Endo appointment

[LMor]

Hi. My endo appointment has been brought forward from January 2018 to next week......I was shocked when the hospital rang lol. Anyway, I was just wondering what I need to ask? What will they do and do i need to take anything with? I would like to be armed with as much knowledge and info as possible. Thank you in advance

[Rmichelle]

Lucky you to get squeezed in like that well done , i had my 1st appbon 3rd october but it wad a let down as very basic and lasted no more than 7 mins long, done weight, urine sample, how are you feeling- which was cut very short by rude full of self importance endo, went through my last blood results etc, altered meds and sent me for blood test and that was that- didnt feel he gave me the opportunity to ask many questions but i had little faith in him anyway and trust the people on here more, i hope your appointment does go well and you have someone very nice and will take the time to listern but endos are not known for their patience and sympathetic attitude. Go with knowledge as this is power. Best of luck.xxxx

[LMor in reply to Rmichelle]

I'm sorry your appointment didn't go well. I hear so much on this site that no good comes of seeing endo's and how awful they make people feel. I want to go armed with as much info as I can. I was only diagnosed around 7 weeks ago and I've learnt so much on here, but I'm not as knowledgeable as I'd like. Thank you for your response. It's very much appreciated.

[Rmichelle in reply to LMor]

I was diagnosed back in july and have gained more knowledge from here than any gp or endo as most know nothing- my endo thought this little womans brain wont know much about the thyroid, so when he asked the question"so what do you know about the thyroid" his face looked like he was chewing on a wasp especially on mentioningTUK. Wont be seeing him again.xxgood luck.

[shaws Administrator]

Just give him a short history and if still unwell on levo, tell him straight. Let's hope he is sensitive and knowledgeable and can help you.

Just in case he suggests a blood test I think I'd miss my dose until after the appointment. Others will comment upon my suggestion if it is incorrect. Or you could get a private blood test from one of our recommended labs so you can hand results to him. TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies. Some may dismiss private lab tests.

Tell him you are aware that T3 is the only Active thyroid Hormone and if (FT3 is low) he should try to rectify it.

[LMor in reply to shaws]

Thank you Shaws. I had a private text done 3 weeks ago. So I will show them those results. I'm only on 25mcg of levothyroxine so I definitely don't feel well. The exhaustion is getting to me & im finding it very hard some days to cope.....all the other symptoms, headaches, brain fog, aching joints, uti's, nausea, upset stomach and so on!! I really hope I'm listened too......

[shaws Administrator in reply to LMor]

I don't know how any professional can prescribe 25mcg of T4. as a single dose it is usually an incremental dose. It also clearly shows his inability to know about the function of thyroid hormones and our body cannot function without optimum dose. Does he know that the heart and brain need the most T3 and with a dose of 25mcg of T4 in no way will you have much T3 converting from 25mcg.

No wonder, so many members go-it-alone as they aren't recovering at all through the ineptness of doctors who are supposed to be 'knowledgeabl..

[humanbean]

If you have any private results, contact the company who did them and ask which lab(s) did the testing.

I know that NHS labs do some of the testing for private companies, and some private labs do testing for the NHS.

If your tests were done by a private lab then do some research online and find out (if you can) who they work for (apart from private individuals). If it is to your endo's advantage to pour scorn on your results or dismiss then he will do it, without batting an eyelid.

[LMor in reply to humanbean]

It was medichecks

[humanbean in reply to LMor]

Yes, but medichecks doesn't run a lab as far as I'm aware. Medichecks is a company that employs other labs.

[humanbean in reply to LMor]

medichecks.com/our-laborato...

They aren't very forthcoming on who they use, at least not on their website.

[LMor in reply to humanbean]

Ok thank you. I've also had the same hospital run bloods when I saw the gastroenterologist a few weeks ago. The only thing was that it was done late afternoon (i didn't know they would do bloods) so my tsh was lower than it could of been (6.7 Still over range) & my antibodies were still high. Also had other antibodies come back positive (mitochondrial, smooth muscle and M2 mitochondria EIA were high.) I'm not sure they will mention these as they seem to be liver related. Still waiting for the hospital to contact me about those.