🚫 When your endocrinologist says 'Dr. Google' (and other red flags)


Hi Reader,

I want to share something that happened recently with one of my 1-to-1 clients that might really resonate with you.

After struggling with her hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's for years, she finally got referred to an endocrinologist.

Like many of us, she pinned all her hopes on this specialist, thinking "Finally! Someone who can really help me."

But what happened next probably sounds familiar to many of you...

Instead of finding the help she desperately needed, she faced:

  • A specialist who talked over her
  • Dismissive comments like "Did you find that on Dr. Google?"
  • Someone who refused to work with her as a team
  • An expert who left her feeling angry, upset, and still unwell

Every appointment left her feeling worse, not better.

And here's the thing - this is NOT okay!.

Here's where things changed:

After working with me and getting support, she realised she deserved better.

I gave her the information she needed to push to see someone else and she found a new endocrinologist (yes, within the NHS!) who actually listened.

The difference was life-changing - she's now moving forward with a treatment plan that's actually addressing her symptoms.

This got me thinking... How many of us are settling for subpar care?

Especially here in the UK, where the quality of thyroid care can be, let's be honest, quite variable.

So I've created what I call the
"Thyroid Doctor Checklist."

Use this to evaluate whether your current medical provider is truly serving you:

  1. Respect: Do they speak to you respectfully and treat your concerns as valid? (Not like you're just another inconvenience in their day)
  2. Active Listening: Are they actually engaging with what you're saying, or just typing away at their computer without making eye contact?
  3. Human Connection: Do they treat you like a person with unique needs, or just another set of symptoms to process?
  4. Thyroid Knowledge: (This one might surprise you!) Do they demonstrate current, comprehensive knowledge about thyroid function? Fun fact: many endocrinologists actually specialize more in diabetes than thyroid disorders.
  5. Collaborative Approach: How do they react when you bring up research you've done or questions you have? A good specialist welcomes an informed patient rather than feeling threatened.

Here's the thing - and I really want you to hear this:

You have the power to advocate for better care.

You're not stuck with a doctor who dismisses you or makes you feel small or upset.

Just like my client discovered, finding the right medical partner can be the difference between continuing to struggle and finally starting to feel better.

What To Do Next:

  1. Run through the checklist above thinking about your current medical care
  2. If you're not getting the support you need, request to see another doctor or endocrinologist.
  3. Don't be afraid to "interview" your next doctor - you're adding them for your healthcare team
  4. Trust your instincts - if something feels off, it probably is

Remember:

Your health journey matters.

Your symptoms are real.

And most importantly, you deserve a medical provider who believes both of these things too.

Would love to hear your thoughts on this. Have you had similar experiences with doctors? Hit reply and let me know.

Here's to your health,

P.S. Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is admit we need a change. If this email resonated with you, save that checklist. Your future self will thank you.

Join the FREE Facebook Hypothyroid & Hashimotos Support Community here.

PLEASE NOTE - I am NOT a Doctor or Medical Professional of any kind.​
The content on this website is strictly for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of medical advice or treatment from a personal physician.
All recipients of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions
​
​
​
This email may contain affiliate links. This means I make a small commission from any sale at no cost to you. This allows me to be able to give you discounts on products and also supports my work and mission.
I only recommend products I use and love.

HypoThrive With Helen

Join 3000+ Hashimoto's & Hypothyroid Warriors learning to live again with topics including eating for thyroid health, medication optimisation, weight loss with hypothyroidism, getting support from your doctor and lots lots more ...

Read more from HypoThrive With Helen

Hi Reader, We all know those days. Sometimes it's a whole week. Everything just gets worse. More tired. More achy. Puffy. Low. Foggy. That heavy, can't-be-bothered feeling where even small jobs feel like too much. We call it a thyroid flare. I've been thinking about this a lot lately. And I think when we say "flare", what's really going on underneath is inflammation going up. Something tips it over. Inflammation rises. And we feel rubbish. The tricky part is that it's rarely just one thing....

Hi Reader, Nine years ago this week, I woke up in a hospital bed with my thyroid gone. That's not actually what I want to write about today. I want to write about a photo. A sunny day on holiday, my husband and daughter behind me, everyone smiling. An ordinary photo, the kind you take a hundred of and never really look at properly. Except later, putting together a photo book of that trip, I looked at it properly. My neck. In that light, at that angle, it was lumpy. Swollen. Obviously wrong....

Hi Reader, My mum used to make her own bread. She didn't like what was in the shop-bought stuff. Too many weird things she couldn't pronounce. So most weeks there'd be a loaf rising on the side, flour dust on the counter, her hands working the dough the way her own mother probably taught her. She thought she was doing the right thing. For most of her life, something was wrong. Not one big obvious thing. A drip feed of smaller ones. Tired in a way sleep didn't touch. Weight that wouldn't shift...