Mary Shomon

Some studies show that failing to treat subclinical hypothyroidism can have negative consequences for heart health, but it's controversial. Find out more about the relationship between untreated hypothyroidism and the risk of developing heart disease... Read Full Post - Mary Shomon

Someone posted on my Facebook wall a while back to ask an important question that in all my years of thyroid patient advocacy, I'd never really tackled. The question was: ... Read Full Post - Mary Shomon

Dr. Theodore Friedman is one of the most respected endocrinologists in the country, and at the same time, he breaks out of stereotypes by being especially open-minded and patient-oriented. Find ... Read Full Post - Mary Shomon

If you're a thyroid patient, finding the right thyroid doctor, being an empowered thyroid patient, and maintaining good communications with your doctor can all be challenges. I asked thyroid patients who are part of my Facebook Thyroid Support group to share the one thing they would change about their doctor. A few people happily answered that they love their doctors and wouldn't change a thing, But overwhelmingly, the responses were similar. The one thing many patients would change is that they want their thyroid practitioner to: Be more proactive Be more open-minded, in terms of willingness to prescribe T3 or natural thyroid drugs Be more willing to listen Be closer in proximity -- some people drive hours or even fly to see their doctors Take a big picture view, instead of considering each symptom separately Be willing to read, research and learn about thyroid disease on an ongoing basis Be on-time, and not keep patients waiting for hours Address symptoms, and not just lab test... - Mary Shomon

If you have a thyroid condition, you'll want to do everything you can to take good care of yourself, and do whatever possible to stay healthy, and on top of ... Read Full Post - Mary Shomon

A new study has found that more than 32 million people -- or nearly 14% of the US population -- have autoantibodies in their bloodstream. Autoantibodies are proteins produced in ... Read Full Post - Mary Shomon

Over at DearThyroid, by sharing your thoughts about thyroid disease, you may win an original painting by artist and advocate Allyson Jones Averell! Ally has donated an original butterfly painting ... Read Full Post - Mary Shomon

Coalition for Better Thyroid Care co-founder and Executive Director Geri Rybacki is celebrating Thyroid Awareness Month in a new way: she's forming a new, local support group for thyroid ... Read Full Post - Mary Shomon

He led the charge for use of T3 as a thyroid treatment. He was a pioneer in understanding the connection between fibromyalgia and hypothyroidism. He fought against thyroid dogma, to ... Read Full Post - Mary Shomon

The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists has, with the financial support of Synthroid manufacturer Abbott Labs, launched their 2012 effort to commemorate January's Thyroid Awareness Month with a new media campaign, and the rollout of a new paisley ribbon as the "icon for thyroid awareness." Their objectives include reaching 500 million people, via media outreach and web presence at their AACE awareness website and increasing understanding of thyroid dysfunction, as well as increasing the number of people diagnosed with thyroid dysfunction. Their campaign includes several web video PSAs, including one that features Edmund the giraffe. In it, Edmund says he's an expert on necks, and then presents a few key facts about thyroid disease, using animal imagery. You can view the AACE Edmund the Giraffe Thyroid Awareness Month 2012 video online at Youtube. What do you think of the AACE's 2012 effort? Do you feel that Edmund the giraffe is an effective PSA? What about AACE's other... - Mary Shomon

Last week, I reported that Argentine President Cristina Fernandez was going to have a thyroid surgery as treatment for papillary thyroid cancer. Fernandez did have her surgery last week, but after a full pathology assessment, no thyroid cancer was found. What This Means for President Fernandez? President Fernandez released a statement to say that she appreciated the good wishes, and would be getting back to work soon, given that she no longer needs to have radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment as a followup to her surgery. Fernandez, however, now has no thyroid gland, meaning that she is permanently hypothyroid. As such, she will have to take thyroid hormone replacement medication throughout her life, to replace the body's missing thyroid hormone. Could the Surgery Have Been Avoided? Dr. Robert Haddad, who is the chief of head and neck oncology at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, told Fox News Latino that Fernandez's permanent hypothyroidism could have been avoided if only the... - Mary Shomon

New Jersey-based artist Allyson Jones Averell is sharing her original painting, in honor of Thyroid Awareness Month, which began on January 1st. Two years ago, Ally shared her amazing talents in a an incredible butterfly-themed body painting to help highlight thyroid awareness. This year, Ally's body painting features the word "believe." According to Ally: "I chose the word believe for a few reasons. Believe in advocacy. Believe in a cure. Believe in helping others. Believe in asking questions. Believe in living healthy. Believe in living happy. Believe in turning something bad into something beautiful. And most importantly, believe you WILL get better." It's always incredible to see Ally's beautiful visual message -- even more incredible is she herself is the model for her talented and inspiring artwork. I hope that, like Ally, we all realize that it's important to believe. And believe that we can all, like Ally, do something to help raise visibility and make a difference this... - Mary Shomon

