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Ankeny

Fred C. Marsh, M.D., Family Practice, 1105 N. Ankeny Blvd., Ankeny, IA 50021 515-964-4600/ 515-964-9838. "I went to many specialists for my thyroid condition before I found him. He listened, took extra time, allowed me to have some say in what was tried as to medication and testing. I have been taking Armour Thyroid for over 10 years now and thankful to have found this doctor who was truly helpful." (added 1/04)

Ankeny (formerly West Des Moines)

Kathleen Gannon, Osteopath/DO, 1810 SW White Birch Circle, Suite 111, Ankeny, IA, 50023, Ph/Fax: (515) 964-7115. "She's open to some alternative treatments, I'm on Armour Thyroid (off Levoxyl--I asked her if I could change thyroid medicine to something natural and w/o hesitation, she changed me to Armour. I had to change doctors to be able to take natural thyroid and feel much better!! She listens to what you're saying, pays attention to how you feel independent of lab test results. Besides TSH she checks my antibody levels and keeps me toward the low end of the "normal range" of the TSH." (added 1/04)

A reader writes:
"This is a follow up to my recommendation of Kathleen Gannon. Thank you for your books. Iread two of them and found your website which led me to Dr. Kathleen gannon (recently moved to Ankeny form Des Moines).You saved my life and proved I'm not crazy! Just hypothyroid! THANK YOU!!! " (Added Dec. 2006)

A reader writes:

"Finally a doctor who listens and cares about the whole person! She is not afraid to use something other than synthroid and wasn't opposed to the supplements I am trying. She is also checking some potential interactions with my asthma and thyroid meds. Kathleen (Kay) also is testing me for antibodies. Last week I was at a large research hospital and was told despite my TSH of 6.1, severe symptoms of hypothyroid,and a prior diagnosis that I was not hypothyroid because I was continually hot instead of cold. This from an endocrinologist (with no or little experience with thyroid patients). Prior I sa a P.A. who did diagnose my hypothyroidism after many doctors failed. I was taking phytohormones which falsely elevate TSH levels. " (Added Dec. 2006)

Boone

Jean M. Lorentzen, Osteopath/DO, 105 S Marshall, Boone, IA 50036, 515 - 432 - 9940

"Dr. Lorentzen has been a lifesaver 3 times for our family! I am hypothyroid; had started into perimenopausal at age 40 tho reg Dr. said no way and STD tests didn't show it. That's when I made change in Dr. and haven't looked back; I feel better now than when younger! Dr. Lorentzen treated our daughter (15 @ time) with natural progesterone vs BCP or Motrin or attitude "it'll probably never happen again" (choices at reg dr) for ovarian cyst formation. Later treated same daughter @ college age with thyroid and hormones by looking at the "whole picture" while another Dr. looking at only a segment said she was glucose intolerant. Note: She is expensive, doesn't contract with insurance, you send in your own ins forms for reimbursement as you pay at appointment. Also charges to "open up file" later for refills, etc. if you forgot to ask at appt time. Nothing seems unfair to me - what is your health worth to you? I hardly get sick anymore, don't get migraines anymore, etc. In last 3 yrs, I've only gone to reg Dr. once other than for annual checkup." (May 2008)

Council Bluffs

Isam Marar Endocrinology 2201 W. Broadway Council Bluffs, IA 51501 712-329-9100/712-328-0451. A reader writes: "Dr. Marar is a very caring listener. He took a lot of time after my thyroid surgery to go over all the questions, concerns and problems that I was facing. He got me on a dosage of medications that seem to be working. He does not order unnecessary tests. A top doctor. Thanks Dr. Marar." (Added 2/03)

Davenport

Dr. Gary Anderson D.O. -- no longer listed

Davenport

Karen Akers -- no longer listed

Des Moines

Charles R. Caughlan, M.D, M.D. Internal Medicine Lakeview Internal Medicine, 6000 University Avenue, Suite 201 West Des Moines, Iowa 50266. (515) 241-2400. A reader quips, " He admittedly failed his HMO test...and he listens. He is very interested in treating the person in addition to the test. He represents all a person could want...feeling good and living with hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism is soooo dependent upon finding a doc who is interested in the human aspect! He is...and you will be relieved that there is SOMEONE who doesn’t think you are nuts...(or cutting into their damn "capitate budget")" (NOTE: Some patients have written in to say that this doctor may not work with or be familiar with Armour Thyroid.)

