The Six Reasons Why Oprah Winfrey Doesn't Have to Weigh 200 Pounds
In her January 2009 O Magazine cover article, America's most famous and powerful celebrity, Oprah Winfrey, reveals a painful fact: she is again battling a weight problem, and is currently tipping the scales at 200 pounds. In her article, which you can read online, Winfrey also talks about her ongoing struggle with thyroid disease. Winfrey's title for the article is actually quite telling: "How Did I Let This Happen Again?"
It's a valid question. Despite having access to the best doctors, trainers, nutritionists, chefs, and holistic advisors, Oprah's health worsened, and she has continued to gain weight since her diagnosis. How did she let this happen again?
Before her diagnosis, in late 2006 and early 2007, Winfrey was 160 pounds, and had maintained this weight for several years with diet and exercise. Winfrey has said that she first became aware of her thyroid problem in the spring of 2007. With her thyroid diagnosis came fatigue and some 20 pounds of weight gain. Winfrey's thyroid solution was to retreat to her Hawaii house for the month of July, 2007 where, according to her article in O Magazine, "I took vitamins. Drank soy milk. Munched on golden flaxseed. I ate only fresh foods..." Winfrey said that after two weeks, she started to feel better, and by the end of the month, her health had improved.
Winfrey went public about her thyroid problem during the launch of the fall 2007 television season. She even talked about her thyroid problem on her show, with Christiane Northrup, MD. Winfrey and Dr. Northrup did not discuss thyroid testing or treatment, rather, they focused on self-care techniques, mind-body approaches, and nutrition -- Northrup controversially recommends a diet heavy in potentially thyroid-damaging soy foods. They also spent quite a bit of time on Northrup's idea -- which Oprah agreed with -- that thyroid problems in women are due to energy blockages in the throat region, and result from a lifetime of a woman's "swallowing" words she wants to express.
Throughout the 2007-2008 television season, it was apparent to viewers that Winfrey continued to gain weight. In May of 2008, Winfrey embarked on a 21-day vegan cleansing diet. The diet included multiple daily servings of soy products.
Now, in December of 2008, Winfrey has revealed that she has gone off all medication, including thyroid medication, and -- after adding another 20 pounds -- is tipping the scales at 200 pounds.
It doesn't have to be that way. There are six key reasons why Oprah Winfrey doesn't have to weigh 200 pounds -- and why the millions of other women with thyroid problems don't need to similarly suffer with continued weight gain.
1. Thyroid Problems Rarely "Stabilize" Without Medication Winfrey describes a period of hyperthyroidism (with no weight loss), followed by hypothyroidism, along with weight gain and lethargy. Given these symptoms, it's likely that Winfrey has the autoimmune thyroid condition Hashimoto's disease. This common condition -- which is typically the cause of most cases of hypothyroidism, often begins with a brief period of overactivity, but as the gland burns out, shifts quickly to underactivity.
Winfrey says that she was prescribed thyroid medication, but according to a sidebar article on thyroid disease from the January 2009 issue of O Magazine, "Oprah's thyroid problems seem to have stabilized and she has gone off her medications."
The reality is, if you have a thyroid problem, and in particular, autoimmune thyroid disease, it may flare up, or become less active at times, but it rarely goes away or "stabilizes" without ongoing treatment. In the case of Hashimoto's disease, experts have shown that treatment with thyroid medication can help women with Hashimoto's minimize thyroid-related symptoms such as weight gain and fatigue.
In fact, there are studies that show that treatment with thyroid medication can actually reduce the antithyroid antibodies and may prevent progression to overt hypothyroidism in some patients.
Read more about patients who won't take their thyroid medications, and the health implications of failing to take prescription thyroid drugs.
2. Synthetic Treatment Doesn't Work For Everyone The sidebar article on thyroid disease from the January '09 O Magazine states: "...most people with hypothyroidism face a lifetime of managing the gland. You'll get a prescription for synthetic thyroxine, which does an excellent job of replacing the missing hormone. Once you and your doctor work out the proper dosage—and that can take some time—you will feel better."
The truth? It's not always this easy and clear cut. Thyroxine -- known as levothyroxine -- contains a synthetic form of only one thyroid hormone, T4. The well-known brand names of levothyroxine include Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothroid and Unithroid. While levothyroxine is the standard treatment, research has shown that some thyroid patients actually feel better and suffer fewer symptoms with a treatment that adds the active thyroid hormone, T3, to levothyroxine. Other patients feel better on a natural, desiccated thyroid drug like Armour or Nature-throid. It's a mistake to assume, therefore, that synthetic thyroxine is a one-size-fits-all solution for everyone with hypothyroidism, or that it does an "excellent job" for every patient.
It's also a mistake to assume that doctors know how to "work out the proper dosage." Some doctors are very conservative about treatment, and only provide a very small dosage, enough to get the thyroid into the normal range for the TSH test, but little more. This type of treatment fails to relieve symptoms for many patients.
Winfrey reports that, when she was taking medication, her former fitness coach, Bob Greene, told her "I think something's wrong. You're listless. Your movements are slower, even when you're just doing normal stuff. Twice I've told you something and you don't remember it. There's no sparkle in your eyes. I think you're in some sort of depression."
Not surprisingly, listlessness, slow movement, memory problems, and depression are all common hypothyroidism symptoms. Given this description, whatever thyroid medication Winfrey was taking, and whatever dose she was taking it at, it clearly wasn't working for her, and certainly was not optimized.
In particular, if all Winfrey got was the "prescription for synthetic thyroxine" described in her article -- given the symptoms Greene described and her continued weight gain -- it appears that she was not receiving optimal treatment. She may be one of the many women who needed more thyroxine, or additional T3, or a natural thyroid medication, in order to feel well and lose weight.
3. It Takes Time To Find the Right Medication and Dosage, and It Takes Time For It to Work
The O Magazine article says "Once you and your doctor work out the proper dosage—and that can take some time—you will feel better." But what exactly do they mean by "some time?" For many women, getting to the right doctors, and on the right medications, at the right dosage, can take months, or even years. In my own case, I didn't notice any change in symptoms until about four months after I started on thyroid medication. And even then, I've changed medications over the years, and with each change, I've had improvements in symptoms. Thyroid treatment is not one-size-fits-all, and it's certainly not like taking an aspirin for a headache.
All we know is that Oprah was diagnosed with a thyroid problem, she was put on medication -- most likely synthetic thyroxine -- and she went off the medication. Did she spend three to four months minimum taking her thyroid medication to see if she felt any relief of thyroid symptoms? Did her doctors adjust her dose? If she spent several months on levothyroxine, and still wasn't feeling better, did her doctors offer her additional T3 (i.e., Cytomel, or time-released T3?) Was she offered a chance to take Armour Thyroid or Nature-Throid, to see if that would help relieve her symptoms? And once the right medication was found, did she give it several more months to start working?
4. The TSH Controversy Is Confusing to Patients AND Doctors The sidebar article in O Magazine claims that a TSH of "between 2.5 and 4 means you are at risk for hypothyroidism, and should be retested within a year." The truth is, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists has, since 2002, recommended that the normal TSH reference range for thyroid testing be capped at 3.0, and levels above 3.0 be considered hypothyroid.
