NEWSWEEK'S ATTACK ON OPRAH WILL NOT HELP THE PUBLIC

This week's Newsweek cover story is a harsh and lengthy attack on Oprah and her ever-expanding health care advocacy choices. The article questions the legitimacy of her choices and points out that some of her doctors and “experts” are far out of the medical mainstream. 

I have never been on the Oprah Show, but last winter I was interviewed by Oprah's main doctor Mehmet Oz on his satellite radio show. Patients and e-mails flooded my office for months. This spring I was quoted in Oprah’s magazine as they interviewed one of my patients about bioidentical hormones. I learned first hand the power of Oprah and the success she brings to everyone she touches.

At times while watching her shows and reading about her choices of experts I wondered about the lack of balance. I even wrote to her producers when I realized by watching her that her thyroid was badly treated and I knew she was not getting good advice.

When she talked about bioidentical hormones I was thrilled. Her choice of experts and spokeswoman for the hormones, Suzanne Somers, left me cold. But it was Oprah who opened the door to bringing bioidenticals to the mainstream so I applauded her effort. When I gave my lecture on bioidentical hormones at Harvard in February 2, 2009, the first slide I showed was the one of Oprah with Suzanne Somers.

I asked the chairman of the department of ob-gyn, Isaac Schiff, MD and the rest of the physicians in the audience, “ How come Suzanne Somers and Oprah are the ones to teach the public about bioidentical hormones? What has the medical profession done with the information of the Women’s Health Initiative study?  Nine years later and women are still suffering and the medical establishment has not stepped up to the plate to help women find safe solutions to menopausal symptoms. Why are bioidentical hormones still controversial?” They had no answers.

Oprah did. She did what no conventional media or conventional medicine has done. She has stepped up to the plate. She has given the public the missing information. Instead of indoctrinating us with the party line, Oprah has opened the door to other options. And the public has spoken. Oprah is their leader, not the American Medical Association.

Granted, Oprah may not have always chosen the best “experts” or figured how to provide a balanced view of their opinions. But then, who does? At least she has had the courage to bring to the public new ways of looking at health and has sparked interest in options that others would like kept under wraps. Don’t let the naysayers stop progress! 

Comments

[Janie Boillotat]

The only thing NEWSWEEK revealed was ignorance! People like Dr. Erika and Oprah who have the courage to fight this ignorance should be applauded. How often we see people ahead of their time critized. All we have to do is look to history to see proof of how some of the greatest accomplishments and advances were, at first, critized. This criticism is born out of ignornace and fear of something that people do not know enough about. I faced this ignorance and suffered because of it. I was made to feel that I was crazy and that the anxiety I was feeling was "normal" for my age. As if I should accept that! I was 46 at the time. I sent an email to Oprah's producers and they sent me one back saying that mine was one of their favorites because I told them my story honestly. They asked me to do a video diary for them. I was flattered and thanked them for listening to me and for giving me this opportunity to speak. I was part a few dozen woman who spoke out and Oprah listened to us. It makes me so darn angry that for years I knew I had a hormone problem and not one "doctor" listened--until I met Dr. Erika. I told Oprah's producer this. I asked them to keep spotlighting this topic. They ask me to do the same. So here I am asking everyone to talk about this to everyone you meet. Let's make sure our daughter's are treated better!

[Jeffrey Dach MD]

Erika, You are spot on again. It's all about the money and an information war between Wyeth and bioidentical hormones.

Why should Newsweek attack Oprah Winfrey? Here’s Why:

Oprah’s TV show advocates Natural Medicine and Bioidentical Hormones in direct competition to the interests of the Pharmaceutical Industry which makes synthetic hormones. Newsweek is merely an attack dog for the drug industry. A typical issue of Newsweek magazine contains $2 million in pharma ads.

Oprah is depicted as a voodoo witch on the Newsweek cover in a desperate attempt to please the drug company sponsors of a failing magazine.

To read more:

http://jeffreydach.com/2009/06/11/newsweek-attacks-oprah-and-bioidentical-hormones-by-jeffrey-dach-md.aspx

Newsweek Attacks Oprah Winfrey and BioIdentical Hormones

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[Terrina Picarello]

I have been complaining about my thyroid problems for 7 years to "traditionally trained" MDs. They know absolutely NOTHING about thyroid protocols, or bioidentical hormones.

