1st Endocrinologist appointment; What should I expect?

[Andreja Silvija]

I've been pretty excited since last week as my therapist set up an appointment with one of her endocrinologists, one Dr. Poorkay. It's a long ways away still, on the 29th, but I am super excited. What I wanted to know is what happens on the first appointment? Do I just get blood work and talk with the doctor? I can't imagine the blood work being very quick, so I'm guessing I'll have to wait for a follow up appointment to start HRT? Sorry if this gets asked a lot, just want to start HRT ASAP! lol

[2fish]

You can do what I did, which was call the office and ask what you should expect.

For me, I will talk to the doctor about my plans for HRT (I'll be going on testosterone), he will then give me a physical, and finally, I will get my bloodwork done. I may or may not get my script and I may or may not be shown how to give myself the shots.

Just call the office and ask what will happen, it will ease your nerves. It did for me.

Good Luck

I have my first appointment on the 22nd of this month.

[Dee Marshall]

I asked the same question a couple of months ago, or someone else did when I was about to, don't recall. There were all kinds of answers. Different endos act differently, and the same one may be different with different patients. I went in assuming I wouldn't get scripts until a followup visit, but I was wrong. I got them that day. He questioned me, a bit harshly, actually. He hadn't seen late onset before. He examined me. He commented that it was refreshing that I was intending to take it cautiously. I think he's generally put off by people in a rush to change. He told me what he was prescribing, answered my questions, then had me do blood work. The only bad part was that his phlebotomist was the worse I've ever seen. Made a lame attempt to put me at ease, hurt me enough to give me pain that lasted an hour AND caused a bruise that lasted two weeks! I work with mentally I'll heroin addicts and you can bet that bruise got me some ribbing!

[Andreja Silvija]

Thank you both for giving such insightful replies! I'll call his office next week when I get a chance.  Thanks also for the heads up about a physical.

[Ms Grace]

Having had two first times with an endo both experiences were close to identical despite them being two different endos over 20 years apart.

Both were sympathetic and asked questions about my intentions. I received a general physical, blood pressure, height, weight, checked for gland development in the chest, checked testes (for size), got referred for a blood test and had to come back with that before starting HRT (it was less than a two week turn around so I didn't mind). They started me on a low dose of HRT which was scaled up over the following six months once they were happy my body was doing ok.