Hi all.
Just a quick question. Out of interest , how many of you had to get a referral note from GP before Endo would offer appointment even though paying privately. I certainly didn’t. Just bypassed inadequate GP and fixed my own appointment with private Endo. Seemingly, not always the case.
It depends on the doctor, and also the medical discipline you want to see. Some problems can be seen privately more easily than others.
I had a referral from my old GP to see a private Endocrinologist.
Cost me a fortune abd I was desperate for answers.
He was a load of rubbish. Focused on vitamin levels, to be fair they were low.
We got them corrected, Tested positive for Epstein Barr virus, so took anti virus tablets for months, made no difference. Had high antibodies so diagnosed with Hashimoto’s.
Told to take anti depressants and go on a holiday. Refused anti depressants. Had a MRI scan confirmed Hashimoto’s.
Paid full thyroid blood test, didn’t look at results and ignored the scan.
I started to question his advice, after joining this forum. Anyway after going back and forth to see him and not improving I requested a course of Levothyroxine, per advice here.
He refused said no medication would help.
Cut a long story short, I got worse and went to my GP surgery and the GP, said that as my Endocrinologist wouldn’t prescribe me anything how could she.
I went away feeling awful emotionally and physically. Over Christmas I was really bad, hubby took me to see my allocated GP, he ordered blood (full thyroid and antibodies)
As a result of no treatment from my Endocrinologist my antibodies had increased despite me being gluten and dairy free and my TSH was 12.2 and other results out of range. GP was very angry at Endocrinologist started on Levothyroxine.
I’m on Levothyroxine with blood tests every 6 weeks with an increase of 25mcg each test until I hit my sweet spot.
Having seem all the negative posts on here, Endocrinologist are useless.
Hopefully, yours will be good, but I’m just speaking from my own experience.
Best wishes
Peanut31
Well there are good and bad ( thankfully). I sympathise with your history as it replicates mine somewhat. I had to research and self medicate ignoring GP and science (not clinical) based Endo. 🤦♀️ ie. blood test ok, I’m ok despite prevailing symptoms of hypo. He was dumped 😂
I was told by my NHS (now ex) GP quite abruptly he can't do much for me anymore and to go privately to seek further help.
She then proceed to say she'll write me a referral, to which I quite abruptly said " I don't need your permission to see a doctor privately" and left.
I've never asked for referral to see private doctors either.
Yes, I have and would take the same stance 😉 but it seems that it may not always work for everyone.
Some of the private hospitals state they need one, but will see you without. Nuffield asked for one but saw me without. BUPA and Spire were the same. BMI would not budge. It’s not that my GP wouldn’t do a referral. I object to waiting a week for the referral and having to pay £15 for it.
My thoughts are:- She who pays the piper, plays the tune.
I wouldn’t ever go private for thyroid issue again unless I was trying to obtain a prescription for T3. Why? Because you have all of the experts on here and there are a couple of good thyroid books available.
In addition there are independent private Doctors and private Doctors practises that are not part of the NHS. There is one (private practise) that I came across in Leeds. Keep meaning to speak to the receptionist and ask if they prescribe NDT.
Could you pm me if you know of an independent private dr in Devon/Somerset .? Tx
I saw professor Clayton at Nuffield in Plymouth,he sorted everything out for me. I am now on T3 and offor levo completely,it has transformed my life. No more sores, itching and scratching just amazing after months of suffering from the the side effects ts of levo.Good luck
Rainclouds 1
Saw the GP today about a referral
How to approach GP to get private endocrinologist referral?
Low Ferritin and GP referral - but to what type of consultant?
Disappointing GP visit…referral for talking therapy and poss CFS, no increase in levo 
why do I need referral from my GP
