Best Doctor to See If You Have Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis? 5 Options

Best Doctor to See If You Have Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis? 5 Options

Regular or Standard Doctors Don’t Treat Hashimoto’s Correctly

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If you have Hashimoto’s then you probably don’t me to tell you how frustrating it can be to try and feel better. 

But allow me to give you some good news:

Feeling like your old self is definitely possible even if you have a rip-roaring case of Hashimoto’s. 

The key is to find the right doctor

A doctor who can guide you through the ups and downs of Hashimoto’s. 

A doctor who understands that Hashimoto’s is more than just a thyroid disease

A doctor who has treated plenty of patients with Hashimoto’s in the past and knows that each person is different and unique. 

A doctor that provides you with personalized treatment advice, who listens to you, and who offers up solutions aside from just thyroid medication. 

Sounds pretty good, right?

The key to feeling good if you have Hashimoto’s is to find someone who represents the traits listed above. 

The bad news is that you are VERY unlikely to find these traits in your standard doctors. 

Yes, I’m talking about endocrinologists and family practice doctors or PCPs. 

In fact, these types of doctors are often the worst type of doctors to use if you have Hashimoto’s for one simple reason:

They ALL treat you in the exact same way. 

I can sum up their treatment method in a few sentences…

If the Hashimoto’s patient has a high TSH then treat with levothyroxine until the TSH normalizes. 

But there’s so much more to managing Hashimoto’s than just the TSH and using thyroid medication. 

What triggered your Hashimoto’s in the beginning (also referred to as the root cause)? How does this trigger interact with your existing medical conditions and genetics? What types of nutrient deficiencies may be playing a role in your immune function? What types of foods may be triggering or exacerbating inflammation in your gut? How are your antibody levels changing over time? 

These are the types of questions that you WANT your doctor to be asking and evaluating every time you see them and you just aren’t likely to get them from the “standard” approach. 

Does it seem like finding a doctor who will evaluate you in such a way is impossible?

It doesn’t have to be and you don’t have to settle. 

Today you are going to learn:

  • Why the conventional approach to Hashimoto’s fails thyroid patients
  • How to find a doctor who will treat Hashimoto’s the OPTIMAL way
  • The top 3 medical specialties that you want your doctor trained in
  • When it’s appropriate to use a naturopath or a chiropractor
  • And much more…

Let’s jump in…

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Problems With The Conventional Approach to Hashimoto’s

If you are newly diagnosed with Hashimoto’s then this information may be a big pill to swallow. 

How can doctors which are specifically trained to treat hormone imbalances NOT be the best doctors to manage Hashimoto’s?

I’ve heard this question more than once. 

And the answer is actually pretty straightforward. 

Traditional doctors (including Endocrinologists and Family Practice Doctors) mess up in the following ways:

  • They don’t treat it correctly – Hashimoto’s is both a thyroid condition and an immune condition. 
  • They don’t look for the underlying cause – Something triggered your Hashimoto’s and you may be able to fix this issue. 
  • They only focus on the thyroid component – All cases of Hashimoto’s will lead to low thyroid but it’s possible to slow down or prevent this from happening. 
  • They completely avoid or miss the autoimmune/immune component – Treating the autoimmune component is important for putting Hashimoto’s into remission. 
  • They only use one thyroid medication – There are MANY more medications aside from levothyroxine/Synthroid
  • They fail to diagnose Hashimoto’s early enough – Most doctors don’t even diagnose Hashimoto’s until you’ve had it for YEARS
  • They don’t treat you until the disease is very advanced – “Treatment” consists of putting you on levothyroxine and calling it a day. By the time you need thyroid medication, you have already missed out on the best time to treat and reverse your condition. 

These problems lead many thyroid patients with Hashimoto’s to feel terrible for years and years. 

They continue to gain weight, they continue to feel fatigued, they continue to lose their hair, they continue to feel depressed, and so on. 

So what can they do?

There are many things that you can do by yourself to improve your condition but, by far, the best option is to seek out someone who can help GUIDE you through it.

Easier said than done, I know, but the following information should make the process MUCH easier. 

