Is Oprah Winfrey Planning a Secret Thyroid Surgery to Save Her Life?
Apparently she is, if you believe the National Enquirer. You can take a look a the cover of the May 11, 2009 issue, which has a picture of talk show diva and thyroid sufferer Oprah Winfrey, next to a headline that screams "OPRAH: ONLY 3 YEARS TO LIVE!" Then it goes on to say, "Secret Surgery to Save Her Life" and "What She's Hiding From Her Fans." According to the Enquirer, experts who have "reviewed her medical history" claim that she has only three years to live, and that "her weight has soared to 250 pounds - and medical experts say that unless the 55-year-old talk-show queen undergoes lifesaving surgery to remove her thyroid, she'll eat her way into an early grave. Without the surgery, it's unlikely that Oprah will ever be able to control her weight, and she could suffer a fatal heart attack or stroke, those experts warn."
According to the Enquirer, "close family insiders" have told the tabloid that Oprah is "...down on herself for all the weight she's gained, and even though she prides herself on being open and honest with her viewers, she's considered having thyroid surgery, but not telling anyone...she can't face another round of strict dieting and rigorous exercise, and she fears surgery is the only way out!"
We know that Oprah is struggling with her weight. She publicly admitted to tipping the scales at more than 200 pounds, in part as a result of her thyroid condition. (You can read all about Oprah's thyroid condition in my coverage here at the site.) Oprah even commiserated recently over mutual weight struggles with actress Kirstie Alley on a show last week. (See photo.)
Surgical removal of the thyroid is almost never a treatment for Hashimoto's/hypothyroidism, and it's certainly not a treatment for thyroid-related weight gain. So, is this Enquirer story fact or fiction? Given the National Enquirer's spotty record of journalistic integrity, you have to wonder. But is it beyond the realm of possibility? No.
Oprah reportedly has Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and she's had periods of hyperthyroidism, and periods of hypothyroidism as a result of the autoimmune thyroid condition. She also publicly reported that she has stopped taking thyroid medication entirely. And for Hashimoto's hypothyroidism patients, failing to take thyroid hormone replacement medication -- as Oprah is doing -- can allow the antibodies that are attacking the thyroid gland to increase and in some patients causes hypothyroidism to worsen, nodules to grow, and the thyroid to enlarge. At the same time, this can be accompanied by an escalation of hypothyroidism symptoms, including weight gain. While we don't have any reports that Winfrey has nodules or goiter, it's possible that if Winfrey has nodules or goiter, and has refused medication, surgery might be necessary.
But it's also possible that Oprah could have Hashitoxicosis, a combination of Graves' disease and Hashimoto's disease, that causes the sufferer to have swings between hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism symptoms, and is very difficult to control with medication. The mention of concerns about "fatal heart attack or stroke" -- as noted in the Enquirer article -- are more consistent with hyperthyroidism. Some patients with Hashitoxicosis do opt for radioactive iodine ablation or surgical removal of the thyroid.
And it's also possible that Oprah is getting more incompetent thyroid advice from her coterie of doctors and advisors. After all, her current experts du jour are the ones who have her thinking that a diet heavy in soy, plus a regimen of bioidentical hormone replacement -- but not any actual thyroid treatment -- is the miracle cure for her autoimmune Hashimoto's hypothyroidism and resulting symptoms.
It's also possible that the surgery Oprah is planning is actually a gastic bypass, and some less-than-savvy advisors think the public will buy the idea that thyroid surgery results in weight loss, as a way to conceal the weight loss surgery.
Who knows? We'll have to wait for the news from Oprah herself.
Photo: David McNew / Getty Images News
Comments
Thank you for the update. You are one of the people we look to for the flip side Oprah thyroid news.
This entire article appear to be written by someone that just know a few fancy words. One statement that really bothers me is, “she’ll eat her way into an early grave.” I have hypothyroidism and I struggle to eat enough calories or I will gain wait. It’s about balance. It’s a misconception that this condition is just about being lazy, and lacking will power to control eating habits. I have to force myself to eat. And I’m currently over 200 lbs. I’m still learning, but thyroid treatments don’t always work. So saying that by stopping treatment, she is doomed, is really aweful. There are other alternatives. Getting out in the sun, eating the right foods, exercise. This article seems really naive. I bet she is going to be just fine and I wish people would just leave her alone!!!
