First endo appt - advice on what to ask?

[Helena12]

Would welcome any advice on questions to ask.

Obviously will cover my last blood test results, vitamin levels and the likelihood of having pernicious anaemia (completely ignored by my gp)

Keen to ensure I make the most of my 20 minutes....

[Fruitandnutcase]

At my first appointment I saw the endos sidekick. He explained all of the various treatments for an overactive thyroid, titrating antithyroid drugs, block and replace using antithyroid drugs and levo to replace thyroid production, total thyroidectomy and radio active iodine (RAI).

I knew that I had antibodies and had been on here and also done tons of research so at one point in our meeting I said 'what you mean like in Graves Disease?' and he looked surprised, pointed at me and said 'Yes, Graves, that's what you've got'. So Graves was only mentioned when I brought the subject up. I think if I hadn't mentioned it neither would he.

I always took a notebook with me, I would write down anything I was wondering about. Just bullet points really but I'd ask my questions and note down the answers. Like when I was let to go hypo during my treatment and my hair started to fall out and my nails disintegrated, that went in.

I also kept a note of all my blood tests, the results and the lab ranges in there. I drew up a chart and just asked what the results were while I was there - again I wrote them down as they were read out. I also got print outs from my GP but I liked to ask my endo and be seen to write them down.

I also kept a daily diary of how I was feeling, just an odd comment or two usually but I found that very useful when my drugs were being increased. I could see what dose of levothyroxine I felt best on, I could see how I felt at various tsh levels too and I could also see how much better I was feeling as my treatment went on even if I didn't always feel I was progressing.

You could ask what their treatment plan is for you - I was told that out of all the treatments he had told me about block and replace was my hospital's preferred option. Ask what time scale they will be working to - I was told that my hospital preferred the 'fast ' option and it would take about a year (can't say I though that was very fast but what did I know back then) and they were right, I was off all my thyroid meds within the year.

Can't think of anything else but I'm sure others will come along with suggestions.

Are you hypo or hyper? Post your results with their lab ranges in a new email once you get them and people will look and see what they think.