Endocrinologist in Newcastle Upon Tyne?

[Tricki]

Hi - Can anyone recommend a private endocrinologist in the Newcastle upon Tyne area please?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

welcome to the forum

We would ALWAYS recommend getting FULL thyroid and vitamin testing done BEFORE considering booking any consultation

are you hypo or hyper

Trying to get diagnosed or on medication and trying to get better treatment

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies 

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis. 

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis 

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test 

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options and money off codes

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning. Watch out for postal strikes, probably want to pay for guaranteed 24 hours delivery 

[Tricki in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for the reply. I am Hypo, diagnosed at 35, now 59. Never seen an endocrinologist and just want to see if I could feel more well than I do generally with better treatment than just levothyroxine. Would the endocrinologist not do all of the tests, or would it be cheaper and quicker to get them done before I go? 🙏

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Tricki]

It’s

A) much cheaper to test first via Medichecks or Blue horizon

B) likely to have low vitamin levels and need to improve these as first step

C) important to test thyroid early morning and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test (not after a consultation)

D) waste of time and money having any consultation without full thyroid and vitamin testing done before consultation

E) if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (hashimoto’s or Ord’s) getting coeliac blood test via GP and trialing strictly gluten free and/or dairy free is ALWAYS worth trying BEFORE any consultation

[Simplyred57 in reply to Tricki]

Hi I see someone at Durham hospital if you want me to PM you ?( he’s from the list )

I saw him privately at the spire and he transferred me to his NHS clinic.

I did full medichecks bloods and took them with me.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Email Thyroid U.K. for list of recommended thyroid specialist endocrinologist and doctors 

[e-mail]

[Tricki in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks, already did this, just wondered if anyone had personal recommendations

[Billyboy2u]

As Slow Dragon has said, get to know what's wrong with you first so at least you know what to tell them. Being from Newcastle myself, wallsend, I've had great care from my GP, and my endo after they found my case notes. Lol. Read my journey it's CV interesting.

[Tricki in reply to Billyboy2u]

Thanks for the reply. I’ve never been to an endocrinologist in 24 years of being hypo. Can you tell me who you saw please?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Tricki]

Tricki

Can you tell me who you saw please?

As we cannot discuss individual doctors on the open forum, please ask this question in a private message to Billyboy2u.

To send a private message click on Billyboy2u's user name in their message above, their profile page will come up and top right you will see a white box with MESSAGE in blue writing. Click on this to send your message.

[ATVMWF in reply to Tricki]

Hi Tricki,

I understand there is an endo that works South of Tyne that is on the T. UK list who sees patients privately at the Spire hospital in Durham. I did consider going to them at one point.

Personally, I have not found the R.V.I. endo clinic very helpful. They are generally more interested in treating Graves patients, (they possibly find their cases more interesting) and I know that one of the endos specialises in Addisons and Adrenal issues. As far as I can tell the rest are Diabetes specialists.

They refused a referral from my G.P. when I was particularly unwell in 2021. I posted the heavily redacted letter on here last year. It even shocked the admin as it was so dismissive and rude.If you want further info please p.m. me.

I live in Nth Tyneside but get referred into N/Cle hospitals because my G.P. is in Gosforth.

I now consult with an endo online and purchase T3 privately. Reckoned that it was up to me to take control as G.P. and local endos weren't capable.

Good luck and if you need any help just PM me

ATVMWF

[Tricki in reply to ATVMWF]

Wow, that sounds terrible! Hard to understand why they don’t want to help any patient who us suffering! Sorry you’ve had such a rough journey.

I will see what my bloods are like when I get my testing kit and will consider the Spire.

Does the T3 make a difference to you?

[ATVMWF in reply to Tricki]

Hi Tricki,

The T3 has made an enormous difference to me. I know everyone will react differently and it is not a 'cure all' but depending on your blood results it may be what you need.

I am happy to have a chat if you PM me and tell you more about my experience of local hospitals/doctors. I also use private testing (Medichecks/Regenerus/Blue Horizon I don't like to do the finger prick testing and get the blood draw at a local clinic. I can advise which one if you message me.

ATVMWF

[PJ39 in reply to Billyboy2u]

hi

Just wondering I live in same area , I have just changed gp, can you tell me which gp surgery your at, and what endo did you see in newcastle.

That’s why I changed gp no help at all.

I have yet not seen these gps but hoping one day I will get in, thinking of going private endo.

[Billyboy2u in reply to PJ39]

I've replied under my post. ??? So dumb I know. Lol.

[Yoga54]

Hi, can you not get your GP to refer you to the endocrine clinic at the RVI in Newcastle. I have Graves’ disease and after a blood test at my GP (Chapel House) I was referred immediately to the RVI, waited 3 weeks for the 1st appointment in April and they have looked after me so well I can’t thank them enough, I’m on medication now and have regular blood tests and can phone them any time, the care I have received from the hospital has been amazing, I actually feel like a new woman, I can’t believe how long I suffered in silence for so long, please ask to be referred, good luck with it all.

[Tricki in reply to Yoga54]

Hi, thanks for the reply. My GP won’t refer me because I’m in the ‘normal’ range, despite me saying I feel like someone pulls the plug on my energy most afternoons, my resting heart rate only being around 58 (I’m not that fit!) and generally just feeling rubbish quite a lot. When I asked if he thought I should see a private endo he said if I had the spare cash it would probably be worth it!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Tricki]

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

Do you take levothyroxine waking or bedtime

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Have you had thyroid antibodies tested for autoimmune thyroid disease (hashimoto’s)

Please add any recent test results you have from GP

Approx how much do you weigh in kilo

[Tricki in reply to SlowDragon]

I’ve just gone down to 75mcg, was on 100 alternate days but got new results and they made me come down, even though I felt a bit better on the higher dose. I take first thing in waking with water, same brand. Latest test was serum TSH 0.06miU/L. I take vitamin D.

Never had tests for auto-immune, but I also have arthritis and allergies. I had an ultrasound on my salivary glands about five years ago and the consultant said that my thyroid was ‘a pathetic little shrivelled up nothing!’ Very nice. 🙄

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Tricki]

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies 

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis. ……where thyroid shrinks and shrivels up

Ord’s is more common here in U.K. and N Europe

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)

STRONGLY recommend getting full thyroid and vitamin testing done

How much vitamin D are you currently taking

What was last vitamin D test result?

[Tricki in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks. I will look at testing tomorrow. Taking 2,000iu a day but don’t think I’ve ever had levels checked, just take it from the autumn until spring cos we don’t get a lot of sun up North in winter!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Tricki]

Very important to test folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

Test twice yearly when supplementing 

Once with other vitamins and thyroid levels

via Medichecks or Blue horizon if GP won’t

Once via NHS private testing service

vitamindtest.org.uk

Aiming for vitamin D at least around 80nmol minimum

[ATVMWF in reply to Tricki]

Hi Tricki,

Just read later down the string and saw what you said about having an ultrasound of your salivary gland etc. You also mentioned other allergies and immune conditions. Could it be that you may have Sjogrens Syndrome? It tends to be more prevalent in Thyroid sufferers and has many of the same symptoms IE: aching limbs, tiredness, brain fog, dry, gritty eyes

ATVMWF

[Tricki in reply to ATVMWF]

hiya - thanks, I have thought of that in the past, but don’t have dryness, my salivary ducts are just a bit convoluted so they get blocked! Good call though 👍🏻