Re: Last message defending my position to take Armour...

[Guest guest]

ly,IFIND IT HARD TO KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT!!!But I do,God help me I do!

I have 3 ladies asking questions and I try not to come on to strong.

" S "

Re: Last message defending my position to

take Armour...

> Has anyone else gone through this phase, when you first figure out

> how much Armour is helping, to want to tell the whole world about

> it? To try to help others?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Gentle....I know you are passionate about this (as we all are and

have all been hwere you are at right now)but sometimes you need to

just let go of it and realize that it does no good to cast your

pearls before swine...she is convinced and is trying to convince

you..you don't need to defend yourself or your position...somewhere

along the line many of these people who are so adamant get to the

point where they are faced with similar decisions they have to

make...and when they do...they know where to find you. If you feel

you must acknowledge this " sweet lady's " e-mail, then just say thank

you, I appreciate it.

In NaturalThyroidHormones , " gentleone772002 "

<gentleone772002@y...> wrote:

> I'm sooo anxious about this. I feel torn because I don't want to

> antagonize the nice lady (she really is one of the sweetest people

> you could ever hope to meet) who took the time to ask her father

and

> post about this whole thing, but I don't want to not defend my

> decision either because I truly in my heart think my decision was

> right.

>

> This is so hard. I'm worried she is going to be angry that I

didn't

> take her father's advice to stop doing the Armour thing, even after

> she went to all that trouble to try to help me.

>

> But I don't want to just...not reply either because...well, because

I

> truly believe this is something that people need to learn more

about,

> read about, think about, maybe even act upon if they decide for

> themselves it's best to. I think there is a terrible

> underdiagnosing/improper treatment of hypothyroidism today and

people

> are suffering terribly as a result. I can't not reply because my

> conscience would jab at me if I didn't.

>

> Oh, lord help me, I hope that this reply I made (below) kind of

> explained, that I really did think about this a long time, that I

> tried my best to make the best decision for me and that I have to

do

> what's best for me even if 99% of the world thinks I'm nuts for

doing

> so...

>

> XXX

> I urge anyone who thinks they might have a thyroid problem or who

has

> an interest for any reason in thyroid health, to read extensively

> about thyroid treatment, both today's treatment and the history of

> thyroid treatment. Read literature from official sources such as

NEJM

> and AACE, and unofficial " fringe lunatic " sources such as

> Shoman, Dr. Lowe and Dr. Mercola. Read stories of patients with

> various thyroid diseases and the results of their treatment.

>

> I have been reading up on this stuff for 8 years now before making

> the decision I made. I didn't make it lightly. And I do not know

for

> certain that I made the best decision for me, although I am

> encouraged by the abatement of symptoms I have been living with for

> years. Some may be due to placebo effect, others - such as closer

to

> normal basal temperature and heartrate and normal BM instead of

> constipation - would be more difficult to attribute to placebo

effect.

>

> I would feel much better about all of this if I were under the care

> of a good endocrinologist. I have estimated that such treatment

would

> cost me several thousands of dollars out of pocket and I just don't

> have it right now. I know from reading other patient stories on the

> internet, that I could find an endocrinologist who would be willing

> to prescribe me Armour based on my symptoms, TSH of 2.6-2.9 with

rock

> bottom free T-4, and my preference for Armour over synthroid. Would

> that endocrinologist be wrong for treating me? That would be a

matter

> of debate. That's where the old " which doctor do I trust and

believe

> in " factor comes into play.

>

> There are other endocrinologists who would simply give me a

referral

> to a psychiatrist, and I am guessing that your father might have

that

> reaction were I his patient. Would he be right or wrong? Again, a

> matter of debate.

>

> I will admit that the majority of endocrinologists at this point do

> agree with your father about synthroid versus Armour and when to

> initiate treatment.

>

> All I know is, I have to do what I think is best for me because I

> have to live inside this body. We each have to make our own health

> decisions and they might be right or they might be wrong. Right

now,

> my decision is to stick with the natural dessicated thyroid I am

> taking. It's truly not a decision I made lightly, and I am aware

that

> I could be very sorry down the road that I did this.

>

> Sorry to be so long-winded....

[Guest guest]

Thank you so much, Astrodiana, that is very wise advice. Now I gotta

get a grip on myself, my emotions, and follow the good advice! Man I

need a hug.

Gentle

[Guest guest]

> Thank you so much, Astrodiana, that is very wise advice. Now I

gotta

> get a grip on myself, my emotions, and follow the good advice! Man

I

> need a hug.

>

> Gentle

(((((((HUGGGGGGG)))))) :

[Guest guest]

Thank you ! I feel better now!

Gentle

[Guest guest]

HUGGING. HUGGING. HUGGING. Hope that helps a little.

Janie )

> Thank you so much, Astrodiana, that is very wise advice. Now I

gotta

> get a grip on myself, my emotions, and follow the good advice!

