Re: OT: Overactive Thyroid

[Guest guest]

This looks like a decent place for info...

http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles/gravesbook.htm

Graves' Disease A Practical Guide

An Interview With Author Elaine

by Shomon

In this interview, Elaine , author of a wonderful new book, Graves'

Disease A Practical Guide, shares some thoughts about Graves' disease, and

information about this recently published book, which I personally believe

should be

on the bookshelf of every patient with Graves' or hyperthyroidism, and every

practitioner who treats them!

: First, Elaine, many congratulations on the book. I'm very excited to

see such a comprehensive, unbiased book on Graves' available to patients, and

I've been recommending it to people who write me looking for Graves' disease

information. What in particular motivated you to dedicate such tremendous effort

to writing Graves' Disease A Practical Guide?

Elaine: I truly regret not being adequately informed of treatment options

when I was diagnosed with Graves' disease (GD). Not understanding the autoimmune

nature of this disorder, I rushed into having aggressive treatment despite

having few symptoms. When my doctor said radioiodine was my only option, I

believed him. Now I'm permanently hypothyroid and have more problems than I ever

had

from being hyperthyroid. It's important for patients to realize that the

immune system, not the thyroid, is at fault in GD. Patients need to realize all

of

their treatment options, including alternative medicine. They also need to

understand that GD runs its own course and spontaneously resolves in up to 25%

of patients each year. Although everyone needs to be monitored, not everyone

requires aggressive treatments. Too many people are being pushed into having

radioiodine ablation and destroying their thyroids, and they're often

erroneously

told that radioiodine therapy is without risk. My reason for writing this

book was to let people know that destroying one's thyroid has serious

consequences. It's not a matter to be taken lightly.

My second goal is addressing the long-term consequences of Graves' disease,

particulary the concerns of people who have never addressed the underlying

immune disturbance responsible for Graves' disease. My book is for all GD

patients, the newly diagnosed as well as those who were treated for Graves'

disease

fifty years ago.

: What are some unique things that you feel are covered in your book that

would be of particular interest to Graves' disease patients, things they

wouldn't be likely to find in other books?

Elaine: I go into great detail explaining how and why Graves' disease

develops. Specifically, I describe how GD develops in individuals with a certain

combination of genes who are exposed to certain environmental triggers,

including

stress. With this knowledge, patients can see how the thyroid gland in GD is

the victim, not the cause in autoimmune thyroid

In describing conventional and alternative treatment options I explain how

each therapy affects the underlying immune system defect and how this influences

the long-term consequences of treatment. I also list the pros and cons of

individual therapies and explain why no one treatment works best for all

patients. My primary focus is on the autoimmune nature of GD. if the underlying

immune

system defect isn't addressed, patients generally go on to develop another

autoimmune disease such as fibromyalgia or celiac disease.

Although I've included the results of several long-term treatment outcome

also included an anecdotal chapter in which patients treated with the various

treatment options describe their experiences. I've also included chapters

describing the special considerations in pregnancy and in children and the

progressive hypothyroidism that can occur . Because of my extensive background

in

laboratory medicine, I'm well versed in the pitfalls of laboratory testing. Many

people on anti-thyroid drugs (ATDs) are abruptly taken off these drugs too soon.

When they have a relapse, they're told they must have radioiodine ablation.

This could be avoided if more doctors ordered the appropriate thyroid antibody

tests.

Other patients on ATD are sometimes kept severely hypothyroid because

reliance on certain thyroid function laboratory tests. I know you've expressed

concerns about this reliance in your book too. Also, many people with

hyperthyroidism are diagnosed with GD when they actually have other thyroid

disorders, but

the wrong diagnostic tests are relied on. To help patients take charge, I've

included an extensive chapter on laboratory testing and test interferences and a

chapter on autoantibodies.

: After reviewing your book, I find it's an extremely well-- written,

very thorough overview of the variety of approaches, both conventional and

alternative, that could be considered for Graves' disease. In fact, my feeling

is

that this should be THE book a Graves' disease patient first picks up, in order

to better understand the condition. But I understand that some of the

conventional thyroid authorities are coming out in opposition to your book -- an

experience I can well relate to with my own book! Any idea why?

