Oprah & Dr. Northrop Get Slammed on Thyroid Advice

Self-appointed thyroid patient advocate, Mary Shomon, took exception to the idea that emotional issues could be a significant factor contributing to a thyroid problem. She attacked Oprah and Dr. Northrup in an open letter to Oprah’s viewers. Ms. Shomon said of Dr. Northrup, “It is irresponsible of her to suggest that an inability to express yourself is somehow responsible for a woman's thyroid condition.” Going on she states “Ultimately, in claiming to advocate for women's health, Dr. Northrup and Oprah both have inexplicably embraced an extreme - and, frankly, quite unsympathetic - view that blames women's lifestyle and emotional life for our health problems, hormonal imbalances, and symptoms.

Mary doesn't care if Oprah herself has embraced Dr. Northrup's theory. She believes no woman should believe that she is to blame, much less that blowing kisses to herself in the mirror, and taking a hot bath before bed to resolve her hormonal imbalances, as Dr. Northrup suggested on the show.

Mary contends Oprah never had hyperthyroidism. She had stress-induced wind up, which makes a person feel like a cat on a hot tin roof. This stress tension, often accompanied by anxiety or even panic, feels like you are sitting at a stop sign with your foot on the gas and the clutch pressed in at the same time – going 60 miles an hour nowhere. Technically, this is a problem known as metabolic uncoupling. Instead of making energy properly, cells are making excess heat, inflammation, and free radicals. These factors throw a monkey wrench into proper thyroid metabolism. In this case the body induces slow thyroid function as a self-defense mechanism. The thyroid gland must slow down the hyper stress drive, otherwise the person will burn up!

So, even though I am a big fan of Dr. Northrop and of Oprah, I have to side with Mary on this issue. Thyroid disease is serious and you need to treat it that way.  I am in no way of fan of drugs, but sometimes your body needs a little more help than you yourself can provide. That in no way implies that you shouldn't continue doing everything you can to take better care of yourself emotionally and spiritually. Just check in with the doctor and see what's going in. Don't ever limit yourself when there is so much available.

I discovered through a blood test that I had hypothyroidism (under-active thyroid).  When my doctor advised me to take Synthroid I listened, even though I had no real symptoms.  The drug had no side effects and my T3 & T4 and TSH responded well, getting back into normal ranges very quickly.  I continued to do my research and about a year later decided to go the more natural route just to see what would happen.

I stopped taking the Synthroid and started on a herbal remedy specifically formulated to regulate thyroid function. To be honest, with this new protocol I felt no different than I had on the Synthroid.  I stayed with it for about 6 months checking my bloods every couple of months.  Unfortunately, they got progressively worse indicating my thyroid was struggling.  So, on the advice of my physician I resumed taking Synthroid. Natural didn't work for me, even when I combined it with a relaxation practice of meditation and tibetan singing bowls.  My thyroid definetely had it's own agenda, so I listened. 

Recognizing medical problems and learning how to take care of ourselves is getting a lot of media attention. Oprah's shows with Dr. Oz are probably saving many lives.   Just remember this. Nobody knows your body better than you do.  You have to listen to what it is telling you every day. Those messages can never be ignored. Pay attention - early detection can save your life.

Comments

[Michelle]

Stress and lifestyle choices have been proven to be the causes of problems like heart disease and diabetes. Is it really so far of a stretch that they could also cause problems with the thyroid. I have Hashimoto's thyroiditis which is a degeneration of the thyroid gland and I have sometimes wondered while in the midst of being very angry with my children if the adreneline surge is good for my body. I think Dr. Northrop's opinion on this is worth considering - stress reduction can only be a good thing. There are those with genetic conditions who can't control what is happening to their bodies, but for most of us the situation can be compared to a heart patient who continues to smoke and eat unhealthy food - who is then to blame? I see it as a wake-up call to "not sweat the small stuff" and to "simplify, simplify, simplify" - in other words, take responsibilty for my own health.