Prepare for your thyroid surgery consultation

How should you prepare for your visit with the thyroid surgeon? 

The consult may be initiated by your primary care doctor or an endocrinologist.  This may be due to problems found on exam or imaging studies. 

If testing has been done, try to have the results ready for the surgeon.  Hopefully the referring doctor has done this.  If you are referring yourself, you can call the office and tell them the location, where the testing was done, and they can order it.  You will need to do this early to ensure they have the information.  You may also have to sign a release of information.  These studies may include ultrasound reports, CTor MRI reports, blood tests especially TSH, biopsy results, radioactive iodine scans, and reports of other treatments.  Having the complete information will expedite any decisions that may need to be made and avoid any delays.

It is always good to have some questions ready.  During the appointment, many things may happen and a lot of information is given.  It is easy to forget the questions that you had before the doctor is in front of you.  Some good questions are:

• Do I need surgery? Are there other options?
• What extent of surgery do I need?
• How many of these have you done?
• What are the risks of surgery?

Having someone with you will help to remember what was said.  That person may also have wuesions for the surgeon that you may not think of.