Updated January 30, 2015.

It is time for the specialists, in addition to reconsidering TSH ranges of normal, to reconsider how to optimally diagnose and treat borderline and mild endocrine disruption. Perhaps it may involve them first realizing that their present standard of care is suboptimal, and that you- the American public - deserves to be heard on these issues impacting the quality of your daily lives.

Then they might also consider opening dialogue with the internists, family practitioners, and GP's, who are often seeing these patients every day, and trying to help them with their symptoms.

After all, if the endocrinologists were doing a great job with these problems, patients wouldn't be seeking out family doctors to help them, would they?

And let's not forget that as we blossom into a more open-minded medical culture, there are thousands of other practitioners, well-trained and educated, whose knowledge can also help us to feel more whole. Acupuncture, homeopathy, naturopathy, osteopathy, chiropractic, massage therapy, and many other tools can be useful to the person made anxious and irritable by this medical standoff.

Our professional oaths guide us to be sure we cause no harm. If patients are properly and more readily diagnosed at earlier stages, we can do exactly this. It is up to the consumers and practitioners to create forums for healthy dialogue. As for us, a doctor-nurse team, count us in!

We're ready to talk with everyone, and to share our rationale for our new program in the book Feeling Fat, Fuzzy or Frazzled? Our intention is to create an avalanche of interest in this important corner of medicine, and to inspire patients to be less patient and more proactive!

Wishing everyone health on the journey. Let the larger dialogue begin!

Karilee Shames PhD, RN, A-HNC and Richard Shames MD
www.FeelingFFF.com [hr]

DRS. SHAMES' LETTER TO CBS

Richard Shames MD
Karilee Shames PhD, RN, A-HNC

Michael Bass Sr. Executive Producer
CBS/The Early Show
524 W. 57 St.
New York NY 10019-2902

November 28, 2005

Dear Michael Bass,

It is with great interest that we have been following a current medical/health controversy brought to the forefront by your recent show with Dr. Steven Hotze.

we are a Harvard-trained MD and Advance-Practice Nurse team with 30 years experience and two recent books on this topic, FEELING FAT, FUZZY OR FRAZZLED? by Hudson St./Penguin, 2005 and THYROID POWER by HarperCollins, 2001. As more middle-of-the-road medical experts, we do not agree fully with all of Dr. Hotze's suggestions, nor do we fully agree with the letter you received from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. While they are perhaps considered "experts," the reality is that millions of people are suffering needlessly because of the "experts" close-minded approach to mild hormone imbalance. Your show has already been instrumental in starting to change this for the better, and we applaud your courage thus far!

Your exposure on this topic is just the very tip of an enormous iceberg. Thyroid and other gland imbalances are vastly underreported, under-diagnosed, and inadequately treated, according to our best researchers and epidemiologists. This is a major medical problem in this country, one that could affect as many as 40-50 million people who are suffering with gland deficiency due to the escalating levels of synthetic hormone disrupters polluting our air, food and water.

Perhaps you would be interested in a follow-up spot with a panel that you or we can help put together (an AACE expert, Drs. Richard and Karilee Shames, Mary Shomon, the country's most popular thyroid patient advocate). This would be very well-viewed, controversial, and extremely enlightening for your audience, and may inspire better care for millions.

Karilee Shames PhD, RN, A-HNC and Richard Shames MD
Authors: FEELING FAT, FUZZY OR FRAZZLED? (www.FeelingFFF.com)