They don't even know much about women's hormones at all. So that is why I am sure there is such a negative reaction to Oprah shining the light on an area of medicine that the current medical profession has flat ignored. Shame on all you MDs for allowing women to suffer and suffer and suffer. It was obviously not in your best interest to do otherwise or you would have.

Now that Oprah is shining the light on how much classically trained MDs have ignored women's health, I think your profession is embarrassed. So you attack Oprah and others because you know you have let women down and now you are ashamed. Instead of owning it, you blame the messenger. How typical, immature, and very "old school." Aren't medical professionals supposed to be well educated? Maybe there is a glaring LACK in your educational process.

[Wendy]

Thank you Dr. Schwartz for continuing to educate the public on the alternatives available for women, and thank you to Oprah for putting herself on the line and addressing bio-identical hormones as well.

Most women who have tried conventional hormones realize it isn't optimal, even if they do not understand why, and the same goes for thyroid hormones such as Synthroid, which just does not work as well as natural thyroid medications for most people. We end up searching for doctors that will listen and allow us to use alternatives that our body will accept more readily, and these alternatives usually are cheaper, have fewer side effects, and make us feel better, even if it is against what 90% of doctors would recommend. But let us not forget that twenty years ago, most doctors were against vitamins such as Vitamin E and Calcium, and now even the least astute doctor acknowledges there is some worth in certain natural supplements.

So if Oprah is willing to put herself on the line and go against the pharmaceutical companies and all those that prop them up, then thank goodness we have a woman with enough clout to take them on. It won't be easy though, because they will deride and mock her and make her seem foolish, and the Newsweek cover and article is probably just the beginning of a slow attempt to rob her of credibility.

Don't worry though, because we are not fooled. They can sling their mud, but at the end of the day, I have to wonder who is invested in making sure Oprah stays quiet? It certainly isn't anyone who has women's health as their primarily motivation.

[T.R. Leder]

Dr. Erika,
This is just 'preaching to the choir' but you have stated the problem re: the advancement of BHRT and hit the proverbial nail on the head. You did so without inflaming the offensive linemen of conventional medicine, the FDA and their cohorts in conventionalism the Big Pharma giants like Wyeth. Kudo's to a well written blog. Certainly Oprah could have chosen more "expertise" in explaining BHRT, but Suzanne is a headliner, a hook, to grab the largest audience. Oprah is an entertainer also, and show rankings are important to her and her network. She widely opened the dialogue as she says and here it is........

[Lisa Sayers]

The bottom line is we all need to be self-educated. I applaud Oprah for bringing this imformation to the public. Now it is up to each of us to search out the findings and information. Sometimes that can be hard. I just recently battled breast cancer and there is NO information on bioidenticles and breast cancer. But then again, until all the funding stops going to the pharmaceutical companies, we never will have true clinical trials! Until we change that...we are pretty much on our own to figure things out!

[Rosemaire Wesselhoft]

Dr. Efika and Oprah are giving we women a gift, but discuss this with your primary care doctor and you are perceived as having two heads.

it is almost impossible to find a bio identical hormone doctor in a office near your home. The doctor I called was one but is now is back to his former title internal medicine.

When will the medical community get with it and help make the menopausal and post menopausal years the best possible.

[jan]

watching oprah finally gave me the shove i needed to finally find a doctor who would prescribe bioidentical hormones. i have to pay for everything myself even though i have "insurance" but it is well worth it.

