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What to look for in an Endo?
I need to find an endocrinologist. Does anyone have any tips as to what to look for in an Endo? It may not matter, since it will be a referral, but I can always request a change if I don't get the "right" answers to my questions. The problem is, I don't even know what questions to ask.
Somebody who ::::listens:::: and takes your life into consideration rather than all textbook .. what I mean by your "life" is you as a person and what the treatment may or may not do to interfere with your current life and take that into account as you choose options and answers.
Cheryl
Cheryl
I'm sorry if I sounded grumpy, but what that one woman said to my mom, who is getting older and already afraid of dying, is still a raw nerve LOL
It's perfectly reasonable to have female on your list of preferences in a physician. There are many wonderful female docs out there. And I am sure there are a lot of male docs who have an abrupt way of expressing their opinions that some people, especially women, don't like. I'll take either style depending.
Meet this person your doc recommended and if you don't feel good about them for some reason, ask for someone else.
From what I've been reading about other's surgery I would ask the endo what the plan is for suppressing any cancer found, what effect the kind of med levels he recommends may have on your body, how quicky you can "jumpstart" yourself after surgery/ treatment..some people get T3 for a while, out of the gate,so they feel better faster. Maybe ask how you can avoid being hypo for any longer than medically necessary because it makes people feel SO bad and ask what kinds of symptoms after surgery and during treatment should be reported immedaitely to the Endo...
Maybe they even have a reading they can give to tell you what to expect to feel after the surgery.
Good luck with the surgery. I hope you are feeling better really soon.
Kit
It's perfectly reasonable to have female on your list of preferences in a physician. There are many wonderful female docs out there. And I am sure there are a lot of male docs who have an abrupt way of expressing their opinions that some people, especially women, don't like. I'll take either style depending.
Meet this person your doc recommended and if you don't feel good about them for some reason, ask for someone else.
From what I've been reading about other's surgery I would ask the endo what the plan is for suppressing any cancer found, what effect the kind of med levels he recommends may have on your body, how quicky you can "jumpstart" yourself after surgery/ treatment..some people get T3 for a while, out of the gate,so they feel better faster. Maybe ask how you can avoid being hypo for any longer than medically necessary because it makes people feel SO bad and ask what kinds of symptoms after surgery and during treatment should be reported immedaitely to the Endo...
Maybe they even have a reading they can give to tell you what to expect to feel after the surgery.
Good luck with the surgery. I hope you are feeling better really soon.
Kit
Good points. Poor communication skills are not limited to gender (mental headslap, I should know that based on my life experiences). I think my best bet is to at least try the person that my ENT recommends, since she obviously thinks highly of him. I will also get my GPs input since she sort of coordinates the whole referral thing and gets all of the consultation notes. And, even though ENT #1 isn't the best at breaking bad news, I would trust him with my life since he is one of the best. He will be assisting with my surgery.
Thanks for making me think more clearly.
Thanks for making me think more clearly.
Well, it was a female cardiologist who walked into an exam room I was in and told me my son had a hole in his heart. I was aghast and then she realized she had the wrong patient and she hadn't even read my son's echo which was the whole point of our appointment.
It was a female Internist who told me , while my elderly mother was sitting next to me in her office, that my mother's ekg had indicated a possible previous heart attack, but at her age did I really think it was worth seeing a cardiologist?
She spoke to me about her as if she wasn't even there and disregarded her value due to her age,.
It was a female OBgyn who told my sister in law that women in labor exaggerate their discomfort.
I don't believe in judging people by menaingless external features.
Some women are bad communicators ( and lousy huiman beings too)and some men are excellent ones.
I look at the comments of other patients, their track record, experience level ( not too little time practicing, not too much either LOL) their degree (and where it came from) and certifications above all else.
If you would prefer a female get a female, that's just my opinion.
It was a female Internist who told me , while my elderly mother was sitting next to me in her office, that my mother's ekg had indicated a possible previous heart attack, but at her age did I really think it was worth seeing a cardiologist?
She spoke to me about her as if she wasn't even there and disregarded her value due to her age,.
It was a female OBgyn who told my sister in law that women in labor exaggerate their discomfort.
I don't believe in judging people by menaingless external features.
Some women are bad communicators ( and lousy huiman beings too)and some men are excellent ones.
I look at the comments of other patients, their track record, experience level ( not too little time practicing, not too much either LOL) their degree (and where it came from) and certifications above all else.
If you would prefer a female get a female, that's just my opinion.
Great advice. I just hate breaking in a new doctor. It takes awhile to learn their strengths and weaknesses. One of my ENTs is very technically competent, but not a great communicator. He tries to give me very few details so as not to scare me, but I read things online and freak out. He wasn't going to give me my biopsy results over the phone until I asked him if I had anaplastic thyroid cancer. He was horrified and said "Oh no. That would be awful." No kidding. He referred me to his partner, who specializes in thyroids, and she is much better at communication (we'll see about the technical skills on Sept 4). My GP is very good at listening and dealing with my fears and is good at referrals, but I've had to really insist a couple of times, which turned out to be a good thing.
