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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffYou're likely to start by first seeing your family doctor or a general practitioner. However, in some cases when you call to set up an appointment you may be referred immediately to a specialist called an endocrinologist.
Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment and what to expect from your doctor.
What you can do
- Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. At the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there's anything you need to do in advance to prepare for common diagnostic tests.
- Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment. For example, if you've been feeling more forgetful than usual, this is important information to share with your doctor. Also tell your doctor about changes you've noticed in your physical appearance, such as unexplained weight gain or a difference in your skin.
- Write down key personal information, including any changes in your menstrual cycle and in your sex life. Let your doctor know if your libido has noticeably changed.
- Make a list of all medications, as well as any vitamins or supplements, that you are currently taking or have used in the past. Include on your list the specific name and dose of these medications, and how long you've been taking them.
- Take a family member or friend along, if possible. Sometimes it can be difficult to soak up all the information provided to you during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
- Write down questions to ask your doctor.
Create a list of questions ahead of your appointment so that you can make the most of your time with your doctor. For Hashimoto's disease, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
- What is likely causing my symptoms or condition?
- Other than the most likely cause, what are possible causes for my symptoms or condition?
- What kinds of tests do I need now?
- Is my condition likely temporary or chronic?
- What treatment approach do you recommend?
- How long will I need to take medications?
- What side effects could I experience from the medications you're recommending?
- How will you monitor whether my treatment is working?
- Under what circumstances might my medications need to be adjusted?
- Will I experience long-term complications from this condition?
- Do I need to make any changes to my diet?
- Will exercise benefit my condition?
- Are there any restrictions that I need to follow?
- I have these other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
- Should I see a specialist? What will that cost, and will my insurance cover seeing a specialist?
- Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing me?
- Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What Web sites do you recommend visiting?
In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment at any time that you don't understand something.
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to spend more time on. Your doctor may ask:
- What are your symptoms, and when did you first notice them?
- How have your symptoms changed over time?
- Have you noticed any changes in your energy level or your mood?
- Has your appearance changed, including weight gain or skin dryness?
- Has your voice changed?
- Have your bowel habits changed? How?
- Do you have muscle or joint pain? Where?
- Have you noticed a change in your sensitivity to cold?
- Have you felt more forgetful than usual?
- Has your interest in sex decreased? If you're a woman, has your menstrual cycle changed?
- Are you currently being treated or have you recently been treated for any other medical conditions?
- Do any of your family members have thyroid disease?
- Hashimoto's Disease: What it is and how it's treated. American Academy of Family Physicians. http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/hormone/548.html. Accessed December 9, 2008.
- Hennessey J, et al, eds. Hashimoto's disease. The Hormone Foundation. http://www.hormone.org/Resources/Thyroid/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=1113. Accessed December 9, 2008.
- Brent GA, et al. Hypothyroidism and thyroiditis. In: Kronenberg HM, et al, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 11th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: W.B. Saunders; 2008:387.
- Davies, TF. Pathogenesis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis (chronic autoimmune thyroiditis). http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed December 9, 2008.
- Frequently asked questions: Hashimoto's thyroiditis. US Department of Health & Human Services. http://www.4woman.gov/faq/hashimoto-thyroiditis.cfm. Accessed December 9, 2008.
- Hashimoto's thyroiditis. The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec12/ch152/ch152d.html. Accessed December 9, 2008.
- Ross DS. Treatment of hypothyroidism. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed December 9, 2008.
