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Is That So? Exploring and Debunking Myths About Thyroid Disease

Many people have opinions about thyroid disease -- your doctors, friends, family, coworkers, etc. But not all of it is particularly accurate. For example, some practitioners are fond of pronouncing that "all thyroid patients should take iodine." Or what about the doctors who tell you that "radioactive iodine is the only treatment for hyperthyroidism." Or the ads, news stories, and health food stores who claim "soy is a health miracle food and you should eat more of it." When it comes to these sorts of blanket statements, I have one thing to say: "Is That So?" Join me as I debunk the myths, "conventional wisdom" and dogma of thyroid disease...
Claim: Armour Thyroid Is Going Off the Market
A week doesn't go by that I don't receive a frantic email from a fellow thyroid patient asking about Armour Thyroid. This week: "Dear Mary. When I went to fill my prescription for Armour Thyroid, the pharmacist said I should talk to the doctor about getting on Synthroid, because Armour is going off the market! Help!!! Is this true!?" Explore this rumor and why it seems to pop up regularly.
The Claim: Synthroid is the Best Thyroid Hormone Replacement Drug
If you are hypothyroid, your doctor will probably prescribe Synthroid. This levothyoxine drugis the top-selling thyroid drug in the U.S. Some doctors won't hear of prescribing anything but Synthroid however, and claim unequivocally that "Synthroid is the best." Is That So?
The Claim: All Thyroid Patients Should Take Iodine -- Is That So?
Many practitioners -- in particular, alternative, holistic or herbal practitioners -- will tell you that if you have a thyroid problem -- whatever type of problem it might be -- you need iodine in some form. Is That So?
The Claim: Radioactive Iodine is the Only Treatment for Hyperthyroidis
When you're diagnosed with Graves' disease or hyperthyroidism, your doctor may tell you that the best (or only) treatment is radioactive iodine -- referred to by the acronym RAI. Some people refer to RAI as the "radioactive cocktail," "chemical thyroidectomy," "ablation" or "chemical surgery." Unless you specifically ask if there are other options, you may never be told there are other treatments.
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