For 50 years, thyroid patients worldwide have been subjected to a SCANDALOUS THYROID TREATMENT PROTOCOL which has only served to keep them sick with lingering hypothyroid symptoms and to line the pockets of the pharmaceuticals. This treatment madness includes:

1) The use of T4-only medications with brand names such as as Synthroid, Levoxyl, Unithroid, Levothroid, Eltroxine, Oroxine and others. T4 is simply a storage hormone, yet a healthy thyroid makes not just T4, but also T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin. Thus, we are inadequately treated on T4 alone, with ensuing symptoms.

2) Diagnosing by the use of the lab called TSH. A patient with obvious and repeated hypothyroid symptoms can have a so-called "normal" TSH lab result for YEARS before the result finally falls outside of the range. (TSH equals Thyroid Stimulating Hormone)

3) Dosing by the use of the lab test called TSH. Because doctors see the man-made "normal" range as holy, they fail to see the continuing hypothyroid symptoms of the patient who happens to also have a TSH lab result in the so-called normal range. In other words, there is something seriously wrong with what lab facilities are calling "normal", and the doctors worship of a range that does NOT conform to how a patient feels.

4) Making ink spots on a piece of paper (called lab work results) more important than obvious symptoms. SYMPTOMS, not lab results, should be the horse that pulls the cart, NOT the other way around. Doctors routinely attribute obvious continuing hypothyroid symptoms to other causes.

5) Medicating the hypothyroid patient with more pharmaceutical drugs. Because doctors fail to understand that T4-only medications and dosing by the TSH lab results are faulty, the patient is then prescribed anti-depressants (to mask the hypothyroid depression), statins (to treat the hypothyroid rising cholesterol), pain meds (to soften hypothyroid pain or so-called fibromyalgia)...and so on.

6) Failing to understand adrenal fatigue. A large majority of hypothyroid patients also have adrenal fatigue as a result of years of T4-only treatment. Without proper testing and treatment, the patient continues to suffer.

As patients who are signing this petition, we collectively agree to and demand the following FIRMLY NEEDED CHANGES in the way thyroid patients are diagnosed and treated:

**1) Credence and respect to a patient's description of SYMPTOMS. There's hardly a patient in the world whose description of their symptoms hasn't been dismissed by a doctor, yet SYMPTOMS are the most important clues, even long before lab results.

**2) The use of far more beneficial lab work. The most beneficial labs, which are meant as adjuncts to the report of symptoms, are the FREE T3 and FREE T4, plus the two thyroid antibodies tests--the anti-TPO and TgAb--to diagnose Hashimotos disease. The TSH is only helpful to ascertain a pituitary problem, since it's a pituitary hormone. If the free T3 is below the middle of the range, along with obvious hypothyroid symptoms, there is good reason to be suspicious of hypothyroid. When a patient's antibodies are positive, it may be unwise to dose by labwork

**3) The use of additional lab work. Absorption issues from continuing hypothyroid have made it crucial to be tested for Ferritin (storage iron) and B-12. Being in particular parts of the range is more important than simply being "in range". Other labs can include Vitamin D, l-carnitine and others the patient requests. An iodine loading urine test, which can be done by the patient, deserves respect.

**4) The use of desiccated thyroid with the brand names of Armour, Naturethroid, Westhroid, Thyroid-S or compounded versions. Patients who have switched to desiccated thyroid, and raised according to the elimination of symptoms FIRST AND FOREMOST, have found life-changing results.

**5) An understanding of the widespread occurrence of adrenal fatigue in hypothyroid patients,with proper labs and treatment. More than 50% of hypothyroid patients also have adrenal fatigue as a result of years of undiagnosed hypothyroid, or T4-only treated hypothyroid. Labs which best detect it are saliva, which test at four crucial times during a 24 hour period. Less revealing are a one-time blood test or urine. Treatment of the low cortisol condition has to occur before the use of desiccated thyroid can be successful.

**6) Fostering a TEAM approach. Patients have become, and are becoming, far more educated and proactive in their healthcare. Thus, patients need doctors who respect the patient's own wisdom and experience of living in their bodies.

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