Doctors that Are Most Likely To Treat Hashimoto’s Correctly

This is not an all-encompassing list but it should give you plenty of ideas and options to help you get your Hashimoto’s under control…

#1. MD/DO’s

MDs (Medical Doctors) and DOs (Doctors of Osteopathic medicine) represent the two types of medical doctors found in the United States. 

These are doctors with unrestricted licenses to practice medicine and have the ability to prescribe medications and perform surgery where they are licensed. 

MDs and DOs are usually your best bet because they are required to go through medical school, residency, and often post-graduate/fellowship training in various fields. 

Unfortunately, much of the standard training that these doctors go through leads them to treat Hashimoto’s the same way. 

But there are still many doctors who sway from the standard run-of-the-mill treatment paradigm that thyroid patients get sucked into. 

Most of these types of doctors, the ones that you want to see, undergo additional training AFTER residency to better understand thyroid function and Hashimoto’s. 

Look for doctors (MDs and DOs) that specialize or focus in the following areas:

Functional Medicine, Integrative Medicine, and Anti-Aging medicine are areas of expertise that doctors can get additional training in (and sometimes certifications) which shows that they are interested in these fields. 

This training often includes information NOT taught in medical school regarding hormone management, the use of off-label prescription medications, and information on how to use supplements. 

You don’t HAVE to see a doctor trained in these areas (I’ve barely received any formal training in these areas) but it’s useful to know if a doctor has trained in these areas because they are much more likely to use non-standard treatments. 

These types of doctors are more likely to treat Hashimoto’s naturally, to use thyroid medications aside from levothyroxine and Synthroid, to understand the role of diet in managing autoimmune disease, and much more. 

Seeing a doctor with this type of training does NOT guarantee that they will be proficient in treating Hashimoto’s, however!

So make sure that you do your homework before you go and see them. 

Look for doctors that have websites, blog posts, videos, or articles, so you can get a feel for what type of conditions they “specialize” in. 

For instance, in my case, it’s easy to know that my interest is in hormone management, weight loss, and thyroid management because I devote so much time to writing about these topics. 

You will find that most doctors gravitate towards conditions that they have an interest in. 

Areas might include bioidentical hormone management, weight loss, thyroid management, testosterone replacement therapy, anti-aging, and so on. 

In my opinion, look for MDs and DOs FIRST before moving on to other options. 

#2. Naturopaths (NMD)

If you don’t find any luck with MDs or DOs near you then you can also look for a Naturopath. 

Most naturopaths receive training that includes the use of hormone therapy and the use of alternative thyroid medications such as NDT and T3

One downside to using a Naturopath is that they are not licensed to prescribe medication (4) in every state. 

Last I looked, they were only allowed to prescribe some medications in around 16 states (5). 

This is obviously a problem for thyroid patients because if you are in a state where a Naturopath can’t prescribe medication then you may be out of luck. 

It doesn’t mean a Naturopath can’t help you, but it means that you will still rely upon your current MD or DO to prescribe your thyroid medication. 

And since many thyroid patients don’t do well on levothyroxine or Synthroid, this may result in issues. 

Another thing worth pointing out is that not all Naturopaths take an alternative approach to healthcare. 

There are some Naturopaths that practice just like standard primary care providers in terms of throwing medications at every symptom or problem that you present with. 

This type of approach may result in symptom management but it never gets to the root cause of your condition. 

#3. Chiropractor (DC)

Some thyroid patients also find success with Chiropractors. 

Unfortunately, Chiropractors cannot prescribe medications in any state, so they take the role of more of a health coach in terms of their recommendations for diet, supplements, and lifestyle changes.

I can speak from experience in saying that some Chiropractors are very knowledgeable and have the capacity and ability to help many thyroid patients. 

On the flip side, there are also many other Chiropractors who are better at marketing than they are at practicing medicine

Many thyroid patients have come to me telling me that they’ve spent thousands of dollars with some Chiropractors with very little to show for it. 

For this reason, and because they can’t prescribe thyroid medication, it’s usually best to look for MDs, DO’s, and Naturopaths before looking into local Chiropractors. 

#4. Endocrinologist and/or PCP (Primary Care Physician)

Lastly, if all else fails, you still may find some luck in working with your current family practice doctor or endocrinologist. 

