The First Year: Hypothyroidism: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed

by Elliot G. Levy M.D. (Foreword), Maureen Pratt

The thyroid, one of the body’s most important glands, can become extremely disruptive if it malfunctions, affecting blood pressure, heart rate, fertility, muscle tone, mood swings, and much more. Upon discovering that she’d joined the ranks of the nearly 5 million Americans diagnosed with hypothyroidism, author Maureen Pratt took charge and educated herself on every aspect of her condition. Now, as a “patient-expert,” she guides those newly diagnosed step-by-step through their first year with hypothyroidism. She provides crucial information about the nature of the disease, treatment options, diet, exercise, social concerns, emotional issues, networking with others, charts, tables, and much more. The First Year™—Hypothyroidism is an invaluable guide for everyone learning to live with their diagnosis. For everyone newly diagnosed with hypothyroid disease, this is an indispensable guide to prioritizing the key things you need to do and learn.

Genres: Nonfiction, Medical

320 pages, Paperback

First published April 2, 2003

Reviews

[Jaime Skelton · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a newly diagnosed hypothyroid patient, I found this book fairly informative (if not perhaps falling a little out of date, as books are prone to do.) It covered a broad range of topics for full wellness, including not only body, but mind and a touch of soul. Pratt suggested many options for research, awareness, and outreach for new hypothyroid patients, and spoke in a comforting tone.

I did not find the style that the book was organized in appealing. Pratt organizes material by the days, weeks, and months since your original diagnosis. However, it's not likely that a new hypothyroid patient is going to pick up this book on day one, and it's less likely they're going to slow down or stop reading when the book shifts from days to months.

Like others, I also sometimes had issues with Pratt's tone of pushing the acceptance of the term "chronic illness" so hard you thought she was a therapist trying to help you cross The Nile. Interest waned fast in the last few chapters, which dealt mostly with generic ways in handling interpersonal relationships for those patients who might struggle with acceptance from family, friends, or lovers, a topic Pratt had covered in lesser depth in previous chapters. Pratt's messages often also conflicted: she pushes the reader to trust their doctor and not deny their illness, and yet encourages them to be highly skeptical and inquisitive in a way that made me wonder if I should actually question my doctor instead of trust them. On the same token, Pratt does not go in depth enough into many scientific issues regarding the thyroid to really give the reader basis to question their diagnosis; she does, however, list off enough possible symptoms that might have non-hypothyroid patients going in for T4/TSH tests.

I would still recommend this book for newly diagnosed hypothyroid patients, particularly those who are not familiar with the thyroid or hypothyroidism. However, it would be recommended with caution to do more current research. Better yet, patients should ask their doctor for recommendations on hypothyroid information and support.

[Yaaresse · Rating 1 out of 5]

A bit of decent medical information infused -- nay, drenched -- in a whole lot of repetitions about how this "chronic disease" is going to make your life a living hell.

Ok, so I'm exaggerating, but so is the author. She goes on and on about her personal experiences and how horrible it all is. Then, near the end, you discover that she has not only hypothyroidism, but Lupus and several other conditions, many of which can manifest the same symptoms. Clearly, she's got a lot more going on than thyroid issues, and it all seems to have gotten muddy and depressing for her. That's sad, but I didn't pick this up to read a medical memoir; I wanted data.

Look, if you tell yourself that you're dreadfully sick with a chronic, life-altering condition often enough, you will be. That's not some new-age woowoo concept; it's just plain common sense. The placebo effect can work both ways, and your brain eventually will accept as fact what it's told over and over and over.

There's nothing in here you can't read on the Mayo Clinic website without the heaping helping of "poor me".

[Pamela Huxtable · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a fairly superficial read, but helpful for the newly diagnosed. The author's experiences interfere with the reader's understanding of hypothyroidism - that is, there is too much about her personal experience, which as far as I can understand, is atypical. Her experience with lupus and Graves disease does not aid my understanding of my hypothyroidism.

And it was a downer. The constant repetition of - "you have a chronic disease," is wearying. I honestly don't view hypothyroidism as a chronic disease, but rather as a condition that I'm living with, like dry skin or warts.

Back to the library!

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh, this book was just okay. I didn't feel that the author should write a specific book on Hypothyroidism because not only does she have it, but she also has a host of other autoimmune diseases. She even admits that she finds it hard to distinguish the pain she suffers from Lupus from the pain of Hypothyroidism. However, I did feel that this author could have been great at writing a book specifically on her experiences with autoimmune diseases. This is not a good guide for what to expect with this illness and I feel that a different book would have been more helpful.

[Gina Kilgour · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was full is some medical advice and a LOT of poor-me-this is a disaster-what do I do?!? Anyone newly diagnosed and reading this will think their life is coming to an end. I've had hypothyroidism for over 30 years (since I was 12) and my life isn't HALF as tragic as all that.

[Melissa]

I've been just periodically looking through this book since I've been diagnoised since March of 2008. It's very informative, IMO.

[Carla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mostly a pep talk, but it verified what I thought.

[Carol Keeney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of good information, even for someone who was diagnosed long ago.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very thorough, useful