Many physicians also recommend that patients who have borderline levels and symptoms have antibodies testing to detect autoimmune thyroid disease -- which is the cause of most thyroid problems. Even if the TSH is "normal," as discussed earlier, if a woman has elevated antibodies and thyroid symptoms, treatment may help resolve symptoms and prevent progression to overt hypothyroidism.
TSH levels above 3.0 can also add to the risk of a host of additional health problems, including infertility, pregnancy problems, menstrual problems and irregularities, low sex drive, high cholesterol,difficult menopausal symptoms, and an increased risk of heart disease.
For a woman of child-bearing age who wants to get pregnant, this advise is particularly problematic, as TSH levels below 3.0 are typically best for pregnancy.
And, what is especially relevant to Oprah's situation, thyroid function -- even when within normal range -- is a factor that helps determine body weight. Even slightly elevated TSH levels are associated with weight gain and obesity. One study found that even among people who had a so-called normal TSH level, those with the TSH levels of 4.5 weighed approximately 12 pounds more than those who had a TSH on the low end of normal.
Is it possible that Oprah's doctors, like many conventional practitioners, gave her a dosage of thyroid medication that only reduced her TSH to the high-normal level?
5. A Soy-Heavy Diet May Worsen Thyroid Problems -- and Sabotage Weight Loss Efforts
After her initial diagnosis, Winfrey described her July 2007 effort to recuperate in Hawaii, saying "I took vitamins. Drank soy milk...." In May of 2008, Winfrey went on a 21-day vegan cleansing diet. The diet included tofu, tempeh, soy sausage, soy milk, soy yogurt, and soy products on the menu nearly every day, sometimes more than once. And in the January 2009 O Magazine article, Winfrey reports she that she again retreated to Hawaii in July of 2008, where she "sipped soy milk, downed vitamins, snacked on flaxseed, and allowed my body to restore itself."
It's not clear why Winfrey believes that such heavy consumption of soy products is good for her. In fact, for someone suffering from thyroid disease, many experts would caution against overconsumption of soy, due to soy's potential for negative effects on thyroid health.
Soy in concentrated forms can act as an antithyroid agent, slowing down the thyroid, making hypothyroidism worse. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) soy experts Drs. Daniel Doerge and Daniel Sheehan, protested the FDA's own health claims for soy, stating:
There is abundant evidence that some of the isoflavones found in soy, including genistein and equol, a metabolize of daidzen, demonstrate toxicity in estrogen sensitive tissues and in the thyroid...Additionally, isoflavones are inhibitors of the thyroid peroxidase which makes T3 and T4. Inhibition can be expected to generate thyroid abnormalities, including goiter and autoimmune thyroiditis.Some experts would recommend that thyroid patients like Winfrey -- especially those who are experiencing uncontrolled weight gain -- avoid soy, or use limited quantities of only fermented soy products like tempeh and miso. According to Michael Barbee, author of Politically Incorrect Nutrition, "the fermentation process alters soy in such a way that the natural toxins, antinutrients, and goitrogens are neutralized, and the isoflavones are made beneficial--or at least, less harmful."
Could Oprah's soy-heavy diet be making her thyroid and weight problems worse?
6. Stress and Adrenal Fatigue Can Slow or Prevent Thyroid Recovery
When she first went public about her thyroid problem, Winfrey told Good Morning America's Robin Roberts that she "blew out her thyroid" at the end of her show's season, due to stress. Later, in her "What I Know for Sure" column , in the October 07 issue of the magazine, Winfrey described being exhausted and numb by the end of her show's season in May, but she needed to spend the month of June in South Africa with the students at the school she founded, and couldn't take a break until July. Again, in the past year, she struggled with the scandal at her South African school and made numerous trips to South Africa, ran her television show, radio network, and magazine, made a number of appearances on the campaign trail, and wasn't able to take a break until July.
There's no doubt that Winfrey has a jam-packed schedule, and she readily admits she is under constant stress. It's very likely, then, that she is suffering some degree of adrenal fatigue or adrenal burnout.
Some of the classic signs of adrenal fatigue include feeling overwhelmed with stress, weight gain, feeling run down, having low stamina, and difficulty concentrating -- all symptoms Winfrey has said she suffers.
Chronic stress raises cortisol levels, which contributes to weight gain and fatigue, and can worsen existing thyroid imbalances. In cases of more severe adrenal fatigue, the adrenal imbalance needs to be addressed before the thyroid is treated, or thyroid medication can simply make symptoms worse.
According to Drs. Richard and Karilee Shames, whose book Fat, Fuzzy and Frazzled" discusses this adrenal/thyroid connection:
...a mixed thyroiditis/adrenalitis is a very sensitive situation. Each gland needs the other for support. You can't simply boost one without also boosting the other, and can't do it well by giving big doses of either at any one time. The glands need to gradually adapt to the new environment of expanded function...This dual upward titration approach is often successful when other types of intervention have failed.Could Oprah have underlying adrenal fatigue that has not been addressed, diagnosed, or treated? Could untreated adrenal fatigue be contributing to her weight gain -- and her thyroid condition?
- Make sure that you are taking the right medication, at the right dosage -- and remember that synthetic thyroxine is not the only option, nor does it work well for everyone.
- Give yourself enough time for the right medication at the right dose to work for you.
- Make sure that you are at an optimal TSH, a level at which you feel your best.
- Don't overconsume soy products.
- If you have symptoms of adrenal fatigue, or you don't respond to thyroid treatment, have your adrenal function checked and appropriately treated.
| BACKGROUND: Read all of Mary Shomon's About.com Thyroid site coverage of Oprah Winfrey's thyroid condition here. |
Photos: Oprah- David McNew / Getty Images News; Soybeans, pills, scale: clipart.com
Great article. My mom has Hashimoto’s, and I have had intermittent thyroid problems since the birth of my first child. My levels fluctuate, so it is sometimes hard to find a doc who understands that sometimes my levels will be in the “high-normal” category, but that doesn’t necessarily mean I don’t need treatment.
Oprah says: “Who knew this tiny butterfly gland at the base of the throat had so much power? When it’s off, your whole body feels the effects”
Who knew? Who knew? Millions of Patients!!! Dozens of advocates and educators who tried to get Oprah to do a real and comprehensive show about thyroid and its relationship to fatigue, weight gain, and depression.
Someone empower this woman with better information and treatment, Stat!
I find it so dangerous to know that Oprah has such a big influence with people (and especially women) all over the world. With her article in O-Magazine, she does again more harm than good for those suffering from thyroid disease.
For a woman who comes across empowered and knowledgeable, she sure needs to get back to school on this on!
I had my total thyroidectomy in Dec 2004 and since then I have to take Oroxine 150 mcg (synthetic drug) daily.
I am comfortable with the dosage, only sometimes I can feel imbalance and very weak when having too much activities or stress out.
The problem is my TSH level is going down and now is touching 0.02. Others like T3, T4 and Tyroglobulin are all in the normal range.