While 98% of PCPs and Endocrinologists will NOT be willing to change up how they practice, you may find that some are willing to try different medications and different therapies. 

If you can get your doctor to work with you then this is always a great option because your doctor has the capacity to prescribe any thyroid medication on the market. 

You may also be able to convince them to try additional off-label thyroid medications such as LDN (low dose naltrexone) for Hashimoto’s. 

Because pretty much everyone has a doctor that they are already working with, I’ve created a free resource designed to help you talk with your doctor to get them to try these therapies. 

This free resource can be found here and contains a list of medical studies that show that the therapies I mention on my blog are effective and safe. 

Be aware, though, that even with this information your doctor may still not be willing to work with you!

For whatever reason, perhaps due to pride, doctors don’t like it when you seek information elsewhere on the internet. 

Having said that, some are still willing to listen and may be willing to work with you so make sure you at least give this option a try!

It won’t take much effort because the chances are high that you are already seeing an endo or family doctor to get your thyroid medication prescription right now. 

Don’t spend too much time with your doctor, though. If they don’t seem like they are willing to budge on new therapies go back to option #1 and option #2. 

I’ve seen many thyroid patients spend years patiently waiting on doctors only to end up frustrating and right back where they started. 

Remember:

It’s your life and you are the one who has to deal with your symptoms every single day. 

If you spend 1-2 years suffering on a daily basis those are years that you will NOT get back. 

#5. Additional Options (Ob-gyns and Physiatrists) 

Think of this as a bonus section. 

If you aren’t able to get your current doctor to work with you and you aren’t able to find a DO or MD near you which focuses on alternative medicine then you may be able to look at these options. 

Some other doctors, especially those who tend to treat hormone imbalances on a daily basis, can often be very knowledgeable in managing thyroid disease. 

Two doctors that come to mind in this category include psychiatrists and ob-gyns, especially ob-gyns that focus on reproductive medicine. 

Let me explain:

There is quite a bit of medical research that shows that thyroid medication can be incredibly effective at treating both depression and bipolar disorder. 

These are two conditions that psychiatrists treat on a daily basis. 

If you have either of them, it would be worth your while to show your doctor the research on how thyroid hormone can be almost curative in treating depression or bipolar disorder. 

Psychiatrists are much more likely to prescribe T3 thyroid hormone (6) for these conditions compared to your regular family practice doctor or endocrinologist. 

The same is true for some ob-gyns. 

Ob-gyns, especially those that specialize in reproductive medicine (7), are often much more comfortable prescribing thyroid medications that contain T3. 

They do this because they know that thyroid dysfunction is a leading cause of infertility. 

And it’s been shown that even small doses of NDT can be used to boost fertility in certain patients. 

Most thyroid patients aren’t aware of these doctors as potential options because they don’t really focus on treating thyroid patients, but they can be considered in some cases. 

A Word About Paying Out of Pocket and Using Insurance

While these types of doctors tend to be the best option for patients with Hashimoto’s, they are not without some drawbacks. 

One drawback may be the price. 

If you are using my recommendations above then you will find that most of these doctors do NOT accept insurance which means you will need to pay out of pocket for their services. 

Why insurance doesn’t cover this type of medicine is an article for another day, but suffice it to say that insurance just doesn’t like to cover alternative treatments like the ones that these doctors provide. 

The cost of seeing your doctor will vary based on a number of factors but a single visit can vary anywhere between $150 and $600+ (depending on what type of doctor you are seeing). 

The price of seeing your doctor typically does not include the additional money you will need to shell out for supplements, medications, hormones, food for your diet, and so on. 

Getting your health back is certainly an investment but one that is worth making. 

In some cases, you may be able to find a knowledgeable thyroid doctor that ALSO takes insurance. 

This is not common but it does happen. 

If the price is an issue for you then you may want to ask around if a doctor takes insurance before setting up your appointment. 

Just realize, though, that the best doctors typically do not take insurance so you will be limiting your options. 

Wrapping It Up

Finding the right doctor may just be one of the most important things you do for your autoimmune disease. 

