July 3, 2009
Posted in: Successful Treatment Stories 
2 Comments
Rosie Brown writes from her blog:
I thought it might be helpful to address the following blog response from Lori here where I can copy and paste some info. Lori writes:
âHello. I just joined the Canary Club and am in tears. I have been âsuffering.â  I was diagnosed in 2005 as having hypothyroidism and was put on a compounded T3/T4 30mg capsule. I have been on that since. Based on blood work, my endocrinologist has kept me on the same capsule. It wasnât until I went to him with other âchallengesâ (constipation, fatigue, heavy periods, brain fog) that he just prescribed bio-identical progesterone cream. He didnât even listen to me. I just didnât feel right about slapping some cream on with no reason so I did the saliva test with Diagnosis Tech and it came back I am estrogen dominant/low progesterone. I wanted some guidance so I went to a naturopathic doctor. She put me on a sublingual progesterone pellet. When my levels get low, I get a migraine. I still have low energy, fatigue, anxiety/panic, and heavy periodsâŚÂ I donât know what else to do. My husband is trying to be supportive but he wants âMEâ backâŚÂ I just turned 37 and this has been going on since last October, 08 with the symptoms recently getting worseâŚ
I feel like I am losing my mind. I am tired of being tired and getting migraines, and I canât imagine the next 20 or so years has to be like thisâŚ.
I am open to suggestions. I have seen many doctors and the naturopath is the only one who is listening to me⌠My primary doctor put me on Wellbutrin and Klonopin and I didnât do well at all with either of these⌠My employer is not very sympatheticâŚÂ Please, any advice is appreciated.â
In my role as a Registered Nurse, I serve as an educational assistant to physicians. I am not licensed to diagnose or treat. What I can do is provide some information that will be of help to you and your health care providers, and I will provide some resources that perhaps can also be of assistance.
My first thought is, yes, you are suffering and, yes, you can be helped to get the old âMEâ back!
A confusing point is that many of the symptoms of thyroid disorder and sex hormone imbalance are similar. For example, the symptoms you list can be found listed in resources as symptoms of both. Since you have been diagnosed as having hypothyroidism, three wonderful thyroid resources you might want to consult are Thyroid Power by Drs. Richard and Karilee Shames, Hypothyroidism Type 2 by Dr. Mark Starr, and Stop the Thyroid Madness by Janie A. Bowthorpe.
As Dr. Shames addresses in Thyroid Power, âThe standard lab tests are unable to identify the millions of borderline low thyroid sufferers. The thyroid tests used today are just not sensitive enough to identify mild thyroid failure. You could be uncomfortably low in thyroid and still show normal in tests. Individuals differ in what is ânormalâ for them.â
jIn Hypothyroidism Type 2, Dr. Starr devotes an entire chapter to explaining the fallacies in our current thyroid testing. In it he states, âDoctors currently ignore patientsâ medical histories and physical findings consistent with hypothyroidism. The laboratory tests for the illness reign supreme.â Dr Starr goes on to say, âModern doctors use the thyroid blood tests as guidelines for treatment as well as diagnosis. The end result is the health disaster that is upon us.â
My recommendation is to become your own health care advocate. Start by educating yourself so that you are in a better place to discuss your symptoms with your health care practitioners. For example, what are your thyroid levels? Do they fall in the controversial âwithin normal rangeâ values? Which thyroid tests were performed? Are they the tests that those knowledgeable in bioidentical hormone balancing know to order?
You mention that you are estrogen dominant and have low progesterone. Again, what were your saliva results? One can be estrogen dominant and still be estrogen deficient. On the other hand, thyroid hormone levels are closely tied to sex hormone balance. For example, excess estrogen can block thyroid function.
The sex hormones, adrenals, and thyroid are all closely connected. For this reason, it is important to look at the levels for all three in attempting to determine the root cause of your symptoms.
Physicians in the traditional medical model administer anti-depressants for symptom control. The question I encourage you to ask is, âWhat is the root cause of my symptoms?â A synthetic drug given for symptom relief does not correct the underlying problem. Something is out of balance.