Please advise. Thanks
This woman has all the money and all the resources in the world at her fingertips. Why the heck doesn’t she consult a REAL doctor and get a proper diagnosis, including the right meds for her particular sitation. I just don’t get it. I would love for her to publish her test results for all to see and do a show on what they mean. I’m 45 and have had Hashimoto’s since I was eight years old. Without my meds I wouldn’t be here any more.
Ask yourselves how long it took you to acknowledge and learn about your own thyroid condition, before you fully understood it.
Most of us have struggled with this condition. It takes years to get your head around it, even the general practitioners don’t understand the implications and that’s why most of us have been classed as hypochondriacs or mentally imbalanced people and had anti-depressants thrust down our throats for years before finally waking up to the reality.
Some of us are still working towards optimum health but its a long road with lots of uphill struggles. Finding a doctor that fully understands the condition and is willing to treat the person and symptoms instead of the blood tests is nearly an impossible task.
We all had to find our own road for recovery, Oprah is on her own journey, when she has learned her lessons I don’t doubt for a minute that she will be up on her soap box shouting for everyone with a thyroid condition.
Until then lets wish her well on her journey – instead of counting her money, which we all know doesn’t buy you love, health or happiness.
One of the best things my endocrinologist did was put me on the generic form of Glucophage. He diagnosed a low level which treated the insulin resistance, which was a result of the damage caused by Hashimoto’s disease. I dropped 23 pounds.
This is an excellent article – I will be forwarding to all my friends who have various thyroid issues. I spend hours upon hours trying to explain this to people who have a hard time believing that doctors can be wrong.
Great article. Always good to have a reminder on how to achieve the ultimate health when dealing with thyroid issues. Thanks Mary, I have been coming to your site for years to help me deal with my thyroid problems, my daughter’s and my son’s. Keep up the good work
I couldn’t have said this better:
“Marieke says:
I find it so dangerous to know that Oprah has such a big influence with people (and especially women) all over the world. With her article in O-Magazine, she does again more harm than good for those suffering from thyroid disease.
For a woman who comes across empowered and knowledgeable, she sure needs to get back to school on this on!”
I saw my mother work through her struggle of having half of her thyroid removed due to tumor and then her 15 year struggle with doctors, medications, and the symptoms we all know go along with this. I myself am now going through this journey, though I was lucky enough to know what to look for, both in symptoms and in doctors (though I’ve been to my fair share of doctors that told me I was crazy and to see psych). And believe it or not – I still didn’t realize it was happening, nor did I want to believe it! (We all know how this feels.) I was fortunate enough to be a member of this community (at the recommendation of my mother, thank you!), and to see Mary’s article about Dr. Adrienne Clamp. I’ve been seeing her now for months, and I’ve since been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism, Hypoglycemia, and Stage 2 Adrenal Fatigue. The process has been grueling and at times down-right painful, but with the help of good doctors, good information, and the encouragement from my husband, family, and all of you fine people, I’m getting through it.
Oprah is going through the same struggle we all have been through, but it seems as though she’s operating under the credo of “ignorance is bliss.” If she doesn’t open her eyes to what’s happening to her soon, she will suffer so much more than she is now. With the access she has to the public, the influence she has on her followers, and the money she has at her fingertips to do good, I hate to think that she’s passing along incorrect information. She could be adding so much to the cause that we all support; thyroid education to the masses. Maybe Mary and Dr. Clamp should contact her and offer not only their services, but their time and intellect to truly educate the public about the thyroid, thyroid disease, how truly heinous it’s malfunction can be on your body and life, and smart treatments – and the differences in those treatments for each person.
The more people we can educate, the more people we can empower, men and women! The world could be healthier thanks to people like Mary Shomon, Dr. Adrienne Clamp, and Oprah Winfrey if we could just get them together!!
i believe oprah is the richest woman in the world, and has access to the ‘best’ doctors…..more so than the average american. i truly do not care whether oprah has thyroid disease or not, and perhaps the newsletter could be put to better use instead of wasting space on this opinionated bigotted person.
I pity Oprah. She seems to get such off the wall advice from people wanting to ride her coat tail to success.
I finally got insistent on my own way with my thyroid treatment. After 5 years of battling hypothyroidism with synthetic hormone, my TSH started creeping up again.
When my test results came back just over a month ago, I had just seen a doctor other than my primary care physician for another problem. She was sent the results and we discussed raising my med levels. I requested Armour thyroid and she agreed (my pcm was hesitant to make that “old-fashioned” change). In the month since I began the new treatment, I’ve lost 7 pounds without changing anything except my medication.
Never a big eater, I also am very careful about goitergens. I always steam or cook my broccoli and use rice milk when I’m in the mood for something other than cow’s milk.
I finally gave in and let the doctor add an iron supplement to battle my chronic anemia. After I survived the first week and a half of muscle and bone pains and fatique, I am now able to take my ferrous sulfate without noticeable side-effects. (Well, as long as I maintain my high-fiber diet.) I take the pills twice a day with about 4 ounces of orange juice for maximum absorption. I also avoid caffeine during meal times and within two hours of taking the iron pills. I’ve moved my thyroid medicine to just before bed and I’ve finally been able to get all three pills in every day.
Besides consuming oatmeal and flaxseed daily, I am adding aerobic and strength training to my daily routine because I still have slightly elevated cholesterol. I am absolutely determined not to add another medication to my day, so this is the only way I can work out my own health care.
For someone who is very into natural remedies and herbal solutions, this has been a difficult battle for me. I have decided to celebrate with a little family party (and some chocolate!!) when I break the 160 lb. barrier. My doctor’s goal is for me to get back to my pre-hypothroidism weight of below 145 lbs. I haven’t seen that number on the scale in over five years. Besides the thyroid disease…I’m now 45 years old…but I still have hope!!
I have hypothyroidism since 2004 and in my opinion she has been giving all the wrong steps in her way to tackle a thyroid problem. The number one rule is to stick to your medication. After that, she should have quit her job. I eat a reasonable diet including all types of foods, including fat foods, but I do not take any soy ever since I read in these pages that it might be counterproductive. My weight has only slightly risen, but not dramatically. My condition only worsens when I get through periods of stress through work and it improves when I take time to rest. Perhaps her self-image as an empowered self made woman worker would be hurt by her admitting the need to leave her job.
Great article! I’m afraid the cool Hollywood thing is to do some off the wall regime like Oprah is doing. While mainstream America watches her show, she does something totally different with her own health that seems rather ignorant to me. I hope she wakes up in time to adjust her lifestyle and learn about the soy problem as well as getting some meds.
My mother-in-law battled depression for years and finally was put on thyroid medication a little too late. Both my aunts take it, and I have been on it for Hashimoto’s for five years. It is a constant monitoring of numbers, but I have been lucky in keeping the weight off by exercising and watching the diet. I also battle chronic urticaria and vitiligo, both of which are related to autoimmune Hashimoto’s. We women have to take care of ourselves by being more educated to the facts. Thank you for all your information, Mary!
