At 01:17 AM 12/1/01 EST, you wrote:
>> Ballew Kinnaman <[log in to unmask]>
>
>
>> Please report here of your actions to
>> support Dr. Derry. Full copies are fine. After
>> you complete sending your support to the
>> addresses below, then send it to all of us.
>
Hi all,
Since we're sharing letters in support of Dr. Derry here's mine. And by
the way, I wonder if anyone else received a message with a virus in it; the
subject line was re: re: URGENT Support Dr. Derry NOW, or else and the
attachment had the suffix .doc.doc.scr.
Dear Mr. Doyle,
I'm writing to share my story, and to express my strong support for Dr.
Derry. My experiences as a patient, thyroid support group participant and
nurse have all come into play as I learned about thyroid disease over the
past several years.
I was diagnosed with Hashimotos disease four years ago at the age of 46.
My gynecologist was able to make this diagnosis because of his similar
approach of listening to the patient. I presented with symptoms of
insomnia, bloating and constipation (and had high cholesterol) and didn't
have significant weight gain or fatigue. But this doctor knew something
wasn't right, and ordered a TSH and thyroid antibodies. I was clearly
hypothyroid from the lab work, even in the eyes of the endocrinologist who
then took over my care. It was only much later that I realized I actually
had been suffering from brain fog and depression. These symptoms only
became obvious to me when they had been replaced with clarity and joie de
vivre. (Before that I was too dulled out to realize how below par I was.)
After a year of treatment with synthroid, my original gynecologist
suggested adding cytomel (T3) or switching to Thyrolar (which contains T4
and T3), since my cholesterol was still rather high, and since my free T3
was low. The endocrinologist disagreed, and pointed out my low TSH value.
But at this point, after reading the commentary on thyroid list, I knew
that I could probably feel better than I did, and lower my cardiovascular
risk as well. I also knew that the risks of undertreating my
hypothyroidism were at least as bad as the risks of overtreating! I made
the decision to change to Thyrolar (and later Armour).
I think that's one of the key issues for many practitioners in mainstream
medicine today. They don't realize that the risks of undertreating thyroid
disease are at least as serious as the risks of overtreatment. The risks
of undertreatment include major quality of life issues, since those of us
who are undertreated go through life as zombies and never fulfill our
potential. Although I haven't personally experienced major pain issues, I
know that many of us do suffer from chronic pain as well.
In my case, I felt much better when I switched to a product containing T3.
I became sharper, happier, my cholesterol went down, and I had the energy
to enjoy life without forcing myself to do things. My resting pulse never
went above 70, and my bone density has been fine. When tested at intervals
since adding T3, my TSH has always been in the range for hyperthyroidism,
yet I don't have any hyper symptoms. There are lots of us in this category
apparently.
Another key issue is that very few doctors today put the necessary time
into really listening to patients. Financial, legal and time pressures
encourage doctors to just go by the labs and follow standardized treatment.
If patients complain of not feeling well on standard treatment, their
complaints are too often condescendingly dismissed.
To me, doctors like Dr. Derry are a rare treasure these days. I've read
some of his case histories, and know how smart, careful, kind and
communicative he is. And when you consider his outcomes, it's clear he's
an invaluable practitioner. Many patients have come to him when they
couldn't find successful treatment anywhere else. Some of them suffered
greatly, and only found relief through Dr. Derry's approaches.
It will be an incredible loss if Dr. Derry's practice is limited in any
way. I urge anyone listening to this case to take the ethical and moral
route, and enable Dr. Derry to continue treating complex thyroid patients.
There are many of us out there,and we need his help.
Sincerely,
Susan Austin,RN,MSN
Hartsburg, Missouri
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