About Thyroid Disease

Chicken Soup by Special Delivery

2009-11-15T20:43:47Z

If you have family or friends who have come down with the H1N1 "Swine" flu, or the regular seasonal flu, or just a plain old bad cold, and you want to do something more than just offer your sympathies by telephone, several companies are now doing mail order delivery of homemade chicken soup.

One company, Spoonful of Comfort, sends preservative-free, freshly made chicken soup, and it's delicious...almost as good as my Grandmother used to make! Spoonful of Comfort also has homemade rolls and cookies that you can send along with the soup. The soup comes beautifully packaged, and the glass jar of soup itself is protected in foil backed insulated bubble wrap. More information is available at their website, www.spoonfulofcomfort.com.

Another company that has a similar service -- and they also have the option of matzoh balls instead of noodles in their chicken soup -- is Grandma's Chicken Soup. (By the way, their H1N1 Swine Flu Gift Package, which includes soup, plus things like hand sanitizer and tissues, totally cracks me up!) More information on their products is available at www.grandmaschickensoup.com.

_{(Disclosure -- I have no connection to either company, but Spoonful of Comfort did send me a free sample of their soup, rolls and cookies so I could try them and see if I liked them, and their soup and baked goods were delicious. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.)}

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Chicken Soup by Special Delivery originally appeared on About.com Thyroid Disease on Sunday, November 15th, 2009 at 20:43:47.

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Thyrogen Drug Used for Thyroid Cancer Treatment is Contaminated with Trash, Says FDA

2009-11-13T14:58:06Z

This is not good news for thyroid cancer patients who rely on the drug Thyrogen (thyrotropin alfa). The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that they have found small particles of steel, rubber and fiber -- trash basically -- in vials of their drugs, including the thyroid drug Thyrogen. They also reported that this contamination could cause serious health effects for patients.

This is the second time just this year that Genzyme has been cited by the FDA for contamination of their products. In June of this year, Genzyme had to shut down a key production facility due to viral contamination. (Read FDA press release in PDF format, and Genzyme release.)

In addition to Thyrogen, other Genzyme drugs affected by the current contamination issue include Cerezyme, Fabrazyme, Myozyme, and Aldurazyme.

The FDA is not removing the products from the market, because they say that there are few alternatives to these drugs, but FDA regulators recommend that doctors closely inspect vials of any Genzyme medications, to check for particles prior to injecting them into patients.

MORE INFORMATION

Read the complete MedWatch 2009 Safety summary, including a link to the Information for Healthcare Professionals sheet

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Thyrogen Drug Used for Thyroid Cancer Treatment is Contaminated with Trash, Says FDA originally appeared on About.com Thyroid Disease on Friday, November 13th, 2009 at 14:58:06.

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Finding Thyroid Support and Support Groups Online, Web and Internet Thyroid Support Groups, Listservs, Forums

2009-11-12T14:56:37Z

Some thyroid patients -- whether newly diagnosed, or long-term patients -- find online support is an important part of their overall approach to wellness. Here is the information about online thyroid support groups, forums and listservs, where information and experiences are shared among patients.

If you've participated in online thyroid support, share your own experiences, recommendations, advice, and information about web/Internet-based thyroid support groups, listservs, forums, and other venues for online thyroid support. Feel free to recommend your favorite places for thyroid-related online support as well, and share your pros and cons about the online thyroid support experience.

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Finding Thyroid Support and Support Groups Online, Web and Internet Thyroid Support Groups, Listservs, Forums originally appeared on About.com Thyroid Disease on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 14:56:37.

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How to Start Your Own Community Thyroid Support Group, In-Person, Live Support for Thyroid Patients

2009-11-12T14:54:11Z

While much of the support for thyroid patients is online, even thyroid patients with limited or no Internet access need support systems. Find out how the steps involved in starting up your own community or local thyroid in your area in How to Start Your Own Community Thyroid Support Group.

Many thyroid patients could benefit from in-person support from fellow patients. And thyroid patients with limited or no Internet access -- including seniors (who are at highest risk of thyroid disease) -- need support systems. In many cases, however,local, community or in-person support groups need to be started, launched and run by patients in the community. If you have started or participated in an in-person thyroid or health support group, please share your advice, experience, stories, ideas, and thoughts about how to start, run, publicize and grow a community-based, in-person thyroid support group.

