Monday, October 29, 2007

Orpah's Thyroid...and yours

Okay, if you've been reading this blog regularly, you know how central I feel the thyroid is to many bodily functions...including fertility. But the problem is, there's so much damn contradictory information out there, the labs can't even agree on "normal" ranges.

I always rely on Mary Shomon, About.com's Thyroid guide, not because she knows every single thing in the known world about thyroid (no one does, and don't let them tell you so), but because she is intellectually curious AND quite knowledgeable. Frankly, "experts" don't even know where autoimmune thyroid disease comes from, so I don't think anyone has all the "right answers," but Mary (and I add, she is an "advocate," not a health professional) has strong views but isn't afraid to backtrack or rethink things--an attitude the "experts" might benefit from.

So anyway, I don't watch TV, so I have no idea how big a story this has been (and I haven't followed it closely, but I caught something in some email about Orpah cured her hypothyroidism by going on vacation--???), but here's the most current post from Mary:

Why Thyroid Patients Should be Grateful to Oprah Winfrey

Thyroid patients should be grateful to Oprah Winfrey. As a thyroid patient myself, as well as an advocate for other patients, I am personally and professionally grateful. I know that this sounds strange, coming just a week after I've publicly criticized Oprah and her friend/guest Dr. Christiane Northrup for suggesting that thyroid disease is directly caused by stress or self-care, and that stress reduction and pampering are a cure. But after giving it some thought, I realize there are definitely reasons to thank Oprah for going public.


Read all about it here.

And here's Mary's interview with thyroid expert, Dr.Marie Savard.