Menopause Signs May Signal Thyroid Problems | February 2010

Amy Curry- As many as 1 in 8 women can expect to have issues with their thyroid gland have during their lifetime. But, the common symptoms such as fatigue, hot flashes and weight gain can sometimes be confused with other conditions such as menopause. As NBC's Lee Cowan reports a little awareness may go a long away to avoiding a misdiagnosis.

Lee Cowan - Everyday used to be a cruel struggle for Eola Force.

Eola Force- It's a good day today? It's a good day

Lee Cowan - As a nurse practitioner she helped the sick manage their pain understand their illness and made them feel better. All while she was suffering a debilitating illness herself. Her journal entries tell the tale.

Eola Force- "I want to finish so many things but I am so tired. I feel like I'm dying."

Lee Cowan - She felt like an 8 cylinder engine only running on 4. And then, there was the weight gain. She had grown to more than 400 lbs.

Eola Force- I was depressed. I was foggy. I was, I was a mess.

Lee Cowan - They seemed to her the classic symptoms of an under-active thyroid (or hyperthyroidism). It's a gland in the neck, the brain tells it to secret hormones such as thyroxin, which regulates the body's metabolism telling organs and tissues all over the body just how to behave. Problem was the most common blood test can detect thyroid disease called TSH, showed nothing wrong with the Eola. Instead, the doctors told her:

Eola Force- "It's just cause your fat. You're fat. You're fat and you're menopausal and you're female and your fat."

Dr. Kent Holtorf- And we see it over and over and over and its crazy.

Lee Cowan - Dr. Kent Holtorf says thyroid disease is often misdiagnosed. In part, because he said the standard test only catches about 20% of the thyroid disorders.

Dr. Kent Holtorf- There are some people that TSH is reliable. If you are totally healthy and not stressed, but what percent of the population is that?

Lee Cowan - Holtorf worries that doctors aren't spending the time to do other test that could catch what the TSH misses and we can all disagree that thyroid orders can be missed but bad mouthing the gold standard for thyroid screening is a controversial idea.

Dr. Peter Singer- We in the Endocrinology field feels that we have very sensitive test, in order to be able to diagnose thyroid problems. Lee Cowan - Even though Eola's TSH showed nothing wrongs. Dr Holtorf says that the other test showed there was a problem and decided to treat her with hormone replacement therapy and she says it worked.

Interviewer- Do you feel better though, right off like within a couple weeks?

Eola Force- Within two weeks, within two weeks I was like I'm on the right path.

Lee Cowan - Some doctors accuse Holtorf of using fringed medicine and that a success is largely due to a more placebo effect than anything else. But, if it makes people feel healthier, so be it.

Dr. Peter Singer- For what he's doing I don't think that there is much scientific basis for it. What he is doing is laying on hands and people are getting better right? Nothing wrong with that.

Lee Cowan - Eola says that it is her awareness of thyroid disease that got her on the path to recovery. Sometimes the smallest parts of the body are where the biggest challenges lie. For today, Lee Cowan, NBC News, Los Angeles

Amy Curry- Endocrinologist that we spoke to for this story say that Dr. Holtorf thyroid treatment are controversial but everyone agreed on one thing. If you suspect that you are having thyroid problems, you should talk to your general practitioner about doing an extra round of blood test on your hormone levels and if the doctor is dismissive or denies your request, you should ask for a referral to a thyroid specialist.

To watch this video please visit:
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/35124268#35124268

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