Where to turn for help? You mentioned you recently joined the Canary Club (www.canaryclub.org). That web site contains much helpful educational material as well as home test kits. The medical advisor is Dr. Richard Shames, author of Thyroid Power. It is my understanding that you can consult with him, and he can assist you individually or help you to locate a physician in your area.
Compounding pharmacists provide clients with information/recommendations to give to their physician. If you do not have a physician, or do not have a physician who is willing to work with you, they will assist you to locate one in your area.
No, you are not losing your mind. And, no, you do not need to live like this the next 20 years. Too many women are sick and tired of being sick and tired, and we can do something about it. My goal in publishing my upcoming book Live Vibrantly NOW! The Complete Womanâs Guide to Balance Your Hormones Naturally is designed to help stop this needless suffering!
Rosie Brown, www.awakenblog.com
September 7, 2009
Posted in: Successful Treatment Stories No Comments
I have to admit that âcomplete unadulterated rapeâ is the thought that ran through my mind when I opened my bill from a commercial lab for blood tests that I recently had drawn. Yes, the need for health care reform is so obvious.
The bill for the following seven tests came to $946 dollars:
Lipid Panel
Testosterone, Free and Total
Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO)
TSH
Free T3
Free T4
| Test |
Charges |
Allowed |
| 1 |
98.57 |
24.90 |
| 2 |
105.57 |
13.37 |
| 3 |
193.57 |
25.11 |
| 4 |
97.57 |
19.30 |
| 5 |
180.37 |
37.74 |
| 6 |
182.77 |
38.28 |
| 7 |
87.58 |
21.57 |
| TOTAL |
946.00 |
180.27 |
Out of the âallowedâ charges, my insurance paid $144.22. What I am now praying for is that there is a âcontractâ between my insurance carrier and this Lab, or my bill for these seven tests will be $801.78! Who can afford this? Why are charges so inflated? As a way for lab companies to make income from the poor souls whose insurance is not contracted with the particular laboratory?
I spoke to my doctor about these charges and said from now on, it is back to www.canaryclub.org for my hormone tests. (My doctor had asked me to have the tests done by venous blood draw locally).
Thanks to their joint efforts, the Canary Club and the ZRT Laboratory have made hormone testing much more affordable. By ordering a home hormone test kit, one can receive Estradiol, Progesterone, Progesterone/Estradiol ratio, Testosterone, DHEA, Cortisol x 4, Free T4, Free T3, TSH, TPO, and Vitamin D (D2, D3, and Total) for $254. The thyroid and Vitamin D tests are done by blood spot (finger prick) and the rest by saliva tests.
For lipid panels (cholesterol and tryiglycerides), check with your local hospitals to see if they have any special programs in place. In our area, I have found that the Resource Center for Seniors at Deaconess Hospital offers total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides for $27 the 4th Tuesday of the month at the Deaconess Gateway location and the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th Tuesdays of the month at the Deaconess downtown location. This test must be fasting. Hours of collection are 7:30 â 10:30 am. No appointment is necessary.
The blessing in this laboratory bill revelation is that it woke me up to the absolute need to pay attention to what is happening in the area of health care reform âŚand actively research where I can get future tests performed much more economically.
I pass this information along to you in the hope that it can prevent you from going through the painful shock of opening your laboratory bills.
Rosie Brown
http://awakenblog.wordpress.com/
September 7, 2009
Posted in: Successful Treatment Stories No Comments
My quest for better health seems to be an ongoing discussion with myself about my food and beverage choices. Most days my quest is about progress, not perfection. I know whatâs good for me and I know what makes me feel good inside and out, but I am not ready to give up everything all at once. That is why I am on a quest, or a journey, not a final destination. That brings me to giving up the bean, the coffee bean, that is.
The main reason I drink coffee is for the caffeine. In order to make conscious changes I need to be honest with myself. What I learned about caffeine is that in essence it is a drug that can interfere with hormones, disrupt sleep patterns, cause moodiness, and stress responses in the body. Too much caffeine can cause an abnormal dependence where by you depend on it for the energy you are losing by stressing your body because you ingested caffeine in the first place. Four or more cups of coffee can put you at risk of developing a physical dependence that leads to the cycle of withdrawal symptoms and caffeine cravings. Caffeine also increases cortisol, âthe stress hormoneâ which can lead to weight gain, heart disease, diabetes and other health issues.
