Neighbour's son is soon to be let loose on the hospital wards for 2 years. 
I asked how much of his training was devoted to thyroid and am dismayed, but not unduly surprised to be told 8 weeks for endocrinology:- diabetes, thyroid & kidney/adrenals. 8 weeks out of 6 years FFS 
He hasn't settled on his interest of specialism but has an interest in neurology. I suggested he examine endocrinologists to see if they a) have a brain; and b) have a heart.
Clutter you made me laugh although it is sad in some ways as it just shows how deficient medical students' knowledge is these days. Dr Skinner and Dr Peatfield were trained as medical students but had a wide knowledge of the clinical symptoms (no blood tests in those days) . We may have been better of nowadays if clinical symptoms were taught rather than levels of blood tests for diagnosis.
If doctors aren't going to treat clinical symptoms and diagnose/treat by lab results they downgrade the position of physicians to lab analysts.
I requested VitD, B12, folate & ferritin. Dr. By Numbers referred to a chart on the wall to determine the appropriate dosage vis-a-vis deficiency. I could have done that :/
I think a lot of us are 'doing it ourselves' due to thecurrent treatment not benefiting us.
Yes, I've called it "DIY /NHS Health care for the past few years. Have had to fight to get scans done, to get the results, and to even get an appt with any GP. Usual wait for a 4 min appt has been 7 weeks to see the first available one, adn 12 weeks to see my own GP. And i'm not talking of a tickle in the throat. I had highly invasive breast cancer ( 5 yrs ago) followed a couple a years later, a basal skull meningioma (tumour) in brain pressing on my optic nerve and distorting my eyesight. I never have the results sent to me even when I beg and the answer is always " See your GP." Pretty bad when it's possible you are either going to die or not, but have to wait 7 weeks get a printout of a part of your own body! The receptionists defy me or my partner every time (also saying that I have to see the GP, even when hte appt is weeks away). I realise this doesn't apply to all hospitals etc.
I think it is absolutely awful that you have wait for 7 weeks for an appointment, particularly when you have had something as serious as cancer. Have you tried writing to your local MP. They cannot deny you a print-out of your tests. Next time you eventually see your GP tell him you wish a note put on your file and for the Receptionst to be informed that you wish to have a print-out of blood test results each time you request.
Best wishes
Many thanks for your reply. I shall do what you suggest, but will hve to book v soon to see GP as it seems thje wait to see your own GP seems to be 12 wks!!! They all work part time at my surgery.
Continuity of care is so important when you have cancer and other chronic illness. I think I'd be looking for another surgery if appts were as difficult to obtain as yours though.
I've just emailed the Practice Manager asking him to authorise reception to provide me with printouts of recent tests and a formal complaint about repeat prescription omissions and failure to provide.
The Data Protection Act 1998 entitles you to copies of data held on you foc within 40 days, thereafter £10 for an electronic summary or £50 for electronic and manual records.
It’s a disgrace the way you have been treated. Years ago you would have been on a priority list, meaning, that when you called for an appointment you were guaranteed one.
I only hope some NHS top dog is browsing this site to get an understanding of the reality surrounding today’s NHS.
I wish you well, take care.
Physicians aren't even lab analysts: the lab analyses, the doc parrots the findings and looks down the chart (as you say - sooo depressing) to find the right dosage. Where does all the time and money go? Treating patients with life-threatening diseases, perhaps? Cancer? Heart malfunction? Liver disease? B*gger the patients whose quality of life is rock bottom - we're saving lives! Is that what they do? Hefty sigh.
Clutter, I loved your statement regarding lab analysts. I never thought of doc's in that light however, I think you have nailed it. I suppose since we can all read a lab report we could also be called lab analysts. Seems unfortunate we have to pay someone to read a lab when most of us are already literate. They just like to hang the power over our heads that they can make or break us health wise. Good health to you!
Dolores
or 3) B12 or Vit D deficiency,
before they poke and prod and waste NHS resources on XRays, MRIs, more Xrays, Horse Pain killers, drugs for Parkinsons, Beta blockers, Antidepressants, Tranquilizers, MRIs with nasty dye, nerve conduction tests, painful EMGs and 2 lots of torture physio...
oops - just me then - rant over J 
Did you forget 6 lead ECGs, 12 lead ECGs, ambulatory ECGs ?
A somewhat more believable time than the frequently quoted 7 or 8 minutes!
Given the complexities of all aspects of the endocrine glands and hormones, it clearly doesn't get enough coverage. The trouble comes when you try to suggest what will be removed to make more room for what we think is most important. There again, given the impact of each and every hormone on everything else, it might be well worth increasing coverage simply to reduce the other disorders that have endocrinological causes?
I think so. But then I would, wouldn't I?
And please let us know how much of the eight weeks is spent on thyroid!
My hosp only allows 3 hours per week in the endocrine clinic - 3 hours of 10 minute slots and that is only 18 patients a week, absolutely crminal, and they have now stopped all trainee endo's from clinics as well so one consultant only.
Moggie x
I'm seen in the Joint Cancer Thyroid Clinic in the Diabetes Unit. Two consultants available for 2 mornings per month.
Never seen a trainee and don't want to. I can only handle so much ignorance at a consult. My exhaustion after the journey makes it very difficult to remain civil in the face of "We don't think its related to thyroid/levothyroxinetc remarks" and I'd probably rip the thyroid out of spotty yoofs uttering such inanities.
Hi Clutter,
YES!! You hit the nail right on. Not only just 6 weeks but maybe only one hour a week. I love your quip at the end re having a brain or a heart!!
8 weeks.....that long!.......you do surprise me
i am hypo and also have cancer and was talking to an oncology consultant because they are having trouble giving me cancer drugs that work but do not have mad side effects.
we came to the conclusion that the side effects are related to poor thyroid function but because the thyroid is so little thought of or studied that the only way forward was to keep on going though their whole menu of drugs until we struck on one that worked but did not have bizarre side effects. she said that this was very unsatisfactory but because of the highly compartmentalised way hospitals now work - one symptom one department, it is impossible to get a sensible over view of what is effecting what.............................
Hemithyroidectomy 8 weeks ago TSH 2.7
Asking for my son who started levo 8 weeks ago tsh 1 t4 only 14
Results after 8 weeks 
My new GP has told me I have Graves Disease. Does he know what he's talking about? I am not sure whether he is ok to treat me.
8 weeks pregnant results 