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How to Start Your Own Community Thyroid Support Group, In-Person, Live Support for Thyroid Patients originally appeared on About.com Thyroid Disease on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 14:54:11.

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Remembering to Take Your Thyroid Pills

2009-11-12T14:46:26Z

The doctors call it "non-compliance." In plain English, it means "not taking your medicine." And if you're on thyroid hormone replacement drugs because you're hypothyroid, or have had all or part of your thyroid removed or disabled using radioactive iodine, or you are taking antithyroid drugs to control hyperthyroidism, your continued health depends on taking the prescribed thyroid drugs daily, as prescribed by your doctor. Even a day or two failure of forgetting your pills can throw off your treatment, cause fluctuations in your TSH level, and worsen your symptoms. That's why it's critical to remember your thyroid medicine every day. Here are 10 Creative Ways to Remember to Take Your Thyroid Pill.

Thyroid patients have many creative ways of their own to help remember to take their own medication, and more than 70 patients have shared their handy tips, tricks and ideas Find out what other thyroid patients are doing to keep from forgetting that all-important thyroid pill each day, in Readers Respond: How Do You Remember to Take Your Thyroid Medication?

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Remembering to Take Your Thyroid Pills originally appeared on About.com Thyroid Disease on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 14:46:26.

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Thyroid News from the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism

2009-11-05T20:43:15Z

The latest issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism has been published, and it's worth checking out to explore some of the latest thyroid-related news and information:

If a woman is breastfeeding and has excessive iodine intake, this may cause hypothyroidism in her infant. (See abstract.)

After thyroid cancer, thyroid patients who have had withdrawal of levothyroxine -- versus use of recombinant TSH (Thyrogen) -- have similar rates of tumor recurrence and persistence. This suggests that for many thyroid cancer patients, use of Thyrogen, rather that withdrawal -- which causes hypothyroidism and resulting symptoms -- may be preferable. (See abstract.)

More Information

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Thyroid News from the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism originally appeared on About.com Thyroid Disease on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 20:43:15.

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Thyroid Cancer a Risk After Childhood Cancer

2009-11-03T18:33:53Z

The International Journal of Cancer recently reported on research coming out of the British Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (BCCSS). The study looked at the risk of thyroid cancers in children treated for other cancers.

88% of thyroid cancers developed after exposure to radiotherapy that occurred in or around the thyroid gland. The risk of thyroid cancer was highest after Hodgkin's disease and Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

Patients treated with radiation therapy for childhood cancer had a greater than fourfold increased risk of developing thyroid cancer, according to the researchers.

Overall, the research showed that childhood cancer survivors are 18 times more likely to develop thyroid cancer than members of the general population.

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_{Source: Taylor Aliki J. et. al. "Risk of thyroid cancer in survivors of childhood cancer: Results from the British Childhood Cancer Survivor Study," International Journal of Cancer, Volume 125 Issue 10, Pages 2400 - 2405, Published Online: 18 May 2009, Issue November 15, 2009 Abstract}

Thyroid Cancer a Risk After Childhood Cancer originally appeared on About.com Thyroid Disease on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 18:33:53.

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Rockefeller Center Display Reminds People to "Check Your Neck" for Thyroid Cancer

2009-11-03T18:14:24Z

EHE International and the Light of Life Foundation for thyroid cancer have arranged for a window display at Rockefeller Center throughout November to remind Americans to "Check Your Neck" for thyroid cancer. The display features images from the Light of Life Foundation's public awareness campaign.

In a press release, the Light of Life Foundation president and founder Joan Shey, said: "Awareness is the key to early diagnosis and treatment of thyroid cancer. It's appropriate that as we head into winter and begin to wrap our wool scarves around our necks that we think about checking that vital organ that keeps our bodies regulated."

According to the press release, "Purple scarves, the symbol for LOL, will be prominent in the window display as will butterflies, which are a symbol of the thyroid."

The window display, located at 10 Rockefeller Plaza, may be viewed by the public from November 2, 2009 - November 30, 2009.