So now I have a choice: to bean or not to bean. I choose not to bean and instead drink green tea. I like green Jasmine teas the best. Jasmine tea pearls are incredibly refreshing and the leaves will provide at least 3 to 4 cups of good quality tea. Brewing tea pearls is as much a calming ritual as drinking and enjoying the health benefits of wonderful tea.
Robin Meyer
Sources: http://www.wondersoftea.com
http://stress.about.com; http://www.lifescript.com
July 6, 2009
Tags: diabetes, weight gain Posted in: Adrenals & Stress, Healthy Eating No Comments
Join us on Saturday July 18th. Register here for our live teleseminar.
Have you felt the rumblings of change lately - as we have?
Do you notice that everything we thought was true isn’t?
Are you wondering what will become of you, your family, your loved ones during this time of obvious transition, especially in health care?Has modern medicine been serving your needs well?
For those who have been faced with major traumatic accidents or injuries, perhaps Emergency Medicine was able to meet your needs optimally. For that, we are truly appreciative.
But once you were over the crisis, then what happened?
Were you encouraged to recover to your fullest abilities? Were you given tools, either ancient or renewed, that nourished your body and soul?
Were you provided with any options taken from what is currently considered ” Integrative Whole Person Medicine”?
Did you have Acupuncture, where the well-trained healer put tiny needles to anciently determined points to inspire your Life Force to move swiftly through your entire body - or were you taught to relax so deeply for short interludes that your biochemistry could be positively altered?
Ongoing chronic stress (defined as the way we perceive challenges in our lives and our body’s response to those feelings and perceptions), can drain our adrenal glands (little kidney bean shaped glands that sit on top of the kidneys and respond to ‘fight or flight” ) of their precious and vital messengers, adrenaline and cortisol. These famous biochemicals move throughout our bodies, helping us to deal with stress and demand, usually in small bursts.
During this special time of worldly upheaval, where most of us face chronic ongoing stress, how do we find our individual and collective sense of balance?
Your relationship with your doctor directly affects your body’s health.
Learn to be proactive in your hormone care, to communicate your symptoms accurately , and educate your practitioners, all while commanding better care for yourself.
Join us for an hour of valuable insights and helpful hints into what you can do to speak more effectively to your practitioners and command better health care for
Join us on Saturday July 18th. Register here.
To help you move your dreams of better health forward, we will have 3 Special Presenters:
Richard Shames MD: “Overview - How You can Speak to Your Doctor Effectively
Karilee H. Shames PHD, RN: An Assertive Consumer Attitude in the New Health Paradigm
Georjana Grace Shames LAc: Talking with your Doc About Using Alternative Therapie
July 2, 2009
Tags: acupuncture, Adrenal glands, adrenaline, hormone care Posted in: Teleseminars 2 Comments
Working with the CanaryClub from a “bookkeeping” aspect has opened my eyes into a realm of health I suppose I always knew was there, but was just too afraid to face. The truth is that for many years I was making food choices that were causing my health to decline. Because I was connecting my food choices to my psychological needs instead of my bodyâs needs, I suffered many of the symptoms discussed in the Gland Self-Evaluation Quick Quiz located on the CanaryClub homepage.
Without getting too far into my food choices (mainly made up of artificial sweeteners, over-processed foods and high fats), or my health issues (low energy, depression, overweight, and emotional), the bottom line became evident. My body had become toxic and I was bordering on not having the energy to do something about it. I started looking into food toxicity and my bodyâs reactions â reactions Iâd matched to a T from the CanaryClub website.
I began researching food toxicity and health ailments. Dr. Henry Bieler, in over 50 years of practice proved that high levels of toxicity in the body were very often a root cause of many common diseases and ailments, and that a primary source of toxins comes from the choice of inappropriate foods. Of course, the list of âinappropriate foodsâ were the very foods I was eating: stimulants (sugar, salt, caffeine, MSG), overcooked meats, rancid fats, hydrogenated fats, highly processed foods, food additives and preservatives. What I found even more interesting is that many natural foods have toxins in them that are not appropriate for certain people.
