Endocrinologist advice
August 3, 2010 1:08 PM   Subscribe

Total noob here. I'd like to find a friendly/thorough endocrinologist in the Twin Cities, Minnesota, and I'd also like to hear general advice about getting thyroid/hormones tested.

I get some anxiety about finding a new doctor. I've had some bad experiences. So any recs or advice you have would be SUPER helpful and I would love you forever.
posted by TheClonusHorror to Health & Fitness (4 answers total) 7 users marked this as a favorite
 
Can't help you out with finding a doc, but can advise you that if you think you're having thyroid problems make sure your doc also checks your antibody level. Before my Hashimoto's got diagnosed, I wasted a year getting repeated TSH tests that kept coming back normal. The antibody test told a whole different story, and allowed me to begin treatment for a fairly serious problem.
posted by Sara Anne at 2:45 PM on August 3, 2010


Dittoing Sara Anne -- there are different levels of thyroid tests, and if you're like my family the basic tests will show you as being normal and only the more extensive tests will catch what's wrong. But you could have the basic tests done first, then only pay for the other if the first didn't show problems. (I don't know about any docs in Minnesota, though.)
posted by anadem at 4:52 PM on August 3, 2010


I would also say to ask a prospective doctor their "philosophy" on medicating thyroid conditions. My mother's endo just goes by the test result numbers, not how she's feeling. Thankfully, my doctor takes my symptoms into account and even though the numbers are in "the range" will ask me how I feel. If I say I've been extremely tired or whatever (other symptoms of hypothyroidism) she will work to alleviate those symptoms by adding cytomel (another thyroid med) or bumping up the levothyroxine a little so that I feel OK. I'm very grateful for that because I can still feel pretty bad even when the numbers are in the range.
posted by la petite marie at 6:21 PM on August 3, 2010


My sister just went to a doctor who specializes in hormone issues to discuss some chronic health problems she's had for over a year, including many that are symptoms of hypothyroidism. The doctor told us that most doctors are taught in school that as long as someone is in the "normal" range, they don't need treatment. Her opinion, though, is that people need different levels of thyroid in order to operate at their best, and some people need more than they have, even if they have a "normal" test. That might be something to ask about.

I believe that you should ask as many questions as possible, and if they aren't answered fully, go elsewhere. My other advice, if you are female, is to go to a doctor who really understands female hormones. I understand your anxiety completely, and I really hope you figure everything out.
posted by afton at 9:22 PM on August 3, 2010


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