2003's Thyroid Cheers and Jeers

CHEERS -- To thyroid patient Fiona Klonarides, who made a decision to leave behind her rat-race, 24/7 Internet job in California, and move half-way across the world to the Greek Islands, in the hopes of restoring her health -- along with her sense of joy in life. Today, a healthier, happier Fiona is settled into Spain's Costa del Sol, a wise and inspiring story for us all.

JEERS -- To the researchers who keep publishing studies this year about the use of T3, saying that there's no evidence it can help patients. The studies are far too small, they don't reflect what we know about thyroid treatment, and the researchers aren't even using the right amounts or types of T3, so how can they possibly know what they're talking about?

CHEERS -- To Ric Blake, founder of the Thyroid Cancer Survivors Association (ThyCa), who along with his wife and partner Diane, continues to battle his cancer so courageously and practically, while championing the rights of the terminally ill, and all along living in a way that inspires so many -- myself included.

JEERS -- To the doctors who continue to insist that hypothyroidism doesn't cause weight gain. I challenge them all to walk around for a few months or years with an elevated TSH -- with the resulting fatigue, bloating, carbohydrate craving, muscle aches and pains, and ability to gain a pound just looking at a bagel -- and THEN tell me about the weight gain. In the meantime, at least there is common sense diet help for the rest of us!!

CHEERS -- To the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, for finally coming around to the position that the TSH "normal range" is .3 to 3.0, (rather than .5 to 5), doubling the number of people who can be diagnosed with thyroid conditions. This long overdue change will help millions of people get diagnosed and treated.

JEERS -- To the obstetricians, gynecologists, fertility experts, and endocrinologists who don't understand that thyroid function is critical to fertility, a healthy pregnancy, and the ability to breastfeed. The ignorance of some of these experts -- many of whom don't even routinely include thyroid testing as part of an infertility or post-miscarriage workup -- is causing great pain to many women. Don't rely on your doctor to know about the interaction between the thyroid, autoimmune disease, and fertility, pregnancy and breastfeeding. Find out yourself.

and finally...

CHEERS -- to the many millions of thyroid patients who are out there, around the world, persevering, despite fatigue, frustrations, symptoms, less-then-enlightened doctors, and other challenges. You get up each day and keep on going, and you are my heros!!! You deserve to live well, and I promise to continue doing my best to help you achieve that goal!

SHARE YOUR CHEERS AND JEERS FOR 2003!

Jump in and share your own personal thoughts regarding the cheers and jeers for 2003, as well as your wish list for 2004, on the Thyroid Forum! SEE WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING NOW!