Man I

> need a hug.

>

> Gentle

[Guest guest]

> HUGGING. HUGGING. HUGGING. Hope that helps a little.

>

> Janie )

> Thank you Janie!

Has anyone else gone through this phase, when you first figure out

how much Armour is helping, to want to tell the whole world about

it? To try to help others? But then you realize they think you are

nuts?

Gentle

[Guest guest]

> Has anyone else gone through this phase, when you first figure out

> how much Armour is helping, to want to tell the whole world about

> it? To try to help others? But then you realize they think you

>are nuts?

Yes, yes, yes. I am a thyroid advocate. I have a state thyroid site,

this thyroid site, and am co-owner of another thyroid site--

ThyroPhoenix. I am also a LIVING example of what Armour can do for

you. I have been from hell to thyroid heaven.

BUT, I have learned that folks have to figure it out for themselves,

and all you can do is plant the seeds of information.

And those seeds, for me, are frank and to the point. I do not beat

around the bush. Then...it's up to them, and I leave them alone

until they approach me again...later. And they often do.

Janie aka ThyroDiva

[Guest guest]

Gentle....

I think your letter sounded very nice... you were grateful for their

input but still explained that you have to make the best decision for

you.. I thought it came across very well...

Topper ()

On Mon, 02 Feb 2004 00:24:52 -0000 " gentleone772002 "

writes:

> I'm sooo anxious about this. I feel torn because I don't want to

> antagonize the nice lady (she really is one of the sweetest people

> you could ever hope to meet) who took the time to ask her father and

> post about this whole thing, but I don't want to not defend my

> decision either because I truly in my heart think my decision was

> right.

< snipped for brevity >

[Guest guest]

Good for you, Janie! I have to figure out how to be an advocate

without going too far overboard or making anyone angry.

Gentle

P.S. I thought this was a good summation of the new TSH

standards...you know, something maybe people could print out and take

to their docs to say, " hey, look at the new TSH guidelines... "

http://tinyurl.com/2y9db

[Guest guest]

> Gentle....

>

> I think your letter sounded very nice... you were grateful for their

> input but still explained that you have to make the best decision

for

> you.. I thought it came across very well...

>

> Topper ()

Thank you so much Topper! I don't have very good social skills

and I tend to make people angry without ever even realizing why so

I'm sort of paranoid about not communicating the right way.

Gentle

[Guest guest]

My Dear Gentle,

Now you know why I insist on second, third, fourth opinions. The doctor's

philosophy about how to treat a disorder without considering all of the

possible medications is not " philosophy " it is discrimination. I can live

well without that. I cannot live well without Armour Thyroid. I have been

on the synthetics and I was still sick with miserable symptoms.

It is never up to the doctor to be the only one making decision with

regard to anyone's health care. The doctor has little or no control over

your actions after you leave his/her office. You are now taking

Armour. The only way you will know if you are really helping yourself is

to observe the changes in your symptoms over a period of time.

While the doctor's daughter may be your friend, that should not be

affected by whether or not her father would approve of what you are doing

to help yourself. If it does, then she has the problem, not you.

Dianne

[Guest guest]

Are you kidding... some of us got so vocal that we started support

group(s) and websites!!!! hehehehehehe

and I have three groups that we co own... I'm involved in 6 or 8

more, including this one.. and take in maybe 50 emails, on average, daily

from folks that write to me privately cause they don't want to discuss

stuff in the open forums...

..... and as much as I say I have to stop inviting folks to write to me

off list.. I still keep doing it.. cause I can't stand the though that

someone else is in pain for fear of speaking up.....

I wouldn't want to have to trade the time I spend with folks for

anything.....

I don't care about the nuts part... I know what I've seen, what I've

felt, what I'm living.. if someone chooses not to listen to me... fine...

its' really easy to avoid the group and find one that I'm not in.. there

are hundreds of them!!!!! Or... just block my name and avoid my emails..

but for others that are still learning... I will try to continue to share

what I've seen and read... cause someone, somewhere, is gonna read a

tidbit that might just be a key piece for the puzzle that is their body

and health.

Topper ()

On Mon, 02 Feb 2004 01:29:16 -0000 " gentleone772002 "

writes:

> Has anyone else gone through this phase, when you first figure out

> how much Armour is helping, to want to tell the whole world about

> it? To try to help others? But then you realize they think you are

> nuts?

>

> Gentle

[Guest guest]

--- In NaturalThyroidHormones , " gentleone772002 "

> Has anyone else gone through this phase, when you first figure out

> how much Armour is helping, to want to tell the whole world about

> it? To try to help others? But then you realize they think you

are

> nuts?

>

> Gentle

Yes, and I still am in that phase often times...but I have learned to

discriminate between the ones who really would like help and the ones

you are wasting your words on...

