Are my expectations too high?

[SandraCC]

I have recently had an appointment with an integrated medicine practitioner. Prior to the appointment I called to check whether this clinic could help me in several key areas:-

Weight management

Bhrt prescription

Hormones balance

Thyroid

The secretary i spoke to confirmed that I had come to the right place snd that this was a one stop shop essentially that could support me. I submitted all of the extensive (and expensive) independent test results i have undertaken in the past year. I had an appointment (which the practitioner was late for) discussed my objectives and concerns. When she logged off (early) she promised to send recommendations through on a set date. 3 days after set date i chased up and recommendations sent through. The call really did not enable full dialogue as I now have a list if things to take with no idea what the benefits are or what purpose they are supposed to serve.

Supplements suggested, blood tests recommended but no guidance on frequency or amount of supplements, one in particular very obscure and no guidance where to obtain the item. It also advised me not to start whole desicatted thyroid- we already discussed that i had been advised previously to take this!

I wrote back to the clinic citing my concerns and also asked what improvements I could expect to see and any side effects to look out for.

I had a response back saying basically, no guarantees (I didn't ask for guarantees) and no answers to my queries except to say that I hadn't made it clear to her that i was on whole desicatted thyroid. She said in order to discuss this further i would need to make a separate appointment with her.

I wrote back and confirmed we had discussed it and also that it was clearly listed on the profile I created (which the practitioner is supposed to access prior to the appointment). I've had another response which basically says that I have misunderstood the help they can give me and a sorry/not sorry that the fact that i was already taking whole desicatted thyroid was overlooked and no answer to my questions. She also advised she doesn't do nutrition support and I would need a separate appointment for that.

I don't want to go through this experience again. This is the last in an increasing line of individuals who say they can help but actually don't follow through. I have lost confidence and trust in this practitioner.

I would be so grateful if anyone could recommend a brilliant functional medicine doctor - obviously via PM)

I'm just sick and tired of being sick and tired now 😪

[fuchsia-pink]

No, your expectations are not too high, it's just that sooo many of the people involved in thyroid care are basically rubbish. I'm sorry you've had such a miserable experience with such an unprofessional person x

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Was this clinic/doctor on Thyroid UK recommended list ....if yes ..please email Dionne at Thyroid UK with your negative experience

[e-mail]

[Fruitandnutcase]

That is shocking. As if you are going to spend more money on her after that. From what you have said you were very well prepared for your consultation and clear about what you were wanting. If she doesn’t do nutrition support how come she gave you a list of supplements? That sounds like nutrition support to me.

I agree it would be worth letting Dionne at TUK know who this person is - even if she wasn’t recommended by TUK - there might be a list of practitioners who are not recommended.

[shaws Administrator]

This is from TUK:

thyroiduk.org/help-support/...

[Sewit1]

Google Functional medicine but ensure they are G P trained also. I know there is 1 in Leeds.

[LECJ]

Goodness what a terrible experience - how she doesn’t cover nutrition is integral to functional medicine!!

Khush or Tanya borowski are two that I would recommend - alternatively perhaps see an endocrinologist In conjunction with the practitioner who has a functional medicine interest I’d recommend Dr Abbi Lulsegged

Good luck

[magsyh]

Hi I know where you are coming from on this. I have spent an arm and leg on several private doctors and I have to say I have discovered they are all the same. They give you the run around to get money out of you! You can never get a straight answer from any of them. They seem to make you wait and string you along for more tests or they try to pass you on to someone else who deals with another issue. Unfortunately they run businesses and they try to make as much money as you are willing to spend. I had to go private to confirm my diagnosis because NHS weren't interested and I had to go private for my initial prescriptions which was also a rediculous amount. Now I'm more confident I get my advice on here and I buy my levo, T3 and hydrocortisone myself at a fraction of the price. I think you have to say enough is enough when you realise you are being given the run around and thank goodness for thyroid UK😊

[Batty1]

Wow that was absolutely a horrible and unprofessional experience and sadly it seems the desk helper was uniformed about what they do and don’t do!

Endos aren't much better. I went to one who was HIGHLY recommended and skilled in everything thyroid (ha-ha) she spent my entire appointment researching on google about the Armour Thyroid dosing I was on, she knew nothing. The most Expensive $400.00 appointment that left me ticked!

[Bellazzurra]

Hello SandraCC,

I’m so sorry to hear that this has been your experience. It’s not too much to expect a functional practitioner to follow through on what they said they’d do. Have you tried searching for a functional medical doctor in your area on ifm.org? The Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM) seems to be the gold standard for functional medicine. You can find certified practitioners all over the world through their network: ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/

[SandraCC]

Hi All

Thank you kindly for responding and your suggestions. I was hoping that someone would post something that would dispel my slowly growing belief that these practitioners are not always what they are cracked up to be but it seems that too many are unsurprised or themselves have had bad experiences.

Batty1 , $4 is too much to spend on a so called specialist Googling your symptoms.

Bellazzurra , thank you for the link. Some familiar names there, I'll have to check further though.

magsyh , these were private practitioners too as my gp is dumbfounded at any mention of thyroid and barely treated me re bhrt until I got private help even though a locum had agreed a couple of months before to prescribe.

Thanks for the recommendations LECJ

Fruitandnutcase and SlowDragon , I've made contact with Dionne.

fuchsia-pink thank you for being the first to post and your kind words

Thank you all but would still love to hear of any other integrated medicine practitioners and /or functional medicine doctors that anyone had had a positive experience with.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to SandraCC]

Roughly where in the UK are you?

Have you got list of recommended endos/private medics from Dionne

Common to see several different medics/ endos before finding good one

[SandraCC in reply to SlowDragon]

Oh! If this is the journey that we have to take then either money or will could no doubt run out before such time as we find the right person sadly. I hope that over time finding the right person becomes much easier for us all.

I'm in the south east but i guess that now most appointments are online location is no longer the barrier it was for many?