More information about the Light of Life Foundation is available online.

WANT TO DO A THYROID NECK CHECK?

Here's how to do a Thyroid Neck Check yourself.

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Rockefeller Center Display Reminds People to "Check Your Neck" for Thyroid Cancer originally appeared on About.com Thyroid Disease on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 18:14:24.

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Obesity Not Caused by Thyroid, Claims Uninformed Green Bay Health Company Executive

2009-11-03T17:56:37Z

Jeff Mason, who runs a health care system in the Green Bay, Wisconsin area, exemplifies the typical uninformed attitude about thyroid disease and the connection to weight loss, in his guest article at the Green Bay Press Gazette, titled "Pay for nature, not nurture."

Mason asserts that "The reality is that very little obesity in the U.S. is actually caused by thyroid or other medical problems."

Currently, we have an estimated 60 million Americans with thyroid problems. The vast majority of them have yet to be diagnosed, much less treated. Since undiagnosed and untreated thyroid problems can cause weight gain and obesity, to cavalierly dismiss thyroid problems as Mr. Mason has done -- not to mention, to oversee health care systems that provide lackluster treatment at best of those thyroid patients who have already been diagnosed -- is uninformed and irresponsible -- yet far too common.

Last I checked, Mr. Mason's credentials -- FACHE (Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives) -- do not qualify him to be diagnosing thyroid conditions, or determining whether thyroid disease is a contributing factor to weight gain.

It'd be interesting to see how quickly Mr. Mason would change his tune if he, like many thyroid patients (not to mention others with metabolic and hormonal issues, including diabetics) found himself working out many hours a week, eating 1,000 calories a day or less, and gaining weight every day.

Sadly, Mr. Mason's guest column exemplifies the lackadaisical, blame-the-patient attitude that many health care managers and physicians have about diagnosing thyroid problems, especially in people who are overweight. Poor diagnosis and treatmen tof thyroid disease is one direct cause of the nation's increasing problems with obesity, depression, and heart disease. Mr. Mason should spend more time looking at the implications of failing to diagnose and treat thyroid disease properly, and less time pontificating about personal choice.

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Obesity Not Caused by Thyroid, Claims Uninformed Green Bay Health Company Executive originally appeared on About.com Thyroid Disease on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 17:56:37.

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Bring on the Flow: New Book Tackles Myths, Mysteries and Cultural History of the Menstrual Period

2009-11-03T11:38:11Z

I'll be doing a review of this terrific new book myself soon, but I wanted to tip off readers to the publication next week of a must-read book. It's called Flow: The Cultural Story of Menstruation, and it's by Elissa Stein and Susan Kim.

Women with thyroid disease know that menstrual period irregularities are common with thyroid conditions. We don't talk about it much, however, because of the taboos and discomfort out there talking about menstruation in general. (Thyroid disease also faces a number of taboos, so put thyroid disease together with menstrual problems, and you can end up with a total communications blackout!)

Which is why I'm so thrilled that Elissa Stein has written this book! Says Elissa: "Flow tells you where it's at about menstruation: what it is, what we've been told and how we've been sold, and what we should definitely know. It's the most natural of cycles with the most unnatural of histories. It's a funny, fascinating, and occasionally scary story of big business, advertising, feminism, gender roles, medicine, religion, world culture, and above all, good manners . . . in which every single female, young or old, will recognize her story."

To get you started, holistic gynecologist/blogger-writer Rebecca Elia, M.D. has done a terrific interview with Flow's Elissa Stein. Rebecca's interview will give you a good feel for what Flow is about!

You can compare prices for Flow on Pricegrabber, which finds the best prices at your favorite online bookstores.

Want to know more about Flow: The Cultural Story of Menstruation and its author Elissa Stein?

Here are some great online resources:

Flow: Official Website
Flow: Youtube channel (Note: don't miss the terrific series of sassy videos for the book!)
Flow: Facebook page
Elissa Stein's Blog
Follow Elissa Stein on Twitter

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Bring on the Flow: New Book Tackles Myths, Mysteries and Cultural History of the Menstrual Period originally appeared on About.com Thyroid Disease on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 11:38:11.

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