ThyroidChange's World Thyroid Day Patient Movement Censored Leaving Patients Frustrated

HAWTHORNE, N.J. - May 28, 2014 - PRLog -- The current treatment guidelines for the treatment of thyroid disease are not sufficient for all patients and leave too many patients suffering. ThyroidChange, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of these patients, recently announced 25,000 signatures who are petitioning to improve current guidelines. The organization has expansive support including notable physicians such as Dr. Ridha Arem, endocrinologist, Dr. William Davis of Wheat Belly and media personalities Dr. Mark Hyman and Gena Lee Nolin. This community believes their stories will highlight and demonstrate the gravity of thyroid patient suffering and create a platform for doctor-patient collaboration. However, instead, the American Endocrinological Association and the American Thyroid Association deleted the posts and banned users from future posting censoring their movement.  In an effort to be heard, patients have submitted an iReport and are asking CNN to investigate their claims.

Current American guidelines for the treatment of thyroid disease calls for the use of TSH-only testing and for levothyroxine sodium (such as brand name Synthroid) to be administered to all hypothyroid patients. These guidelines are issued by The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and The American Thyroid Association.[ii] ThyroidChange offers evidence that not only is TSH-only testing insufficient for diagnosis and monitoring, but also that many patients continue to suffer on the gold-standard therapy of levothyroxine (T4-only medication) and thrive with the addition of T3-containing therapies.[iii] Jeffrey Garber, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical Center and chair of the American Clinical Endocrinologists Thyroid Scientific Committee has stated that, “the vast majority of people are fine on the standard therapy.”[iv] ThyroidChange challenges this statement with supporting evidence and will continue to advocate for treatment options.

World Thyroid Day is dedicated to raising awareness about thyroid disease. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the base of the neck. The thyroid creates hormones which are used by each cell in the body. Symptoms of thyroid disease can affect the entire body and can greatly diminish a patient’s quality of life.[v]

ThyroidChange unites thyroid patients in an effort to gain personalized treatment, expanded thyroid testing and to raise awareness of this widespread problem. ThyroidChange also aims to work with medical oversight agencies in order to create a unified standard of care for thyroid patients to increase patient access to effective, modern treatment.

Please help this effort by visiting www.ThyroidChange.org to sign the petition and unite for better thyroid care, or contact ThyroidChange to discuss how you can support this initiative.

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1137487

[ii] https://www.aace.com/files/hypothyroidism_guidelines.pdf

[iii] http://www.thyroidchange.org/supporting-research.html

[iv] http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887324635904578644532652110970

[v] http://www.thyroidchange.org/2/post/2013/02/300-hypothyroidism-symptoms-yes-really.html