Referred to Endocrinologist
Posted , 2 users are following.
Hello all
I've finally been referred to see an endocrinologist at the hospital in about 4 weeks time. I'd been pushing for this and gave up asking my GP. He finally woke up to me when I came off thyroxine for about four months.
To those who've seen an endocrinologist, can any of you offer any advice as to what I should expect and what I should ask?
Any advice will be appreciated.
ms
0 likes, 4 replies
Larks
Posted
I am so pleased that you are finally going to see an endo. I, myself, am hunting around for an endo privately, because my GP seems to go deaf when I ask to see a NHS endo. However, he certainly sat up and was helpful when I asked to go private (the endo must be one of his mates).
My first thoughts are that you need to arm yourself with all your symptons to show or tell him/her that you are not doing well at all on only T4 (thyroxine). He/she will obviously run some tests which should include TSH,T4.T3 and 2 more Ts I think freeT3/T4 and also adrenalin/cortisol level tests, because if your adrenals are not functioning correctly, you will not be able to respond effectively to any medication. Be assertive, which I know from my own experience is not easy when you are clinically depressed and tired. However, this is your opportunity to get your life back so go for it. Maybe some of the other members might be able to give you extra advice.
Lastly, you must have felt very ill for not taking your thyroxin for four months. Did you tell your doctor you had stopped? My daughter did not tell her doctor that she had stopped her medication. She was getting adverse reactions from the additives in the thyroxin tablets. She actually felt better for not taking them but got increasingly bedridden. Her TSH shot up to 99 and then the doctor listened. So now she takes additive free liquid thyroxin and is a lot better.
Sometimes we have to take such drastic action to make our doctors listen to what we are saying. Good luck. Luv Larks
Guest
Posted
Incidentally, maybe I am lucky , but after finally settling down with my medication, I have not seen my endo for about three years. Don,t be scared to ask questions and listen to the answers. If you are nervous, take someone with you who knows you well, they can also ask questions and are more likely to listen to the answers better than you can.
Good luck .
Guest
Posted
Slightly unfair is'nt it, especially as when it is over, it is also lifetime medication.
Comments please!!!
Guest
Posted
Thanks for your replies and the advice. I am hanging on and am really hoping that help comes my way now. I'm so sensitive that I cry on really little things that I dont normally cry about. My husband is working away just now and normally I'd be so happy to have a break but I was crying before he even walked out of the door!!! I feel absolutely useless and pathetic. This condition is very debilitating for me and I'm sure many other people feel the same. Anyway, I have to be very patient until my appt and I've just got this horrible gut feeling that they're going to say that everythings fine with me.
Regarding prescription charges for those with an over active thyroid, I was under the assumption that medicine was free for all those with thyroid problems. I think that's really unfair and something should be done to help.
ms