Evening star., 1961-06-20
Stop
Killing
Yourself
By PETER J. STEINcRoHN

S0A AAs OVCA44N1 OAA4ls T VI
many years I have been
bothered by hyperthyroidiSm.
1t began at the age Of Is,
when my doctor put me on
iodine drops. I am now %
and still have the nervous
symptoms and rapid pulse
although I take more iodine
than before. Quite recently
in your column you men
toned that propyl- -thiouracil
is sometimes used to slow
down an overactive thyroid
gland. What are the chances
of my outgrowing the con-
dition?-Miss B., New Jersey.
1 KNOW YOU will under
stand that I cannot make
either judgments in diagnosis
or in treatment from way
back here. Try for q mo-
ment to forget your individ-
ual problem and let me speak
in generalitieS.
I think that most doctors
now agree that iodine drops
are inefficient in the long
term treatment of an over
active thyroid. This med
icine is now used mainly for
preparing the hyperthyroid
for operation. Even thioura-
Gil drugs are not always the
answer. In many cases their
action, also. is only tempo
rary. The ideal treatment
when indicated-is Operations.
Radioactive iodine is alsA
prescribed in a few cases.
It would seem to me, com.
ming back to your own proB-
lem, that iodine has been
tested and found wanting.
You still have your original
symptoms after Z years of
treatment. I am sure your
doctor will not hesitate to
get the opinion of another
interniSt regarding what is
the best possible treatment
for you now.
Occasionally I receive a
letter that throws me into
a state of complete frustra-
ton. I am like a dog with
a flea at the end Of his
tail. He goes round and
round, chasing himself, never
quite catching up. When a
medical problem is COM
pounded by mans inhuman-
ity to man Gin this case,
most likely a fathers cruelty
to a sick SOM, all you can
do is choke up. Here it is:
Dear DR.. Steincrohn: I am
a frequent reader of your
column in our paper. What
I am interested in is what
correction should be given a
child with a heart ailment.
Especially one who has a hole
in the wall of his heart. The
doctors say he will have to
have heart surgery within q
year or two.
AS for myself, I don't be-
lieve he should be spanked,
jerked around by his arms
or be allowed to cry until
he is almost hySterical-
which is about what hap
pens. He is 8 years old.
Mrs. K, mother.
I CAN ONLY guess that
your husband is the guilty
one. In this instance, I be-
lieve you can overlook your
marriage vow. If you have
been protecting your huS-
band from public opinion,
it's time you brought it out
in the open to protect your
helpless child.
Dear DR.. Steincrohn: My
wife insists on sleeping with
the windows open every
night. In spring and sum-
mer it's fine, but when the
temperature is 10 degrees
above zero outside. a frigid
breeze blowing around the
house is apparently the cause
of my occasional winter colds.
Yet, if we close the windows,
she complains that a stuffy
house gives her a headache
by morning. Who is right?
MIR. T., Maryland.
HEALTHWISE, each Of
you may be right. I think
a coldly analytical Judge
would say: Separate rooms
or marriage go bust!" I
agree. (Which, incidentally,
is a Sneaky way Of making
my decision.)
DR.. Steincrohn's Iedtlet,
"HoU to Be q Happy HIPPO
chondriGc," iUiH be mailed on
receipt of a stamped, self
addressed envelope and 10
cents in coin for handling.
Address DR.. Steincrohn in
care of The Euening Star.
Tomorrow: Summer Colds
(pell Svpdicata Eaa turaN