Why are there very few thyroid specialists?

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Jeffina
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Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2012 2:38 pm
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by Jeffina on Fri Jan 27, 2012 6:04 pm

Why are there very few thyroid specialists?

I've found (my own experience and comparing notes with other thyroid patients) that it is rare to find an endocrinologist that specialises in thyroid disease.

Many are diabetes specialists and seem to know very little about thyroid disease in general. Quite often patients are not treated well because of this and a lot do not feel their symptoms and problems due to thyroid dysfunction are taken seriously, often being fobbed off with a 'diagnosis' of depression.

I've asked this question to other doctors and been told it's because thyroid disorders are 'easy to manage' and that the GP can handle it but if you're a sufferer you'll know this isn't usually the case.

We are often on more than one lot of medication for problems that are most likely thyroid related due to poor management of our levels, signs and symptoms and end up taking several different things for IBS, anxiety/depression, weight gain, hair loss etc (the list is endless) when usually an increase or adjustment to our thyroxine and/or liothyronine is all that is needed but there is no specialist to connect all these problems with us, instead everything gets put into separate boxes.

I often wonder what doctors really think of their thyroid patients as I am sure they must notice they have a high incidence of 'other problems'. Surely someone could conect the dots for us?

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Professor John Lazarus
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by Professor John Lazarus on Fri Jan 27, 2012 10:03 pm

Re: Why are there very few thyroid specialists?

I note your comments and have sympathy with them. Unfortunately it is extremely difficult to change the balance especially in these economic times but we will keep trying.
Professor John Lazarus
Emeritus Professor of Clinical Endocrinology

Jeffina
Posts: 12
Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2012 2:38 pm
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by Jeffina on Fri Jan 27, 2012 10:56 pm

Re: Why are there very few thyroid specialists?

Thank you for the reply. I do appreciate that things could not change overnight but I think things do have to start to change in the UK.

I find it sad that most endocrinologists treat thyroid disorders almost as an afterthought when the thyroid gland has such a huge influence over the whole body, especially the brain and how far reaching the effects of thyroid dysfunction can be.

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