on the ground ….I’m now just standing in MORE expensive shoes…
Ira
The Netherlands
Wow, can you say JEALOUS? Why such venum over Oprah? Did she ever do anything to harm the author of that unbelievably nasty column? Give the woman a break. She has done more to encourage woman than I’m sure this columnist has - or many others! So she wears nice shoes! So what! If I had her money, you can bet I’d wear Manolos too! Leave her alone. I’ll bet she’s the one who finally makes people realize we have thyroid disease - not a mental disorder!
Have to say this ‘comedian’ is not very funny, I’m actually surprised at Mary Shomon for promoting her article. I think Oprah is very cool, like others have said she has done so much for women and the downtrodden/underdogs of this world. I don’t watch her show all the time because I don’t have time but I am always uplifted when I do. Back before I went on my thyroid journey I never had a clue that one could suffer as we do in this day and age at the hands of such morons(doctors) No doubt Oprah will discover this in her own time and will bring much needed attention to thyroid disease. Here’s a joke I read on a thyroid forum recently tragic but I did think this was funny!
3 doctors are in a car driving to a medical conference when the steering goes funny…driver pulls over and the 3 get out to take a look..first doc ‘Looks like a flat tire’ second doc ‘yes definitely looks like a flat’ 3rd doc kicks the tire and says ‘got to agree that tyre seems to be flat’ The first doc says ‘So we’re all in agreement then, we should runn some tests’…