I too am shocked that someone with the power of Oprah and her entire team cannot seem to work this out for her. I have suffered from hypothyroidism for years and struggled for many of those trying to convince Doctors of my condition with all the symptoms I had and have still to this day. I am also shocked with the research I’ve done over the years that Oprah and her “team” of people cannot get it right yet. I still have hope though that she and her team will figure it out one day and because of her power and influence in the world be able to help thyroid sufferers.
I have several questions. Are thyroid dysfunctions of any type (Hashimoto’s, Grave’s–which I have had-hypothyroidism–which I have been diagnosed with) generally considered diseases which affect women more than men I ask since the thrust of your website gives this impression.
Secondly, how much of the poor treatment of the constellation of disorders associated with the thyroid a function of race, class, or sex?
Thanks a lot Mary for this great article!
On October 2007, I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism along with a toxic goiter a little bit more than a year ago. A year ago (coincidentally today!) I had I131 radioactive therapy and since February 2008 I have been struggling with hypothyroidism condition. I have seen at least 14 doctors, and they have change my dose at least 5 times in 11 months. A month ago, I went to see another doctor (and hopefully the last!) but I’m still in trial & error. Meantime, I have a very mild protuberance in one of my eyes and which I’m still with medication with no positive results. All this year has been a very crappy year for me under too much stress, anxiety and personal issues. I have gain around 25 lb!!! First time in my life that I’m in that weight… and I feel completely useless and am very afraid that this is just the begging!!! Consequentially (of course) now I’m in a constant battle with a very severe depression. Finally, I decided to go to a psychiatry. I have come to a point that I know that I can’t handle this by myself. This is so difficult but I still have hope that this is temporary, that my due season is coming and I will find the right dose and will lose those 25lb. Nevertheless, I have to keep fighting this depression because I know I will not get better with my condition until I accept it….
Thanks a lot for all your comments, I feel more positive and I feel that I’m not alone!
I read about this earlier in the week and I am so glad Mary did this article. Thank you Mary for passing along all your wonderful knowledge.
I will never forget when Oprah did her show, I had just been recently diagnosed. I was feeling god-awful…when I tuned in I felt like crying. The doctor she had on was awful. Just awful. I’ve stopped watching Oprah, don’t subscribe to her magazine anymore.
She was so misguided. My symptoms are somewhat under control now and I wish she’d use her platform for good about spreading the word on this miserable condition.
At one time I watched the Oprah show. She had a physician named Dr. Oz on numerous times. At that time, Dr. Oz promoted the use of soy products for health. Oprah respected Dr. Oz’a opinions about health and perhaps that is why she is indulging in those soy products.
here’s an idea. Let’s all print out this article and send it to her. She must get tons of mail each day but if enough people do it, maybe it will get to her.
My thyroid doc is Stephan Langer in Berkeley, CA. We were chatting several appointments ago about Oprah nad her “newly discovered” thyroid problem. He told me he’d been interviewed by Oprah in Chicago many years ago about his thyroid expertise. He told me he strongly suspected then that she had a thyroid issue, probably Hashi’s. Too bad she didn’t listen and learn oh-so-many-years-ago. She may have avoided a lot of the suffering that goes along with Hashi’s.
Babzi says:
“We all had to find our own road for recovery, Oprah is on her own journey, when she has learned her lessons I don’t doubt for a minute that she will be up on her soap box shouting for everyone with a thyroid condition.”
I couldn’t have said it better. When we first learned of our diagnosis we had to learn about the issues around it too – including the ignorances of our Dr’s. Give Oprah a break! She’s on a path – she will find her way. Unfortunately, she’s a trend setter as well as a trend follower, but She’s also a very intelligent person. Once she realizes that she feels like crap all the time, she will finally find the correct path that doesn’t include soys or the latest “trends”.
I like that this article used her as an example, but there is no need to attack her. She has enough problems. Imagine gaining all that weight and having the whole world watch and comment on it?!
I was diagnosed as both Hypo-Thyroid and Hypo-Glycemic in 1963. The Dr had me on Armor Thyroid for 20 years and then retired. For the next 18 years, no Dr would treat my thyroid problem even when 9.3 was my ths reading. During that 18 year period, I went from size 8 ( which I had maintained for 20 years on armor thyroid ) to size 22. Finally in 1999 when I found a DR. that would work with me, I did loose 50 pounds and am back down to a size 16 but cannot seem to go down more which is in part, age and restrictions on exercise from arthritis.
Dr. Lowden who first diagnosed me said it is very often that people with thyroid problems are also hypo-glycemic and need a diet that contains the lower carb fruits and veggies. He stressed the importance of eating the fruit and veggies but making good choices. He also said to always eat the protien first as it reduces the reaction to the carbs. Mainly very little bread and potatoes and rice and more good garden veggies.
Well, Well, Well, you have no idea how happy I am to see that the big O finally came clean. I wrote a replyf following the airing of Dr. (I use that loosely) Northrop diagnosis, and treatment of Oprah’s hypothyroidism a few months ago, when it was discussed on this site.
I found it absurd that Oprah with her significant access to the best healthcare professionals around chose to bring on this quack, and let the world know thyroid problems are due to not voicing what ails you. I was also a bit miffed when the suggested cure was to cut back and head to Hawaii (how many of us real working women can 1. afford this 2. have no other responsibilities 3. get an extended hiatus?), and relax and eat fresh foods.
The reality is that thyroids fail particularly in woman around my and Oprah’s age, and yes they do come from over exerting yourself, but they also are largely an autoimmune disease, that not only needs medication, but needs constant monitoring by a physician (sometimes years) to get your formula right. And by right, I mean where you have the LEAST symptoms, because as we suffers know you will always have symptoms.
That being said, Weight gain, is a constant. Hello, your metabolism is GONE!!! Even if you eat healthy and the exact same, you are going to gain weight. The key is to reduce your calories, and increase your exercise.
I know this to well, because for six months I ran around with no thyroid, boxing, running, and NEVER EATING (one of the side effects of hypo, is that you are not at all hungry). Had I done this any other time in my life I would have lost 50pds. But this time, I lost maybe 5. I kept going from Dr. to Dr. saying something was wrong with me, and was told over and over I was in the range of healthy. It got so bad that I couldn’t speak, my toes, and hands where numb, I had pain throughout my entire body, and my hair was falling out. Finally, my gynecologist listened and told me it was classic hypothyroidism!!! And voila, by this time I had no thyroid at all!
I was really offended with the show Oprah did and the lack of really important information that was not shared with her viewing audience.
I am ecstatic to hear that she is serious now, and that its more than just the weight gain. Just feeling good on a daily basis, is about all us suffers can strive for.
Thanks for finally getting this right~!
Marygrace
Ms Winfrey needs to be under medical care. She is self-diagnosing and self-treating. She needs to be stabilized on thyroid medication, not go off it on her own. Her actions surprise me. She should know better.
I, too, was offended by the show with Dr. Northrup. I was diagnosed hypothyroid 32 years ago at age 30. I was on Synthroid for 20 years and did well. After I turned 50, the synthroid simply stopped working and my original symptoms returned. It took me about 7 years and several doctors before I was switched to Armour Thyroid. It began working within 3 months. I’m feeling much better now but continue to struggle with weight gain. I’ve started exercising and my weight has come down a few pounds. Doctors only want to look at those TSH numbers and just don’t seem to want to listen to how you are feeling. I think we still have a long way to go on educationg the medical community.