I agree with Mary on all counts. Oprah needs a doctor that is truly good with her thyroid problem. Thankfully, I go to an endocrinologist from the Top Doc’s section on this site. Before going to Dr. John Reed I was not in control or healthy. I won’t go into all of my problems at that time. Yes, eating healthy, exercise and all things perfect is wonderful but when you feel awful you can’t do these things. Even with trying one can’t always do it. My medication is where and what it should be and has been for about 4yrs. My weight is ideal now. My hair GREW back. But all is not rosey all the time. Many Hypo’s like me have other health issues as well and my endo tested me for many things to find out what ELSE was going on with me. Oprah needs a REAL doctor. Not just one after publicity and her money. She will also have to learn a new way of living. Welcome to OUR world. She can afford Mary’s books. It’s her fault if she doesn’t get them. I wish her well. Joan RN In Georgia
Itsad to know that Oprah is having thyroid and without medication. This is one of the reason why she balloon over 200lbs. Please Oprah take care of yourself. I’m also having
thyroid, first hyper and follow by hypo, now I’m still under medication for almost 2 years.
I know Oprah can make decision for herself, good luck and may god bless you. Thailand
I suffer from hypothyroidism and have struggled to maintain the right amount of medication because of a slowly “dying” thyroid. No one has mentioned the mental symptoms that can occur and the inability to think clearly about your situation. I once went into the pharmacy to pick up my Levoxyl, actually argued with the pharmacist who said I had already picked it up–I didn’t believe him–and went home to find it sitting on my counter. I started to worry that I had Alzheimer’s, but the memory loss went away once my meds and TSH levels were right. Let’s hope Oprah can get the right support and think clearly about her situation.
Mary is strong on the idea of armour thyroid which I am sure is more expensive than synthroid. I ask my Dr about the armour and he wasn’t for it and most Dr’s aren’t. Dr’s think they know best and Mary thinks she knows best.
When I wasn’t taking my medication I ended up in a nut house and on antidepressants. I am back on my synthroid and off of antidepressants. I didn’t feel like eating but still didn’t loose weight. You can eat less than a little child and I guess never loose weight.
Pepsi,
I’m not sure where you’ve gotten the idea that I’m “strong on the idea of Armour.” I believe the best thyroid medication is the one that works best — safely — for each thyroid patient. It’s not cookie cutter, and Armour is one of several medication options for thyroid patients.
As for the costs, regular retail cost-wise, Armour is actually much less expensive than Synthroid.
It’s taken me 7 years to find a good doctor that will work with me on a balance of nutrition and treatment. Prior to finding him, I went off synthroid because I couldn’t a difference when taking it or not, and I fell prey to those out there that tout a natural approach. More than one holistic practioner I saw suggested I could go off my meds. I started a holistic approach, and within a year was gravely ill. What I’ve since learned from my current doctor is with an autommune disease, it’s very likely there’s more than one lurking in your body. With me it was an allergy to gluten. Removing gluten from my diet has had a tremendous effect on how I feel, but I still have a way to go in the weight department. At least I feel I’m on the right track now.
Pepsi,
Mary is correct. Armour is not for everyone. I took Synthroid for 6 years and felt miserable; tired, hair loss, no energy, weight gain, etc. I just recently found a doc that agreed to let me try Armour (I asked the previous 2 and they refused), and although I’ve only been on it a couple of months and am sure I’m not at my optimal dose, I feel better. And when you feel better after years of feeling terrible, that’s what counts! I pay about $4-5 less for my Armour than I did for Synthroid (that’s with my prescription card; I pay a set price on most prescriptions and Synthroid is at the upper limit of what I have to pay.) Bottom line, if you aren’t feeling better with Synthroid, Armour is worth a try.
I wish Oprah was more forthcomimg with her health/thyroid problem. It would be very helpful to all of us if she had a show with leading experts to hash over the thyroid issues. I also suffer from Hashimotos thyroid disease. Last year I was on my medication for all of three months as the rest of the year my levels were fine without the meds even though I was hyper. I started back in October and have been on my meds since then with normal readings. As soon as I feel hyper, I go off them. It’s been the only way to control my levels such as it is.I eat tofu every day when I’m in hyper mode and it doesn’t help. I do take beta blockers at night to help me sleep. This has been going on for years. Supposedly my thyroid has been ready to shut down all this time but it hasn’t happened yet. I’m afraid of surgical removal.
I think we are giving Oprah too much power! Too many of us feel that Oprah knows everything, and that what Oprah says is God’s law, well it is not. Why not trust in ourselves and the way we feel, seek out a good thyroid doctor and go from there. Do our own research, with the internet, it is so easy. Mary’s news letter is a start. Believe in yourself, not Oprah! I have watched Oprah be fooled by so many over the years, she is very gullible!
I think Carol’s comment is right on! Gluten (a protein in wheat, barley, & rye) is a trigger for many people with hypothyroidism and now the conventional wisdom is to “increase whole grain consumption”!
Grains have only been in the diet of humans in significant amounts for about 10,000 years, yet for more than 2.5 million years we evolved without grains in our diets, so many (most or even all?) of us are not well-adapted to these large difficult-to-digest proteins and they wreak havoc in our bodies as we age.
Gluten sensitivity is more common than generally acknowledged, though most of the recent findings are so new and recnet that they haven’t filtered down into medical practice yet. Much of the research is actualy coming out of Italy, where celiac disease (sever gluten intolerance) is especially common, ironic when you think of the national cuisine containing a lot of pasta made with wheat.
