Product Description

Dr. Starr has written a clear and understandable explanation of why so many people today are suffering from hypothyroidism, despite 'normal' blood tests that throw their doctors off the track. This book is a compilation of the overwhelming evidence that not only is the modern laboratory testing used to diagnose hypothyroidism completely inadequate, but also the current treatment for the illness is equally lacking efficacy.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #135645 in Books
• Published on: 2005-03-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 271 pages

Customer Reviews

for anyone with chronic health problems!
I have seen well over a dozen books on thyroid. Too many contain mostly regurgitated conventional beliefs, a few were written mainly to sell the author's own nutrition products. Most insist thyroid medical tests are reliable. (How do they know this, anyway?)

This one is different. The author is a hypothyroid specialist and provides much evidence that over 50% of the US (and no doubt UK) population has low thyroid problems - whether your own doctor's much-touted tests show it or not. This is the book that really helped me understand my low thyroid problems and I have also learned how to see the signs in others (from pix and explanations in the book of things like the arm pinch test and swollen necks).

The only negative for me is that it did not really agree with the warning in one other excellent thyroid book about adrenal exhaustion preventing recovery (that other book is "Your Thyroid and How to Keep It Healthy: The Great Thyroid Scandal and How to Survive It" by Barry Durrant-Peatfield and there is only one page in it about having to build up the adrenals first - easy to overlook, as I almost did). Be warned: if you have had low thyroid for several years (in my case over a decade before I finally self-diagnosed and thus was able to take the first steps towards recovery) then you will almost certainly have adrenal exhaustion.

The adrenal exhaustion involvement is a major problem because, even if you are able to get thyroid tablets, they may not work (especially if you take synthetic thyroid) and you would then assume you don't have a low thyroid problem, that it must be something else. This happened to me at the start of my long illness and was one of the major reasons I did not try thyroid tablets again for over a decade - even though I very gradually gained over 100 pounds while eating very carefully indeed - it must be easier to realise a low thyroid involvement if you gain three stone in three months, as a friend of mine did. (Another one was that I have very thick head hair and every list of symptoms includes thinning hair - so please don't let this sort of thing put you off too.)

Also, if you are diabetic or TATT (tired all the time, even ME/CFS) or overweight (and can't lose it by dieting) or have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, etc, etc, then you MUST read this book. If you have chronic health problems (and who doesn't, these days!) the information in this book may save your life in the long run and relieve pain in the shorter term.

P.S. Four subsequent recommendations:

- The MUST-READ book on low thyroid is "Stop the Thyroid Madness", passionate and comprehensive, it explains that the most-used thyroid test is inaccurate and why synthetic thyroid does not work.

- "Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can't Live Without It" by Brownstein can also be useful.

- "Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms?" explains that if taking natural thyroid still leaves you with a number of symptoms, it is an autoimmune disease, not a primary thyroid problem. Based thoroughly on scientific research, this book gives the low down on what your doctor never hears at his pharmaceutical sponsored education events.

- The latest miracle cure worth investigating is claimed to be high-dose Vitamin D3 which apparently can cure cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, bone density issues, arthritis, flu, muscle pain, chronic pain, fatigue, seasonal (and other) depression and various autoimmune disorders.Anyone living above the 35th parallel (England runs from the 50th upwards) is highly likely to have a sunshine/vit D deficiency that can also lead to many common symptoms.

Invaluable
In an attempt to comprehend my Hypothyroidism and how to manage the many symptoms I still have, even after 'Normal' blood tests and taking Thyroxine supplements daily, I purchased this book along with a few others. I'm a 33 year old Female - I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism post partum but had previous been 'borderline' 3 years prior to the birth of my child.
Consulting with GP's in regards to my ongoing symptoms has proven to be a waste of the energy I do have, so instead I'm on a quest to educate myself in the history, testing and nutritional advice these is to be had in the hope of managing this disease more efficiently.
I am bearing in mind there are dedicated Thyroid specialists out there who can help me, but it pays to have knowledge in advance of seeking their help - I want to know exactly what they're talking about!

I have only read through half of this book so far and it has already registered as one of, if not THE, most interesting and valuable book's I've read - I got it 2 days ago and I'm a slow reader but I've not been able to put it down.
I'd recommend this book to anyone suffering from Hypothyroidism, and infact I'm going to order one for my mother who suffers from the same condition #as does every female on my mothers side of the family#.
Hopefully by the time my daughter gets to an age where the same fate will most likely befall her, I'll be in a strong 'educated' position to help and guide her through, what for me is a daily struggle.

If only modern GP's would really listen to patients and practice the simple tests...low temperature?, skin pinch test, which it seems, are red flag hypothyroidism symptoms - And guess what...there are still symptoms even after diagnosis and treatment!

Great book. Easy to read and understand. Great explanations. Interesting case studies and photos - The start of my Hypothyroidism collection.

Excellent reference source
Good book - interesting historical information and current issues brought to the fore regarding this dreadfully complex condition - thyroid dysfunction - anything that helps the medical profession across the world treat this condition with the seriousness it deserves gets my vote. Disappointing that he didn't discuss in a major way the issue of adrenal insufficiency that is unrecognised by the majority of the medical profession and is causing so many problems when trying to treat thyroid deficiency successfully. Considering this condition was 'discovered' in the 1850's and was recognised for what it was and by symptoms only where no blood test results were used - a very serious condition that affects the whole of the human body - those in the medical profession responsible for missing these signs would appear to have forgotten more than they know today - perhaps a peep into their archives might help or indeed how about them investing some of their time and money ordering books from Amazon as I and thousands of others have had to do to enable us to get answers and keep well. A must read for those who 'know' they have thyroid dysfunction but are not getting treatment as their blood test shows thyroid function as normal.