When you're hyperthyroid, you should automatically lose weight, right? If you are hypothyroid and you begin treatment, the weight should just melt off, yes? Thyroid patients can lose weight without ... Read Full Post - Mary Shomon

If you're a thyroid patient who has lost weight, what worked? Was it a low-fat, low-carb, low-glycemic, or low-calorie diet? Or all of the above? Did you need to exercise, ... Read Full Post - Mary Shomon

The government of Argentina announced on Tuesday, December 27, 2011 that the country's president, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has papillary thyroid cancer. The announcement said that the cancer had not ... Read Full Post - Mary Shomon

As we bring a close to 2011, take a look back at some of the significant thyroid stories, news and developments of the past year, including the Good Housekeeping magazine ... Read Full Post - Mary Shomon

Some people read "Twas The Night Before Christmas" every holiday season. Others watch "It's a Wonderful Life" or see the Nutcracker. But for regulars here at the About.com Thyroid site, ... Read Full Post - Mary Shomon

The holiday season -- with its food-centered family get-togethers and parties, extra responsibilities, cold weather, and lack of time to exercise -- can be a particular challenge for people with ... Read Full Post - Mary Shomon

When she's not writing letters to Santa Claus, humorist and thyroid patient Jody La Ferriere says that it's obvious that America's most beloved doll, Barbie (TM), is most definitely not ... Read Full Post - Mary Shomon

Here are some great holiday gift ideas for that special thyroid patient in your life!! These are gifts that will keep that special someone warm, cozy, healthy and happy all ... Read Full Post - Mary Shomon

David Borenstein, MD is an integrative physician in Manhattan who specializes in thyroid disease, hormone balance, and rehabilitative medicine. I've had a chance to interview Dr. Borenstein, as part of ... Read Full Post - Mary Shomon

While the best thyroid surgeons are known to carefully position a surgical incision in the crease of the neck, thyroid surgery - known as thyroidectomy - often leaves behind a ... Read Full Post - Mary Shomon

When it comes to being an active participant in your health care, there's no more dedicated advocate than ABC News Medical Contributor and bestselling author, Marie Savard, MD. Dr. Savard, ... Read Full Post - Mary Shomon

Another good reason for everyone -- and thyroid patients in particular -- to quit smoking. Research just published in the December 2011 issue of the journal Ophthalmology reports that smokers ... Read Full Post - Mary Shomon

We see the headlines as we're standing in the supermarket checkout line: "Amazing Thyroid Cure!" "Thyroid-Boosting Foods!" "Hormone Health Secrets." But do these magazines -- whether they're weekly tabloids at the checkout, monthly women's magazines, or even health-focused publications -- get it right when they're talking about thyroid disease and hormone health? What's the real story? About Mary Shomon|Thyroid Forum|Twitter|Facebook Photo: clipart.com - Mary Shomon

The New York Times has just published an article that discusses how researchers have found a link between borderline/subclinical thyroid problems and psychiatric problems in some patients. According to research conducted by pyschiatrist Russell Joffe, MD, treating subclinical thyroid issues can alleviate some psychiatric symptoms. Another doctor quoted, Jennifer Davis, MD, who is an assistant professor of psychiatry at Brown University. said that the issue is a "chicken-and-egg question. Is there an underlying thyroid problem that causes psychiatric symptoms, or is it the other way around?" But she acknowledged that it's common for people who have thyroid problems to be misdiagnosed with a psychiatric illness. The article mentions that endocrinologists tend to agree that a thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level aboe 10 requires treatment for hypothyroidism, but that levels above 4 are, as the article states, "murkier." Psychiatrist Dr. Thomas Geracioti of the University of Cincinnati... - Mary Shomon

Humorist Jody LaFerriere had just been diagnosed with hypothyroidism when she first wrote this funny piece for us, about the Thanksgiving thoughts of a newly diagnosed thyroid patient. Even though ... Read Full Post - Mary Shomon

Have you been outside lately? BRRR! I'm pulling out the jackets, gloves and hats here on the East Coast, and some parts of the country even had their first snows ... Read Full Post - Mary Shomon

Here are some great holiday gift ideas for that special thyroid patient in your life!! These are gifts that will keep that special someone warm, cozy, healthy and happy all ... Read Full Post - Mary Shomon

The holiday season -- with its food-centered family get-togethers and parties, extra responsibilities, cold weather, and lack of time to exercise -- can be a particular challenge for people with ... Read Full Post - Mary Shomon