WHat is the process at an endocrinologist?

[jussmoi4nao]

okay so i went to see a therapist today for the first time and i was surprised cuz she already wrote me a referral to an endo. she was like "i can see you've made this decision and seem really happy and well adjusted" and she was like saying how excited she was for me which was exciting.

anyways im glad cuz it means i can finaally quit self medicating buut im a little worried, what is the process at like the endo? do i need a physical cuz that might freak me a bit and also will i have to give a LOT of blood cuz im hemetophobic?

[Tori]

Your endo will do things their way. Not all endos do the same things in the same order.

Blood will be taken. Look away, that is what I do. Ask to know when it is done and the blood is gone. A little blood is a price almost all of us must pay.

As for a physical, perhaps... although endos are more concerned with blood, a GP may be more likely to give a physical. Blood tests can really provide a great amount of info about your current health.

Congrats, and good luck.

[ToxicFox]

My endo talk about side effects for 40 minutes checked for weird breast lumps and did a pretty basic feel test but nothing below the belt. They used a small syringe to take a bit of blood which was a bit weird but they really didn't take much at all. We talked a bit about what form the meds would come in and how much how often to take the meds. At the end she said she would see me again in 6 months for more blood.

[latoya fox]

when you go to the endo, they'll ask you a bunch of questions like how long you felt this way and they'll check your blood pressure and heart rate, when discussing what you'll be taking, they'll do blood work to check your t levels and what dose they feel you should go on. a low dose of estrodial, (estrogen) and a high dose of spironolactone. ( t blocker) this is just my experience though.

[TerriT]

My first visit she did a minor exam and we talked about what to expect. There was like a fifty point checklist. She had me get all my levels checked to establish a baseline. We emailed in between visits as my therapist wanted me to ask my endo some questions. My second visit was pretty simple. We talked about e methods and wrote my scrips. 10 minutes later I walked out of the pharmacy with all my goodies.

[Jamie D]

Stephanie, the endocrinologist will most likely want to have some diagnostic tests done to make sure your liver function, kidney function, and blood chemistry all look good.  That probably means a blood draw.  A couple of vials.  Not much.

Be brave, sweetie!  You can do it! 

[suzifrommd]

My doctor did some bloodwork (just a tubeful - no big deal) and had me come back a few weeks later. Then he gave me a low dose prescription. He ramped it up to a full dose a few months later.