[Sandy Greenquist]

Thank you, Dr. Erika. I have been so agitated since I read the attack on Oprah by Newsweek, and didn't quite know how to respond. Your words let me vicariously blow off steam. I'm a nurse-wife, specializing in menopause and have used BHT in my practice for 20 years. I am so grateful we have people like yourself and Oprah who are getting facts to the public. It's been a long road, but women changed medicine's approach to childbirth and we will change their menopause practice. The word is out and there will be no putting this information back behind a curtain of distortion and fiction. Please keep up the good work!
Sandy Greenquist, St. Paul MN

[Karen]

Dear Dr. Erika,

You know how to klunk the mainstream medical professionals over the head to get them to wake up and do it with grace. I can't thank you enough for what you are doing. In 2003 I was mis-lead into an unnecessary hysterectomy and I instantly went into surgically-induced menopause. No one in the mainstream medical profession could help me, except to tell me to go on estrodial. But that wasn't working and it was my fault it wasn't working. After fasting and praying seeking God for healing, because I could find no one else to help me, a friend told me about you. Then someone at work told me about The Menopause Center in St. Paul, MN. Turns out the director is an avid supporter of your work. Long story short, I got on progesterone, began exercising and taking vitamins. And I began to recover. In fact twice in the past 6 years, I came close to loosing my job because of my inability to function because of the severe hormone problems. Just recently, I changed vitamins but kept on the bioidentical HRT and am now able to function again.

Thank you again for what you do.

[Barbara Winnicki]

I don't always agree with what Oprah says or does, but when she began she was all we had to give women information. If not, for Suzanne Somers talking about bioidenticals I would never have looked for a doctor to help me. Dr. Erika made my life bearable again. No more night sweats, chest pain, low feelings and lack of energy. I think Dr.Oz has helped many people with his information. He has gotten people to pay attention to their health and to ask questions. The medical community doesn't seem to want us to have too much information. It is the same story with not listening to parents about possible dangers in the vaccination schedules. Thanks to Jenny McCarthy they may begin to listen.

[Marta Akashe]

Oprah is not a medical expert, so her comments on medical issues are often off.
It's a good idea she brings in "experts", but sometimes her choice of experts is questionable. I (unsuccesfully) emailed her numerous times over the last 2-3 years to invite Dr. Erika on her show on topics, specifically menopause, HRT, BHRT etc. Unfortunately she loves Dr. Christiane Northrup, who is a lovely doctor, but never gives specific, clear-cut answers to questions, related to bioidentical hormone replacement. She is very vague.
Dr. Erika would get to the point. She'd talk about the ongoing crime committed against women. The two leading HRT drugs (manufactured by Wyeth pharma) Prempro and Premarin are still on the market and is being given to women on a large scale despite the proven fact that they pose unaccptable, very serious health problems for women.
The FDA looks the other way because these drugs are huge moneymakers.
I educated myself and have been on BHRT for about a year now..and feeling very good. I also consulted Dr. Erika many times. She emailed me personally and answered my questions.
Women are dying because of "mainstream medicine" advocates the wrong message thus helping Wyeth cash in.
Women should rise up, and speak up..it's already too late for millions of women.
Now I'm trying to get the President's attention.
Thank you

[Daphne]

Keep up the good fight for the women of America. It seems our entire professional medical world is controlled by the powerful" LEGALIZED DRUG DEALERS". Who have turn the honorable profession of Doctors into mere "STEERERS" for their heartless & soulless drug business. If there is no capital gain for these companies they not only don't pursue the cures but they will spend money, time and great effort to stopped it's use and any knowledgeable information from reaching the public.
THANK YOU Dr. Erika, Oprah, Suzanne Sommers, TS Wiley and all that risk professional suicide standing up to these DRUG PUSHERS.

[Rosalba]

It is clear to me that by attacking Oprah, Newsweek is simply using her to sell their magazine. Newsweek is part of a dying breed and is desperate to sell magazines not provide information to the public. I always strive to examine the intention behind action and Newsweek's intention is clear...promote fear and cash in.

[Shirley Isenberg]

It will just take time to get the word out because the medical community is so concerned about doing the wrong thing. Women my mothers age (70's) automatically were told to go on HRT and that was premarin and provera. Now women hitting menopause are pretty much told to suffer. I am one of the lucky ones. I did my research and use bio-identical progesterone cream. Eating right and exercise helps tremendously.

[Gayle]

Oprah needs to realize that too many women think that what she says is "gospel". She weilds mighty power with her thoughts and words and with that comes great responsibility and sometimes negative consequences.

