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Thyroid Predictions for 2002 |
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Mary Shomon Takes a Look at the Year Ahead
by Mary Shomon
Jan 1, 2002 --
Happy New Year!!
Since I've been covering the ups, downs, ins and outs of thyroid disease for almost five straight years, I thought that this year, to start off the New Year, and to mark the start of Thyroid Awareness Month, I might offer some predictions for 2002...
More Losers!
In 2002, hundreds of thousands -- even millions -- of thyroid patients will go on or continue to diet to lose weight -- me included! Their starting place should be the Thyroid Weight Loss Center.
Reason to Rejoice?
In 2002, Synthroid will finally receive its approval from the FDA. The endocrinologists, patient associations, and thyroid groups that depend on funding from the pharmaceutical juggernaut will rejoice! (For more information on the Synthroid controversy, see our Synthroid Information Center. For an example of the support provided by the various Synthroid-funded groups, see this publicity release from the groups in question.
Staying Informed
In 2002, more thyroid patients will sign up for patient-empowering newsletters and information to help them in their effort to live well with their thyroid conditions. For information on a variety of email and print newsletters on thyroid disease -- many of them free -- see the
Thyroid Newsletters Page.
Why RAI?
In 2002, even more patients and innovative practitioners will question whether radioactive iodine, the doctor-preferred treatment for Graves' and hyperthyroidism, is really the safest and best treatment for all patients. And helping us in the struggle to understand the options is Elaine Moore's groundbreaking book, Graves' Disease: A Practical Guide.
Holistic Help
In 2002, more patients than ever before will turn to alternative and natural medicine to help with persistent symptoms, and to potentially heal their thyroid conditions. Holistic practitioner Shasta Tierra-Tayam can start you off in your search for information in The Natural Medicine View of Thyroid Disease.
Lawsuit Lament
In 2002, the settlement payments from the Synthroid lawsuit will continue to be delayed, as the manufacturer, lawyers and courts try to figure out how much less than $19 per patient they can end up paying consumers! For more information, see When Will Synthroid Disbursements be Paid?
The Wrong Guys Are Still In Charge
In 2002, unfortunately, more doctors around the world -- and likely in the United States as well, -- will face the same fate as beloved thyroid experts Barry Durrant-Peatfield in the UK, and David Derry, in Canada, who were "run out of town" by narrow-minded medical boards who ignored patient input and thyroid knowledge, and made decisions that protect their own financial interests...and not those of patients. For more information about these pioneers who have been persecuted for being right, read about Dr. David Derry and Dr. Barry Durrant-Peatfield.
Oprah...Trying Again?
In 2002, Oprah will spend another year doing numerous shows on weight gain, fatigue, depression, and hormonal changes, and will continue to ignore hypothyroidism, unless patients continue to contact her to encourage her to recognize the huge impact that undiagnosed and undertreated hypothyroidism has on America's women...and possibly even Oprah herself. For more information, see Let's Raise Oprah's Awareness of Hypothyroidism.
Alternatives Explored
In 2002, patients will continue to look for information about the various thyroid drugs, including the alternatives like Naturthroid and Armour thyroid, in their question to determine what drug might be best for them. For more information, see What is the Best Thyroid Drug?
Laughing More
In 2002, more of us will learn to laugh. and helping us will be people like Celisa Dyan, and her hilarious essay You Might Be Hypothyroid If... and Jody LaFerriere, who helps us kick off the new year with Winter: Thyroid-Style -- A Lighthearted Look.
Getting Informed
In 2002, patients will continue to look for information on which thyroid drugs are less expensive, how to get blood tests without a doctor's prescription or markup, how to deal with hair loss, joint pain, muscle aches, and relentless fatigue -- information they probably won't get from their doctors. But that information is here, online. Read Ten Things Your Doctor Won't Tell You About Your Thyroid Condition.
Inspiration
And finally, in 2002, Ric Blake, founder of the Thyroid Cancer Survivor's Association (ThyCa), and thyroid cancer patient himself, will continue to inspire me and many other friends, family and thyroid and cancer patients with his strength, courage, wisdom, compassion, humor, passion, and concern for fellow patients. As Eagle-Tribune reporter Margery Sherman writes in the most recent installment of an ongoing profile, "there are some things uniquely Blake. There is his way of living life in the moment, of appreciating each rollicking conversation, each change of seasons, and his glory in railing against the system while working all the while to find an answer." Follow Ric's remarkable story, and read the latest installment in the Eagle-Tribune series on him.
YOU CAN STAY INFORMED ON THE LATEST THYROID DISEASE INFORMATION
Whether it's a free email newsletter or report about thyroid disease, the latest books that help you live well with your thyroid condition, or support and information from fellow thyroid patients, you'll find a variety of resources here at the About Thyroid site.
