RE: 60 seconds' consultation

[Guest guest]

Hi Del,

I know, I shouldn't laugh, but your account of your `GP-speed-dating' experience was written so vividly that I could not help myself. I could just see it all before me J Your description is the typical approach that so many of us are met with -it really is a crazy world we live in!

Just make sure you select your own endo now (ask Sheila for a list of good ones privately). It is your right to choose any consultant anywhere in the country. You do not have to go to whoever your GP wants to send you. Just phone up the GP's surgery and tell them you would like to be referred to Dr. XYZ. Once the referral letter has been sent, you can even phone the endo's office and make your own appointment.... it's all in the new NHS guidelines J

Good luck,

[Guest guest]

-

I'm glad you had a little giggle! We need one of those from time to time with

our predicament to contend with..! If we didn't laugh...

Many thanks on the tips for choosing a good endo. I can imagine how easily this

could become a waste of time, too... which could have ended up with another rant

on here!!

Thanks again,

Del.

>

>

> Hi Del,

>

> I know, I shouldn't laugh, but your account of your

> `GP-speed-dating' experience was written so vividly that I could not

> help myself.

> Just make sure you select your own endo now (ask Sheila for a list of

> good ones privately). It is your right to choose any consultant anywhere

> in the country.

> Good luck,

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Barely had my bottom touched the chair and my well-rehearsed list of lingering

thyroid symptoms started being reeled-off, until his back was turned and he was

looking at the computer and telling me,

" Well, your bloods are normal " .

So? What have thyroid function tests got to do with your

symptoms of hypothyroidism. Why do 'normal' bloods mean you don't have a

problem. Does he have a blood test to check to see whether the thyroid hormone

is being accepted/rejected at the cellular level??? NO.

Infuriatingly - I started to cry. I asked him

why was I still experiencing problems, then, if all was normal? And he told me

to expect to be sick for a very long time, that recovery from an under-active

thyroid could take years.

You should have responded by telling him that " of course,

as long as I am being treated by a doctor who has little knowledge about the

functioning of the thyroid system, I expect to be left being sick for a very

long time - so I would therefore like to be referred to a doctor who knew what

he was doing, after having studied how the thyroid system works " .

At this point I bit my tongue. I would have

probably been banned from the place if I'd have said what sprung into my mind.

(It's jolly well going take a lifetime if I rely on you for my wellbeing,

mister)

Hmmm! - I should have read this sentence first. Good on yer Gal!

I couldn't stop my tears at this point - which

was possibly a good thing. To get me out of there, he said - " would you

like to see a specialist? "

" Yes " , I barked, " if they're good " . (Ooops)

Then I was rushed out the door, paper handkerchief in hand.

So - now I'll be waiting for months to see an Endo. I won't be holding my

breath for big results there. But at least I'll have a go.

NO! - You don't have to sit around and wait for months to see an

Endo. If you do that, it is very likely you will get an endocrinologist who has

a speciality in diabetes and not in thyroid disease. Instead, ask your GP to

refer you to a doctor of your choice. I will send you a list of recommended

specialists who know a little more about thyroid disease than the average NHS

endo. these are recommended by some of our members.

Luv - Sheila

Del Cardiff.