What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About(TM): Hypothyroidism (What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About...

by Kenneth R. Blanchard, Marietta Abrams Brill

A groundbreaking, proven approach for successfully diagnosing and treating the millions with hypothyroidism.

Depression, weight gain, fatigue, headaches, memory lapses, hair loss—these are just some of the vague, often debilitating symptoms that plague the more than 13 million patients with hypothyroidism. The typical blood test for diagnosis is often inaccurate, leaving many to suffer through ineffective treatment. But now, there is a Dr. Blanchard’s groundbreaking program draws on emerging research, medical facts, and three decades of clinical experiences as an endocrinologist. This individualized program uses questionnaires and charts to help diagnose sufferers through symptoms, not only lab results. It then treats patients of all ages with the safe but little used T3 hormone in combination with the more common T4 hormone. Also including specific nutritional advice and alternative treatments, this is the one program for sufferers of hypothyrodism that really works!

Genres: Health, Nonfiction

252 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[quail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't even finished reading this, and it's the most important book I've read in the past year.

Every single person should read this book. If you do not, you will be woefully misinformed about one of the biggest health problems of the current age.

ETA: Okay, there are checklists to bring to your doctors and websites and menu plans and the recipes sound so damn good they made my stomach growl. I plan on buying a copy of this book.

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I tend to be wary of these kinds of self-help books, but I still found a few nuggets of information that will be helpful. There's a ton of info about T3 and T4 and how they work and what they are. There's helpful info on nutrition and supplements too,

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this about two years ago

[SpatialH · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is all about getting the correct dosage with the proper percentage of T4/T3.

He's my own doctor, I feel great finally, and I wish everyone could get their own doctors to prescribe thyroid medicine with the same theory that Dr Blanchard does.

The basic idea is that the human body uses T4/T3 at a ratio of about 98% to 2%, so that's what should be presented to the body when your own thyroid isn't providing it. (vs prescribing arbitrary dosages of T4 without T3, or finally giving someone T3 and giving them WAY too much)

Read this and then read "Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms? When My Lab Tests Are Normal: A Revolutionary Breakthrough In Understanding Hashimoto's Disease and Hypothyroidism
by Datis Kharrazian" to learn about stopping your immune system from destroying your thyroid in the first place. (i.e. if your body hates gluten it will hate your thyroid)

and feel better!

[Gayle · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read - aimed more at people who are struggling to get a diagnosis than to those who have clear blood test results of hypothyroid. Brings up research that taking T4 drugs (like Synthroid) alone may not be the cure-all the medical establishment has supported all these years. Shows case studies of a combo of T4 and T3 in combination may give people better results in normalizing their thyroid levels. A valuable resource for meal plans and talking points on how to talk to your doctor - or find a new one - can validate that your symptoms are not all 'in your head'.

[Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blanchard and Brill seem to make some good points about symptoms of hypothyroidism that I can relate to. I learned a few new things that fall into this category, which makes me think I am NOT crazy or a whiner!

So maybe a visit to the MD is appropriate as well as some diet changes which should decrease the symptoms.

We will see.

[크리스티 (Kristy) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excited about the check list for my doctor. The chart on good/not so good foods is a great help. I've been eating a lot of the foods "not so good” list. The symptom list is great a lot more explanation on each symptom and why it happens. Realizing also using kosher salt isn’t the best choice since I’m missing out a lot of iodine in my system that way.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my thyroid doctor (endocrinologist). He has changed my life tremendously and is the only doctor who actually listened to me. He has written another more recent book as well. Must read if you are hypothyroid and not feeling better even with traditional treatment.

[Alfy · Rating 4 out of 5]

very helpful!