Dr. Susan Wingo

Endocrinology
Amarillo, TX
35 years experience female

Locations

Office

Amarillo, TX

Address

Amarillo Dignostic Clinic, 6700 W. 9th Avenue, Amarillo, TX
Directions

My office hours

Thursday: 7:30am - 5:00pm
Show more

Practice website

Insurances accepted

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas

About

Bio

I'm an Endocrinologist at a busy Multi-Specialty Clinic in Amarillo TX. We can do most diagnostic procedures right here, so patients don't have to go all over town for their tests. Hobbies include geocaching, reading, swimming, online activities, and cheering for the Oklahoma Sooners.

Specialties
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.

Endocrinology

Doctor Q&A

599 Answers
1.0K Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Simple sugar: The key is to eat/drink something that can be absorbed quickly. Some 15 gram sugar ideas would be 3 glucose tablets, 5-6 lifesavers*, 1/2 can of soda... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 28-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Review with doctor: Follicles are hollow balls with cells on the outside and a protein-containing liquid called colloid on the inside. Microfollicles are small balls made... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
It depends: Bone scans are used to evaluate for bone infections, recent fractures, and bone cancer, and are not used to check for osteoporosis. Most people never... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Yes for most people: Fosamax (alendronate) is generally well tolerated and a proven treatment for reducing the risk for hip and spine fractures due to osteoporosis. But f... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Tests.: If not already done, an MRI to confirm the tumor, and determine the size of the tumor. Lab tests to determine if the tumor is causing too much or too ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 25-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Exercise: At first, an exercise regimen may seem to use up your energy, but after a week or two, your overall energy will increase. So start small - a 5-10 min... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Thyroid hormones.: The two most important forms of thyroid hormone are designated T3 (liothyronine) and T4 based on the number of iodine atoms each molecule contains. T4... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 22-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Depends on the cause: A glucose of 7.0 mmol/liter (126 mg/dl) is in a pretty good range. A heart rate of 80 is also in the normal range. Neither of these explain why some... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 23-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Low-carb diet: One of the defining features of pcos is that it takes higher levels of Insulin to keep the sugar(glucose) level in your blood normal. This high Insul... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 60-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
It depends: In general, for someone without diabetes, a normal sugar, or glucose, level is 65-99. For someone with diabetes, a typical target range might be 80-1... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Severity: Both osteopenia and osteoporosis indicate there is too little calcium in the bone. Osteoporosis is more severe, and suggests a higher risk for future... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 25-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Yes: A diet rich in calcium (dairy, dark green vegetables, fortified foods) and vitamin d (fish, eggs, liver, fortified foods) can help. A little sun expos... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Not really dangerous: Artificial sweeteners are probably not actually dangerous, or toxic, but can sabotage a meal plan by making people crave sweets or other high carbohyd... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Part of a good start: In general, foods are in their healthiest form with a minimum of processing. So an orange provides a better ratio of fiber and vitamins to sugar than... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Blood test, nuc scan: Blood tests for thyroglobulin(tg) are very sensitive for persistent thyroid cancer. Tg is only found in active thyroid cells, and after surgery and r... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
4 types of cancers: There are 4 types of thyroid cancer (ca) thyroid follicular cells that make thyroid hormone can form papillary ca (cells look abnormal, best outpook),... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
2 kinds of nuc scans: In addition to ultrasounds, which are sometimes referred to as scans, there are two different kinds of nuclear thyroid scans done. One kind uses radi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Not usually: Most people with thyroid cancer have thyroid glands that work normally, and have a normal TSH - at least until they are removed! it is possible to ha... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Hard to say: Deaths directly due to adrenal insufficiency (ai) are extremely rare, but having ai complicates other conditions and can increase their death rates. E... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
No: Benzene is a very toxic organic (carbon-based) chemical. Structure here: http://en.Wikipedia.Org/wiki/benzene Epinephrine is another name for adrenal... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Many reasons: Infections (hepatitis b or c), fatty liver disease (fat infiltration in the liever), autoimmunity.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Metabolites.: Catecholamines include Epinephrine (adrenaline), norepinephrine, & dopamine. Epinephrine is metabolized (broken down) to metanephrine, and norepineph... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
LowProtein/HighWaste: Protein loss into the urine can cause low protein levels in the blood, and lead to swelling in the feet and ankles late in the day, and around the fac... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Lab Tests: Blood tests for nitrogen containing waste products like BUN and creatinine are useful, and allow the calculation of estimated filtration rate (egfr) t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Avoid heat: The main environmental factor affecting someone with hyperthyroidism would be heat. Anyone with hyperthyroidism should talk to their doctor about avoi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
It depends: It depends upon what you mean by "hashimoto's thyroiditis". Hypothyroid symptoms should clear up within 6-8 weeks of treatment with a dose that makes... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Cause vs Effect: Congenital hypothyroidism means that an infant is born without the ability to make thyroid hormone. Cretinism is the syndrome of physical abnormaliti... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Yes: If the prolactin level is only a little elevated, a woman can have regular periods. A woman might or might not be ovulating with each cycle, and so m... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Not usually: Very rarely, hyperthyroidism from graves' can be so severe that it causes many organs to malfunction. Usually, however, kidney function stays normal.... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 16-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Sometimes.: People with relatives with thyroid problems are at higher risk to have thyroid problems themselves. But their problem may not be the same one their r... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 50-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
It depends: There are different types of thyroid cancer, with different patterns of recurrence, or where they are most likely to come back. Papillary thyroid can... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
No: That would be like saying that pimples cause acne. Complex ovarian cysts may be one of several manifestations of polycystic ovarian syndrome (pco). ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
It can: Anemia can cause people to feel cold, but more common symptoms would be low energy, heart pounding or racing with exercise or exertion, dizziness, or ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Different effects: Continuous secretion of gnrh suppresses production of FSH & lh from the pituitary. Pulses of gnrh stimulate production of FSH & lh from the pituitary... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Sometimes: If it is truly subclinical, meaning that there are no associated symptoms or signs of too little thyroid hormone, a doctor may choose to just watch, a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Seldom: Required? Can't think of any situation where a pump is required. A pump may help someone achieve tighter glucose control, including pregnant women, p... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Unlikely: Primary adrenal insufficiency means that the adrenal glands are unable to make cortisol. In secondary adrenal insufficiency, the adrenals are able to... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Shoes: For people with diabetes, their feet need all the protection they can get! shoes that fully cover the tops of the feet help protect against injuries ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Work with doctor: Frequent small meals may be helpful. There are medicines that can reduce the nausea and allow you to eat more. Most importantly, work with a doctor ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
1500-2000 mg/day: At least 1500 mg of calcium per day from foods rich in calcium and supplements. It is also very important to ensure vitamin d levels are kept normal.... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Twice normal size: A normal thyroid can be up to 4-5 CM (2") from top to bottom, about 5-6 CM (2") across, and about 2 CM (less than 1") from front to back. The normal ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Not exactly: Addison's disease is one very specific cause of adrenal insufficiency, in which the immune system makes antibodies directed at adrenal proteins which ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Pituitary Gland: Tsh (thyroid stimulating hormone) is made in the pituitary gland, which lies just below the brain. The brain and pituitary monitor circulating levels... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Several reasons: As other doctors have noted, radiation can damage glands and reduce their ability to make and release hormones. Chemotherapy can do this as well. Chem... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Size and Location: For a nodule to be palpable (able to be felt on a neck exam), three conditions must be met. 1. The nodule must be large enough to cause a bulge (1 C... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
It depends.: While these symptoms may be caused by the high calcium levels, there may be other things causing them as well. To the extent that the overactive para... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Too little intake: The body maintains stores of vitamin d in the fat cells. It takes a long time for a deficiency to develop, and a long time to correct it using typica... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
It varies.: Some people with diabetes never get neuropathy (nerve damage). Some people may have had neuropathy for several years before they develop diabetes. W... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Too much insulin?: A doctor will need to see your skin problem to confirm this, but your description sounds like acanthosis nigricans. This usually means your body is no... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Susan Wingo
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Could be low thyroid: Hypothyroidism, (an underactive thyroid) could be causing some of your symptoms. There are other potential causes as well, so you should see your doc... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.

