Thyroid Deep Dive

If you are starting levothyroxine treatment for hypothyroidism – or your levothyroxine isn’t working the way you need it to -- make sure that you take into consideration all the key factors that could be having an impact.

Conventional physicians consider levothyroxine the primary – and in many cases, the ONLY -- treatment for hypothyroidism. But how much do we know about it? You may think that there’s not much difference between one levothyroxine drug or another, but you couldn’t be more wrong. There are brand name pills and generic pills, and they are different. They have different fillers, dyes, and coatings. Levothyroxine from different manufacturers – even at the same dosage – have different potencies. Then, there's levothyroxine in liquid gel capsules and as an oral solution. You can even get compounded forms of levothyroxine.

How can you know which one is right for you, especially if you don’t know all your options? And how much will it cost? Are there ways to save? In this episode, you'll hear about the pros and cons -- and potential pitfalls -- of different types of levothyroxine. You’ll also hear from pharmaceutical researcher and professor, Dr. Charles Carter, about the risks of compounded liquid levothyroxine, and the costs of levothyroxine treatment. You'll come away knowing your options, with a plan for how to fast forward your way to better health. Dive in and get up to speed on levothyroxine!

For many thyroid patients, being energetic and maintaining a healthy weight are a constant struggle. Should you go low-carb or low-fat? Vegan or vegetarian? Paleo? Autoimmune protocol? Should you avoid soy and broccoli, or go for broke and drink a soy veggie smoothie every day? And why is weight loss seemingly impossible for thyroid patients? Is there any way to speed up a slow, thyroid-impaired metabolism?

In this episode, you'll hear from nutrition guru and bestselling author Dr. Jonny Bowden. Dr. Jonny is a true force of nature, who went from overweight musician to one of the nation's top personal trainers and holistic nutritional experts. He's the bestselling author of many books, including Living Low Carb, The Metabolic Factor, and his latest book, the newly updated edition of The Great Cholesterol Myth.

Dr. Jonny is known as the "Nutrition Myth Buster," and you'll hear his very best advice --- and some serious myth busting -- to learn “What’s On the Menu?” for thyroid patients who want to eat healthy and lose weight.

When you're being treated for hypothyroidism, every time you fill a prescription for thyroid hormone medication, it can be a roll of the dice. Will you actually get the medication your doctor prescribed? Will the pharmacy say it’s out of stock, but it’s mysteriously not out of stock at the pharmacy across the street? Will your pharmacist substitute a different brand or give you a generic without even telling you? Will your insurance even cover it? And how much will it cost? Will a prescription that cost you $15 last month run you $40 this month -- and $70 next month?

In this episode, you'll hear from two experienced pharmacists who have worked in retail, online and specialty pharmacies for several decades. Dr. Jessica Nouhavandi is cofounder of online mail-order pharmacy Honeybee Health. And Chris DiLascia is president of Transition Pharmacy Services, also known as TPS, a specialty pharmacy. Dr. Jessica and Chris take us “behind the counter,” to explain what’s really going on at pharmacies when we get our thyroid prescriptions filled, how to get the specific medications we need, and how we can avoid being one of the 50% of thyroid patients who overpay for their thyroid medication.

What is it like to have debilitating thyroid symptoms that no one seems to be able to figure out? Or to tell your doctor you’re feeling exhausted, depressed, anxious, brain fogged, and gaining weight, and be told, “it’s in your head,” or “it’s normal at your age,” or "it's just your hormones, dear," or “would you like me to prescribe an antidepressant?” How about riding a non-stop merry-go-round of different thyroid medications, only to discover that you STILL have symptoms no matter what you try? And most importantly, what can you do?

In this inaugural episode of the Thyroid Deep Dive, we listen to the patients. You’ll hear from actual thyroid patients from across the country, sharing their experiences: the pain of trying to get properly diagnosed, the frustrating trial and error process of treatment—and, unfortunately, how being ignored, patronized, and dismissed by doctors along the way is all too common.

Despite the challenges, there are solutions! You’ll hear life-changing advice from patients on how they found the right providers and treatments, and stayed motivated in their efforts to finally get well. Their success stories will inspire you to feel well and live well as you take your own thyroid journey!

What type of treatment should you pursue for your thyroid care? Which road should you take? One direction is conventional endocrinology. Take a deep dive with two top endocrinologists, Dr. Gladys Palomeno and Dr. Ernest Asamoah, who explain their approaches to testing, diagnosis, and treatment of hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's thyroiditis. You'll get an eye-opening look at how the endocrinology world views hypothyroidism, and what you can expect from conventional hypothyroidism care.

And, be sure to check out Part Two for the integrative/naturopathic perspective on hypothyroidism.

There are two very different views of how to test for, diagnose, and treat hypothyroidism. Part One featured the conventional endocrinology approach. Part Two focuses on how integrative and naturopathic physicians tackle this challenge. You'll hear from two of the nation's top holistic physicians and thyroid experts, Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, and Kevin Passero, ND. These doctors, with decades of experience diagnosing and treating hypothyroid patients, share their unique insights and approaches to diagnosis and treatment of hypothyroidism.

From bestselling author and patient advocate Mary Shomon, The new Thyroid Deep Dive podcast focuses on the experiences of thyroid patients, challenges we face, and life-changing solutions from doctors, nutritionists, and wellness experts.