Fairfield

Dr. Cochran, General practice/internist/primary care, Fairfield, IA. A reader writes: "Dr. Cochran finally ran the thyroid tests I needed. I had asked dozens of doctors out in New Mexico to run thyroid tests, and they either refused or told me they did but didn't. I had to come home to Iowa to my sister's doctor to get a diagnosis. Dr Cochran at Medical Arts in Fairfield Iowa is a good doctor and he will listen to you and take a full history." (August 2007)

Iowa City

Nicole Nisly, M.D., Preventive Medicine, Univ of Iowa Hospitals, Iowa City, IA, 384-8245. A reader writes: "Sympathetic to natural medicine." (Added June 2005)

Iowa City

Dr. Karyn Shanks, Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Holistic Medicine, 505 E Washington Street Suite 300, Iowa City Iowa 52240, 319-358-9510. A reader writes: "She has a small practice and it takes a few months to get established as a new patient but it is well worth it for thyroid and all aspect of natural medicine and internal western combined. She was referred to me by another doctor on your list Dr Nicole Nisly at U of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics" (Added Dec. 2006)

Shell Rock

Dr. Traci Skierka, Holistic/complementary/alternative MD, 513 N. Cherry St., Shell Rock, Iowa USA, 50670 , 3198856530 Waterloo area. "Dr. Skierka has been a lifesaver with my autoimmune thyroid and what followed as multiple hormone failure. She mixes extensive knowledge of the up to date thyroid therapies and myths and studies makes her cutting edge for this area. She nicely adds herbals and vitamins to her prescriptions. She recognizes and uses the new TSH scale and does trial doses of thyroid hormone." (August 2007)

Another fan:
"She is very up to date on all endocrine, female hormone disorders and thyroid disorders. Recommends supplements and conventional meds. She has gone to many update seminars and really does listen." (August 2007)

Another reader writes:
"I wanted to add a third rave about Dr. Traci Skierka, whom I just saw for the first time. She takes time, listens, is interested in the patient as a person and is very open-minded -- she freely said she knows how much good information is on the web and appreciates when her patients alert her to useful sites or share information she didn't know! She is entirely supportive of using T3 and understands the problem of people with normal TSH still having symptoms. She is actively educating herself further and plans to focus her practice from now on in the field of bioidentical hormones, which includes treating thyroid disease. By the way, Shell Rock is quite close to Cedar Falls/Waterloo so she is accessible to people there. (I was glad to see that Chitra Reddy in Waterloo is no longer listed, as I see her but don't find her very open-minded or satisfactory, although to my surprise she did just agree to supplement my T4 with T3 so maybe there's hope.)" (May 2008)

Waukee

Kim K. Countryman, Country Clinic, 120 NE Dartmoor Dr., Waukee, Iowa, 515-987-3117, A reader writes: "Dr. Countryman is extremely intelligent, an excellent doctor and a caring and compassionate physician. She will take the time to listen to a patients needs, concerns and problems related to their thyroid condition and other conditions. She will treat with armour as well as other standard drugs for thyroid. She monitors her patients closely and gives excellent care. She also is extremely gifted at sizing up a situation accurately through observation and interview beyond what you have told her. She has done an excellent job of treating me for hypothyroidism and some other complicated physical conditions with numerous drug allergies." (Added 1/06)

Waterloo-Cedar Falls

A reader writes: "In the Waterloo-Cedar Falls area of Iowa there are no endocrinologists, to my knowledge, unless someone has just set up practice. Dr. Annie Kontos is a very good general practitioner."

Waterloo

Dr. Chitra Reddy -- no longer listed

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Latest Thyroid News From Mary Shomon