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Summary: My "Bible"
Review: As a young woman who has been recently diagnosed with Hypothyroidism, I applaud Mary J. Shomon for teaching me how to "live well" with this awful disease. I've purchased this book for my mother, and plan on dropping off a copy for my doctor's waiting room!
Rating: 
Summary: A Boost for Drug Company Stocks
Review: This book is merely a regurgitation of information presented in previous books and readily available on the internet. In fact all the pertinent information is on the author's website. There is no need to buy the book. The focus of the book is on diagnosing more borderline cases and unresolved symptoms and treating them with synthroid and other drugs. While drug treatment may be appropriate for some patients, others would be better served by non-drug treatment. The drug treatment focus is evident in many of the reviews extolling the author for getting them on one drug or another.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent info
Review: This book has excellent info - it is easy to read and understand. Mary Shoman has done a great job in researching the subject and collecting information for use by other thyroid patients. Great job, Mary!
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Summary: A Life-Saver for Both Me AND My Sister!!
Review: Both my sister and I have been struggling with hypothyroidism, and finding Mary Shomon's book was a true lifesaver. The book explained why were weren't feeling well (though our doctors kept telling us we should be feeling perfect with the treatment we were following.) Mary mapped out a plan that we both used with our doctors, and now we're both doing much better. My sister is taking Levoxyl with a little Cytomel, and I'm on Armour, and we're both really happy with the changes. I've lost the extra 20 pounds I gained before my thyroid started acting up, and my dry skin has really improved. I also am not having the bad muscle aches I had for a long time before I was treated. And my sister lost almost all of her extra weight, and what she is most happy about? She has stopped losing fistfulls of hair, which was driving her nuts. I used to believe that the doctor was the last stop when it came to finding help, but not any more. They just can't keep up with everything, and I realized it's up to me to look into things and find out what I can. This book really opened my eyes, and has helped me get back to normal.
Rating:
Summary: Average
Review: Well, I'm dissapointed. Most of the facts are available elswhere. One can feel clearly that the author is not a doctor.
As a patient, I would prefer professional opinion.
Hypothyrosis can mimic symptoms of so many other diseases. Therefore this book is aimed at an average hypochondriac readers who encounter common symptoms such as weight gain or loss, cold intolerance, yellowish or pale skin, hoarse voice etc as a tool to verify if they could be hypothyroid. Well, you have to do a thyroid hormones test then.
If you want comprehensive info from experts, I suggest you order THE THYROID SOLUTION by Ridha Arem
Easy to read and to the point
Rating:
Summary: Super-Informative Book!
Review: This book is well-researched and well-written. It has helped me to make sense of a health problem that has plagued me for years. The author has a website and e-mail newsletter that are like a port in a storm.
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Summary: Goldmine
Review: The thryoid regulates the entire body metabolism and when it is out of whack, you are out of whack big-time. Yet this disease is commonplace, especially in women, yet is missed or mistreated by some doctors. This book provided one fantastic factoid right when I opened it at random; taking calcium tablets along with your thyroid replacement prescription is a problem. I did not know that. And grapefruit is another problem. I have been struggling with a thyroid disease almost my entire life. It is hard to treat and I only get spotty results trying to maintain my hormone levels. I need more information than any of my doctors were providing--such as information about too-low as well as too-high TSH levels (TSH is the hormone from the pituitary that stimulates the thyroid to action and is a diagnostic of thyroid activity.) There is a chapter on dealing with going "hypo" that is, going deliberately untreated while you wait for a needed scan (a post-cancer procedure to check for potential problems.) This book is a goldmine of information.
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Summary: What your doctor doesn't tell you, is a lot!
Review: This book is essential. It is a survival guide for the hypothyroid. I have been fighting hypothyridism for years. I've only known the name of my alliment for a year and a half. I still suffer from "classic" symptoms, and am still fine tuning my dose of hormone replacement. This book is a must have for anyone who is battling hypothyroidism. I also suggest doctors read this book and keep on top of this very real illness, it's not always in the patient's head. Believe me it's not easy to constantly loose hair, gain weight,and nap like a lethargic cat.
One thing that totally clicked for me was that there can be drug interactions that decrease the effectiveness of the hormone replacement. I have Panic Disorder and depression and have been taking Paxil for both. Mary writes that this drug, along with others, can effect my hormone absorbtion. You must keep on top of your illness, and Mary J. Shomon's book Living Well With Hypothyroidism will help you do just that. Remember your doctor only has to deal with your symptoms for 15 to 20 minutes, but you have to deal with them for the duration of your illness. I highly recommend this book.
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Summary: Best book I have found on Hypothyroidism
Review: When I was first diagnosed with hypothyroidism, I was very confused and not getting many answers from my doctor. This book answered all my questions and is an excellent reference book to have on your bookshelf.
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Summary: I thought I was losing my mind until I read this book..
Review: Thank you, Mary, for saving my life and my sanity. I thought I was losing my mind until I read this book and finally understood what it was that I had been going through for so many years. Not that I wish hypothyroidism on anyone, but I also learned that I was not alone. This book gave me validity. It also taught me to speak up and ask questions of my doctors. It gave me permission to take charge of my own treatment and to change doctors when I didn't feel that they were listening to me or working for me. I am a very conservative grandmother, but this book also opened up my thinking about alternative medicine. I recently began seeing a doctor (M.D.) who practices natural and homeopathic medicine and I am finally beginning to see and feel some improvement in my overall health. Anyone with a thyroid problem or suspected thyroid problem would do well to read this book.
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