Donald Michael, MD, PC

Donald Michael, MD, PC

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Welcome!

Good care begins with understanding the person, their distress, and giving options. Our treatment team strives to make every patient the focus of their own care. The practice is designed to provide the best care for people with Thyroid Disorders, Adrenal problems, Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, and Hormone Imbalances. We employ the latest findings in Complementary Medicine, Nutritional Science, Natural Hormone Replacement, as well as the best from Mainstream Medicine.

A good physician is one who is one who is on your side; gives the benefits of long experience and training; and who will work with you to regain Wellness in a way you like.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Iodine and Breast Health-Another Thyroid Connection

I have recently been astounded by the number of women who get complete relief from their fibrocystic breast disease with Iodine replacement, alone. While Iodine has long been considered essential in addressing thyroid problems, this surprise benefit makes its use even more important.

Iodine deficiency in the typical American diet has lead to a host of serious health problems, in addition to Thyroid disease. The average American consumes about 240 micrograms of iodine a day. The average Japanese person consumes about 50 times more. Americans also consume a range of substances that make that small amount of iodine less available for the body’s health. Chlorine and fluorides in the drinking water antagonize iodine use, as does the use of bromine in baked goods. The trace amount of iodine in some table salt is made more difficult to utilize because of the chloride in the salt. Add to this the decreased use of table salt for “health” reasons, and the problem becomes worse.

Donald Miller, Jr, MD (1) explains that this increased iodine consumption in Japan appears to play a major role in improving health. The US has the highest incidence of Breast Cancer in the world; while Japan, until recently, has enjoyed the lowest rate of breast cancer. Life expectancy in Japan is one of the highest of the Industrialized Countries. About 1 in 7 American women will develop breast cancer. Thirty years ago, when the iodine consumption was twice what it is now (480 mcg / day) breast cancer incidence was about 1 in 20.

While one might argue that many other factors have changed in those thirty years, research has repeatedly strengthened this connection between iodine and breast health. Both breast cancer and fibrocystic breast disease appear to have an “iodine connection.” People who consume less iodine tend to have more problems with fibrocystic breast disease and cancers, in general.

Animal studies have shown that iodine is somewhat protective against breast cancer that is induced with chemical carcinogens. Animals raised on iodine deficient diets develop fibrocystic breast disease that is reversible with iodine intake. Women have repeatedly been cured of fibrocystic breast disease with adequate iodine replacement.

Women with goiters (swollen thyroid glands) who are deficient in iodine are 3 times more likely to get breast cancer. A high intake of iodine is associated with a lowered incidence of breast cancer. (2) Women who develop fibrocystic breast disease find relief and usually cure with therapeutic doses of iodine, an inexpensive, safe, effective therapy that is too often ignored by Mainstream Medicine. This makes for much unnecessary expense and suffering.

Dr. David Derry, MD, PhD, (3) feels that iodine plays a major role in apoptosis (self destruction of abnormal or cancerous cells) and helps prevent the development of breast cancer, while adequate thyroid hormones maintain the integrity of connective tissue to prevent metastasis of cancerous cells. Cells that avidly take up iodine include: the thyroid gland, which uses it for the manufacture of thyroid hormones; the gut, to allow iodine to enter the circulation; breast tissue, to prevent cysts and abnormalities; skin; the brain; bones; and joints. Properly administered, iodine is a safe, essential and protective supplement. It plays an essential role in healthy thyroid function, in overall health, and especially in breast health.

Lugol’s Iodine Solution is an excellent source of iodine and iodide. I place most of my patients on the equivalent of 2-8 drops, diluted in liquid, daily. It can relieve fibrocystic breast disease, help prevent cancers, help detoxify fluoride, chlorine, and heavy metals, and it is essential for health. (4)

1. Iodine for Health. Donald W Miller, Jr, MD, www.donaldmiller.com 2. Miller op cit3. Breast Cancer and Iodine: How to Prevent and How to Survive Breast Cancer. David Derry, MD, PhD Trafford Publishing 20024. Iodine: Why You Need It-Why You Can’t Live Without It. David Brownstein, MD. West Bloomfield, Michigan. Medical Alternatives Press 2004

12:25 am edt

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Periods from Hell

I was taking a History from a pleasant, somewhat hypothyroid woman when she said, “…and then, I got the Period from Hell.”

“Excuse me, ma’am?” I said as I looked up from my notepad. “Well, they are crampy, painful, and you hemorrhage for about 12 days each month. Then, you pass things that look like calves’ liver” she replied. At that moment, I decided that mine was NOT the tough gender…I don’t think that there is a man alive who could deal with this pain and carnage on a monthly basis, and carry on as usual.

One of the most common complications of Hypothyroidism in women really are “Periods from Hell.” This fact was known, and effectively treated in 1899, by Dr. Eugene Hertoghe, of Antwerp, Belgium. By the early 1900’s, his treatment had spread to the United States. (Langer, MD in Hypothyroidism: The Unsuspected Illness).

Yet, I have lost count of the number of women who have come in, after their Hysterectomy for Periods from Hell, and who I found to be Hypothyroid. When I first discovered this, I thought about the huge number of Hysterectomies done for painful, hemorrhagic periods. I wondered why physicians in the 1900’s knew about the relationship between hypothyroidism and menses; but this connection seems unknown to doctors, today. I spent a long time wondering if this was Ignorance or Greed or just one of those “Oversights” that cause countless patients pain, suffering, and sometimes death.

