Rating: 
Summary: A breath of fresh air
Review: Dr. Ridha Arem's book The Thyroid Solution is the first book by someone of his stature in medicine to truly address this issue adequately. It's a wonderfully important book to anyone who suspects they have a thyroid disorder. Dr. Arem says certain things that needed to be said by someone with his background and qualifications, for instance: 1) the way TSH values are read may not be correct in cases of early hypothyroidism, 2) a TSH of over 2 (not over 5.5) may be questionable,3) thyroid problems are commonly linked with depression and, 4) many people with hypothyroidism need added active thyroid (T3) to feel well. Dr. Arem is not the only endocrinologist aware of this information about the use of active thyroid. But he was brave enough to say it first in popular print. Dr. Arem contacted me two years before publication to endorse his book because I had written on a similar theme about thyroid and depression and the use of active thyroid in my book, Listening to Your Hormones. I didn't know who he was at the time but found out later that he had impeccable credentials-a thyroid specialist at Bailor School of Medicine, trained in Paris and London, truly a leading thyroid expert in the U.S.A. I have met him subsequently twice and heard him speak (excellent content), and found him to be a very kind and compassionate man. When I read his book, what really impressed me, apart from the techinical information, was how discerning he was about the way women are treated in medicine. He really grasped and expressed this in a way I wouldn't have thought possible by a male physician. I do not agree with him on the use of Premarin (he gives estradiol with it) for menopause. I subscribe to the theory that women are better to have hormones that match their physiology, not a horse's. Premarin has very little human estrogen in it. Also, this book is about thyroid pretty much on its own, but that's not anything unusual. It's just that thyroid fits into the huge hormonal signaling system and it's not isolated. But a clear definition of thyroid's part was badly needed. As for some of the other hormones, that's another book to write. I am happy to recommend this book to every woman I meet.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent book
Review: As a person with hypothyroidism, I have read a dozen or more books specifically on thyroid disease over the last twenty years. In addition I have read approximately forty to fifty professional journal articles relating to hypothyroidism and depression. This was for me the best single source of information that I have found dealing with thyroid disease and depression; and it contains up to date information from a practitioner in the field. Having read quite a bit about the subject, I am surprised by how many doctors I have spoken to, or read articles written by, that are very out of date in their knowledge of hypothyroidism. Many doctors don't seem to recognize the symptoms of hypothyroidism despite its prevalence in the US population. Most doctors still treat hypothyroidism with the "gold" standard" of levothyroxine (T4) alone, despite there being evidence that a combination of triiodthyronine (T3) and levothyroxine (T4) may work better in some specific cases. For depression, Dr Arem says that he often supplements antidepressant use with cytomel (T3) rather than levothyroxine because of the connection between the distribution of norepinephrine and T3 in the brain (chapter 6). This is in concurrence with what I have been able to find through my research efforts. The mind-body connection in hypothyroidism is a complicated one, and I thought that Dr. Arem's handling of the subject was done admirably. There is evidence that depression and hypothyroidism can in some people have genetic origins. In some instances hypothyroidism might be caused by infectious agents (viruses). Hypothyroidism might also be induced by stressful events in a person life (chapter 1). All of these are covered at a level that can be understood with perhaps some work required for persons with a light science background. There are many other areas covered in this book that I won't mention due to lack of space. These subjects include testing procedures (TSH, TRH, T3/T4, etc), and what they mean, finding and talking with your doctor, discussing your illness with your spouse, and infertility. Additionally there is a section on nutrition, diet, and exercise, which can help in hypothyroidism. I would recommend this book whole-heartedly to anyone with hypothyroidism, depression, or who suspects that they may have thyroid disease.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent and Essential Reading
Review: The Thyroid Solution provides a comprehensive description of the cognitive effects of thyroid disease. It is an excellent source of information for anyone with this disease as well as health care providers. T3, the biologically active form of thyroid hormone, is a brain chemical just like noradrenaline and dopamine. It is essential to the optimal function of your brain. I know what a difference it makes because as soon as I switched from T4 to the natural form of thyroid hormone (which contains T3 & T4) I immediately experienced the benefits. In my opinion there is no comparison between the two hormones.
