Questions to ask your doctor about hypothyroidism

Once a diagnosis of hypothyroidism has been made, the plan is all about treatment, and making sure you have your treatment journey mapped out for you by your doctor. It can, however, be a little worrying to have to go to the doctor and discuss such a problem, simply due to the fact that the symptoms can be complex. Knowing as much as you can about the issue is important if you are going to feel confident and able to move forward. Here are some questions (and some answers) you can ask your doctor that should help you get confident about the road ahead. 

What if I miss a dose of my hypothyroidism treatment? 

It is important to know where you stand on the optimal level of treatment. We are human, and sometimes we may actually miss a dose of the treatment we have been given. The doctor will probably say that as long as you take the missed dose as soon as you can, you should be alright. 

However, if you do miss a dose of a treatment like ​Cytomel​ and you find out when you are very close to the time of the next dose, don’t take both. Just take one dose and get on with your day. A doctor would say that it is always best to avoid doubling a dose. 

How long will I be on this hormone treatment? 

This is perhaps a rather obvious question to be asking, especially at the start of treatment. It’s important to know what the full impact of treatment will be when it comes to your life. 

Asking this question will probably get a response that says you may need to be on the treatment for the rest of your life. However, it’s important to remember that the level of treatment (as in dosage) may well be reduced over time, and possibly even drastically reduced compared to the dosage you start on. 

Are there any side effects? 

This is a natural question to ask, especially when you are starting a course of treatment that will help your body to manage hormone levels. There’s a lot to do, and medication of that power and impact will cause some changes. 

The doctor will probably make it clear that you may experience the following side effects: 

● Some trouble sleeping 

● A little shakiness 

● Some increase in appetite 

These are the basic and perhaps more common side effects. However, it is important to remember that these side effects are not always present in a patient’s treatment. And they may present in varying degrees. Therefore, you could have severe sleep issues, or only mild sleep problems. Your doctor will talk you through this and how it can be handled. 

So there are some of the most common questions that people with hypothyroidism want to ask their doctor. The answers are pretty representative of what a doctor would give. But everyone is different.