I see a holistic doctor who is an Internal Med and a Naturopathic doctor. He will prescribe meds as well as suggesting any vitamins and supplements for me to take.

I get labs every three months only because I know how my labs and symptoms would be. I tweak my doses just slightly and will do fine. I don't suggest that for people who are newer to the GD game.

I do see the Endo once per year. He and holistic Doc are friends. Endo is who I get my ATD from and perhaps Atenolol should I need it.

The Endo is covered by my insurance and unfortunately the holistic doctor is not. However, my appts with the Doc can last an hour so it is well worth the hour spent every three months.

I found out about Doc when I would read of his articles in the local health food store. He had been writing articles for several years and I had read he specializes in hormones, etc. so I made an appt to see him after I was hospitalized for a suspected thyroid storm.

{{{hugs}}} :-)

I saw an endo in the beginning who was very"know it all" type, Well.. didn't know very much about thyroid disease. My case puzzled him. I went to my GP for awhile. I had too many questions for him, he told me I knew more than him and helped me find a new endo. She is very kind, compassionate and knowledgable. I am on a replacement med now that I went hypo naturally after awhile. (I was on anti thyroid meds 3 years) I see her every 6 months. She gave me a standing order to go get labs every 4-6 weeks still if I need to.We've been tweaking the dose of Levothyroxine. I take a lot of vitamins Elaine Moore has recommended me. Three months in between labs is too long. You need to be on top of the labs in the first year at least to get your dose right.

I had 2 different Endo's...they just wanted me to have RAI and were not supportive of me trying for remission. I stopped going to my 2nd Endo...who had just finished 17 years of medical school...when he told me that..on your next visit...if your levels are still off...its one pill for you not many...meaning RAI instead of PTU.

My GP...she has been my doc for 25 years and has over seen my care from the beginning. When I told her what Endo #2 said...she didnt send me back. She has been my main caregiver ever since. She also has Graves...she had RAI and regretted it...she has worked with me in achieving remission. She trusts my decisions on meds and levels because she knows I have done my homework. I am very lucky to have her in my corner. Big Hugs..Kathy

Hi Brook. I absolutely love my Endo. I found him after my first Endo diagnosed me with GD and then 2 weeks later wanted to push RAI on me. I still was trying to figure out what GD was and what other treatments methods there were, not to mention that I was critical at the time of diagnosis. I didn't care for her treatment plan so I did a through search online for specialists in NYC (I travel an 1.5 hours to NYC to see my Endo) and found my current Endo, Dr. Noel Maclaren. I had to get on a waiting list to see him, but it was worth it! I've been with him ever since.

He does not believe in or support RAI or surgical removal of the thyroid. We've been using ATD since I began seeing him. He run regular labs on me as well as ultrasounds on the thyroid once a year.

We discuss other options to incorporate along with ATD like acupuncture, approved vitamins and supplements and diet and exercise.

Thankfully he is covered under my insurance, so the only headache is driving in to the city and paying the ridiculous tolls and parking fees!

I see a really good endo in Cherry hHll, NJ, which may not be too far for you as I see you are in Philly. My first endo immediately wanted to do surgery or RAI, and I wasn't there yet. I've been on my PTU for nearly 5 years, with no problems. My new doc takes all his own blood work and calls me within a few days with the results, we've had to tweek my meds here and there, but he's willing to do that and doesn't push me in other directions. If you would like his name, let me know I'll message you.

*Cherry Hill... sorry

Sorry again, I forgot to mention that he accepts most insurances, as I know some endos don't.

As far as how often he takes blood work, it depends on you. If he's trying to get your levels stable, it'll be monthly or bi-monthly. I'm on the once every 6 months now. And, I have to point this out, every time i get blood drawn, at the blood lab, hospital, etc., it's a huge fiasco, my veins aren't good and I don't bleed well from them. He has NEVER missed a vein, blown a vein or drawn from a slow bleeding one. I wish I could go to him for ALL my blood work. lol