That pretty much says it... It’s a HOT MESS , is an understatement.
A simple logging and tracking of symptoms with and without meds is an easy way to debunk the system. Unfortunately, most people don’t have even the most basic of scientific training, and so they make “science” their religion, following blindly.
Nobody wants to come to the realization that a medication doesn’t work. Afterall, we (believe) we have no other options. We are a seller’s dream of a captive purchasing audience. We are desperate and uniformed. This adds up to giant $$$$ got a business. But we do have a choice, we do have options.
Thyroid disease is epidemic where I was living and virtually every woman I knew was on it had taken thyroid medication. They all came to the conclusion that the synthetic thyroxins don’t work to alleviate the symptoms. Many developed fibromialgya while taking the synthetic thyroxin. The ONLY women I know who are still on the Levo were diagnosed solely on TSH, are on the lowest dose, had no hypo thyroid symptoms, and are in superb health. I watched friends and family go through short term protocols for thyroid treatment with Levo- they wind up a worse mess even with short term use. I’ve also seen friends and family on NDT. Sometimes works, sometimes doesn’t- there are many factors and many manufacturers, so many variables, it’s impossible to narrow things down to absolutes. What I suspect is that there is widespread filling of the NDTs with synthetic thyroxins, as there is no way to monitor this. And after years of shortages of NDTs, there was magically no shortage around 2013. Prior to that the NDTs were working for me. Coinciding with the onset of mass supply of NDTs, they stopped working properly for me and the dosing was insanely wonky. Hence my desperation in trying the Levo.
In the mean time I’ve dealt with virtually every geriatric disease possible in caring for my mother. I though thyroid disease and treatment were the exception. They are not. The treatment of every other disease is just as dysfunctional, though diagnosis is more established.
The lab results from blood work are interestingly similar across demographics. I find most often blood sugar, cholesterol and thyroid levels show results as borderline. Like really, everyone I know has an a1c of 5.9, when they go their annual physical, really? Once in a while, there is some variation on labs, that actually reflects what’s happening with symptoms, but mostly they don’t. Like someone just made up a bunch of numbers that are borderline. Then we are diagnosed and treated based on these numbers.
The practice in the US is to have an overseeing person who has gone through proper education, training and state testing to receive a certification. However, it is the practice to allow those holding the certification to “oversee” lower level trainees in actual practice of lab work, physical therapy, all home therapy, nursing, etc. so those people doing the bulk of the work are not fully trained. It’s impossible for the certified person to properly oversee treatment, testing, etc when they’ve never seen the patients, the actual testing, etc. we’re basically relying on data collected and submitted by lower level trainees as reliable. These trainees are learning, they don’t have the educational foundation to work independently if properly administer tests. You generally are not told when you are being evaluated by a nonprofessional. I’ve been through all this with home care with my mother. I’ve watched, seen how tests are done and recognize when they’re administered incorrectly. These trainees are so incompetent, with minimal training. I’m talking a half hour orientation in some cases. I’ve been dealing with it for two years in all with my mother- hone care, rehab, hospitals, icu, emergency, you name it. It’s easy to recognize trained and competent people, once you’ve been through it for a while. Sadly, they are rare. Most often protocol overrides common sense, liability overrides patient safety- how crazy is that?