
đ Celebrate 20 Years-Pituitary Patient Support Group

Sunday ⢠December 27 ⢠6 PM PST
Click here on start your meeting or
https://axisconciergemeetings.webex.com/axisconciergemeetings/j.php?MTID=m5085619c25d8a2417d9316b56fe7830b
OR
Join by phone: (855) 797-9485
Meeting Number (Access Code): 177 542 2496 Your phone/computer will be muted on entry.
Slides will be available on the day of the talk here
There will be plenty of time for questions using the chat button. Meeting Password: pcos
For more information, email us at mail@goodhormonehealth.com
Update November 22, 2020
I have not updated my patients on the COVID-19 pandemic since March. Since the last update and as of todayâs date, 12.2 million Americans have been infected with COVID-19 and 256,000 Americans have died. Several of Dr. Friedmanâs patients have been infected with COVID-19. Many businesses have closed and there have been major economic loses. The response to the pandemic has unfortunately been politicized and I say unfortunately because the virus doesnât distinguish based on victimâs political party. Please see Dr. Friedmanâs Letter in the Los Angeles Jewish Journal https://jewishjournal.com/letters_to_the_editor/316110/letters-lockdown-vs-no-lockdown/.
Dr. Friedman completely supports efforts to limit the spread of the virus, including wearing masks, social distancing, handwashing and staying at home. Listening to government officials including the CDC is crucial. Dr. Friedman agrees with data showing gatherings are much safer outside and encourages his patients to err on the side of safety and caution. Dr. Friedman is spearheading efforts at Charles R. Drew University to be a site for a vaccine study and after some delays, it looks like his University will be a site for the Sanofi vaccine in December 2020. Dr. Friedman is very excited about the promising results from the Moderna and Pfizer trials and thinks vaccines along with mask-wearing and social distancing will curtail the pandemic, hopefully in the latter half of 2021. He does think that COVID-19 will be with us for a long time. Dr. Friedman anticipates that changes due to COVID-19, including telemedicine and working from home will remain with us after the pandemic subsides.
As mentioned in the March update, patients with endocrine problems such as Cushingâs syndrome, Addisonâs Disease, hypopituitarism and diabetes have slightly impaired immune systems, making them potentially susceptible for a more severe infection by COVID-19. He would recommend those patients to be especially vigilant about mask-wearing/social distancing and to get a vaccine when it comes out.
He advises his patients the following:
Dr. Friedman wishes everyone to stay healthy
From group leader Sharmyn McGraw: Hi All, I hope you can join us on Zoom this Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020 starting at 9:00 a.m. (PST). For those that can’t make it, I will record the meeting and post it later on our Facebook page. I look forward to seeing you!
Dr. Friedman prescribes various thyroid hormone preparations to his patients with hypothyroidism. This includes natural desiccated thyroid (NDT) of which two preparations are WP Thyroid and Nature-Throid, both made by RLC Labs. On August 25, 2020, RLC Labs announced a voluntary, consumer-level recall of all lots of Nature-Throid and WP Thyroid tablets because somel ots contain less than the required 90% of the active ingredient as determined by the FDA. The RLC spokesperson said to Dr. Friedman that one lot of WP Thyroid and 5 lots of Nature-Throid contained between 87% and 90% of the labeled amount of levothyroxine (T4) or liothyronine (T3). The recall did not disclose which of the lots were affected and all lots are recalled, not just the affected lots. According to the recall, if a patient receives a sub-potent tablet, hypothyroid symptoms may not be controlled. To date, there have been no reports of adverse events related to this recall. Patients who have had an adverse event should contact RLC Labs.
RLC Labs advised that patients should talk to their healthcare professional before they stop taking their Nature-Throid and WP Thyroid medicine. Consumers with questions about the recall can email RLC at recall@rlclabs.com or RLC Customer Service  (877) 797-7997. Patients may return unexpired Nature-Throid and WP Thyroid tablets to their pharmacy who are legally required to refund the cost of the tablets. Currently no lots of Nature-Throid and WP Thyroid tablets are commercially available, so a replacement with the same product is not an option. It is unknown how long it will be before Nature-Throid and WP Thyroid become commercially available.
Dr. Friedman has several comments about this recall. This is the second recall of desiccated thyroid as some lots of NP thyroid were recalled in May 2020. Dr. Friedman sees this as unfortunate, but still believes desiccated thyroid is a good option for patients with hypothyroidism. Secondly, the âsubpotentâ Nature-Throid and WP Thyroid pills are only slightly less potent than stated in that only a few lots are between 87% and 90% of the T4 and T3 levels. For most patients, they will not have symptoms from these subpotent pills and if they are taking a lot that is subpotent, the dose can be adjusted based on laboratory levels at your next appointment with Dr. Friedman.