Elaine: I believe it has to do with my recommendation to research treatment

options instead of rushing into having radioiodine. 50 years ago in the United

States, scientists and physicians debated whether radioiodine was a safe

therapy. Initially, after reviewing the cancer mortality rates for patients with

enlarged thymus glands treated with radioiodine, a number of scientists decided

that radioiodine was unsafe. Unfortunately, however, those in favor of

radioiodine kept the debate going until they got their way.

Consequently, radioiodine is now the major treatment for hyperthyroidism in

the United States, but not in Europe or Japan. In most European countries,

radioiodine is never administered to women younger than 40. In Europe and Japan,

anti-thyroid drugs are the treatment of choice. The former head of the Atomic

Energy Commission has dedicated his life to proving how unsafe radioiodine is.

Relying on studies of survivors of Hiroshima and the Chernobyl disaster, in

the last decade researchers have learned a great deal about the effects of

radioiodine. Consequently, a number of physicians in the United States have quit

recommending radioiodine ablation. But radioiodine is the cheapest therapy and

medicine today is driven by cost. Many doctors, especially those in HMO's and

those who trained before 1990, insist that radioiodine is safe. One of my

goals in writing this book is to present studies showing both point of views.

Also, even though it's been long known that a number of people with Graves'

disease achieve spontaneous remission without treatment, some doctors think

that hypothyroidism is preferable to hyperthyoidism. People like me who have

mild

symptoms are having their thyroid glands destroyed although wiser doctors

monitor symptoms and determine the disease's natural progression before even

suggesting treatment.

And even though the German Commission E has described certain herbs as both

safe and efficacious for the treatment of hyperthyroidism, few doctors in the

United States are familiar with herbal therapy. They object to trying something

new although they don't think twice about destroying the thyroid of someone

with subclinical or mild symptoms. The moderators of one popular thyroid board

do a great disservice to Graves' disease patients in that they try to scare

people into having aggressive treatment by suggesting that the rare condition of

thyroid storm is a common event, and they refuse to publish reports of

spontaneous remission. They ban reports, even published studies, listing the

benefits of alternative medicine and pull posts of patients who object to the

use of

radioiodine. There are several support groups who receive funding from drug

companies and consequently perpetuate the notion that hypothyroidism is a simple

easily treated condition.

Fortunately, , neither of us have to worry about offending sponsors.

We're able to present factual, well-researched information objectively. Just as

you did in Living Well with Hypothyroidism, in my book, I've included numerous

citations so that anyone who objects to certain facts can go right to the

source and learn that much has changed since the early 1950's when radioiodine

first came into vogue. , I know you've helped millions of people with

hypothyroidism. You've taught people the importance of being involved in their

own

healing plans. With my book, I hope to do the same for Graves' disease patients.

: I know many Graves' disease patients who are interested in finding out

more about Block and Replace Therapy, as well as long- term antithyroid drug

treatment, as alternatives to Radioactive Iodine, which seems to be the only

option many U.S. doctors understand or are willing to offer. Can you tell us a

little bit about your coverage of these topics in the book?

Elaine: Chapter 8, which discusses conventional treatment options, describes

the advantages of block and replace therapy. In this chapter, I included

recommendations from some of the top endocrinologists at Harvard University who

state that all patients with GD should undergo a minimum 18 month trial of ATDs

before even considering aggressive treatment. By 18 months most patients on

ATDs will have achieved remission. Those who haven't will by then have a better

idea of their disease course and can decide if they want to pursue ATD therapy

or try another approach. Some people have symptoms that wax and wane causing

them to have natural periods of remission that alternate with variable

symptoms. These are factors that must be taken into consideration. One's unique

disease course and personal health status are important factors in choosing

therapy.

While all patients need to have their symptoms monitored by a conventional or

alternative medicine practitioner, all patients do not need the same standard

treatment.