I found this book very informative and purchased copies for several of my health care providers who either were unfamiliar with or had overlooked the numerous symptoms of hypothyroidism that I exhibited. Dr Ridha provides a great deal of information on both hyper and hypo thyroidism. But don't stop with this book, also make sure you read Dr Broda Barnes "Hypothyroidism the Unsuspected Illness" for a complete overview of the possible effects of low thyroid function. These two book are indispensible for anyone with thyroid disease or just interested in the effects of thyroid hormone in the body.
Rating:
Summary: Great resource for those who suffer from thyroid problems.
Review: It is evident from the glowing recommendations that there is not much to add to how valuable The Thyroid Solution has been to patients suffering from thyroid disease. Dr. Ridha is a doctor at Baylor Medical Center, and has plenty of background in treating those who have been undiagnosed or misdiagnosed with thyroid problems. It is recognized that many people suffer needlessly from hypo- or hyperthyroidism because their internists or family practitioners are unfamiliar with endocrinology and the symptoms that present themselves. This book helps those who wonder whether they are being properly treated and supplies information in order that they can go to the right doctor. Many doctors don't like it when their patients become educated...tough. As shown by the other recommendations, obviously lives have been changed for the better. That is the yardstick by which we should measure what the medical truth is. My family has a history of hypothyroidism. Both my grandmother and my older sister have had their thyroids removed. My younger sister was diagnosed with a cancerous bulge on her thyroid at age 3, and they were wrong, but the lump was removed along with part of her thyroid. She consequently had problems becoming pregnant. I've been hypothyroid for years. My internist was checking my peripheral neuropathy for things like MS and other neurodegenerative diseases of the muscles. Nothing came back positive. Yet, when I'd asked him to consider whether I was receiving adequate thyroid hormone, he refused to consider it. I've been lucky to have him test for changes in my thyroid once a year. The book says a known thyroid problem should be checked every 4-6 weeks, especially when the thyroid levels change. So I've been suffering with peripheral neuropathy and some other problems for over two years; I also have spent much of the last seven years anemic, in spite of removal of my uterus and subsequent iron supplementation. My sister led me to this book...she was positive I was not being treated right for hypothyroidism. After reading the book, I am inclined to believe the book and my sister. I have the familial background, the anemia, the deafness, the pins and needles, and too many other symptoms to count. So I have a referral to a known endocrinologist who is listed as a caring and listening doctor. It's atrocious that physicians can dismiss the intelligence of women, and the ability of them to know their own body. I am tired of such patronizing attitudes, and hope that this doctor will assist me in restoring me to better health. I don't have time for this, and since I have an MS from med school in Neuroscience, I have more then enough background to know when my doctor is missing important signals. I highly recommend this book to anyone who suspects he or she may have a problem with their thyroid. If necessary, drag the book into the other doctors and force them to pay attention. If they don't, find another doctor. Karen L. Sadler, Science Education,
University of Pittsburgh
Rating:
Summary: THIS BOOK SAVED MY LIFE!
Review: Buy this book as soon as you are diagnosed with a thyroid disorder and read it cover to cover while you are seeking treatment. Even if you are not sure whether you have the disease, it will explain the symptoms so that you can decide whether or not to seek medical diagnosis. Many doctors don't think to look for thyroid disorders, and so it is up to you, the patient, to suggest that they test you. Once they have diagnosed the disorder, they can give you medication, but may not tell you what to expect or how to deal with it.
When I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, I could hardly function from day to day. The doctor convinced me that by taking a pill I would fully recover in 4-6 weeks. WRONG. The imbalance sent me into a spiral of health problems, anxiety, depression, weight loss, and appetite changes. I almost dropped out of school. I withdrew from friends and family. Even after my blood levels had returned to normal, I lived in a fog of pain and stress and confusion. I was too tired to turn pages in a book. I'm a PhD candidate and I couldn't even complete a sentence!
