Follow Up Appointments

[MirandaB]

You can read plenty of people talking about their first visit to an endocrinologist, but having done that, wondering what happens at follow up visits? And how often they happen as time goes by?

 

 

[Phi]

My first visit was about to get to know each other, talking about my wishes and my goals and possible side effects. They took lots of blood. A week later I started HRT and had to visit every 6 weeks until my dosage was right. These were just short visits for taking blood samples, asking how I feel, whether there are any problems. When E-levels were within range we scheduled the next appointment 4 to 6 month later. When everything is alright, I have to visit every six month.

[Jackie C.]

Pretty much what @Phi said. I talked with the Endo, then she sent me downstairs for blood work. Repeat visits for blood work every two months until my estrogen levels were female-normal. That took two or three tries. Then every six months to make sure my body wasn't doing anything too out of the ordinary. Now I'm down to one a year.

 

Oh, I should point out that I get my blood drawn and labs done about a week before I see my endo. That way we have something to talk about during the visit.

 

Hugs!

[Elizabeth Star]

My experiences have been a little different. When I first met with my Endo we did the meet and greet, talked about goals, expectations and the risks. She wrote my scripts right there on the spot then sent me down the hall for blood work. I live in an informed consent state. Went beck 2 months later for a check-up/blood work and some adjustments were made. Then Covid hit and it was 5 months before my next check-up and blood test. As of now, I need to check-in with my Endo and see what she wants to do, I need refills by the end of next month and everything is still booked up for weeks.

[MiraM]

My first endo appointment lasted about an hour.  We talked for a bit about why I wanted to go on HRT and what my expectations were, and the possible side effects, as well as different delivery methods.  This was followed by a complete physical and blood work.  After the initial appointment, he consulted with my gender therapist and primary care physician.  About 2 weeks later, my meds were sent to me.  The first follow up was about 6 weeks later to get some blood drawn and see if I was having any side effects.  I now have a followup with him every 3 to 4 months, going on 3 years now,  and they last about 30+ minutes.  This schedule works great for me since he is also the doctor doing my cancer follow ups and he does the blood work for that and hormone levels at the same time.

[MirandaB]

@Phi@Jackie C.@ElizabethStar@MiraM thanks for the quick responses!

 

I wish mine would do the blood work in advance, sounds like each visit will be a reaction to the blood work from 6 weeks earlier.   

 

 

[MiraM]

2 hours ago, RhondaS said:

@Phi@Jackie C.@ElizabethStar@MiraM thanks for the quick responses!

 

I wish mine would do the blood work in advance, sounds like each visit will be a reaction to the blood work from 6 weeks earlier.   

 

 

It only takes a few days (normally about 3 days for the VA hospital I go to) for the results to come back from the lab.  My doctor always calls me or sends me a message with the results as soon as he gets them, and we discuss any problems or changes he thinks need to be made, so there is no waiting several months to find out if adjustments need to be made, or if there are any other issues.  The office visits are to get new blood work done, and discuss any issues/concerns since the last visit, and to judge overall health and such.  It's not just a rehash of the old blood work.  My Endo is also in constant contact with the rest of my health care team so they all know about any issues, etc..

[Ivy]

When I first started (this is an informed consent state) they would only give me a T blocker because of my age.  The follow up was 3 months later.  But in that time it had screwed up my sodium levels, and I was not doing very well.  When they took blood, they took me off it.  Apparently 3 months was too long to wait.

 

But after that I was able to get in the VA system, and my experience has been pretty much like MiraM has described.

1 hour ago, MiraM said:

It only takes a few days (normally about 3 days for the VA hospital I go to) for the results to come back from the lab.  My doctor always calls me or sends me a message with the results as soon as he gets them, and we discuss any problems or changes he thinks need to be made, so there is no waiting several months to find out if adjustments need to be made, or if there are any other issues.