A THYROID CANCER patient turned practitioner: Dr. Rebecca Warren
SAVE YOUR THYROID with Jennifer Holkem: Episode #89
Coming up in this episode:
“I could not understand how I got there and no one educated me. I didn't feel better just because I had it cut out. And they sent me on my way.”
“I drew a line in the sand and I said, no one's going to know my body better than me. I fired my doctor because he wasn't ordering the right labs. He wasn't willing to switch my meds. And at 21, I hired a doctor that would communicate with me, that would try the things that I wanted to try, that would order the labs I wanted to order. … I was able to get on the right meds for me and it transformed my life. And that's why I decided I wasn’t gonna be an eye doctor. I'm like, I'm not being an eye doctor. I wanna be a DC. I wanna help people get down to the cause…” — Dr. Rebecca Warren
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What is this podcast and blog all about?
To my subscribers, welcome back! If you’re new, welcome to Save Your Thyroid, a podcast and blog all about thyroid nodules. My name is Jennifer Holkem, and I advocate for fellow patients suffering with this very common condition. Thyroid nodules impact 70% of adults in their lifetime, and the standard of care is surgical removal of half or all of the gland. But in recent years, safe and effective non-surgical treatment options have become available.
In this podcast and blog, I sit down with patients and physicians to discuss life with thyroid nodules, treatment options, and how to save the thyroid whenever possible.
Meet Dr. Rebecca Warren:
Today's guest is Dr. Rebecca Warren. At 19, Dr. Rebecca was diagnosed with follicular variant papillary thyroid carcinoma and had a complete thyroidectomy with high dose radiation. After having her thyroid removed, she thought the problem was fixed, until a few years down the road when she began to suffer from hormone issues that doctors would write off because her labs all looked normal. She suffered with depression, anxiety, weight loss resistance, and period issues with no help on how to get better. It wasn't until she decided to draw a line in the sand that no doctor was going to know more about her body than her, did her health transform. She has spent the last two decades studying the literature, implementing protocols, using the most up-to-date functional labs and testing, and ancestral tools like fasting and diet variation to not only take back her health, but to help thousands of men and women avoid losing their thyroid and for those that had their thyroid removed, actually heal and get better. Her goal is to help people avoid unnecessary suffering that she went through and help those that might be on a hopeless path right now. Dr. Rebecca practices with her husband in Chattanooga, Tennessee and does virtual coaching worldwide. Her approach is simple but powerful: Get to the cause, support the body, and trust and know that the body was created to heal itself.
Key Takeaways:
Thyroid health is interconnected with the entire body, and a holistic approach is necessary for optimal well-being.
Patients need to be their own advocates and actively participate in their healthcare decisions.
Finding the right medication and dosage is crucial for post-thyroidectomy patients, and regular monitoring is essential.
Healing and nourishing the body after going hypothyroid is important for overall health and well-being.
Identifying the root cause of thyroid issues is crucial for long-term healing and prevention of recurrence.
Informed consent is crucial in making decisions about thyroid health, and patients should be aware of all their options and the associated risks and benefits.
Post-thyroidectomy care is important, and patients should regularly monitor their thyroid hormone levels and advocate for themselves to ensure optimal treatment.
Finding a healthcare provider who is knowledgeable and open to exploring different treatment options is essential.
Non-surgical treatment options, such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA), can be effective in managing thyroid nodules and cancer.
Addressing the root causes of thyroid nodules and cancer, such as autoimmune issues, gut health, and toxicity, is important for long-term healing.
Episode Summary:
Dr. Rebecca Warren shares her personal experience with thyroid cancer and thyroidectomy, highlighting the interconnectedness of the thyroid with the entire body. She emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to thyroid health and the importance of being one's own advocate. I share with Dr. Rebecca my own experience with a medical mishap and the impact it had on my health. Both stories underscore the need for personalized and comprehensive care for thyroid patients. Dr. Rebecca discusses the importance of informed decision making when it comes to thyroid health. She emphasizes the need for patients to understand all of their options and to be aware of the risks and benefits associated with each choice. She also highlights the importance of post-thyroidectomy care and the need for regular monitoring of thyroid hormone levels. She encourages patients to advocate for themselves and to find a healthcare provider who is knowledgeable and open to exploring different treatment options. Additionally, Dr. Rebecca shares her journey of discovering non-surgical treatment options, such as radiofrequency ablation, and the importance of addressing the root causes of thyroid nodules and cancer.
The goal of this podcast and blog
I seek to provide data, resources, and expert opinions on the topic of thyroid nodules, and make it accessible to patients. When I was first looking for thermal ablation treatment, everything that I read was physician-facing material. It was very hard for me to understand. This material is meant to help patients understand what's going on in their thyroid gland and what an important gland it is. If you can keep your thyroid intact, that's going to help you live a longer, healthier life, and preserve your quality of life. Thanks for reading this far today! — Jen
Connect with Dr. Rebecca Warren:
👉 Website: www.drrebeccawarren.com
👉Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drrebeccawarren/
👉Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.rebeccawarren
👉YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DrRebeccaWarren
👉Healing After Thyroidectomy FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/healingafterthyroidectomy/
👉Watch the episode with Dr. Rebecca and Dr. Mindy Pelz:
Disclaimer: None of the statements made in this or any other video by "Its me Jen again" should be considered medical advice.
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