Endocrinologist belfast ?

[Irishjen]

Is there anyone on here that has seen an endocrinologist in belfast ? I am going private to see a dr hamish courtney and wondering if amyone has any experience of him or any good experiences with other endos in Northern ireland.

[Irishjen]

Ive just changed my appointment to a simon au at Hillsborough clinic. Read good reports about him and heard good reports so i am booked in for 2 weeks time.

[Ashleyh535 in reply to Irishjen]

Hello, I have just made an appointment with this Doctor can you share your experience with me as I am very anxious. I have been living with no thyroid gland for over 20 years and GP is useless so time to take action.

Many thanks Ashley

[Irishjen in reply to Ashleyh535]

Hey Ashley, he's fabulous in my opinion. Be honest and tell him everything that's been going on. He will definitely take symptoms into account and will run a full thyroid panel of t3 t4 tsh and antibodies etc, he also does my iron b12 vit d etc but it depends how big your pot of money is. I have health insurance so I don't mind all the tests but if paying out of your pocket tell him.

When and where are you seeing him. I normally see him at Hillsborough or ulster independent.

He is open minded to ndt and t3

All the best

[Ashleyh535 in reply to Irishjen]

Thankyou so much for your reply, I have an appointment for 2nd of October at his private clinic. My parents are willing to help me out with costs. The receptionist did say I need my Doctors referral tho, which is strange since its private 🤔

[Irishjen in reply to Ashleyh535]

Hi Ashley, sorry just noticed this message. Was it the receptionist at ulster independent clinic that said that? Theybe said that to friends if mine also but I just messaged him and he said tell them to come as normal for the appointment.

You know you can run your own tests with medichecks, if you order on a Thursday they do a discount on thyroid tests. I sometimes do this and then I know if my bloods are out of whack I need to go see endo, if my bloods are sitting at the same level when I feel good then I look at other areas such as b12, iron, folate etc. Sometimes I think it's thyroid when actually it's something else.

If you have no thyroid you might need some t3. Do you have copies or previous blood results for your thyroid?

I think you are absolutely on the right track with that endo. Where are you seeing him? I actually prefer Hillsborough clinic, they staff are so much nicer and they aren't a pain with referral letters although they do have limited resources as it's just a small day clinic but perfect to see him and get bloods etc down.

I've just had half my thyroid removed last week 🙄

Anything else you need just ask and good luck with your appointment.

[Ashleyh535 in reply to Irishjen]

Ah thankyou for your response, I got my doctors referral and print out of all blood results..yes I believe i need t3 but would love to transfer over to NDT do you think Dr Simon Au would be up for this?

[Irishjen in reply to Ashleyh535]

Post your results on here. Have the conversation, I'm not sure which is easier to get t3 or ndt, think t3 might be his preferred option but you'd really need that conversation with him.

[Ashleyh535 in reply to Irishjen]

Hi Jen, so I seen DR Au today...as I suspected he wasn't up for NDT and has suggested T3..do you pay for your T3 or get in on prescription?.many thanks Ashley x

[Irishjen in reply to Ashleyh535]

Did he not tell you how he was going to get your t3? He will either write a private script which will cost you hundreds per month or he should write to your gp and tell them to prescribe it. Bear in mind some gps have issues with this but others don't and are happy to take his view in the fact you medically need t3.

If he isn't going to prescribe ndt then you can look into thyrovanz, some people on here might already use it but they also have a Facebook group. You need to ask advice on there and probably best to message thyrovanz and tell them your dose and how much do they think you'll need etc. Bear in mind it's being shipped from the states and there's a delay in orders.

thyroidsupplements.com/ship...

[Irishjen]

Thank you 😉

[Ellemac]

I attend Dr Au as do my 2 daughters. He is not fixated on blood results and goes more on how you feel. You can also see him at the Ulster Clinic.

[Irishjen in reply to Ellemac]

That's good to hear. I haven't been diagnosed with a thyroid problem, my doc said my results are normal but im not convinced as i have not felt well for a long time and am fixated that its thyroid related so only way to know for sure is to take matters into my own hands and find out once amd for all.

I read about dr au on here and i believe one of my cousins attended him also so cancelled my appointment with hamish today.

[Ellemac]

I hope he will be able to help you.

[Irishjen]

Finally went to see simon au last Friday and he seems on the ball. Took a whole host of blood tests and checked my throat and said i have a goiter so will be getting an ultrasound tomorrow and back to see him on friday. Cant understand why my own doc didnt notice my throat was swollen.

[Hidden in reply to Irishjen]

This could be the person I need to see

Getting nowhere with my endo 😞

[Ellemac]

Sorry I didn't see your message I hope Dr Au has. Wen able to help you.

[sooziq86]

Hi, was just wondering if Dr Au tests for T3 and rT3 when doing blood tests, or just the normal TSH and T4? Im having a nightmare with own Dr's saying im fine because TSH and T4 are within range. thanks!

[stargirl77 in reply to sooziq86]

In same position sooz. 😔

[Irishjen]

He does t3 t4 antibodies etc but apparently no lab in northern Ireland will test rt3. You can order rt3 yourself though. What's your bloods saying?

[stargirl77]

Hello

Lovely to hear from fellow people in the north! Would love to hear how you are getting on and any success stories.

I was diagnosed with hashimotos 5 years ago, have been many times to docs, two endos including one mentioned here and no joy in getting better!!

Having to find all out for myself. It's a lonely business trying to get better. Please keep in touch with how you get on. Best wishes to you on your recovery.

[Irishjen in reply to stargirl77]

Was it the one I went to that you saw?

[Hidden in reply to stargirl77]

I’ve been to one of the endo mentioned here and no joy either

[chrisni1986 in reply to Hidden]

could you possibly say which endo you saw?

[chrisni1986 in reply to stargirl77]

hi could you possily say which endo younsaw?

[Hidden]

Do you think he would be the one to help sort out my Graves Disease?

[Eton]

Hi I was wondering if you have had any success with treatment for your thyroid problems. I am told my t4 is borderline low but within the “normal” range, tsh is within range, t3 is low. Slightly raised antibodies. Go won’t treat me with any thyroid meds as she says I’m not outside ranges. Yet my symptoms are classic hypothyroid issues. Feel miserable. Thinking of seeing Dr Au privately but not sure from the info given whether this is likely to be any better than NHS. Any advice v welcome please.

[Irishjen in reply to Eton]

Million times better than the nhs ones I saw, they wouldn't treat me but the other one did

[Eton]

Do you feel better now Irishjen?

[Irishjen in reply to Eton]

100 %,

2 other girls in my work now both went to him after being fobbed off by gps and other endos, they couldn't be happier. He is def worth going to see, looks at the whole picture, thyroid tests, symptoms, check your iron vit bs, d etc etc, he is not fixated on results. You'll find him at Hillsborough private clinic or ulster clinic.

[Rainbow234]

Hi! I know thread is ages old but its the only thing i can find related! Wondering has anyone had any experience with Dr Hamish Courtney??

[helvella Administrator in reply to Rainbow234]

I suggest you create a brand new post. This old thread will appear for a moment in the news feed then disappear again.

[Irishjen in reply to Rainbow234]

No experience of him, I booked for him And then cancelled and went to Dr Au and still attend his clinic. My personal experience of him has Been excellent. No complaints at all and I wouldn't go to see anyone else nor have any need to.