There are times when Martin Bosworth probably feels like he's the only guy in the world with thyroid disease. Because let's face it -- thyroid problems are far more common in women, and while we women tend to discuss our health issues with anyone who'll listen, men usually clam up when it comes to health problems. (Frankly, given how much of a challenge it is to get some men to even go to the doctor, there are many men out there with thyroid problems who don't talk about it because they don't even know they've got a problem in the first place!)
And this this is why I was so incredibly moved by a blog post by Martin Bosworth, who is a managing editor at consumer advocacy site ConsumerAffairs.com and has a personal blog, Boztopia.
In his post, Who's Gonna Take The Weight?, Martin opens up about his challenges getting his adrenal and thyroid problems sorted out, and the major changes in his life -- and mindset -- he is having to make to get and stay healthy, and tackle the task of losing weight. Martin talks about these issues it in a thoughtful, incredible way that I guarantee will touch your heart.
We so rarely hear from men with thyroid disease that it's certainly refreshing to hear Martin's perspective. But to have Martin share his story so openly and with such raw honesty is a rare treasure. Please don't miss Who's Gonna Take The Weight?
(Note from Mary: The above post is from August 2009. Sadly, Martin Bosworth died of a pulmonary embolism in February of 2010. Since that time, his Boztopia blog has been taken down, but I've changed the links to a site that has archived some selected Boztopia posts, including Who's Gonna Take the Weight? Those of us in the thyroid community miss Martin greatly.
Photo: clipart.com
I agree with Martin your focus on women’s issues are at times excessive as men also suffer from the same problem.
I inherited an inacive thyroid from my mother and can trace the problem of hypothyroidism back several generations in my family an the female side plus side effects on the male prodginy where hyperthyroidisim was evident.
I have been receiving treatment for hypothyroidism for nearly 60 years and have been pretty stable over this time until until the change in formulation by Smith Kline Glaxo last year which continues to cause problems. I am carrying 8 to 10 kgs more weight and cannot shed the excess plus it has taken over 6 months for me to regain energy levels and become stable in that area. However I take twice the dose of leveothyroxine to achieve this but do get periodic bouts of palpitations as a result.
One thing I am interested in is in respect to the natural thyroid replacement formulas. My original endocrinologist found my mother, who was also hypothyroid had developed Padgets disease (mid 1950s) and believed that that the source of the problem came from natural forms of thyroxine. As I recall he indicated she was not alone in suffering from Padgets. She was taken off the natural thyroxine and so was I taken off it at the same time. It is interesting was that I also developed the same condition some 40 years later – is there a link? I do not know but these are the facts as I know them.
My Padgets is now quiescent after treatment.
Maybe ths FDA caution is warranted.