[Leslie Morris]

Those hating on Oprah are jealous and resentful that this black woman has so much power and influence. Period.
Les

[Lynn Galle]

Yes--I am SO glad Oprah had shows on menopause/bios. I was an audience member on the first of the two shows. I have been on bios since 2004, actually--because of Suzanne! I briefly heard something about her book pertaining to menopause/bios which perked my interest. At the time I was on synthetic HRT; gaining weight, crying jaggs, depressed, and just feeling crappy. My doctors tried to convice me to start anti-depressants. I refused this "bandaid" approach and insisted that I was going through hormonal imbalance, that we need to address what is causing these symptoms, not just cover them up. After reading her book, I went on to reading 14+ others, including Dr. Lee's "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause," and I then went on a research frenzy. Not much out there, but thanks to Suzanne starting me off, I have been on a combination of bioidentical estrogen and/or compounded progesterone cream since 2004. Now that I'm a bit older (59) I just use the progesterone cream. I feel so much better and am SO glad I refused to subject myself to anti-depressants! I bet if men would go through menopause like woman, we'd have numerous readily available and informative doctors and solutions! Thank you

[Pamela Feldhues]

Dr. Erika,

I am not a fan of Oprah Winfrey, but she has brought up topics (such as bio-identical hormones) to the forefront. When many doctors have "pooh poohed" women and menopause, simply because they don't have menopause (well, not recognized as such), we have had to find out our own treatment options! Thank God for doctors like you! I go to a nurse practitioner 60 miles away, and she & bio-identicals have changed my life! I can think clearly, have a healthy libido, sleep throughout the entire night and hot flashes are non-existent! There will always be critics, but every once in a while, I actually agree with O. W. She 'dun good' on this one !

[amk]

I saw Martha Stewert yesterday for the first time in ages. I don;t know if it was a re-run but she had a panel of her experts on. They provided good, basic health advice and a calendar of medical tests and screening everyone should do at specific ages. Very informative to a layman's group. I think the show was positive as it was not controversial. I would like to see Erika on her panel to present alternatives and incorporation of traditional medicine. It would definitly have rounded out the panel.

[Monica]

Dr Erika: I have been a patient of yours for many years. The bio-identical hormones and your and Dr. Weiss'personal one-on-one coaching and consultations have changed my life for better in so many ways. I have more energy, sleep soundly throughout the night, experience no headaches at all, and my night sweats are under control. Recently, my sister was told to start taking hormones. I quickly and without hesitation gave her your information and urged her to contact you. Keep up the good work. Thank you, thank you for all that you and Dr. Weiss have done for me. I, too, wish that you were on the Doctors show.

[Lee]

I think Dr. Erika should be on the show to help educate the public and the medical profession. My fear has been that too often doctors are persuaded by our pharmaceutical drug companies to treat disease rather than spending their efforts on preventing disease. I believe that we need to do more research on prevention of disease.

[Marilyn M.]

I tape the Oprah show daily as she has the courage to talk about topics that others do not. If I'm not interested in that particular show, I just erase it.

[Mickey]

Oprah may have the midas touch but I agree that she hasn't chosen the "best of the experts." If she had, then Dr. Erika Schwartz would have been the spokesperson for bio-identical hormones and for the millions of women around the globe. Recently when Oprah went public about her weight gain, menopause and her hypothyroid condition, I sent her an empathetic email because I had been there and done that like many other women. In that email I referenced bio-identical hormone replacement therapy and alternatives to synthroid which is widely prescribed for hypothyroidism. My recommendation to her was that she be in touch with Dr. Erika who has been a positive force and the greatest advocate and friend of every woman today. Not to mention that she is, in fact, a medical doctor, not a past television actress and self-proclaimed guru. Let's face it, how much credibilty would Dr. Erika have if she went on television selling cookware and cosmetics and jewelry and food and blah blah blah blah blah! Anyway, I had hoped that my little email would somehow have filtered through the millions of emails and letters that I am sure Oprah receives. I am certain that if it had, Oprah would have made different health choices and lifestyle changes all with the help and expertise of Dr. Erika Schwartz. Three's "not" company but a crowd...bye bye Suzanne!