Oh jolly.
Diane, a thyroid and adrenal patient, informed me of a recent visit to a local Endocrinologist. The doc stated that she was on a committee that is working with the FDA to do away with saliva testing, strongly proposing that it’s not accurate testing and is “harming” people.
Well, let’s see. For a couple of years now, thyroid patients who strongly suspect they have adrenal fatigue by the reactions they have to desiccated thyroid have been using saliva testing…and lo and behold, the results they receive nearly completely conform with how they feel! i.e. saliva testing, which tests one’s cortisol levels at four key times during a 24 hour period, has worked beautifully in helping thyroid patients with adrenal fatigue identify their problem, in helping these patients doctors have a better understanding of their problem, and knowing better what might be their best treatment, which can range from using licorice root, to over-the-counter adrenal support, to hydrocortisone (HC).
Harmful?? Give me a break. (And why are we not surprised this is coming out of the mouth of an Endocrinologist.)
Could it be that medical school trained doctors just hate and despise any method which a patient might benefit from WITHOUT going to the doctor and paying big bucks?? hmmmm. And once again, could it be that a method NOT taught in medical school just MIGHT be a good one (just as desiccated thyroid like Armour, Naturethroid, etc. is far, far better than Synthroid or Levoxyl, which ARE taught in medical school)?
The FDA approved saliva testing for AIDS in 2005. They approved saliva testing for ovulation in 2003. They approved saliva testing to detect if a woman is going into premature labor in 1998. And there’s many more they have approved. So…perhaps this is all a gasp of a committee who hates to see patients have some control over their health (terrible, awful thing, isn’t it?) or the cry of a committee that only reveals its ignorance.
p.s. Dr. Best of San Antonio recently posted the following excellent article on saliva testing: http://besthealthandwellnessinfo.com/hormone-testing-i-spit-on-your-blood-test/
Now, that would be really silly of them. Wonder if they would feel the same if they were testing for a rare disease! Could change their thinking.
ReplyDeleteAnd that makes me wonder, have we ever heard of an endo that has had Cushing's? Wonder how that would affect their testing protocol.
I know an endo who had a pituitary tumor and a psychiatrist with Cushing's and they both are way more sympathetic to patients and testing.
ReplyDeleteToo bad we can't force doctors to have Cushing's for a week, month or more. see how they like that!
Nothing like having been there to bring out the good feelings.
ReplyDeleteNeed to start a "walk a mile in my shoes progaram" - patients & doctors trade places for a month.