How do I get a second opinion?

[DoubleM]

Hi,

After yet another extremely disappointing and disheartening appointment with the endo at my local hospital I really need to get a second opinion on my treatment plan. I won't go into details but I really can't take it any more. I'm hyper and have been for more than 10 years.

I have no idea where to start and how to go about it, any advice would be greatly appreciated and I would even go private for a consultation.

Thanks in advance

DM

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Email Dionne at Thyroid Uk on Monday for the list of recommended thyroid specialists

See contact page on Thyroid Uk website for her email

Getting full thyroid and vitamin testing if not been done via Medichecks or Blue Horizon

TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG antibodies and vitamin D, B12, folate and ferritin

Thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and no levothyroxine in the 23 hours prior to test

[SlowDragon Administrator]

As you have psoriasis presumably your thyroid is also autoimmune

Are you on strictly gluten free diet?

[DoubleM in reply to SlowDragon]

Hey, thanks for the quick reply, no my GF diet hasn't been the best lately and I've also developed egg intolerance as well - oh the joys.

I don't have Graves, although that was suspected for quite a while, I now have a large(ish) multi nodular goitre

[MaisieGray]

This explains how to go about getting an NHS second opinion nhs.uk/common-health-questi...

Although you don't have a legal right to a second opinion, a healthcare professional will consider your circumstances and whether a second opinion is needed.

[MaisieGray in reply to MaisieGray]

And you don't generally need your GP to authorise or refer you to a private consultant unless the one you've chosen particularly wants one - you simply contact the clinic and ask for an appointment.

[DoubleM]

Thank you

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to DoubleM]

Even if a private consultant requires a letter of referral, your GP can’t refuse to write a letter for a private consultation

[MaisieGray in reply to SlowDragon]

I'm not sure that's the case SlowDragon :

"If your GP thinks you need to see a specialist and you want to pay for it privately, they can write a letter of referral to a private consultant or specialist explaining your condition and your medical history. You won't be charged for this.

Your GP will only refer you to a specialist if they believe that specialist assessment or treatment is necessary. If they don't think it is, they don't have to refer you – either privately or on the NHS."

nhs.uk/common-health-questi...