: Can you give us a bit of a preview of some of the alternative

approaches you discuss?

Elaine: This is probably my favorite chapter because in researching it, I met

lots of people, including one physician, who achieved remission using

alternative medicine. Topics discussed include homeopathy, herbal medicine,

energy

healing, stress reduction techniques, dietary changes, strong solution of

saturated iodine (SSKI or Lugol's solution), craniosacral therapy, Ayurveda,

traditional Chinese medicine, Kampo, acupuncture, yoga and tai chi. Graves'

disease

is associated with many nutrient deficiencies caused by an increased

metabolism. Many symptoms in GD are related to these deficiencies. Again,

relying on

sources from the medical literature, I explain how correcting these deficiencies

may help reduce certain symptoms.

: What would you like Graves' disease patients to take away from reading

your book?

Elaine: I'd like them to understand that everyone with Graves' disease is a

unique individual. Predominant symptoms and their severity vary from person to

person. We all have unique genes and clusters of autoantibodies that determine

the severity of our symptoms and how our disease will progress. Because of

all these variables, we all respond to treatment differently. Some people

achieve remission in weeks while for others, it takes years.

Many people who ended up achieving remission with anti-thyroid drugs reported

that their doctors were amazed and commented that they'd never seen such a

favorable response with anti-thyroid drugs (some doctors admitted they'd never

tried using ATDs before). I'd like it if more patients helped their doctors

understand that remission is an attainable goal. I've also met hundreds of

people

who regret having had their thyroid glands destroyed and who are now

suffering from the consequences. Some people say I'm on a mission to save

thyroid

glands. It's true. I'd like more patients to survive Grave's disease with their

thyroid intact. Destroying any organ should not be taken lightly.

Graves' Disease: A Practical Guide, by Elaine A. with , ISBN:

0-7864-1011-6, was published by McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, in

2001, and is available from local and online bookstores. For more information,

and to order a copy of Graves' Disease

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/9/2004 at 1:02:22 PM Central Standard Time,

vaccineinfo@... writes:

Only thing I know to help is homeopathy

Sheri,

THank you!

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/9/2004 at 2:10:43 PM Central Standard Time,

wolfkty@... writes:

This looks like a decent place for info...

http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles/gravesbook.htm

Graves' Disease A Practical Guide

An Interview With Author Elaine

Thank you SO Much.. I sent this to her.. all she had seen were allopathic

sites.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/9/2004 at 4:19:38 PM Central Standard Time,

mum2mishka@... writes:

Sorry, way behind tonight as only just come on-line, but consider Chinese

medicine (either herbs or acupuncture) or reflexology. The latter is

effective for *balancing* the thyroid, whether over- or under-active. That

is basically the whole concept of reflexology - bringing the body back into

balance so it may achieve homeostasis.

Problem with radioactive treatment is that it often knocks the thyroid out

completely, then you have a permanently under-active thyroid and end up on

thyroxine for life...( Avoid if at all possible.

Sue,

THank you.. Passing along.

[Guest guest]

Sorry, way behind tonight as only just come on-line, but consider Chinese

medicine (either herbs or acupuncture) or reflexology. The latter is

effective for *balancing* the thyroid, whether over- or under-active. That

is basically the whole concept of reflexology - bringing the body back into

balance so it may achieve homeostasis.

Problem with radioactive treatment is that it often knocks the thyroid out

completely, then you have a permanently under-active thyroid and end up on

thyroxine for life...( Avoid if at all possible.

Love, light and peace,

Sue

" It is not unfair to conclude that medicine is the only branch of science

that has based its structure on opinions and suppositions rather than on

laws and principles. " - Vithoulkas, " The Science of Homoeopathy " .

> Have a friend diagnosed with an overactive thyroid.. is there any other

> option besides the radioactive treatment? They are not open to

> homeopathy.. so..

> I am researching other options. Please let me know as soon as

> possible.. as

> she is supposed to get the prescription today.

>

> Thanks in Advance!

>

>

>