I started my gentle quest by giving the CanaryClub website a closer look from my personal health standpoint instead of a “bookkeeping” standpoint. Together, with my research, I had a two-fold project ahead of me: glandular/hormone testing and changing my diet. By taking the Gland Self-Evaluation Quick Quiz I was able to determine which tests I needed. The results of the tests â which can be determined right from the website â helped me to understand where my body was most toxic and the next step to take towards better health.
My food choices are now about my bodyâs needs which are determined by hormone and glandular testing and my bodyâs messages to me. I am grateful to the CanaryClub for starting me on my quest toward a new life I wanted so badly, but was afraid to face.
Robin Meyer, MBA
June 23, 2009
Tags: hormone tests Posted in: Successful Treatment Stories No Comments
Register here for the Canary Club teleseminar on Saturday July 18, 10 am PST.  The Shames Family Team shares new valuable insights into what you can do to speak more effectively with your practitioner and command better health care for your hormones!
For those who might feel ambivalent about their present doctors, we have provided a questionnaire. We hope it helps you reflect on what to look for in your caregivers, and how to move ahead wisely in choosing the best doctors for you.
June 20, 2009
Tags: register for teleseminar, talk to your practitioners Posted in: Teleseminars No Comments
A nurse for 30 years, I knew nothing about saliva testing and natural hormone balancing 4 ½ years ago. I had had a hysterectomy and was placed on synthetic estrogen for two years. At my annual exam, I was terrorized when I learned that synthetic estrogen increases the incidence of stroke. My dad died of a stroke at age 53, and a brother had had two strokes at age 50. I immediately stopped taking the estrogen.
Long story short, I went through living hellâŚtill one day I found a flyer in a health food store that forever changed my life: âDiscover Wellness and Natural Hormone Balancing.â For the past 4 ½ years I have been conducting my own seminars so that women do not go through what I went through.
Whatâs happening in your life? Have you abandoned intimacy because of painful intercourse? Has anyone accused you of being bitchy or having PMS? Do headaches rob you of your day and your family? How long has it been since you could sleep all night? Do you experience foggy thinking, forgetfulness? Have you gotten used to feeling flat, old, and tired? Have you lost the joy in your life, just getting through the day? What about hot flashes and night sweats? Are you experiencing what I am describing? Do you know someone dear to you who is?
A fact that may surprise you is that hormone imbalance begins in our youth, not just during the âshamefulâ menopause part of our lives.
What if you were able to eliminate these problems from your life? How would your life change?
Know this . . . vibrant days await you.
Rosie Brown
www.awakenblog.com.wordpress
June 18, 2009
Posted in: Successful Treatment Stories 2 Comments
Greetings from Rich Shames MD and his Acupuncturist daughter Georjana Shames LAc Dipl.OM, and thank you so much for joining us for our teleseminar on optimizing thyroid function by using adrenal support. This 1-hour seminar focused on integrating Western and Chinese Medicine for proper adrenal health, which as you know is absolutely crucial for optimal utilization of any thyroid intervention.
There were many more questions submitted than we had time to answer. We invite you to now share any comments or further questions here. We look forward to you sharing your feedback and questions with other members and attendees; we as the practitioners will comment and try to answer specific questions as time permits.
Specifically, what is your interest in further seminars of this type? And in particular do you want more of the mix of conventional Western medicine with the alternative of Acupuncture and Chinese herbs?
–
Karilee H. Shames PhD, RN, A-HNC
Richard L. Shames MD
www.FeelingFFF.com
June 13, 2009
Posted in: Adrenals & Stress, Teleseminars 5 Comments
Hope you can join us for the next teleseminar presented by Dr. Richard Shames on Saturday, June 13th at 10.00am PST.
“The Thyroid-Adrenal Connection” will address adrenal fatigue, the fastest-growing illness in the United States.
We launched our new teleseminar initiative on March 28th, and over 100 people took advantage of this exceptional opportunity to ask their questions and hear answers during the live call. The Drs. Shames presented clear, concise information on Bio-Identical Hormones, thyroid issues and most importantly, how to get started on your hormone balancing program. Listen here.
To register or for more information.
June 3, 2009
Posted in: Successful Treatment Stories 16 Comments