[Guest guest]

-Actually, yes...it was a very good letter....I just felt so bad for

you stressing over it like you did, Gentle...

-- In NaturalThyroidHormones , " gentleone772002 "

<gentleone772002@y...> wrote:

>

> > Gentle....

> >

> > I think your letter sounded very nice... you were grateful for

their

> > input but still explained that you have to make the best decision

> for

> > you.. I thought it came across very well...

> >

> > Topper ()

>

> Thank you so much Topper! I don't have very good social skills

> and I tend to make people angry without ever even realizing why so

> I'm sort of paranoid about not communicating the right way.

>

> Gentle

[Guest guest]

Hi, Gentle,

Actually, most of the people who have known me through the years

think that I was much crazier before I got the right Thyroid meds..... Tee

hee!

But, yes, I do understand what you mean. It is like, " Hey,

Everybody! I have the answers right here! Why don't you hear me? "

We may never be able to reach everyone who needs to know. We may

never make enough of an impression on the medical " experts " to get them to

quickly change their thinking about how to treat Thyroid disorders. But,

since we are " fully armed " with the Truth, those who are supposed to ask

about these things will do so. We can only " educate " them one at a

time. Keep in mind that one mind changed often causes another to change,

too....

Dianne

At 01:29 AM 2/2/04 +0000, you wrote:

>Has anyone else gone through this phase, when you first figure out

>how much Armour is helping, to want to tell the whole world about

>it? To try to help others? But then you realize they think you are

>nuts?

>

>Gentle

>

[Guest guest]

Pretend your arms belong to me. Cross them, grab your shoulders and

sqeeeeeeeeeeze! ;-).

Now you've had your hug!

Deb

Re: Last message defending my position

to take Armour...

Thank you so much, Astrodiana, that is very wise advice. Now I gotta

get a grip on myself, my emotions, and follow the good advice! Man I

need a hug.

Gentle

[Guest guest]

Not with Armour yet, but hoping to soon. But I've gone through that

with lots of other things.

Deb

Re: Last message defending my position

to take Armour...

> HUGGING. HUGGING. HUGGING. Hope that helps a little.

>

> Janie )

> Thank you Janie!

Has anyone else gone through this phase, when you first figure out

how much Armour is helping, to want to tell the whole world about

it? To try to help others? But then you realize they think you are

nuts?

Gentle

_____

[Guest guest]

You do just fine.. on list and off... Dont' be so paranoid about it,

really!!!

shy smile

Topper ()

On Mon, 02 Feb 2004 02:27:16 -0000 " gentleone772002 "

writes:

> Thank you so much Topper! I don't have very good social skills

> and I tend to make people angry without ever even realizing why so

> I'm sort of paranoid about not communicating the right way.

>

> Gentle

[Guest guest]

The main thing that I had to learn was......when a person is truly ready to get

help...nothing will stop them. We as advocates can share our knowledge, help in

any way we can...gentley, lovingly...but when and ONLY when that person is truly

ready will they get help. I learned this very very quickly. I want to shout to

the world on a daily basis, yet only certain people listen..and some listen and

make fun. I think that is what hurts the most...when people think you are some

kind of freak. I'll stay a freak if that is what it takes. I don't want anyone

to suffer needlessly if I can make a difference.

I do not know all the technical things...yet I do know that basics... stick to

that and let the great docs out there do the rest.

You are going to do a fine job...keep up your zeal..never forget where you came

from...and you'll help so many gentle!!

Hugs PattiSue

Re: Last message defending my position to

take Armour...

Good for you, Janie! I have to figure out how to be an advocate

without going too far overboard or making anyone angry.

Gentle

P.S. I thought this was a good summation of the new TSH

standards...you know, something maybe people could print out and take

to their docs to say, " hey, look at the new TSH guidelines... "

http://tinyurl.com/2y9db

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

And remember Gentle,

You cannot " make " anyone angry. Everyone is responsible for their

own emotions. You may " trigger " people, and their response is anger,

but it is not your fault.

S.

> > > Gentle....

> > >

> > > I think your letter sounded very nice... you were grateful for

> their

> > > input but still explained that you have to make the best

decision

> > for

> > > you.. I thought it came across very well...

> > >

> > > Topper ()

> >

> > Thank you so much Topper! I don't have very good social

skills

> > and I tend to make people angry without ever even realizing why

so

> > I'm sort of paranoid about not communicating the right way.

> >

> > Gentle

[Guest guest]

> And remember Gentle,

>

> You cannot " make " anyone angry. Everyone is responsible for their

> own emotions. You may " trigger " people, and their response is

anger,

> but it is not your fault.

>

> S.

Yep thats a good thing to remember for all of us...you never know

what the " angry " person is REALLY responding to, or what s/he may

have going on in their life at that moment that you are not privy

to.