Endocrinologist

[sometimesalways]

I discovered in the past few months that I have high thyroid antibodies and hypothyroidism - early stages and asymptotic. I am on levothyroxine now.

I would love to speak to a specialist endocrinologist about the condition so I can understand a bit better the situation - what helps and what not, risks etc. Something a little more detailed than what I can see on the nhs website I mean. Also associations and risks with pregnancy.

Now, I am a huge supporter of the nhs but I know it will be tricky to see a specialist for something like this through the nhs - and I understand the thinking behind this. So I wanted to book an appointment with a private consultant to discuss this as a one off.

Does anybody know how I would go about doing this? Or do you think it will be waisted money and they won't be able to give me any more info than my GP? (Who is great but obviously not specialised in endocrine issues)

[Floralnomad]

They will definitely give you better answers to questions than your average GP . When I needed to see a private endo I just rang our local private hospital and booked an appt , it was very simple .

[sometimesalways]

Thank you @Floralnomad I will try that. There must be some private hospital nearby, will do a search

*and of course it should have been 'wasted', not 'waisted' in my original post eeek how embarrassing

[JolieOBrien]

@sometimesalways

Join Thyroid UK Health unlocked they will help and advise you. They have helped me a lot over the last year and more than any Doctor has in the NHS.

[Mum2b2020]

You could always look at the bupa website. They have a find a consultant page which tells you the clinic locations and days, then just ring the number there for the consultant's secretary to book a self-funded appointment

[JolieOBrien]

@Mum2b2020

The trouble with that is you might get a Endo that specializes in diabetes and lot of them do. She needs to contact Thyroid UK as I suggested and get a list of recommended Doctors who actually specialize in thyroid disease. I do know because I have had thyroid disease for over 12 years now.

[CatintheFireplace]

Google endocrinologists in your area, check their specialities, and then call their office. They may ask for a referral letter from your GP (I didn't have to get a GP appointment for this, just called GP and they left one at reception for me).

[JolieOBrien]

@CatintheFireplace

She can go anywhere in the UK with a referral letter ... I have to find a good Endocrinologist.

[NemophilistRebel]

I saw an amazing endocrinologist on the NHS

He was based in Oxford and London and called Professor Grossman

He is amazing

[sometimesalways]

Thank you all so much! I got worried about this condition when it was diagnosed, I didn't know anything about it before and have always been pretty healthy. So I feel it would help me to get a better understanding of what exactly is going on and if there's anything I can do to help in terms of lifestyle changes.

@JolieOBrien @NemophilistRebel I will definitely check out your recommendations, thank you

[JolieOBrien]

@sometimesalways

You need to test your vitamin D, Iron and Ferritin levels and B12 because these are always low in thyroid patients and can stop you from absorbing your levothyroxine properly. I use Medichecks for my private blood tests because the NHS rarely test anything but the TSH which is not a good indication of thyroid function you need to test your T4 and T3 to get a better idea.