In August 2005 at 43 years of age, the left lobe of my thyroid was removed because a big nodule was nearly replacing the left lobe. The biopsy indicated it was a non toxic nodular goiter (follicular neoplasm). Before the surgery, the value of my the hormone excreted by the pituitary gland to stimulate the thyroid, the Thyroid- Stimulating Hormone (TSH), was 1.33 uIU/ml.

Many labs in the US consider a TSH of 0.5–5.0 to be within normal range, but the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists in 2002 established a narrower “normal” TSH margin of 0.3–3.04. Eight months after the surgery my TSH increased to 3.04uIU/m, and the endocrinologist suggested me to take thyroid hormones.

I did not like that option, so in April 2006 I visited Dr. Xiu Juan Yang, a highly trained Chinese doctor and a very warm, cheerful woman. She treated me with acupuncture and herbs. During one month, I had two sessions of acupuncture every week and took an herbal tea three times a day. Then, I stopped for 90 days because I was traveling.

When I returned to New York, I reinitiated the treatment with her for two additional months, and in August 2006 my TSH had dropped to 1.46uIU/m. One more time, I had to stop the treatment because I went to my native country to take care of my ill father.

Six months later I came back to New York, and my TSH was 3.06 uIU/m. At that time, I was under a lot of stress, my father had passed away and I did not have a job. I look to Dr.Yang, I knew she could help me. After two months of one session of acupuncture every week, my TSH dropped again, reaching the value of 1.58 uIU/m in March 2007.

My nomadic life continued, and I left New York for almost four months, causing the interruption of the treatment. I came back in July and a TSH test indicated a value of 3.42 uIU/m.  Immediately I started visiting Dr. Yang every week, and after 1month the TSH had dropped to 1.99 uIU/m. I could not continue with the treatment, because I am not living in New York anymore.

Elena A.