Health Care

from :Mary Shomon

Ideas and information on things patients can do to feel their best

I've been a thyroid patient advocate for five years, and along the way, I've had the privilege of speaking with thousands of thyroid patients each year. I also have talked to, interviewed or heard from hundreds of the world's most popular practitioners. People who feel well tend to do some of the same things. I wanted to share them with you.

1. Find a great doctor who will be your partner in wellness -- not an egotist who won't listen or work towards your wellness. Your first stop? The Thyroid Top Doc Directory, where patients like you have recommended their favorite practitioners around the world. Thyroid Top Docs Directory.

2. Once you've found a great practitioner, learn how to effectively deal with her or him.Dr. Carol Roberts has some great advice!

3. Know when to get a second opinion. Sometimes, even if you have a great doctor, it's good to get another viewpoint. Find out when it's time, and how to get a second opinion.

4. If you can't get tested by your doctor, get tested yourself! There are a variety of services offering reliable TSH testing without requiring a doctor's prescription or office visit. Find out more.

5. Be as informed as you can. That may mean that you need to learn as much -- if not more -- than your doctor knows about thyroid disease! And one of the best ways is to read several of the top thyroid-related books!

6. The best thyroid drug is the one that works safely and best for you. Find out how you can and should choose the right thyroid drug for you.

7. Insist on getting copies of your test results and records. After all, you own them, says patient rights expert, Marie Savard, MD in this patient empowerment guide.

8. Be open to the use of alternative medicine. Some of the thyroid patients who feel the best are following integrative therapies that combine traditional and alternative approachs.

9. Battle the bulge the minute you see any signs of weight gain. The patients who have had the most success are ones who have changed their diet and exercise as soon as they notice thyroid-related weight gain. A good starting point for information is the Thyroid Weight Loss Information Center.

10. Don't overconsume soy. Some experts believe that the current epidemic of thyroid problems may be due to America's love affair with soy. While some soy foods can be good for use, turning soy into a medicine by overcoming soy pills and powders is a danger to your thyroid health.

11. Don't be a slave to the numbers. Did you know that each person has his or her own "normal" thyroid function and being within a lab's normal range does not necessarily mean your thyroid is normal for you. Find out what normal really means now.

12. Know about the thyroid drugs you take, and the alternatives that may make you feel better. With 4 brands of approved levothyroxine, several natural desiccated prescription drugs, a synthetic combination drug to choose from, two antithyroid drugs, and a special drug just for thyroid cancer patients having scans, there are many thyroid drugs to know about and choose from. Find out more in the Thyroid Drug Database

13.Get support when you need it. One of the best places is at my Thyroid Forums, where you'll find someone else with the same problems and concerns as you have, and often answers and solutions as well!! If not, you'll definitely find a sympathetic ear! Visit the forums now.

14. Understand thyroid disease in general. Make sure you know the difference between hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, nodules, goiter, and thyroid cancer.Thyroid Disease 101.

15. Question the "conventional wisdom." Especially when it comes to the penchant for radioactive iodine to ablate the thyroid during hyperthyroidism or Graves' disease, it's wise to find out more before you take permanent actions. Find out about Graves' Disease: A Practical Guide.

16. Get a flu shot every year. I hear from so many thyroid patients who get the flu every year, and it hits them longer and takes longer to recover than others. Save yourself the trouble this year!

17. Revive and boost your metabolism. Sluggish metabolism contributes to fatigue, difficulty losing weight, or continued weight gain, and there are 12 great ways to help.

18. Exercise!! A simple thyroid-oriented exercise program, 40 minutes, 3 times a week, can totally change your shape and your energy. Here's a program you can start today!

19. Make sure you follow proper nutrition for thyroid patients. Nutritionist Dr. Ed Baumann has excellent ideas to help you decide what dietary changes to make. Read his advice now.

20. LAUGH!! When you're tempted to feel down or frustrated about energy, weight issues, or other thyroid concerns, try to find a way to laugh. A GREAT starting place: "Dear Dr. Phil: Kiss My Goiter!!," Celisa Dyan's humorous open letter to the Oprah show's Dr. Phil McGraw, telling it like it REALLY is...

source: about.com