I suspect a period of high gluten and soy intake is what worsened my thyroid function (I test positive to IgA antibodies to both with www.Enterolab.com tests, and have two copies of genes that predispose to GS).
Why are people so interested in Oprah and the way she mismanages her health? Sure, she’s a nice lady, but she’s so dependent on her cohort of group-think health “experts” that she can’t see the forest for the trees anymore, apparently. I can’t remember the last time I saw her show, maybe trapped in front of a lobby TV or something.
At 27 I was diagnosed with PCOS. At 35 I began perimenopause, but went untreated until I turned 42. Between 35-42 yo I went from 150 to 260 pounds. I exercised 1-2 hours a day 7 days a week, but I also gardened; hand mowed a lawn, maintained a 70 tree apple orchard without machinery, cleaned a three level home 1x a week, washed/waxed my van, etc. As a CNA (Certified Nurse Asst) I cleaned 10 bathrooms, made 10 beds, bathed 10 people, vacuumed 10 main floor rooms, cleaned 10 kitchens, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year for 4 years. OH! And I played with two children nightly. I remember being constantly hungry while my muscles ached with every step from the rigorous 7 day a week workout. As the weight began to take hold my doctors blamed me – to quote them, “You’re not eating right and not getting enough exercise.”
Today I am a healthy fat person – exercising 5 days a week (1hour), weight lift between 3-4 times a week (min 30 minutes), eat between 1200-1500 calories (depending upon my activity). HOWEVER! I still weigh 260. *S* Also, I am never hungry or constantly aching with every step.
But I am healthy because I do exercise and watch my calorie, fat and fiber intake. *S* Right?
I am on birth control for HRT and Estradoil for PCOS and perimenopause and then Armour for thyroid.
So what more can I do?
My point is sometimes exercise and eating right is not a good enough answer…more importantly the sole solution. I am doing all that, and more, with no results to show (or prove) my efforts. All I have left is perseverance and hope… that one day the hormones will “kick in” and start working in my favor. That one day my meds will be tweaked just right to allow me to feel positive and experience weight loss success - again. Or that I will be told what I am “tolerating”, “living with”, “putting up with”, etc. is normal, so keep eating well and exercising because those efforts are ENOUGH FOR ME right now. *S*
As for Oprah – I don’t listen to her “solutions” because when I validate them against all the data out there, they very rarely support what historically, or otherwise proven, to have NOT worked or DOES work. I.E., using soy products as part of a treatment when hypothyroid – even I knew that would not be a good thing and don’t have a group of MDs in my corner.
On the whole, Oprah is another woman trying to fit into a mold of the “ideal” skinny woman that this country endorses as the ultimate healthy. What she needs to do is start a club for BBW – Big Beautiful Women who advocate sound nutrition and exercise and overall health. Now that is a club I would join.
Its been a life long struggle and one I will fully embrace now…its time to individualize what is healthy.
Another note:
Hormones do not respond to Bariatric surgery or the Ban…they are independent that way. Heck they don’t even listen to my doctor on command – well, at least mine don’t. My hormones have a mind of their own and I am at their beck-n-call.
My weight is hormonal but that does not excuse my not eating healthy or exercising regularly.
My view is that you are doing Oprah a disservice. The National Enquirer has little regard for truth. Consequently, I do not believe that their story should get more press unless it is a flat denial.
If there is truth to the story, it will come out at some point. As its apt to be false — its best left alone.
I suffer from hypothyroidism and have had a very difficult time getting a balance on the right meds (Dr won’t prescribe anymore). I don’t feel I am on a high-enough dose and constantly suffer from fatigue and depression. I read one of your readers comments indicating that often times there is another problem lurking in the body. I’ve often wondered about diabetes with me and a few others. Does anyone have any more info on this subject as would be interested in finding out any info I can on it.
Susan.
Nobody ever references IODINE deficiency and that may be the answer to most thyroid issues. Thyroxine is made from IODINE so if you don’t have that as a raw material guess what never gets made. Both T3 and T4 are iodine driven and major players in thyroid metabolism.. You can take all the Armour in the world and if you lack Iodine the process is incomplete. I do a 24 hour iodine uptake to see if the patient is deficient. In all honesty after all these years I just start putting all women that were always cold and constipated on iodine and it seems to do the trick.
I had a total thyroidectomy to avoid a genetic cancer that is carried by my family. I have gained weight and have been depressed for months. I wish I understood why people think its a cure. Any good references are welcomed.
IODINE DEFICINECY is the root cause of thyroid disorders (and PCOS too Scottieluvr, the cysts develop similar to thyroid nodules b/c of low iodine).
https://www.drbrownstein.com/bookstore_Iodine.php
www.iodine4health.com
www.optimox.com