What to expect from the first endocrinologist appointment

[C1aire]

Heya all I was wondering if anyone can help I have my first endocrinologist appointment tomorrow but no idea what to expect. Are they likely to do more blood test? Just so I can prepare for how long it’s likely to be thank you in advance. 🙂

[pffft2017]

I've seen a few endocrinologists and the usual procedure is to order blood tests for thyroid function they'll also sometimes order an ACTH test for the adrenals too and an HbA1c for blood glucose etc; They'll ask about your general health, check your neck and feet and ankles for any swelling. A couple of them checked my hands and blood flow by pressing on the nails. Of the endocrinologists I've met the thyroid seems to be small beer compared to diabetes, which I agree is much more serious, but unfortunately an underactive thyroid and diabetes go hand in hand. Good luck!

[C1aire in reply to pffft2017]

Thank you so much 😊

[SlowDragon Administrator]

They should test for Graves antibodies and Hashimoto's antibodies

Link about antibodies

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

[C1aire in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you this is all really good info the more I can read the more I can understand why I feel the way I do thanks again

[Fruitandnutcase]

I had Graves Disease - in remission now - my hospital file shared and always arranged for me to have blood tests a week before my endo appointments.

When I got there I was weighed. First time I had my BP checked too but not after the first time.

After that there was a wait to see my endo. No way of predicting how long that would be - occasionally it took a very long time - otherwise it was just the usual hospital wait, I was never seen at my appointed time so take a book and something to drink.

I always felt it was a bit of a let down really - don’t know what I expected but only once out of all my visits did I come out feeling I’d had a great visit.

Keep a notebook and write down any questions / queries you have before you go. When you see your endo just read out your questions and jot down any answers.

Make sure you always get a copy of your blood test results ‘for your own records’ and think about keeping a diary of how you are feeling, especially before and after increases in your medicines. That way you can look through it before you visit the endo and it saves you saying ‘fine’ when asked how you are feeling then going home and realising you weren’t really all that fine but you forgot how awful you felt.

I found it really useful to be able to link my blood levels to how I was feeling and the doses of medicines I was taking.

Hope your visit goes well 😉

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

You want T4, T3, TSH, thyroid antibodies, B12 and vitamin D plus anything else your endo thinks of.

[C1aire in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Thank you that is actually really useful advice I don’t think I would have thought of keeping a dairy, sorry to hear your appointments were a let down and hope you stay well

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to C1aire]

The diary was very useful all you need is a line or so and as long as you have a good book or someone interesting to talk to next to you in the queue and aren’t in a hurry (I never was) then wait8ng never bothered me. Good luck to you today. W8nder what you’ll think afterwards 😉

[C1aire in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Thank you for your support tbh I felt the whole appointment was a wast of time that’s 2 and a half he holiday I’m not going to get back from work, they weighed me then pretty much said the tsh that is the main messanger to all cells is running high but yet the thyroid is still running under active so it’s useless and prescribed Levothyroxine and will retest in 8 weeks he also said that changing my diet won’t help however I really do think my coil is a big contribution to the whole problem so when that gets removed on Tuesday I’m hoping it’ll all come back to normal. I really hope it does anyway thanks again x

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to C1aire]

That sounds about par for the course. Unfortunately. I’d ignore their advice about diet not making a difference and carry on being GF. Hopefully your coil coming out will help. Do you know what your ferritin, floated Vitamin D and B12 are like? If you don't it would be worth splashing out and buying a home fingerprick or even a regular test from Blue Horizons or Medichecks. I use thyroid 11 from BH which checks all of that. Anyway, f9ngerscrossed for the coil going.