But the whole endo thing is new to me and there seems to be sort of an art to getting things all worked out. My surgeon has recommended an endo, but the referral has to come from my GP. I don't think that will be a problem, but ya never know. Sorry if I sound sexist, but the endo is male and I think I might prefer a female doc (ENT #2 and GP are both female). Any opinions on male vs female with regard to communication and understanding of women's issues (I am perimenopausal, which complicates matters)?
But the whole endo thing is new to me and there seems to be sort of an art to getting things all worked out. My surgeon has recommended an endo, but the referral has to come from my GP. I don't think that will be a problem, but ya never know. Sorry if I sound sexist, but the endo is male and I think I might prefer a female doc (ENT #2 and GP are both female). Any opinions on male vs female with regard to communication and understanding of women's issues (I am perimenopausal, which complicates matters)?
Agree with Graves Lady. Doctors generally do want to work with you . The only thing they really know about you is what you tell them and how you describe something effects the impression they get.
When I was pregnant, my OB was a personal friend of my best friend's family. He had a thriving practice with a lot of local celebrity clients (very many were older for having a first pregnancy and high risk) because he was a fine doctor.
One day I went in to see him and he told me, because his guard was down with me for personal reasons, "I am so happy to see you scheduled to come in because you always have a smile and I see so many really mean women each day it can get to be disheartening."
If you really, truly can't communicate with a doctor get another one. Just keep in mind that you do yourself and your care a disservice if you have an adversarial relationship with a physician.
Some doctors are surprised when you ask them how they are doing LOL
Try to set yourself up as partners and make use of your own interpersonal skills. You only have one Endo, he/she has a lot of patients with varying personalities and some may like being counseled a certain way, while others don't. They don't know. They have to learn about you from you.
Or ask them point blank, "How can we work together to get me feeling better?" If you have questions it may even help to write them down in notes so you don't forget any.
You'll choose well I'm sure.
When I was pregnant, my OB was a personal friend of my best friend's family. He had a thriving practice with a lot of local celebrity clients (very many were older for having a first pregnancy and high risk) because he was a fine doctor.
One day I went in to see him and he told me, because his guard was down with me for personal reasons, "I am so happy to see you scheduled to come in because you always have a smile and I see so many really mean women each day it can get to be disheartening."
If you really, truly can't communicate with a doctor get another one. Just keep in mind that you do yourself and your care a disservice if you have an adversarial relationship with a physician.
Some doctors are surprised when you ask them how they are doing LOL
Try to set yourself up as partners and make use of your own interpersonal skills. You only have one Endo, he/she has a lot of patients with varying personalities and some may like being counseled a certain way, while others don't. They don't know. They have to learn about you from you.
Or ask them point blank, "How can we work together to get me feeling better?" If you have questions it may even help to write them down in notes so you don't forget any.
You'll choose well I'm sure.
Make sure the Endo. has many thyroid patients per year. Most Endo's. specialize in diabetes, you want one who specializes in thyroid.
One who is willing to work with you, who listens to you and who hears you.
If you don't like a doctor, you can always get a second opinion, or fire him/her.
Give the Endo. just as much trust, kindness and respect as you wish from the Endo. After all, the Endo. is the one with the long and expensive education.
Never be or act superior. If need be you might have to act coy or be a sly fox, example, always let the doctor think its their idea.
Life is a continuous game, played right you will win.
Good Luck!
One who is willing to work with you, who listens to you and who hears you.
If you don't like a doctor, you can always get a second opinion, or fire him/her.
Give the Endo. just as much trust, kindness and respect as you wish from the Endo. After all, the Endo. is the one with the long and expensive education.
Never be or act superior. If need be you might have to act coy or be a sly fox, example, always let the doctor think its their idea.
Life is a continuous game, played right you will win.
Good Luck!
To me the biggest question is...will the dr be open to HEAR what you have to say regarding how you FEEL or is it one that goes strictly by what the lab work shows.....You do NOT want one that will pat you on the knee and tell you like your 4 years old that your ok everything will be fine.
I have seen SO many posts here about the endos being either the one kind or the other. I have both. He tried that "little woman ok, big man save you" **** until I laid into him loud enough that the nurses came running and it wasnt until AFTER he was proven I was right you are wrong that he changed his tune...but then that lasted only about a month. Now we are back to Im just a nervous- woman- who- is- losing- her- mind relationship.
Remember ( Lord knows its hard) but the endo works for you and I would tell him/her right off the bat how things are going to be. If the dr is ok with that...then I think your off to a good start!
I have seen SO many posts here about the endos being either the one kind or the other. I have both. He tried that "little woman ok, big man save you" **** until I laid into him loud enough that the nurses came running and it wasnt until AFTER he was proven I was right you are wrong that he changed his tune...but then that lasted only about a month. Now we are back to Im just a nervous- woman- who- is- losing- her- mind relationship.
Remember ( Lord knows its hard) but the endo works for you and I would tell him/her right off the bat how things are going to be. If the dr is ok with that...then I think your off to a good start!
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