I have had Hashimotos for 20 years. First I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatique Syndrome.
Then panic disorder and referred to counselors,then finally a Doc took a thyroid test??!! Very low thyroid. But did not test for adrenal problems. Then on Thyroid panic problems got worse, more counseling ordered,
I was a wreck but did not know how to get well, finally after ending up in the ER with total burnout and bad heart palpatations they found out I was getting to much Thyroid!!?? Then lowered it, no more panic attacks, for years I kept a better eye on testing the thyroid. Then tried T-3 WOW!! , I came out of the brain fog, amazing. But still having trouble getting my Thyroid into the normal range without heart palpatations. ASked Dr if I should take 1/2 throid in AM and 1/2 in PM. He said no. Asked Drugest if that would help, he said no. Finally I tried it on my own and it made a big difference. I could handle taking higher dosage and felt better.
Still have not conqured the weight gain.
I can’t get any doctor to try different thyroid medicines. I had one doctor who put me on Armour and I lost 20 pounds, but he didn’t take blood work and went by my temperture. I ended up going for complete tests and off all my thyroid for 6 weeks. needlessly to say I’ve gained all my weight back. Where is help for us???
I also find it extremely scary that someone like Oprah, who has such a large audience, is putting so much bad information out to the world about hypothyroidism. It’s such a shame.
I had a partial thyroidectomy 5+ years ago and have done very well on synthetic Levothyroxine. I’ve tried supplementing sythetic T3 and I’ve tried Armour, but had the same reaction to both. They affected my heart rhythm and didn’t do anything for my overall condition. Sometimes Armour is not the right choice and there are sometimes serious reasons behind it.
I find it strange that Oprah wants to talk about “energy blockages”, but hasn’t tasked her doctors to find out what it is in her environment/diet, that is causing Hashimoto’s. (She probably has Hashi’s since it is the leading cause of hypo.)
Come on Oprah, get with it! Get your antibodies tested, then go on a paleo diet to eliminate all that possibly troublesome stuff like soy and gluten. Then get retested and see if the antibodies are going down. In the meantime, stay on your thyroid supplement … woo-woo flake science is most likely NOT going to cure your problem.
So…how do we get Oprah to read this information. It sounds like she need to hear this information…
I can understand Oprah quitting her thyroid meds. I also ‘blew out my thyroid’ from stress several years ago. I tested negative for Hashimoto’s. After I was on meds and feeling better I started a very strenuous exercise program. My fatigue would come back and my doctor would just increase my dosage. I started to suspect that each time I increased my dosage, my thyroid was adjusting to that level of supplementation and then, when my stress returned or increased (physical or mental), my thyroid would slow down even more. By increasing the amount of T4 from a pill I was decreasing the amount from my own thyroid. I started to wean myself off the meds very slowly and my thyroid would self adjust each time I reduced my dosage. It took about a year to get off the meds.
Not feeling good after an increase of thyroid medication is often an indication of low cortisol. Increasing thyroid can unmask a low adrenal situation. I would feel good after an armour increase for about a week and then feel lousy. It wasn’t that I was reducing my own thyoid production, it was that the thyroid needed normal cortisol levels to run the body’s metabolism.
If Oprah feels great off meds then more power to her, but it appears like she didn’t respond well to a synthetic thyroid hormone or has adrenals that need to be supported to tolerate her thyroid hormone replacement.
I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism/hashi in 1974. I’ve spent my entire adult life managing this disease. I was given synthroid and told that would cure me. 34 years later, I’ve fired numerous expert doctors, have spent 100’s of hours educating myself (Mary’s info has been a God-send), tried different meds and alternative treatments,and continue to constantly monitor my diet, weight and physical and emotional well-being. I could and should write my own book. If you don’t feel “well”, don’t stop trying to find the answers. In a blog I can’t tell all that I’ve learned, but trust your instincts and don’t let anyone tell you how you should feel. I’m doing fairly well, but I ALWAYS have to be vigilant about my health. No, it’s not just due to my swallowing my words- ask the doctors I’ve fired. Listen to Mary Shomon and read the books she recommends. You can be well with this disease/condition.
It seems pretty simple to me that the answer to Oprah’s problems are
“PUT MARY ON YOUR SHOW”
Oprah needs the education just as much as anyone else and it just goes to show that money can’t buy you health but she can make the choice of who to have on her show. So come on Oprah quit putting off the inevitable and do a show with one of the most educated, caring and honest people in this health crisis we call hypothyroidism… My vote is for MARY SHOMON!!!
With all of Oprah’s millions & celebrity status, you’d think she could come up with better than the typical one-size-fits-all, pharmaceutical allied Establishment MD..(or some New Ager) I know the type.. after struggling with fatigue, subnormal temperatures, chronic infections and low end TSH readings, etc for decades.. they discovered I had a thyroid problem, after mine finally crashed from Hashimotos with active Sjogrens.. Maybe they dismissed me earlier because I was usually able to keep my weight under control, partly due to candida & GI problems, of which they were also Clueless.. even when I had my first case of thrush in my mouth/throat.. not from HIV or STD’s, and not their catch-all IBS! For the last 7 years, I’m much better, but still easily fatigued & unmotivated, etc on my average dose of Levothyroxine(T-4). I am stuck in a gov/VA health care system where they only test for for TSH & T-4… not antibodies or T-3, etc. Their MD’s are as good as most, but afterall, the synthetics are the cheapest route to a normal TSH level, on paper. I guess I need a prescription.. Could anyone advise me on how to obtain some Amour Thyroid or similar, in the San Antonio, TX area? And thank you to Mary Shomon for this interesting, informative Thyroid website.
I realise we all deal with hypothyroid differently. But I can’t help wonder why Oprah isn’t on Synthyroid or managing her condition with meds? Any good doctor would tell her this.
Lastly, with all the money Oprah has I would have a chef around me 24/7 preparing ALL my meals even when I travel. As well as a physical coach. We know her schedule is busy but our health should take priority.
Thanks Mary for your site & article.
~I~ have ALWAYS been suspect re: Ms “O”. Last week I spied an article re: “O” in entrtamt section of newspr re: “O” & how she handles disapointments – she EATS!
Mac & Cheese! Perhaps THIS is why she now is 200 lbs!
What a GREAT role model! way to show women how to handle stress! another quote was – Pull bed covers over head & hide. This sounds good, but I was Very sad, no quotes re: get outside, walk, run, exercise! See, feel the sun, realize life will go on.
2 days later, “O” declares, (again in entrnmt section of newspr) she has a Thyroid prblm – NO mention of eating Mac & Cheese!
Hence, who is fooling who?
Now I REALLY dont care for “O” nor her show or Magazine.
