Finding A Doctor To Run and Interpret Labs
Several of you asked me yesterday what kind of doctor I recommend to read your labs or who can order them for you.
The answer is that there is no right kind of doctor. It just depends. Different doctors specialize in different things. Sometimes just your family doctor will be very helpful, especially if you walk in with a little bit of knowledge. Sometimes you will be better suited with someone who specializes in hormones. It largely depends on the level and type of dysfunction as well as what is available to you in your area and budget.
You my not get it right the first time, but a little research can go a long way in saving you time, money, and grief.
Finding the right doctor will take some homework on your part. You are going to want to do some calling around.
Call your closest compounding pharmacy and maybe a few others in the area and look for recommendations.
Search online for doctors in your area that do bio-identical and synthetic hormones. If you have to choose one or the other, it is my opinion that you should go with bio-identical because synthetic estrogen and progesterone are not worth the risk in most situations. Again, this is just my opinion.
Check online forums and groups for recommendations in your area.
Search for anti-aging doctors in your area. These are often the more expensive option, only some take insurance, but they will generally spend the most time with you and you will likely leave more informed than if you were to use a family doctor or a gynecologist.
Look outside the box at naturopath doctors that prescribe hormones. Some don’t and will only recommend supplements. While this can be helpful, it is a risk, especially if they carry a special brand. You may end up paying more for supplements than you would for your medication that may or may not be more predictable in results.
Once you have a list of candidates then you call the offices and ask questions. A few things you can ask are
Do you prescribe natural thyroid medications?
Synthetic?
Do you test for sex hormones when testing for thyroid?
Do you treat based on the elimination of symptoms, lab results, or both?
How much time is spent at my appointment?
Obviously there is no specific formula for finding the right doctor, and often people give up because it can be a very frustrating endeavor. This is not an exhaustive list, and I can’t stress enough how important it is to spend the time educating yourself about your health especially if something is already wrong or off.