A Medical Mystery: Thyroid Hormones, Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia
Summary: * Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia look very like Hypothyroidism. * Thyroid Patients aren't happy with either the diagnosis or treatment of Hypothyroidism. * It is possible that lots of FMS/CFS cases are 'something wrong with the thyroid system that doesn't show up on laboratory hormone level tests'. * It's possible that it's not too difficult to fix these CFS/FMS cases with thyroid hormones. * I believe that there may have been a stupendous cock-up that's hurt millions. * Less Wrong should be interested, because it could be a real example of how bad inference can cause the sciences to come to false conclusions, as well as a good practice problem for the things we really care about. Edit: I found a possible answer here: http://lesswrong.com/lw/nbm/thyroid_hormones_chronic_fatigue_and_fibromyalgia/ I do not believe it, because I do not understand it, but contemplation of it seems to be enlightening. In particular, the problem is much broader than I originally thought. A summary of the argument in the first two posts, together with links to lots of evidence in the literature: http://lesswrong.com/r/discussion/lw/nef/the_thyroid_madness_core_argument_evidence/ And this is pretty much proof, I think: http://lesswrong.com/lw/nhs/the_thyroid_madness_two_apparently_contradictory/ At this point, I think I'm as confident as I can be without some sort of formal trial (so 25% maybe?) But certainly, if you're suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Fibromyalgia/Major Depression/Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or any of the many similar disorders which just seem to be different names for 'hypothyroidism with normal TSH', I reckon this is worth trying! I have done, and it worked for me. For about four months now... Original Post: I believe that I've come across a genuine puzzle, and I wonder if you can help me solve it. This problem is complicated, and subtle, and has confo