I know that most people with thyroid disease are women. But, there are some of us men out here. I’ve had Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis for years now. I’d tell you how long I’ve had it, but I was in the Air Force during the time the onset and probably had it for years before I found out about it. I lost rank over the weight issue, only to find out about my Hashimoto’s a year later. Then, I find out that Doctors didn’t follow up on an inconclusive FNA biopsy several years earlier that could have had me on meds and controlling my thyroid. I’m still, 6 years later and forced to retire after 20 years, fighting to get my rank, pay & life back.
Please, don’t assume that all of the thyroid patients out there are women. It’s my belief that there are a whole lot more men out there with thyroid problems that don’t ever get diagnosed:
1. Men try to “tough it out” when they don’t feel quite right.
2. I know women do to, but, generally speaking, women tend to be more in tune to their bodies
3. Men don’t tend to go to the doctor unless they are just totally disabled. Again, this is a generalization, but, that is the trend. I would have probably never found out about my thyroid condition at all, except I was trying to find out why, even though I was eating like a rabbit and exercising like crazy, I couldn’t maintain or control my weight in order to stay within the regulations of the Air Force.
Excellent analysis, Mary. As usual! Our dear Oprah needs a talented thyroid/adrenal specialist who can meet her medical needs and who has an informed sensitivity toward effective alternative approaches — perhaps the physician in the Washington/Northern Virginia area you wrote about and whose name escapes me at the moment. Also, thank you for your personal commitment to substative research that helps autoimmune/thyroid patients like my three siblings and me.
Have any of you good-hearted people observed that Armour has not produced their thyroid product in many months? Their web site and phone message indicates that they plan to resume production, but the date continues to be revised. Currently they are promising their product to become available in late December. It is now late December, and still no Armour Thyroid available. Synthroid and its generic substitutes do indeed cause many adverse side effects when taken over a longer period of time, as amply described by many of the comments. Other products are simply not available for most people at most pharmacies. On a personal note, I have gained about 20 pounds in just a few weeks, following the absence of Armour Thyroid tablets, during which I have maintained my excellent low carb diet, along with weight training and aerobic exercise. So, even with access to all the correct information from Mary’s web site and others, we are at the mercy of one corporation which has now left us in the ditch.
What about the relationship between thyroid hormone and osteoporosis? I was recently diagnosed with osteoporosis and my doctor immediately cut back my thyroid medication (NatureThroid) by over 30% because thyroid hormone is thought to accelerate bone loss. I gained 10 pounds within 6 weeks and have been feeling all the hypothyroid symptoms I had before treatment. So how does one deal with this conundrum and achieve a balance between the treatments for hypothyroidism (Hashimoto’s) and osteoporosis?
I discovered in 1974 that I had “pregnancy induced” hypothyroidism after a failed pregnancy. After the pregnancy, my levels returned back to normal. I was pregnant 3 times after that and each time had to take thyroid medication, to return backto normal after each pregnancy. Then, about 6 years after my last pregnancy, hypothyroidism returned and I’ve had to take meds for over 25 years now. Does anyone know of a connection between hypothyroidism and over the counter diet pills–specifically Dexatrim. I took them as a teenager and remember reading that you should not take it if you have thyroid problems. Also, who, in your opinion, is the best medical person to monitor the condition and medication. Right now I have my PCP monitoring me and I don’t feel right even though she is happy with my blood levels-I think she is a bit conservative with my dosage. Should I see an endocrinologist and have them monitor and recommend levels?
I started out with synthroid, which didn’t agree with me, then changed to eltroxin. Feeling better, but never great. Went to a Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Dr. He sent me for a 24hr urine test, which tested for hormones. My T-4 was very high, a no-brainer, since I was supplementing with T-4. Dr. changed me to actual thyroid (from pigs thyroid). I have felt great. A lot of symptoms have disappeared. It wasn’t until I added Juice Plus to my diet, that I actually lost weight. I take double dose of the Vineyard blend. Go to rx4prevention.ca.
Also… Vitamin D!!!! Adding Vitamin D to my diet took care of the rest of the symptoms, especially the arthritic symptoms. The 400mg per day dose is gone… The real dose per day should be AT LEAST 4,000mg per day, in the summer, if you are in Canada, and more in the winter. These numbers are the same if you are black and don’t live in Canada, or the norther states. Vitamin D is important!
The best form of Vitamin D3 is from Carlson Labs.
It is important to find what is stimulating the autoimmune reaction. Why is the body attacking the thyroid? Taking all the synthetic thyroid or armour will not affect the autoimmune reaction, it is only replacing what the thyroid can’t produce. While there are a variety of antigens that can affect the thyroid, including heavy metals (mercury from dental amalgams)and viruses, I believe a lot of people’s immune systems are being stimulated by allergies to foods, principally wheat and soy. The reason Vitamin D works so well is that it helps regulate the immune system. But you still have to get the antigen out of the person. Try an allergy elimination diet and load up on the Vitamin D (a blood test will tell you if you are low)and I’ll bet the thyroid will settle down for most people.
I was diagnosed in 2001 after having a lump removed from breast. I was 159 pounds and ballooned to 200 pounds. I have a wonderful endocrinologist and I believe if you take your thyroid medication as prescribed, and eat a well balanced meal you can control your weight and not allow the weight to control you.
It “wasn’t my fault,” and its not yours!
I have Hashimotos thyroid disease. At the height of the disease I gained 80 lbs; checked myself into a mental hospital for 3 weeks; could not get out of bed due to depression; lost my dream job because I could not think, concentrate, or sleep; and spent 2.5 yrs on medical disability.
After 12 doctors, we got it right. I’ve lost 32 lbs, feel fantastic, and have a new job. My energy is only at 75%, but I can see the light. I am so angry at the medical profession. I vow to make this my cause & get the word out that a 30 second blood test can save many lives, relationships, and keep people active and productive.
10% of my life has been spent in a deep black hole due to mis-diagnosis.
This article contains the exact changes in treatment that turned my weight gain, mood, and concentration around – especially the treatment of adding T3, which 3 doctors disagreed with (after I found the treatment on my own through research- not one out of 5 specialists suggested or informed me of the T3 option, but said I was simply being lazy – I was in a bootcamp and had a fresh diet designed and prepared for me – no cheating – all because I was deperately trying to prove that it was indeed “not me”). I felt amazingly better in about 1 week after the T3 was added & immediately started to drop the weight & gain use of my memory and concentration and my mood improved.
Thank you, Gerald. All through this blog I was thinking that no-one is addressing the causes of this epidemic, and who is actually thinking about healing it (as opposed to managing it). Then I got to thinking about amalgam, which I’ve been suspecting as a contributor to my hypothyroidism so thank you for telling me that it can be implicated. I have come off synthetic thyroxine as I did feel peculiar, not myself (ie bonkers), and had regular cramps and sleepless nights. How do the medics know when the dose is right – we can regulate our thyroid activity to produce less when we detect high levels of thyroxine in our system apparently if all the related glands are working (according to my GP). They aren’t interested in how we feel – just the test results. The GP also told me that the thyroxine gradually leaves our system when we come off it, which I hope is because I was only on 50. I do generally feel better and much more me without it, and haven’t lost the little energy I have, although motivation eludes me and I tend to feel cold and appetiteless with or without medication. I work part-time so money is an issue in getting rid of amalgam. If more was known maybe it would be easier and cheaper to get it removed. There must be an answer for each of us, so I wish us all well in finding our own.
