Dr. Eric Balcavage - The Thyroid Debacle

THE
THYROID
DEBACLE

ERIC BALCAVAGE AND KELLY HALDERMAN

Copyright 2022 Eric Balcavage and Kelly Halderman.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means,
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except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use
of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical
problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The
intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you
in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any
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ISBN: 979-8-7652-2799-2 (sc)

ISBN: 979-8-7652-2797-8 (hc)

ISBN: 979-8-7652-2798-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022907838

Balboa Press rev. date: 06/01/2022

This book is dedicated to the millions of people struggling
with hypothyroidism and other chronic health problems. It
is dedicated to those feeling lost, frustrated, and ignored.
It is dedicated to those stuck on the medical merry-go
round with no idea how to get off the hellish ride.

We know what you are experiencing is real. We know
there is a better way to improve your health and
quality of life than what you have been offered.

You have inspired us to write this book. It is our hope
that you will use the information in this book to find
your path to a higher state of health and vitality.

DISCLAIMER

Though every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of
information presented herein, the authors are not engaged
in providing any type of professional advice or other services
to the individual reader. The material contained in the book
is not intended to be, and cannot be taken as, a substitute
for the advice and counsel of ones physician or other
professional licensed health-care providers. The authors
shall not be liable for any loss, injury, or damage allegedly
arising from any information or suggestions in this book.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed
in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior
written permission from the publisher and authors.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

First and foremost, we would like to thank our families. Writing
this book has been a long, arduous, time-consuming road,
and we know we would not have been able to cross the finish
line without your patience and support for our passion.

To our teachers, mentors, and friends who have contributed
immeasurably to our knowledge and skill, we thank you. To our
current and past patients, thank you for challenging us, trusting us,
and teaching us through your healing journeys. We are honored to
be able to help you and are committed to the advancement of care.

CONTENTS

As a medical student, you want to think your medical school and supervising physicians are doing the right thing. You want to believe that youre getting the best possible training from the best in the business. In time, the realization sets in, and you find out this is not the case.

I didnt enroll in just any medical school. I enrolled in the top naturopathic medical school in the nation, Bastyr University. It was here that I was going to learn how the body functions, how it breaks, and how to restore it naturally. Yes, naturally. I wasnt interested in big pharma. I wasnt interested in surgery. I was fascinated by how the body has an inherent ability to heal. Our job as naturopathic physicians is to assist patients in healing using nutrition, mindset, sleep, and a clean environment.

Patient after patient, shift after shift, I saw patients diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Instead of herbal tinctures, supplements, or lifestyle changes, I found myself being told to prescribe thyroid medications of various types. At first I was okay with that because I was writing prescriptions, and I saw some patients getting better. Over time, though, I questioned why we were doing it. I recall a conversation in which this statement stood out: Its the standard of care, and its very economical.

I wasnt interested in what was standard. I already knew what was standard, which is why I had decided to become a naturopathic physician instead.

Over and over, I tried using naturopathic principles versus following the standard of care when I had a patient diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I didnt come here to prescribe meds to people. My supervising doctors shot me down. So out came the script pad, and down went the usual prescription of Synthroid, sometimes Armour, and, when we were being really fancy, a combination of Synthroid and Cytomel.

Thankfully, I ended up getting called into the deans office, where I was informed that I had caused quite a stir among students who felt the same way I did regarding the treatment of our hypothyroid patients. I listened to the dean explain why we did things the way we did and how we had to follow the guidelines. I nodded without smiling and shared my honest feelings about why I was displeased.

After my talking-to, a few of the supervising physicians approached me personally. They told me they would make more of an effort to use the naturopathic principles around treatment. Some did change their ways, but others decided not to.

Its easy to fall into the habit of prescribing thyroid meds. It is indeed inexpensive, fast, and, at times, effective. Results can come quickly, and patients are happy. But that happiness is short-lived, as the underlying cause of hypothyroidism continues to fester.

Some patients got worse. They felt anxious, couldnt sleep, and still struggled with symptoms of hypothyroidism: hair falling out, dry skin, brain fog. They were confused, and so were the supervising doctors.

After I graduated, I continued not treating people with thyroid disorders in the way I was taught. In fact, I learned from a fantastic naturopathic physician, a couple of them, who treated lots of patients with hypothyroidism without even addressing the thyroid. Instead they focused on other things. It worked, and it worked very well.

I never treated the thyroid directly when it came to thyroid disorders. I still dont.

Youll learn in this book why it makes sense. Youll also learn why oftentimes you and countless others actually feel much worse than you otherwise would when taking thyroid meds to treat your hypothyroidism.

Look, my wife struggles off and on with Hashimotos thyroiditis. There is no cure for her. There is no cure for anyone. The cure doesnt exist. The job of patients with this disease is to keep the body in homeostasis, and that isnt easy.