My recommendation is to stick to MDs and DOs which specialize in functional, integrative, or anti-aging medicine. 

You will find the best success with these doctors because they are more likely to treat with T3 thyroid medications (Cytomel, liothyronine, and NDT) and they will take into account the root cause of your condition, recommend supplements, and understand the importance of lifestyle changes

If these doctors are not available to you, don’t worry!

You still have plenty of other options available. 

When looking for a doctor try to find one who can prescribe thyroid medication. 

Naturopaths and Chiropractors can’t always prescribe these medications so they are typically not your best first option. 

Now I want to hear from you:

Have you found a doctor who is willing to work with you?

Does your current doctor look at more than just your TSH? Do they take a holistic approach to your health?

Are you feeling better with the doctor you are seeing?

Or are you in the market for a new doctor?

Share your comments or experience below! Also, if you have a doctor that you love feel free to share their information below as well! 

Resources To Help you Find a Doctor:

#1. https://www.ifm.org/functional-medicine/what-is-functional-medicine/

#2. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/complementary-alternative-medicine/about/pac-20393581

#3. https://www.a4m.com/

#4. https://aanmc.org/licensure/

#5. https://ancb.net/legislative-action-and-advocacy/naturopathy-laws-state-by-state/

#6. https://www.psychiatryadvisor.com/home/depression-advisor/triiodothyronine-in-the-treatment-of-bipolar-depression/

#7. https://www.vcuhealth.org/services/womens-health/our-services/reproductive-medicine 

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About Dr. Westin Childs

Hey! I'm Westin Childs D.O. (former Osteopathic Physician). I don't practice medicine anymore and instead specialize in helping people like YOU who have thyroid problems, hormone imbalances, and weight loss resistance. I love to write and share what I've learned over the years. I also happen to formulate the best supplements on the market (well, at least in my opinion!) and I'm proud to say that over 80,000+ people have used them over the last 7 years. You can read more about my own personal health journey and why I am so passionate about what I do.

P.S. Here are 4 ways you can get more help right now:

#1. Get my free thyroid downloads, resources, and PDFs here.

#2. Need better symptom control? Check out my thyroid supplements.

#3. Sign up to receive 20% off your first order.

#4. Follow me on Youtube, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram for up-to-date thyroid tips, tricks, videos, and more.

16 thoughts on “Best Doctor to See If You Have Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis? 5 Options”

  1. I was diagnosed with a goiter in 2014 when I was pregnant with my third child. My hormones were all normal but my thyroid was enlarged and the right side had nodules. 6 months after giving birth I had all the tests, ultrasounds, ct, biopsies, etc. Benign but we proceeded with surgery in 2015 as the nodules were growing. I was constantly fatigued and had horrible brain fog. I barely remember anything that year and could only work for half days because full time killed me. Had the right thyroid removed and I felt like a new person. It was a day and night difference.

    A year later (2016) my fatigue/brain fog symptoms came back. All thyroid levels were normal (I had my PCP check because the endocrinologist I saw refused to check). *Oops* they found nodules growing on thyroid tissue on right side that was left behind in surgery. I saw a different endocrinologist and he chose to attempt shrinking the nodules and resolving symptoms with Synthroid. I experienced a placebo effect for a short while and then I continued to feel bad, then worse. But my endo insisted that because my levels were fine that I was ok. We monitored the nodules every year with ultrasounds and lab tests. I had 2 more kids, in 2016 and 2018.

    Then 2019 I had trouble swallowing. Ultrasound and another image (can’t remember If it was mri or ct). One of the nodules had grown to over 3 inches and was pressing on my esophagus and making its way behind my heart/lung. Surgery again, almost had to have my chest cracked! Thankfully they were able to lift my sternum just enough to remove the mass.

