The process of deciding what types of practitioners to see for your thyroid diagnosis and care can be complicated...even daunting. In some cases, the initial suspicions of, diagnosis of or treatment of a thyroid condition may be made by your primary care doctor or GP, who may suggest that you don't need a specialist. Or, your physician may immediately refer you to an endocrinologist or even a surgeon. In some cases, you may have already seen a long list of practitioners -- from docs to naturopaths to herbalists! -- and you're not sure who would be the best person in which to entrust your care in the long term. Here are some guidelines to consider.
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Many people write to me asking me to please explain "why, when my TSH results show that my TSH has dropped, does the doctor want to LOWER instead of RAISE my medicine?" Or, "doesn't a high TSH mean I have too much thyroid? And if that's the case, why is the doctor INCREASING my thyroid hormone medicine?" This is one of those issues about thyroid treatment that tends to confuse people. 
Let's face it. There are some terrific doctors out there -- integrative docs, functional medicine experts, naturopaths (and yes, even some endocrinologists!) -- who really know their stuff, and are wonderful partners on the road to wellness. And then, well... there are some real losers -- the clueless, egotistical, greedy, or straight out incompetent people who somehow manage to get some initials after their name, and now claim to be able to help thyroid patients. Remember - in a doctor-patient relationship, YOU are the client, and the doctor is providing a service. And if that service is not meeting your needs, the best thing you can do for your health is to find the right doctor who will work with you to help you get well. So how do you know when it's time for a new doctor? Here are 
Many people think that the best doctor to treat any thyroid condition is an endocrinologist. Endocrinologists are specialists who take advanced training in the endocrine system -- including, supposedly, thyroid disease. Most endocrinologists, however, specialize primarily in diabetes treatment. The truth? Many thyroid patients do not need an endocrinologist. There are times when an "endo" is crucially important, and times when it may not be your best choice. 