Abgespielt

  • M. Regina Castro, MD is a consultant in the Division of Endocrinology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. She is an Associate Professor of Medicine. She is the Associate Program Director for the Endocrinology Fellowship program, and Director of Endocrinology rotation for the Internal Medicine Residency. She is also a member of the Thyroid Core Group at Mayo Clinic. She served from 2009 to 2015 as Thyroid Section Editor for AACE Self-Assessment Program and has authored several chapters on Hyperthyroidism, Thyroid Nodules and thyroid cancer. She has served on various committees of the ATA, including Patient Education and Advocacy committee, the editorial board of Clinical Thyroidology for Patients (CTFP), Trainees and Career Advancement committee and is at present the Chair of the Patient Affairs and Education Committee. She currently serves on the ATA Board of Directors. Her professional/academic Interests: Clinical research related to thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer, clinical care of patients with various thyroid diseases, and medical education.

    During this interview, the following topics are addressed:

    What is a thyroid nodule? A lump that could be benign or cancerous The prevalence depends on how you search for them 60% of people in the U.S. will have nodules 90% are benign Sometimes done during routine physical exam Sometimes the patient discovers it Usually is discovered when imaging is done for other reasons — during CT scan Medical history of radiation to head or neck as a child, family history of thyroid cancer, size of nodule, abnormal lymph nodes in the neck Usually patients with a nodule are asymptomatic Best test to look at the nodule is an ultrasound of the nodule Features in the ultra sound determines how suspicious a nodule is A biopsy is ordered based on appearance, if nodules are clearly defined are more likely to suggest they are benign If nodule looks dark or borders are irregular, or increased blood flow within the nodule may cause concern Quality and resolution of thyroid ultra sound is high resolution and provides a clear look Coaching patients through the anxiety through a possible biopsy The majority of nodules can be observed ATA guidelines suggest observation based on the result of the biopsy Suspicious nodules that are less than 1cm are sometimes determined to best observe and not remove Cancer will be in only 5% of biopsies A smaller, low risk cancer should warrant a lesser surgery — and reduce the chance of surgical complications When to remove a nodule even if no cancer? If other structures are being obstructed, such as breathing or swallowing, sometimes surgery relieves symptoms regardless if cancer or not Observation — and follow up recommendations 15% are labeled indeterminate If surgery, surgeon needs to be experienced — many surgeons conducting thyroid surgery are low in experience The Mayo Clinic thyroid cancer team Biopsy results in two hours versus two weeks

    NOTES

    The American Thyroid Association

    Dr. Regina Castro

    64: Managing Indeterminate Thyroid Nodules, with Dr. Kimberly Vanderveen from Denver Center for Endocrine Surgery

  • Dr. Milner is well published with texts, medical journal articles and studies in cardiology, endocrinology, pulmonology, oncology, and environmental medicine. Dr. Milner calls his practice “integrated endocrinology” balancing all the endocrine hormones using bio-identical hormone replacement and amino acid neurotransmitter precursors.

    Dr. Milner’s articles include treatment protocols for hypothyroidism, ”Hypothyroidism: Optimizing Medication with Slow-Release Compounded Thyroid Replacement” was published in the peer review journal of compounding pharmacists, International Journal of Pharmaceutical Compounding.

    In this interview, the following topics are discussed:

    Starving in the midst of plenty Slow release T3 and T4 Hypothyroidism Hyperthyroidism or Graves Disease Often RAI leads to hypothyroidism Visiting a naturopath while being treated by traditional endocrinologist TSH suppression for thyroid cancer patients Ordering blood tests of TSH, Free T4, Free T4, and reverse T3 Converting T4 into T3 Slow released T3 Manufactured T3 is not slow release 2005 article was published 150,000 pharmacist in U.S., and about 5,000 are compounding Slow release blends are the same T4 from Synthroid and T3 from Cytomel Slow release agent is hydroxypropyl melanose Side effects of too much T3 or T4 The risk is compounder error or inconsistency Binder sensitivity is another reason for compounding Desiccated thyroid hormone compared to slow release Auto-immune disease and desiccated treatment Overwhelming response to slow release is when patients symptoms of hypothyroidism alleviate A small percentage of people do not do better on slow release Basel body temperatures 96.5 temperature in the morning, and hypothyroid symptoms is a concern in regard to treatment Testing temperature in the morning, ideally done using mercury thermometer How to use temperature testing as an indicator of hypothyroidism Body temp should be over 97.8 first thing in the morning Hypothyroidism will be overweight and difficult to lose weight, and brain fog, sluggish, dry skin, hair loss, Eating well, active, and weight gain Hypoglycemic or adrenal overload and low body temperature High cortisol levels Standard of care of Cytomel in contrast with conventional endocrinologist T3 has a short half life Half life — How long does it take a drug to bring blood levels to normal levels? Half life of T3 is up to 70 days Starving in the midst of plenty with T4 Insurance coverage of slow release T3 — T4 Cost of slow release T3 — T4 is approximately $40 monthly Most important testing for TT patient is checking parathyroid gland status — and their role in calcium function Important to measure calcium for TT patients Caution about soy, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and calcium and thyroid hormone When to thyroid replacement hormone — first thing in the morning, 1 hour before eating, T4 replacement before bed — advantages to more stable levels Slow release, combination therapy, should be taken in the morning Estrogen deficiency Brief summaries of the following symptoms: painful feet, dizziness, fatigue, hair loss, iron deficiency, chronic pain, tyrosine turning into dopamine and then adrenaline, sleep problems and anxiety and hypothyroidism, insomnia and cortisone and adrenaline at nigh and DHEA, cortisol measured throughout the day, muscle spasms, Avoid refined sugar and high amounts of alcohol Drink more water Caution: food and its importance: smoothies and soluble fiber — fiber interacts with nutrients. Avoid this, as it effects absorption of medications Emotional attachment to disease — fixation and complaining without making changes.

    NOTES

    International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists

    75: Fat, Foggy, and Depressed After Thyroidectomy? You May Benefit From T3, with Dr. Antonio Bianco from Rush University

    19: Hypothyroidism – Moving From Fat, Foggy & Fatigued to Feeling Fit & Focused with Elle Russ

    Hypothyroidism: Optimizing Therapy with Slow-Release Compounded Thyroid Replacement