    Recovery was quick and yet I was feeling horrible still. Symptoms of both hyper and hypo but nobody would believe me. Cold intolerance during the day and hot flashes at night. Depression, increased appetite, decreased appetite, hair thinning and falling out, fatigue, brain fog, cold hands and feet, dry skin, itchy skin, anxiety, heart palpitations, excessive sweating, menstrual irregularities (which led to uterine ablation to stop my 30+ day period), nails breaking, zero sexual desire, constipation, irritability, memory problems, issues with focusing. You get it. My endo took me off synthroid and put me on Cytomel. Placebo effect again. Followed up the next year (2020) with an ultrasound and labs with a new endocrinologist because my precious one left town to be closer to family. New endo said labs and ultrasound all “within normal findings” so continue the cytomel. I opened the ultrasound report to find that last year (2019) before my huge surgery they discovered 3 new nodules on my left thyroid… and this year the ultrasound said they’re all still there and have grown a little bit each. Ohh and there’s a 4th nodule too, and my thyroid has enlarged as well. So what do I do? Nobody will listen to me. I went to my PCP and asked him to refer me back to my ENT to remove the rest of my thyroid. I feel like the nodules are just going to continue to grow and I’ll have to have the surgery anyways. I’m scheduled to have surgery in less than 2 weeks now. Am I doing the right thing? Should I be asking someone to check something else? I read your article about thyroidectomy and I’m worried about making the wrong choice now. Please help!

    Reply
  2. I have been hypothyroid, Hashimotos with anti-bodies assuming since birth. Diagnosed by an endocrinologist when I was 20 years old, put on Synthroid, experienced weight gain, depression and very uptight. Changed to an MD/Internal medicine doctor, took me totally of Synthroid.
    At 34 yrs. old had to go to another Endocrinologist due to thyroid blood tests. I developed graves disease lost 30 pounds, nervous, could not concentrate and my eyes became larger with blank stare. My family thought I was suffering mental illness, it was devastating. Did not take any thyroid medicine until I became ill with lack of concentration again at age 54 and shaky. Family again though I was mental/abusing alcohol or drugs. I drank with dinner or a hot drink with brandy before bed when sick or in pain from lupus and other auto-immune diseases I have.
    Currently, I am on generic synthroid. I gained weight, easily aggitated, heart beats fast, hot with inflammation/redness all over, neuropathy, hair loss, dry skin, mouth and eyes and brain fog. Can I feel better, what medicine do you recommend?
    I read all mail you send, also follow a gluten free diet for Lupus and abide by Hypothroid diet.

    Reply
    • Hi Denise,

      For someone in your situation, you’d probably want to start with something like Tirosint and add cytomel/liothyronine as needed.

      Reply
    • Hi Denise, have you had your B12, Iron, Vit D and checked? I suffered all of what you did and found out that I was low in the above mentioned. Advised to take supplements for the deficiencies and it has really helped with the neuropathy and hair loss.
      I unfortunately still have the brain fog and my family too thought I was going mad. But this is what happens when all the specialists you see out there aren’t willing to listen to you. By the way I had to ask for these tests to be done as I had done my research and thought that I was most likely deficient in all of the above because of my multiple symptoms. I have Hashimoto’s/Hypothyroid on 125mcg levothyroxine.
      It’s through Dr. Westin Childs videos that I began investigating my health issues for myself since the many experts I saw though nothing was wrong with me other than needing some meds.
      After adding different vitamins and minerals to my my diet and trying to eat more healthily I noticed it did make a difference but not enough.
      Eventually found out that I have a leaky gut, that I wasn’t absorbing B12, advised that I should supplement and if it didn’t work then I would need to have it through injection, the supplements have helped but I’m still having many problems, fibromyalgia, exhaustion. I’m 54 and menopausal too so life is a continuous struggle at the moment and has been for the last 5 years. Working full time is really too much for me and I have to keep taking breaks and using my holidays to rest.
      I have found that the most help to me which has gave me some relief are the vits mentioned above and especially high strength turmeric which must include pepper, this helps with my pain levels and hot flushes and goes towards helping the dry skin a little. I’m also going to start on the evening primrose oil again as I did see a difference in the dryness of my skin when taking it.
      I hope this helps.

      Reply
  3. I was fortunate to find a Nurse Practitioner in my area. She is knowledgeable and willing to look outside of the box. She is open minded to new ideas and is willing to work with her patients. She also keeps up with continuing education. I’m grateful!

