Eye Doctor Versus Endocrinologist: Why I Had Both, and Not Just One or the Other

When I first was diagnosed with Graves' Disease, I found an endocrinologist. I have a great relationship with her and I am really grateful.

I was lucky enough to have a mom who did research and found someone for me. I go to New York City to see her. We also do virtual appointments now that my thyroid disease is a lot more under control.

It is also worth noting that she is really great when it comes to my anxiety. I worry about everything a lot and she is very patient with me and really explains things well. Many times I will communicate with her via the patient portal and she literally always answers very quickly, which I really appreciate.

Adding a new doctor to the list

I knew I would have this specialist added to the list of my other doctors, but I never thought I would have to add yet another doctor to that list. I pretty much thought that besides my regular doctors, it would be an endocrinologist and that was it. I would not be adding to the list. Turns out, I was very wrong.

Once I was diagnosed with thyroid eye disease (TED), my endocrinologist suggested I see an eye doctor that specializes in thyroid eye disease, so she can really take a good look at them, do the necessary tests, and then determine how bad I had it. We needed to get to the root of the issue.

At first I was so frustrated, I was already going to see my endocrinologist and keeping up on appointments with her, and now I have to add another doctor to the list? Looking back, I am so incredibly grateful that I was even able to get an appointment with this specialist and I was able to be seen by her.

The benefit of seeing a TED specialist and an endocrinologist

My first visit was filled with doing tests to determine what exactly was going on and if there were issues with my actual eye or just the muscle. It was determined that it was just the eye muscle and that no immediate steps needed to be taken. I was told that with time, things would start to look and feel a little better. So it was basically a waiting game for me.

If I could give anybody advice, it would be to go to a thyroid eye disease specialist if you are able to. I realize some people are not in the position to be able to, but if you are, I would highly suggest it.

This doctor was able to dive deeper into my TED then my endocrinologist was and I was able to get some more answers, which in turn calmed my anxiety.

I also think that if I did not go and see this eye doctor, it would not have necessarily been the smartest move. I needed to get to the bottom of what exactly was going on with my eyes. Were my actual eyes being affected or was it just the eye muscle?

What type of doctor(s) are you seeing about your thyroid eye disease (TED)? Do you see an endocrinologist and TED specialist? Just one or the other? Neither? Share your experience with the community by clicking the button below.