According to Dr. Friedman, patients taking Nature-Throid and WP Thyroid have three options: 1) they can continue taking Nature-Throid and WP Thyroid knowing they may have a subpotent lot and knowing that they may not be able to get a refill at least temporarily. 2) patients can be switched to Armour thyroid, NP thyroid or have a compounding pharmacy compound the equivalent dose using USP grade porcine powder. Please let Dr. Friedmanâs office know if you would like to go on a different desiccated thyroid product (and which one) and what pharmacy you would like to use, 3) Dr. Friedman has a small supply of desiccated thyroid that is available at his clinic for those in Los Angeles on the last Tuesday night of each month. He will not be able to mail desiccated thyroid. Please contact his office about this option.
Patients do not need to contact Dr. Friedman, but if you have any questions or need to schedule an appointment with Dr. Friedman, please email us at mail@goodhormonehealth.com or schedule an appointment on his website at goodhormonehealth.com.
Dr. Theodore Friedman (The Wiz) will host a webinar on Growth Hormone Deficiency, PCOS or Cushingâs: How do You Tell Them Apart?
Dr. Friedman will discuss topics including:
Sunday ⢠August 2 ⢠6 PM PDT
Click here on start your meeting or
https://axisconciergemeetings.webex.com/axisconciergemeetings/j.php?MTID=m4eda0c468071bd2daf33e6189aca3489
OR
Join by phone: (855) 797-9485
Meeting Number (Access Code):Â 133 727 0164Â Your phone/computer will be muted on entry.
Slides will be available on the day of the talk here
There will be plenty of time for questions using the chat button. Meeting Password: pcos
For more information, email us at mail@goodhormonehealth.com
Sunday ⢠May 17 ⢠6 PM PST
Click here on start your meeting or
https://axisconciergemeetings.webex.com/axisconciergemeetings/j.php?MTID=mb896b9ec88bc4e1163cf4194c55b248f
OR
Join by phone: (855) 797-9485
Meeting Number (Access Code):Â 802 841 537Â Your phone/computer will be muted on entry.
Slides will be available on the day of the talk here
There will be plenty of time for questions using the chat button. Meeting Password: addison
For more information, email us at mail@goodhormonehealth.com
Dr. Theodore Friedman will host an important webinar on Coronavirus Information for Endocrine Patients
Many patients have asked Dr. Friedman what do during the Coronavirus Pandemic. He will give candid answers from his view as an Endocrinologist. He will also talk about new telehealth opportunities for his patients.
Sunday ⢠April 5 ⢠6 PM PST
Click here on start your meeting or
https://axisconciergemeetings.webex.com/axisconciergemeetings/j.php?MTID=m505da5a10afe3aeea456e162414c17b9
OR
Join by phone: (855) 797-9485
Meeting Number (Access Code): 807 657 124
Your phone/computer will be muted on entry.
Slides will be available on the day of the talk here
There will be plenty of time for questions using the chat button.
Meeting Password: hormones
For more information, email us at mail@goodhormonehealth.com
Dr. Theodore Friedman hosts Gautam Mehta, MD for a fascinating webinar on Approaches for Pituitary Surgery
Dr. Mehta is a neurosurgeon specializing in pituitary surgery at the House Clinic in Los Angeles. He was trained by Ian McCutcheon, MD and Ed Oldfield, MD
Topics to be discussed include:
⢠How does Dr. Friedman diagnose Cushingâs Disease
⢠How does Dr. Friedman determine who goes to surgery?
⢠What type of patients need surgery besides those with Cushingâs Disease?
⢠How do the neurosurgeon and the Endocrinologist work together?
⢠How does the neurosurgeon read pituitary MRIs?
⢠What types of surgical approaches are used for pituitary surgery?
⢠How long does surgery take and how long will a patient be in the hospital?
⢠What are the risks of pituitary surgery and how can they be minimized?
Sunday ⢠August 4 ⢠6 PM PDT
Click here to start your meeting.
or
https://axisconciergemeetings.webex.com/axisconciergemeetings/j.php?MTID=ma1d8d5ef99605e305980e2f7cdfdb7bd
OR
Join by phone:Â (855) 797-9485
Meeting Number (Access Code):Â 807 028 597Â Your phone/computer will be muted on entry.
Slides will be available on the day of the talk at slidesÂ
There will be plenty of time for questions using the chat button. Meeting Password: hormones
For more information, email us at mail@goodhormonehealth.com
Dr. Theodore Friedman hosts Jay Khorsandi, DDS and Barbara Burggraaff, MD from Snore Experts for an important webinar on insomnia
Topics to be discussed include:
⢠What are the causes of insomnia?
⢠How do hormone imbalances lead to insomnia?
⢠What lifestyle changes can you do to help with insomnia?
⢠What supplements are helpful for insomnia?
⢠What medicines are helpful for insomnia?
Sunday ⢠June 2nd ⢠6 PM PST
Click here on start your meeting.or
https://axisconciergemeetings.webex.com/axisconciergemeetings/j.php?MTID=m2f7d9547a80ec47e43869517ef006f34
OR
Join by phone: (855) 797-9485
Meeting Number (Access Code):Â 807 924 444
Meeting Password:Â hormones
Your phone/computer will be muted on entry. There will be plenty of time for questions using the chat button.
For more information, email us at mail@goodhormonehealth.com