    Reply
  4. Dr. Childs,
    I understand that Rh negative blood type may also be a factor in an autoimmune response that can lead to thyroid disease. This may be especially true if an Rh negative mother’s immune system attacks their unborn Rh positive child. Can you please comment on if you’ve observed this situation and your knowledge of potential blood incompatibility effect on thyroid problems. Thanks

    Reply
    • Hi Elizabeth,

      I haven’t personally seen a correlation but I also haven’t paid a lot of attention to that aspect. I’ll have to do some more research on the topic.

      Reply
  5. Last December I was an obese Zombie with Hashimoto’s which I had had for over 30 years, type 2 Diabetes, osteoporosis and a slightly enlarged heart. My Doctor who had me on Levothyroxine 200mg a day was not interested that my thyroid was totally out of whack I was suffering both Graves and Hashi Symptoms. The brain fog and exhaustion where being made worse by the nasty beta blockers she had me on to treat my dreadful anxiety.And the anti depressants had turned me into a zombie. On Christmas Eve I walked out of her office so angry (the only emotion I could even feel because of the drugs) and made the decision that there had to be a better way, and that 2021 was the year I was going to take my health back. I went on line and posted on a thyroid page about going to see an Endo in the new year, someone posted back that endo’s where useless and to find a Functional/ Integrative Dr instead. I live in New Zealand and thought my chances slim but I found one in my city who was An American qualified MD with Functional training and as well as being qualified to practice in New Zealand and suffered herself from Hashimoto’s. I had to wait till Feb to see her, she put me on whole dessicated Thyroid and Vit D and Metformin for the diabetes. As well as a whole new eating lifestyle plan. Within 3 weeks it was as if I had gone from night to day, I felt better than I had felt in decades. She weaned me off the beta blockers and I was able to dump the metformin 4 months later as my glucose is now totally normal. In March I started doing Aqua aerobics twice a week along with intermittent fasting and a low carb anti inflammatory diet and have lost 25 Kilos. Approx 56lbs since Feb. This Doctor safes my life. I now preach this message on thyroid Pages.

    Reply
  6. Dr. Childs,

    I originally had a very long comment. It was too long, so I’ll just leave this brief piece here and privately email you.

    I’m 41 years old and live in Indian Harbour Beach, Florida (not far from Cocoa Beach). I started experiencing hyperthyroidism symptoms 12 years ago and finally found the right medical professional to help me in July of 2021.
    Jennifer Schneider, ARNP specializes in integrative medicine and works with an OBGYN who signs off on all prescriptions at Benezra Women’s Health, located in Melbourne Florida. This is her bio page from their website. https://www.benezrawomenscare.com/jennifer-schneider-arnp.html
    (They do take insurance, just not mine. I pay a reasonable self-pay rate for their services.)

    I really hope this helps someone get answers and relief much faster than it took me to get mine.

    Reply
  7. I have been seeing an endocrinologist for about 7 years for my Hashimotos and he has been great. He treats as naturally as possible with meds like Armor and NDT. For adrenal fatigue he had me taking liqorice root and other natural products. For me the biggest thing is diet – eating clean and cutting out gluten most of all. I think we should be careful not to paint all specialists with the same brush, some of them are really good at what they do.

    Reply
    • Hi Jenna,

      Of course. But the problem is that endocrinologists like yours are 1 in a 100. Giving the other 99 the benefit of the doubt because 1 or 2 are good would be misleading to the thousands of other thyroid patients who are actively struggling and looking for more assistance. At the end of the day, any doctor that is willing to work with you is the doctor you should see. This could mean an endo or PCP but from a numbers standpoint, that’s usually not the case.

      Reply
  8. Nancy I was diagnosed with Graves’ disease 10 years ago I have four goiters only one was at five they tried to take a biopsy and miss the whole thing I don’t understand it but anyways it was an endocrinologist here in Washington state and I have not seen him again he has not helped me and the doctor had before that put me on medication and when my TSH was level he took me off of it and so I don’t know who to go see anymore at this point but I am getting ready to go look for another doctor and if I don’t find a good gynecologist I will try go to see a naturopath anyways I really enjoyed your article and I will be using it for my next appointment set for doctors thanks

    Reply

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