If you, or anyone you know, have painful and / or heavy periods, it is critically important that you be given a good trial thyroid medication before you undergo what might be unneeded surgery. Blood tests do NOT always detect subtle thyroid abnormalities that are serious enough to cause problems with menstruation.

4:56 pm est

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Thyroid Disorders and Adrenal Problems

Your Thyroid Gland regulates the metabolism of virtually every cell in your body. Each cell in your body must have some Thyroid Hormones "hooked" into to it in to permit its burning of calories into energy. Because so many cells depend on Thyroid Hormones, symptoms of inadequate thyroid function are as variable as the function of each cell.

Most cells function poorly until the Thyroid Disorder is repaired; and people can have Fatigue, Fibromyalgia pain (in muscles, joints, and connective tissue), Depression or Anxiety, Sexual difficulties, Infertility, Thinking Difficulties, Heavy or Painful Menses, Elevated Cholesterol and / or Blood Pressure, Accelerated Atherosclerosis, and a host of other problems. Usually, these problems improve if the deficiency has been mild and of a short duration, when thyroid replacement is right.

There are, however, some cells that can be seriously damaged by Hypothyroidism. Important among these cells are the ones in the Adrenal Cortex. The Adrenal Glands are the System's Emergency System, and they provide hormones, such as Hydrocortisone, that allow the body to cope with Stress. When one is Hypothyroid, the Adrenal Glands don't have all the energy needed to cope with high levels of Stress. If one is Stressed while the Adrenal Glands are low on energy, the Adrenals can be damaged. Damaged Adrenal Glands can make it impossible to cope with even minor stresses, until the Glands recover.

Because of the frequent associate of Adrenal Disorders with Thyroid Problems, it is important that both problems be addressed. In the 1940's, Mainstream MD's routinely gave Adrenal Support to patients who had severe Hypothyroidism, to help accomplish a full recovery to Health.

Unfortunately, few Mainstream Physicians address a problem that was widely understood 70 years ago. Interestingly, Veterinarians, Naturopaths, and a handful of other physicians still address this problem. At our clinic, we make an evaluation and adequate treatment of the Adrenal System a high priority.

10:14 pm est

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Thyroid: A New Look at Mental Disorders

Depression, Chronic Fatigue, and just being too tired to enjoy Life, are symptoms that seem to affect almost everyone. Tragically, the underlying cause of these problems is too often overlooked, and doctors ignore or prescribe antidepressants for a more serious problem.

The first symptom of Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid function) is often Depression or Chronic Fatigue. Likewise, a significant amount of Anxiety or even Psychosis can be due to Undiagnosed or Inadequately treated Thyroid problems.

Not solely my opinion; the effect of Hypothyroidism on Mental Illness was first documented in the 1830's in London. The notion of "Myxedema (Hypothyroidism) Madness" was well recognized and taught as recently as the 1950's. Beyond an occasional obsolete, and marginally useful blood test (TSH), even Psychiatrists often fail to explore this well recognized cause of Mental Illness.

When treated promptly, Hypothyroid related mental problems resolve nicely and in a very cost effective manner. If Depression, Anxiety, or other Mental Illness related to Hypothyroidism is not treated; long term expense and suffering comes to the patient, and countless dollars flow into the Medical-Pharmaceutical Complex.

Before anyone is casually put on a psychotropic medication, all likely medical causes need to be ruled out or treated.

Doc Don

1:46 am est

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Is Low Thyriod Stealing Your Life?

Thyroid hormones are not miracle drugs, they are not expensive, and they rarely get advertised to either physicians or patients. They are not a topic of many conversations, and yet thyroid insufficiency can cripple, maim or kill as surely as any other serious illness. The diagnosis and treatment of thyroid illness has been a mainstay of good medical care until too many tried to use the laboratory tests to replace clinical skill.

Too many people have suffered from a disease that has been called the most under diagnosed and under treated serious illness in America. Too many people are being treated for the Symptoms of Hypothyroidism, rather than for the illness.

Hypothyroidism is a frequent, if not the most frequent cause of Atherosclerosis that can damage the Heart, Brain, and virtually every vital organ in the body. This is not a new finding, and it is well documented in books such as "Solved: The Riddle of Illness" by Langer, MD; and in "Hypothyroidism: The Unsuspected Illness," by Broda Barnes, MD, Ph D.

Likewise, Hypothyroidism plays a major role in Depression, Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, Sexual Dysfunction in men and women, Infertility, Periods From Hell (a term I first learned from a patient who suffered many years with painful, heavy, clotty menses), and Miscarriages.

This Blog will explore some of the many facets of illnesses related to the thyroid, and attempt to help people get what they need to get well.

Doc Don (AKA D. Michael, MD)

12:07 am est

2009.10.01 | 2009.02.01 | 2007.11.01

Choosing a healthcare provider is one of the most important decisions you can make. You want someone who is caring, knowledgeable, and accessible. Someone willing to take the time to go over all of your options and treat you as a person, not just a patient.

At our practice, we pride ourselves on our patient service. We offer an Alternative for intelligent, empowered people who want the best care in the safest, most effective, and most acceptable manner.

We've created this web site for both new and current patients. It includes specific information on our practice and our doctors along with general wellness information.

Donald Michael, MD, PC
211 E. Mishawaka Avenue
Mishawaka, Indiana 46545
Phone: 574-254-0103
FAX: 574-254-0119

dmichaelmd

Office Hours:

9:00am -5:00pm Mo-We-Th-Fr
1:00 pm-7:30 pm Tu

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