There are many ways to find healthcare providers to consider, but personal recommendations are a great place to start. If you have friends or family members with thyroid problems, you can ask about their experiences. Online thyroid communities may also yield suggestions of healthcare providers who treat thyroid disease in your area.
People in these forums are often passionate about thyroid conditions and familiar with the healthcare providers who are, too. To broaden your search even further, consider referencing databases provided by professional organizations, which allow you to search by specialty and location:.
If you have thyroid cancer, especially an uncommon type such as anaplastic thyroid cancer , you may need to travel to a larger cancer center such as a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center to find a specialist who is considered a thyroid cancer expert.
While online ratings for anything can be helpful, they can also be misleading. It's especially important to keep this in mind when it comes to reviews of healthcare providers. For example, a good rating may be owed to a receptionist's friendliness rather than the healthcare provider's abilities, while a bad rating may stem from a patient projecting frustration with their condition on to the healthcare provider.
A healthcare provider may receive a very low rank because it takes a while to get an appointment or they are always late. However, that same healthcare provider may be excellent in terms of the care they provide and may always willing to answer every question you have, even if your appointment time is up.
If you do look at reviews, try to read the comments rather than simply glancing at ranks and scores. Once you know what type of healthcare provider you wish to see, there are several things to consider before you make your appointment. This is an important decision for several reasons. Not only is thyroid disease something that often requires long-term care, but it isn't always easy to treat—and working to find an effective treatment can make a difference in outcomes.
Everyone is different when it comes to the type of care they wish to receive. Some prefer care that is as close to home as possible, whereas others are willing to drive a significant distance to see someone with a great passion for treating thyroid disease.
Some people want a healthcare provider who is always on time, but others might trade an hour in the waiting room for a healthcare provider with an excellent bedside manner. Taking the time to review your health insurance policy before making an appointment may end up saving you a lot of money. Many insurance companies cover a wide range of providers, but in different tiers, with lower copays and better coverage for first-tier providers.
This doesn't mean that you can't see a second tier or out-of-network provider, but the cost of doing so will likely be higher. Many of the more "open-minded" healthcare providers when it comes to thyroid disease operate on a self-pay only basis. If you can afford it, just a few visits with a truly knowledgeable thyroid doctor could mean returning to wellness sooner than you might under the care of another healthcare provider.
That said, if you are being treated and feel that the treatment is successfully controlling your symptoms, sticking with your insurance coverage is probably a wise financial decision. Since the treatment for many thyroid conditions is ongoing, you need a healthcare provider you can trust and talk with.
Even if your answer is "yes" to all of the questions above, you may still feel that your healthcare provider doesn't fit your needs. Different people appreciate healthcare providers with different personalities, and it's OK to find a healthcare provider who meshes with yours. Keep in mind that you are a client and have the right to choose the type of service you want. Above all, remember that you are never "stuck" with a healthcare provider. Finding a healthcare provider for your thyroid care can be challenging, as the relationship is an intensely personal one, and it's not always easy to find the right match.
That's especially true if you face limitations due to geography and insurance. With advancements in telehealth, though, you may be able to find a specialist to consult with long-distance. Losing weight with thyroid disease can be a struggle. Our thyroid-friendly meal plan can help.
Sign up and get yours free! Clinical practice guidelines for hypothyroidism in adults: cosponsored by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and the American Thyroid Association. Endocr Pract.
Hypothyroidism: an update. Am Fam Physician. Carteret Health Care. Do you need an endocrinologist for hypothyroidism? Updated August 13, Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges. The difference between a traditional naturopath and a licensed naturopathic doctor in North America. Updated January 19, Desiccated thyroid extract compared with levothyroxine in the treatment of hypothyroidism: a randomized, double-blind, crossover study.
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The history and future of treatment of hypothyroidism. Annals of Internal Medicine. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification.
I Accept Show Purposes. Their approach to healthcare tends to be more integrative perhaps than traditional doctors in that NDs believe no part of your body operates in complete isolation from the rest of the system. So, for example, an ND may discuss the aspects of how nutrition affects thyroid disorders and make sure that you have a diet plan that works to support your thyroid health. For instance, for the treatment of hypothyroidism, many NDs prescribe desiccated thyroid hormone , which is derived from the dried thyroid glands of pigs or cows and provides both T4 thyroxine and triiodothyronine T3.
Alternative names include natural thyroid, thyroid extract, porcine thyroid, pig thyroid; brand names include Nature-throid and Armour Thyroid. This type of thyroid hormone replacement medication provides a ratio of T4:T3 that is not natural to humans instead of , which tends to produce some degree of hyperthyroidism.
Instead, for the vast majority of patients, experts recommend sticking with levothyroxine alone brand names: Synthroid, Levoxyl, and Tirosint. Lastly, some NDs practice botanical medicine, recommending herbs for the care of various medical problems. While the doctor of chiropractic DC program is similar to the doctor of medicine MD program in the first two years, the programs diverge in the second half. During this time, the DC program focuses on diet, nutrition, and spinal manipulation, while the MD program emphasizes the study of pharmacology.
Complement to Your Thyroid Care. She can be reached at Patients will benefit from a specialized practice with five physicians who treat conditions including adrenal disorders, diabetes, osteoporosis, pituitary diseases and thyroid conditions. The office provides treatments, therapies and services that include assessment for hormone deficiencies and excess syndromes, insulin pump therapy, nutrition counseling, testing for adrenal tumors and ultrasound of thyroid.
The most common health problem endocrinologists treat today is diabetes—it affects 1 in 10 adults in California. Torrance Memorial Physician Network provides a wide range of treatment options that include diabetes education and management programs.
News Center. What does a thyroid problem look like? What causes thyroid issues? Does age affect the likelihood of developing a thyroid condition?
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