We should all listen to our bodies more. At 43 I was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer and had a complete thyroidectomy. It has taken several years to start to feel somewhat normal. Thyroid Cancer rates are growing every year and we are in need of Endocrinologist who have kept up with their education and continue to listen to their patients. If your Doctor doesn’t listen to you, move on to the next. I have been so fortunate to live near MD Anderson and have found a wonderful group of Doctors.
Their are many other conditions that can follow if you have Thyroid Problems: insulin resistance: low Calcium and Vitamin D. Joint pain, Weight Gain, my list could go on.
I am lucky to be alive and to be a mom to my 3 wonderful little boys, who keep me going everyday. I count my many Blessings
OPRAH WAKE UP!!!!! Find a good Endocrinologist who cares about your health, not their fame.
Thanks for the great information. Having had Graves disease, I had radioactive iodine treatment back in 1993 and have not been the same since. I have been on several thyroid meds and gone to several different doctors. Still trying to find something that works so I can feel normal again.
I was diagnosed with Graves Disease in 2006 by my pcp because of being overheated all the time. Luckily, She knew immediately what I had. I went to an endocrinologist and had radioactive iodine therapy and like Deb I have had multiple problems ever since. I had gained weight due to the Graves (I am one of those who is always the exception to the rule) and since I have gained more. My eyes swelled, were so dry they felt like they were full of sand and they were so light sensitive that I could open then unless I had sunglasses on.
My endo put me on levoxyl for the past two years and I gained more weight, was depressed, had terrible brain fog and my hair was falling out by the hand full. On my 40th birthday I woke up in excruciating pain & no ability to use my right arm – it was diagnosed as parsonage-turner syndrome which my endo thinks is possibly as a result of the iodine treatment…..
After all of that, I was lucky enough to read one of Mary’s articles and asked to have my meds switched to thyrolar – since on it my mind has cleared, my hair is no longer falling out…I have not gained any more weight, I can stay awake past 9:00 pm and I am starting to feel like a functioning person again.
Thank you Mary!
I’ve been trying to stablilze my thyroid since 1995 when I was first diagnosed at 40. Before that I was told I had lupus and lots of other diseases. I had to bully my doctor into letting me have the TSH test (he was offended that I questioned his treatment of me because I “looked too good to have a thyroid issue). The result was that my TSH was a 75 back then and has NEVER been in the normal range. I’ve had to change the dosage and type of medication several times a year. My thyroid is now 150 which is VERY alarming and depressing. I’m gaining weight at such a rate that I can’t fit into clothes from month to month. Finally I’ve been able to get referrals to an endocrinologist. So much for doctors being healers. They’re pharmacists acting as doctors.
My point is that this is an on-going struggle – first to get diagnosed and then to find what works for you. I still haven’t so I can’t point a finger at Oprah. She may think she’s can bully this disease out of herself. She’ll come around when she gains another 40 pounds.
Well I found a doctor that is excellent at treating thyroid conditions. Thank goodness! He takes no insurance though, so that usually scares people away. Oprah just needs to fire her “5 star” doctors and start looking elsewhere. They aren’t helping her one bit.
I find it more sad that these doctors continue her down these stupid paths. Isn’t there one out there that will tell her to stop eating soy! A small amount of supplemental iodine may be all she needs…But for whatever reason iodine has a bad connotation these days.
I was just thinking this morning about my incredible weight gain over the past three years and how I havn’t done anything different yet I’ve gone from a size 2 to a size 14/16. I’m 52 years old and started missing my periods for the first time this year but, obviously, the side effects of it started before 2008. There’s no doubt in my mind that our hormones play a huge part in weight gain, including the thyroid. When I went to my doctor to ask him to test my thyroid and other hormones he said to go on the South Beach diet, get myself into the gym and call him in six months. Well, I did both of these things and I still weigh the same amount. I’m not calling him though because he obviously thought the only thing that was wrong with me was what I was eating and the exercise I was or wasn’t doing and refused to take the tests that I asked him to take.
I feel very bewildered. after a diagnosis 2 years ago of hypothyroid, I was prescribed Thyroxine to which I had a bad reaction. I began itching severely all over my body and broke out in small bumps. I itched for about nine months until I took myself of medication. My doctors did not beleive the meds had anything to do with the itching but could find not another cause for it. The itching stopped and the bumps went away pretty soon after discontinuing meds. Then I had some work done by a kiniesiologist that helped with the fatigue and I got some good energy back for a while. Since that I did nothing about my thyroid but exercise regularly, eat healthily like i have done for the past 20 years. I have many symptoms. The fatigue, depression, fuzziness, weight gain and joint pains get to me the most. The musculaskelatal pains have been preventing me from exercising for 3 months now. It’s very distressing for me. I like being active. I recently went to a doctor who did tests and told me that my TSH was 0.1 and that she does not think I need meds. I still feel miserable and I realize that I could now be hyperthyroid.
I live in the SF Bay Area. Does anyone know someone out here who knows what they are doing in term sof thyroid treatment.
Oprah isn’t a doctor, nor is her “team.” She has a thyroid issue, so that makes her the same as those of us with thyroid issues and she’s just as lost as some of us with thyroid issues and Oprah is taking the VERY SAME STEPS that many of us took when we were first diagnosted. She, like us, will have to have her own journey and find out what’s not working for her and boldly seek out better treatments. So, instead of putting her down, you should celebrate the fact that at the very least her journey will be publicized, unlike many of ours.
I have to admit I am rather surprised at the number of comments attacking Oprah. I don’t think there is one of us here that have not tried the traditional route before discovering a better way.
I for one was feeling fine for a number of years with the traditional treatment of Synthroid alone. But in the last year so much has changed – weight gain, stress, fatigue, etc… Now I have begun the long struggle of finding a better more efficient way to treat my hypo/Hashi’s.
I think the public will be able to see that what Oprah has been doing is not working. Give Oprah the chance to find the right path for her. Then in turn she will publicize it.
When we know better, we do better.
I find Oprah’s discussions on her Thyroid condition to be somewhat misleading. None of her MD’s ever did any kind of diagnostic procedures to determine if she indeed suffered from Thyroid problems. We al know that once you have been diagnosed medication to treat the particular problem will be necessary for life. Oprah’s Dr.’s treated her symtomatically only. My question is did she really have a Thyroid problem? I struggle with weight gain constantly but my Thyroid medication, Synthroid has eliminated many of my symptoms. I have managed to take off 40 of the lbs. that I gained but it’s an ongoing task. I exercise 40-60 minutes per day. So along with exercise we all must diet if we want to restore our health. It is very possible for all of us to lose weight and restore our health but we just have to work harder than everyone else but most importantly if we do have a Thyroid problem it must be diagnosed and treated.
Lisa, if you feel hypo but your TSH is very low, you might need to look into pituitary problems. It is your pituitary that produces TSH, so if it isn’t working, you won’t get TSH in your blood even if you are very low in thyroid!