This book helped me take control of my life from diagnosis to recovery. It listed both the physical AND emotional symptoms that the doctors hadn't bothered to discuss. It told me which blood tests to request, and how to interpret the results. It suggested treatments and allowed me to understand my dosage scale. And MOST IMPORTANTLY it informed me of the complexity of recovery. No one had bothered to tell me that my symptoms might not resolve simultaneously with my blood levels. No one told me that the imbalance may have additional effects for which I may need supplemental medication (for instance, I required anti-depressants). Dr. Arem not only suggests medicinal treatments for these effects but also physical and psychological treatments to help people cope with the disease and aid their improvement. This book told me EVERYTHING the doctors didn't and allowed me to take control of my recovery. Thyroid disorders affect your body AND your mind, and you need to treat yourself holistically. For the first time in almost five months, I am happy and healthy in both body and spirit. But the doctors could not have done it for me. I had to be informed and take control. THIS BOOK SAVED MY LIFE!
Rating:
Summary: This book changed my life!
Review: I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's in Sept 2002 and put on T4. Over the next 10 months I was still depressed, gaining weight, unable to remember anything, sleeping constantly, screwing up at work, snapping at my friends, declining social invitations. My doctor put me on Prozac and I saw a therapist briefly, but even though I felt slightly better, I felt like something was just not right with my body. When I read this book I folded down the corner of every page that I could relate to and by the time I was done more than half of the book was dog-eared! I immediately made an appt with my doctor and cited the book, begging her to try T3. Finally she agreed and within *ONE WEEK* I felt like my old self. Three months later I still feel great. If any of this sounds familiar to you, don't suffer anymore -- read this book and get on the road to feeling normal again!
Rating:
Summary: Inform Yorself
Review: This book was very informative and easy to read. If you have been looking for answers to your thyroid issues- this is it. After seeing several doctors and endocronoligist and getting no relief, I found a doctor willing to share Dr. Arem's beliefs of T3 protocal. Armed with the knowledge of this book, I was able to talk to my doctor and understand what my body was going through. You need to know that Synthroid is not the only answer and this book gives you those facts.
Rating:
Summary: The Thyroid Solution - credentials
Review: I have been diagnosed as being hypothyroid since 1994 (and probably had the disease for perhaps ten years before that) and I applaud Dr. Arem's book, which I purchased in 1999.
For the past 5+ years I have worked for a wonderful Harvard-trained physician at an academic teaching institution. I have witnessed first-hand the intense scrutiny that takes place in what they call the "peer review process" for research, and I have come to respect those who carefully and thoughtfully - in a jury of their peers - present their evidence. After buying the book, I showed the book jacket to "Dr. M.", Upon seeing Dr. Arems' credentials, he "hrrrmmmphhhed" and said, "Seems OK." At that point, I knew he had the respect of my boss (the only other possible answer from him is "quack." :-) )
It is SO important for patients to educate themselves about thyroid disease. Unfortunately for my newly-chosen physician (Feb 2003) who declared my 19.4 TSH "normal" - I had the power of my medical self=knowledge, my great boss, and a second opinion from an understanding and capable endocrinologist behind me. There ARE poorly-trained physicians out there, and Dr. Arem's book will help you speak up for yourself intelligently and forecefully about your health.
Rating:
Summary: The book that changed my life.
Review: After reading The Thyroid Solution, I realized I was not being properly treated for my own hypothyroidism and needed a different type of medication which was discussed in his book. Dr Ridha Arem discusses all different aspects of thyroid disease and how these conditions affect your inner self as well as the outer self. This book gives all thyroid sufferers something we all need: encourgement and understanding!
Rating:
Summary: I really enjoyed this book. :)
Review: This book was refreshing becuase it covers not just the clinical basic side of thyroid disease, but the emotional mental side as well. I recommend this to so many people as a must read for thyroid patients. Even if it just helps you to realize you are not alone, and that you deserve quality care. :)
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