How long is an NHS Endo appointment?

[TiggerMe]

Is it like seeing a GP do they rush you out the door asap?

[PurpleNails Administrator]

I found the wait longer & appointment time a little longer too but not by much.

Often prior to seeing specialist there a nurse check, eg they weigh you & take blood pressure then you wait a second time.  

On more than one visit I had an initial consult with Doctor, then they got another more senior doctor.  While I waited in room.

They took a little more time to discuss things, but not by much.  They didn’t want to focus too much on symptoms or said everything - even most classic symptoms - were unrelated, and I was passed leaflet about treatment and questions weren’t answered often saying everything you need to know will be in Leaflet (wasn’t) 

It might be different with different hospital / doctor - but that’ll my experience.  

Fortunately most my follow up consults were by telephone so I wasn’t having to arrange visits or left waiting. 

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to PurpleNails]

Thanks, that's a rather depressing account but all to often seems to be the reality 🥴

[Zephyrbear in reply to PurpleNails]

Exactly the same here... except my endo left me hanging while he went and saw another patient. Thankfully, he wasn't the first endo I'd seen and I was probably (thanks to this forum) rather better informed about my condition and its treatment than he was anyway, so I didn't really mind. That aside, it was still a very rude and dismissive thing to do! I too now have just telephone appointments with this joker, basically because I need him to sign me off for another year's prescriptions for T3, and I welcome not having to travel an hour's journey each way and the hanging-about time when you get there (last time he was running 90 minutes late!) only to be left while he goes and sees another patient on what is supposed to be MY consultation time!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

is your T3 prescribed

Recommend getting FULL thyroid and vitamin testing done BEFORE consultation

Test 6/8 weeks after any dose change or brand change in Levothyroxine or T3

Last dose Levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Day before test split T3 into 3 smaller doses and last dose approx 8-12 hours before test

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Most NHS endocrinologists are diabetic specialists

Do you know if this one is thyroid specialist and does prescribe T3?

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks SD,

is your T3 prescribed... no I started on Tiromel 8 weeks ago

I'm now on 100mcg T4 and 18.75 t3

Should I be able to request the blood tests from my GP?

I have got a medichecks one lined up but don't want them to dismiss the results

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

You name it I'm on it having read all the advise on here! Really trying to boost my levels in everything... Heme Iron, Magnesium, D3, K2, Quercitin, NAC, B complex

All going well and I plan to retest after 12 weeks... I've lost 5 kilos of mucin

Do you know if this one is thyroid specialist and does prescribe T3?

I requested a known prescriber (from the list) but it just states her or one of her team... and it's in the diabetic clinic, no request for any blood tests or anything other than turn up 5 mins before and wear a mask!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to TiggerMe]

Absolute waste of your time if you don’t get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing done BEFORE consultation

NHS rarely tests Ft3 …..so test via Medichecks or Blue horizon once year for thyroid and vitamin levels

Test via Monitor My Health 6-8 weeks after any dose change or brand change in levothyroxine or T3

What were vitamin levels BEFORE starting on supplements?

Don’t supplement iron unless done full iron panel test for anaemia first and iron is actually low. You can have low ferritin and high iron….or vice versa

Remember to stop taking vitamin B a week before all blood tests

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to SlowDragon]

I do all these tests now for my benefit but assume if they are going to see me (not knowing I test privately) they will want to run tests or request I come with some? Or do they work off historic GP tests?

My vit, min and ferritin are all just scrapping in at the low end. (8 weeks ago) plan to test again in 4 weeks

Waiting to hear back from the Dr’s about wether I am ok to supplement iron

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to TiggerMe]

my personal experience is they see you first….with no blood tests……

They might ….possibly have some historic results from GP …..but often they don’t

They only look at the screen, not the patient…..and dismiss majority of symptoms as “not thyroid related “

Then send you off to get tested after the appointment….by then usually early-mid afternoon…..only TSH tested ….and assuming result is “in range”

Job done ….”you’re fixed”

you need to go along with spreadsheet of results and ranges showing Ft4 and Ft3 levels over time and record of dose on for each test results

Especially Ft4 and Ft3 results before starting T3

Ideally all four vitamins should be OPTIMAL before starting T3 ….as optimal vitamin levels improve conversion rate

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to SlowDragon]

I don't suppose you have a basic spreadsheet suitable for beginners? They are not my forte 🙃

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to TiggerMe]

here’s some examples

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

calculator for % through range

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Yeswithasmile]

I am afraid my experience is ‘yes’. I get talked at mainly. I get the feeling that it’s ‘just a thyroid’ issue but he does entertain t3 and let me retrial it after initially giving me a trial and then I stopped taking it.

I find it’s best to get what you want to say ready in your mind first. Use as few words as possible to convey opinion and pick your battles meaning that if they say something you disagree with I just let it go providing the overall appt is going in the right direction. I’d say the whole thing probably lasts 7 mins, not splitting hairs as really I like to say 5 mins but feel that’s probably a bit harsh! Lol

Upshot for me is I get part of what I take on prescription and the rest I self source. I only bother getting my script so I have a source if I am ever in a situation where I can’t get any from alternative places.

I wish you the best of luck and really hope your endo is one of the good ones 🤞🏻

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Yeswithasmile]

Thanks, that give me a great insight as to how to prepare, so it's more of a speed date than a thorough interview 😳

Eyes on the prize..... lactose free T3

I'll sit on my folder of findings just in case 😉

[Yeswithasmile in reply to TiggerMe]

lol I love that!! Speed date! 🤣. Yes spot on. Cram in the important bit. I always try and keep the emotion out of it. Just another excuse for thinking you need psyche and not endocrinology.

Dreadful that we have to be so prepared and put up with their superiority complex. Sincerely wish it was different or that I was exaggerating but unfortunately we all know I’m not.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Yeswithasmile]

Thanks to this group I think I now have the knowledge to jump through hoops and get what I need 😉 ridiculous but women are used to this 💩

Really grateful for the insight 🙏

If it goes Pete Tong I'm confident enough to go it alone.... well that is with you lot holding my hand obviously 🤝

[Yeswithasmile in reply to TiggerMe]

Yes. Agreed. On everything in your reply! We are used to it and this forum is really brilliant for such knowledge. I wouldn’t have known where to start and definitely feel confident to ask here rather than the docs.

I think that you just have to take what you can from the doctors and if you feel able to take control of your own health it simply takes the stress out of it. Good luck.

[Hedgeree]

Hi Eeyore100,

One of the things I did prior to my first NHS endo appointment was to contact the endo's secretary and ask if you can email information to them before your appointment.

This was suggested by someone on the forum (sorry but I can't remember who) but my info was discussed during my appointment so I think it was useful and gave them some background info before you see them.

Also I've never actually met my endo it's been another member of his team that I've seen so be prepared for that too.

Also I don't get on with my gp. I was always told that there was nothing wrong with my thyroid, my issues were all anxiety based. So whenever I have to deal with them I get in a bit of a state. But I just said clearly what blood tests were needed and why. That I wanted to be prepared and that I didn't want to waste the consultants time by going to my appointment without up to date blood test results.

Good luck.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Hedgeree]

Excellent information thanks so much, I'm going to get on and sort out a spreadsheet tomorrow 🤞

[serenfach]

At my long ago endo appointment, the nurse took my weight and blood pressure. Apparently I weigh 6 stone and blood pressure was 50/20 (so dead!). These measurements are still in my notes, no one was worried so I wonder why they do the measurements!

First endo told my I had Hashis in the corridor as he was rushing off to find a sandwich. I think he was a bit surprised at me bursting into "I am turning Japanese, I think I am turning Japanese" song...