Signs and symptoms that may lead a primary care physician (PCP) to suspect an overactive thyroid include unexplained weight gain, trouble sleeping, a racing heart, bulging eyes, and feeling sweaty or trembling. A PCP can typically make the initial diagnosis of an overactive thyroid, but an endocrinologist is often needed to confirm Graves’ disease as the specific cause of the hyperthyroidism.

If you’ve been diagnosed with Graves’ disease, you can begin to build a treatment team to manage the condition and the symptoms of hyperthyroidism. It can also be helpful to connect with patient and professional organizations that can provide information about Graves’ disease and connect you with specialists who can treat it and its complications. Here are some resources that can help.

To learn more about Graves’ disease, including how to navigate the diagnosis, you may want to contact an organization that assists or represents people with the disease. Some of the major organizations include:

Graves’ Disease & Thyroid Foundation (GDATF)

This organization connects individuals with Graves’ disease to information and community support. Visit the GDATF website to find a support group in your area, register for their upcoming webinars and patient events, or connect with videos and other resources that provide the latest info about Graves’ treatments.

Kimberly Dorris, executive director and CEO of the GDATF, encourages you to send in your questions via phone and email. The organization is a patient-centered group, “So we don’t try to give medical advice, but it’s a great place to start. We also have a closed Facebook group for patients, as do many other organizations,” Dorris says.

American Thyroid Association (ATA)

The ATA is a professional organization whose members are physicians and scientists, as well as experts in thyroid diseases. The organization helps connect patients to specialists and publishes research on thyroid diseases. Consider subscribing electronically to their monthly patient newsletter, called Friends of the ATA, for updates on the latest research and information about patient events around the country. You can also read issues of Clinical Thyroidology for the Public on their site.

American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE)

AACE is a professional community for doctors who specialize in endocrinology, but it also has many patient resources and can connect you to AACE member specialists in your area.

Thyroideyes.com

Thyroideyes.com is a website supported by a pharmaceutical company that offers many resources. It has a symptom simulator tool, a symptom survey, plus videos of patient stories. The site also has a specialist locator by ZIP code and a Facebook support group.

TED Community Organization

The TED Community Organization is a nonprofit advocacy group that offers online peer support, educational webinars, and patient podcasts. In November 2025, the organization will be hosting its global Virtual TED Patient & Partner Conference.

Your PCP is often the first stop in getting diagnosed and treated for Graves’ disease. But many PCPs do not routinely screen for thyroid hormone levels in adults who have no signs or symptoms of thyroid dysfunction, so it’s important to let your doctor know about any unusual symptoms or sensations you’ve been having.

Dorris, who was diagnosed with Graves’ disease in 2007, says of her experience, “I had tremors, insomnia, and shortness of breath, and I had dropped a few pounds, but it’s so easy to write it off as stress and being in a fast-paced work environment. I didn’t put the pieces together until I went in for my annual physical and my PCP came back and said, ‘Well your thyroid-stimulating hormone is too low, so let’s do some other testing.’”

If your symptoms and test results suggest a problem with your thyroid — low thyroid-stimulating hormone levels indicate hyperthyroidism — you will likely work with a team of medical professionals to determine what’s going on and how best to treat it. Getting information from a variety of professionals can help you make the most informed choices about how you want to treat and manage the symptoms of Graves’ disease. Here are a few doctors you may see:

• Endocrinologist An endocrinologist is a doctor who specializes in hormone-related diseases, including thyroid conditions. It’s likely that your endocrinologist will be the person to diagnose you with Graves’ disease, talk to you in depth about treatment options, and connect you with other specialists for your treatment team.
• Dermatologist If you experience reddening or thickening of your skin (usually on the tops of the feet or shins), you may have a condition associated with Graves’ disease known as Graves’ dermopathy. In this case, you will likely meet with a dermatologist who will recommend a course of treatment, which can range from cortisone creams or injections to lifestyle changes.
• Ophthalmologist Because so many people with Graves’ disease also have the eye condition known as Graves’ ophthalmopathy (aka thyroid eye disease, or TED), it’s likely that your endocrinologist will refer you to an ophthalmologist. Your ophthalmologist will determine whether you have the condition and if simple remedies, such as applying cool compresses, using artificial tears, and wearing sunglasses, can provide enough relief from symptoms. More severe cases may require treatments such as intravenous infusions, external radiation or eyelid surgery.
• Surgeon If you choose to treat your Graves’ disease with a thyroidectomy (removal of all or part of your thyroid gland), your doctor will refer you to a surgeon who specializes in thyroid surgery. The surgeon may discuss the benefits and potential complications with you, to help you determine whether you’re a good candidate for this treatment.

Depending on your additional needs, you may also consult fertility specialists, nuclear medicine specialists, cardiologists, mental health professionals, and more.

If your child has been diagnosed with Graves’ disease, you may benefit from connecting with a national organization to learn about the latest research and find a support group. One online resource for parents of children with Graves’ is a series of videos produced by the Graves’ Disease & Thyroid Foundation that features professionals from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia lecturing on Graves’ disease and children.

Children and adolescents affected by Graves’ disease sometimes experience a decline in academic performance, trouble with handwriting, trouble concentrating, increased irritability, and fatigue. These issues usually go away when the condition is treated effectively, but it’s important to let the staff at your child’s school know about the condition.

A child with Graves’ disease may qualify for a 504 plan, which provides them with special services or accommodations to meet their individual needs. A 504 plan can keep your child from being punished when symptoms affect their performance at school and help them reach their academic potential while the condition is being treated.

The Children and Graves’ page on the GDATF website offers more information and help for parents of children and teens with Graves’ disease.

• Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder that impacts the thyroid. It is crucial to recognize its symptoms early, since if it goes untreated it can cause serious complications, including mental health issues like depression.
• Organizations like the Graves’ Disease & Thyroid Foundation and the American Thyroid Association offer valuable resources, including support groups and the latest information on managing Graves’ disease.
• To effectively manage Graves’ disease, building a healthcare team is essential. The team may include an endocrinologist, dermatologist, ophthalmologist, and/or surgeon for specific treatment options.