Challenging Doctors and Patients Alike

Hypothyroidism is a common, very treatable disorder that is also often poorly managed by doctors. In this first-rate book by Mary Shomon, a thyroid patient and professional writer, the disorder, its myths, and medicine’s successes and failures at dealing with it are thoroughly examined. This is not a book that rehashes old facts on thyroid disease. Shomon instead challenges patients and their doctors to look deeper and try harder to resolve the complicated symptoms of hypothyroidism. For example, she points out that a Thyroid Foundation survey showed that two-thirds of patients still suffer symptoms after undergoing what doctors consider sufficient treatment. In a fascinating chapter, Shomon, who also has a Web site (https://thyroid.about.com) and an online newsletter about the disease, explores recent evidence that the addition of the thyroid hormone T3 to the standard T4 (levothyroxine) may help some people feel better. In addition, the section on babies born with hypothyroidism, although brief, has the best advice on how to give medication to an infant that I’ve seen. As Shomon writes: “For years, thyroid problems have been downplayed, misunderstood and portrayed as unimportant.” With her advocacy, perhaps no more.