Testimonials
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.

17
Recommendations
4.3K
Thank you notes
Jul 13, 2013
Dr. Wingo has a very careful and thoughtful approach to patients with endocrine problems. As a neurosurgeon, I am particularly appreciative for her answers to questions related to the pituitary/pitui...Read More
Apr 7, 2013
Dr Wingo provides an excellent public service on HealthTap. She is clearly extremely knowledgable about Internal Medicine. She provides information that is clear, understandable & spot on. I recommend...Read More
Nov 4, 2012
I really enjoy Dr. Wingo's answers. They are patient explanations of complicated issues, and I learn a lot from her!
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer or tip was very helpful! Thank you, you have been very helpful. I could not answer the other doctor back but his answer was for someone else. Thank you again.
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! I just wanna ask how to control my hyperthyroidsm.i am now on PTU medication and sometimes I forgot to take my meds that's why maybe it is not control
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! My husband and daughter think I am crazy because I stopped driving ! I am hypothyroid and knew that I just didn't feel quite "right" driving anymore.

Education & Training

Medical/Graduate school

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, MD
Graduated 1988MD

Awards

Knoll Award for Excellence in Thyroid Research, 1998
Top Doctor, First Place, Amarillo, TX - Winter
2013
Most Influential, First Place, Amarillo, TX - Winter
2013

Affiliations

The Endocrine Society
American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists
American College of Physicians
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