[mpykinz]

#1060192

I try to avoid reading anything on STTM (Stop The Thyroid Madness), even though so many people with a thyroid disorder look to it as the “holy grail”.

Why?

Because it seems biased. First and foremost, they preach about the magic of NDT while simultaneously shooting down celebrity promotion of Synthyroid. There is also the fact that they only tell horror stories about radioactive iodine, and have a huge “why not to do RAI” list and lean heavily towards the use of ATDs (which also have a huge list of side effects). Finally, there is their blatant attack against T4-only medications, in which they go so far as to claim that the “what works for others might not work for you” so called “approach” is a “watered-down, walk-the-fence-message”. They have a whole article about how T4 only makes people sicker and causes “other health issues”.

Now, I know some people don’t do well on T4-only meds. Some people have had complications with RAI as well. There are people that swear by NDT. . .

But why is a website that is so obviously biased the go-to resource for people with thyroid conditions? I believe that the choice is up to the person, and there is no “one size fits all”. The “what works for others might not work for you” belief is not an advertisement created by the “big pharma brands”. You might get on ATDs and not get better or develop those horrible side-effects. You might take NDT and find it doesn’t work for you, and find synthetics work better for you. I’m really up in arms about this, since it seems their main job is just to terrify people that are new to thyroid disease.

What is everyone else’s opinion? Even if you take NDT or ATDs, do you think that this is acceptable?

[snelsen]

#1181162

I have never read it, except once, when someone asked me to check it out. Your observations seem correct, and I feel that there was no validity to this site in any sense of the word. In my opinion, it is not worth reading. Their disclaimers and the content of the site, recommending medications and dosages, is worrisome.
But it seems you pretty much got this all figured out already, with your good common sense. I do not know of its’ readership one way or the other.
Shirley

[barbra]

#1181163

I am always suspicious of any site where the first thing they want to do is sell you a book, or meds or something. That means the primary focus is on ” how much money can we make today”.
For me it’s then: I took a look, got out, not reading your blog and not buying your book!

Barbra.

[Kimberly]

#1181164

Hello – In addition to what’s been said so far, I also think that any time you set up an “us vs. them” type of scenario (i.e. “doctors don’t care if you are miserable”, “big pharma wants to get rich by selling you unnecessary drugs”, etc.), people tend to flock to that for some reason. The GDATF supports the American Thyroid Association and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists in looking for *solid research* regarding the use of desiccated thyroid extract and other T3/T4 combination options.

One of the more interesting studies proposes a theory that patients with a specific genetic type might be predisposed to feeling better on combination therapy.

(Note on links: if you click directly on the following link, you will need to use your browser’s “back” button to return to the boards after viewing, or you will have to log back in to the forum. As an alternative, you can right-click the link and open it in a new tab or new window).

http://jcem.endojournals.org/content/94/5/1623.abstract

The GDATF has heard mixed reviews from patients who have tried T3/T4 combination therapy. Some believe that it truly has a positive impact on quality of life. Others found that it brought back a return of their hypERthyroid symptoms, and chose to go back to T4-only therapy.

Clearly, this is an area that *does* need more research!

[Author]

Posts