For the lady who has osteo and her doc dropped her meds, did he check for vit D deficiency? This too can cause bone to lose density. Geez, does he prefer you to have no life, and then maybe even die, as long as you have denser bones?
I have high hopes for Oprah that she will get the message one day, and when she does, she will be such a good advocate for us!
After struggling for DECADES with various symptoms, I was finally diagnosed and properly treated for hypothyroidism using Armour thyroid. I weighed 242 lbs., and my doctor assured me that it would probably take 6-8 months for my weight to come down with treatment alone -she didn’t want me to diet, just focus on getting the medication right first. Lo and behold, 7 months later, the weight loss began, and I have lost 42 lbs. 16 months after I began. Many other improvemnts have occurred – we are now about to investigate adrenal issues – but I have to say, this has saved my life!
When I recently saw Oprah on her show, and she was talking like her thyroid problem has been “fixed” I thought; “My goodness girl, go look in the mirror”.– If ever there was anyone who had a classic hypothyroid apprearance, she does!
She most likely has Hypothyroidism Type 2, which doesn’t show up on blood tests (or any other common tests). — I can attest to this, as I was SO miserable before I heard of Type 2 and found help for it!!! ! –
Believe me, they are right about reducing your intake of soy products. I recently started taking Lecithin every morning, an hour after my Synthyroid. About a week later , I was lying on the couch every afternoon. I just couldn’t function. I realized the only thing, I had done differntly was to take the Soy derived Lecithin. I discontinued it, and started feeling better within a week. Everthing has Soy in it these days, be very careful about over doing it.
I didn’t see the Oprah show where she and Dr. Northrup were discussing the possibiity of thyroid problems being the result of unexpressed feelings. Sound a lttle “airy-fairy” but this is exactly what happened to me. In the mid 80’s I had been involved with a man and we used to argue so much we were nicknamed “The Bickersons.” The next relationship I was in, the man was often verbally abusive to me, but I didn’t want to “get into it with him.” I used to bite my tongue all the time when I really wanted to scream at him. Naturally, the situation was stressful, and lo and behold, I ended up with Grave’s Disease.
I mentioned to my bonehead endocrinologist at the time that I felt the Graves had been brought on by stress. She replied in a very condescending manner that “stress does not cause thyroid problems.”
I moved on to a new endocrinologist and expressed an interest in trying Armour thyroid, but got the same response as Shirley, whose letter was shared – Armour is no good, the strength varies from tablet to tablet, take Synthroid.
For the last 2 years I have been seeing an alternative health care practioner who diagnosed adrenal exhaustion and put me on DHEA for a time. I feel better than I have in years. He monitors my thyroid levels and just got some Armour for me to try, as the last 2 months I have been experiencing low thyroid symptoms.
Thanks to all who have shared their experiences.
I think it’s pathetic that any of you blame Oprah for “bad information” when, clearly, can’t get good information from your own doctors! Never did she say, “you should do this” or “don’t try anything else”. This was an article about how SHE is dealing with the issue and as a caring human, hopes that she will find a healthy path. Perhaps try positiveness and kindness instead of mockery and ridicule…certainly couldn’t hurt any of you.
I don’t think anyone is intentionally bashing Oprah. But if she’s going to have a discussion about thyroid issues, she should have doctors that specialize in thyroid disease,and doctors that speacialize in natural treatments . To be so vague about the disease, knowing how her opinions can sway many people could be potentionally dangerous for someone. Stopping thyroid treatment is irresponsible. And for many patients, myself included, that suffer extreme weight gain, diabetes, liver disease, and muscle and bone pain, migranes and sinus problems, finding the right treatment is crucial.And unfortunately is not easy. Stress may exaserbate a thyroid problem, but I doubt it is the cause. I think Oprah will eventually come to the realization that it is not her fault she’s stressed or gaining weight. The only cure for thyroid disease is a good and knowledgeable doctor that dosen’t generalize his patients. Or better yet, find a good nurse practitioner.
First, I too, am astounded by Oprah’s inability to obtain accurate information, whether it’s that she must avoid soy [at least the processed products we have in the states] as well as receive a proper thyroid diagnosis and treatment. Secondly, relative to Susan Weber’s query ‘What about thyroid and Osteoporosis’ I was told by my ND that I [age 62] NEEDED to have a Bone Mineral Density test since my bio-identical Rx of T4-T3 is higher, yet since I have long refused any unnecessary exposure to radiation, I did my own investigation to learn that the FOUR pillars of bone health are Calcium, Magnesium, Vitamin D-3 AND Vitamin K-2 [MK-7 form]…and by adding this last item [just] two months before having an ‘Osteocalcin’ blood test [protein which indicates whether elevated bone-building osteoblasts are hard at-work] I not only enjoyed an ‘above-range’ blood test result but so did the former/long term back pain completely stop, even to this day. Viola! Needless to say, we must be our own best advocate since even a [supposedly] savvy ND had not thought of this approach, was impressed enough to incorporate it into his practice, and thankfully, is no longer pressuring me for such radiation-related diagnostic. Take good care everyone.
Perhaps Oprah could get Mary Shomon on her tv show. So all of America could learn the “truths” abouot Thyroid problems. Oprah has some learing to do still.
I have been taking thyroid med for years and over the years the weight continued to climb. Other health Problems arose and I am tired all the time. I have been on every dosage known, every brand known and it did not matter .One doctor even took me off all meds to see the effect on my body.And he was a specialist in thyroid field… I do take Armour. But I was not aware of adrenial fatigue. Would you talk about that to us?
My first comment is in response to the comment by number 62. I too am hypothyroid and take lecithin. You can buy egg yolk based lecithin in capsule form from the health food store. The brand I take is “Nature’s Plus,” 600 mg. It does require refrigeration after opening. It works great, it’s a little more expensive, but at least there is absolutely no soy in it. Before the soy craze started all lecithin was made from egg yolks!!
My second comment is about Dr. Christian Northrup. Does anybody else think that this “metaphysical” woman believes in some strange information about a number of topics. I don’t understand a woman as smart as Oprah appears to be being hoodwinked by this woman. I have listened to her on the show talking about thyroid issues and menopause issues, and all I can think is “are you kidding me????” She needs to leave the “new age junk” behind and focus on being a real doctor. I sincerely hope Oprah finally wises up and get the right medical treatment. She has much to much influence on too many people to being leading them down this prim rose path being sicker.
Wow, this is fascinating, thank you. I respect Oprah and admire her, wish she was taking advice from wiser counsel. It would be marvelous if she decided to get some more evidence-based advice and let the world know about this condition.
Hi! everyone new to this blog so here goes my problem . I have so many that I dont know what to do my docs are all of one mindset get a gastric bypass your thyroid is cooked post RAI your diabetic hypertensive, fibro degentertive joint problems,jiont replcements,cant walk fast cant run cant excercise the way they want me to to see any results,weight gain 80lbs since RAI and uphill all the way, trying everything.but nothing works if I lose 2 I’m up 3 the next day. Is Marys book helping anyone, I’m reading it now my synthroid dose is 150mcg and I’m not feeling well at all. any suggestions. sue
And the top reason why? If she would exercise and eat in moderation, that’s why.