Why You're Tired All the Time But Your Blood Work Is "Normal"

Why You're Tired All the Time But Your Blood Work Is "Normal"

Why You're Tired All the Time But Your Blood Work Is "Normal"

Real stories from real clients — the problems they faced, what we did, and how things changed.

Real stories from real clients — the problems they faced, what we did, and how things changed.

Real stories from real clients — the problems they faced, what we did, and how things changed.

Stories

Your CBC and basic metabolic panel came back fine. Your doctor says "everything looks good." But you can barely function. Here's what standard testing misses, and why you're still exhausted.
Your CBC and basic metabolic panel came back fine. Your doctor says "everything looks good." But you can barely function. Here's what standard testing misses, and why you're still exhausted.
Your CBC and basic metabolic panel came back fine. Your doctor says "everything looks good." But you can barely function. Here's what standard testing misses, and why you're still exhausted.

What "Normal" Blood Work Actually Means (And Doesn't Mean)

What "Normal" Blood Work Actually Means (And Doesn't Mean)

What "Normal" Blood Work Actually Means (And Doesn't Mean)

Stories

Your CBC and basic metabolic panel came back fine. Your doctor says "everything looks good." But you can barely function. Here's what standard testing misses, and why you're still exhausted.

What "Normal" Blood Work Actually Means (And Doesn't Mean)

You need two cups of coffee just to function in the morning. By 2 PM, you're crashing. You go to bed exhausted and wake up exhausted. You've canceled plans because you just don't have the energy.

Your doctor orders "blood work." It comes back normal. They tell you to "get more sleep" or "reduce stress." But you ARE sleeping. And you've tried everything.

Here's the problem: standard blood work tests about 15-20 markers. Most focus on ruling out severe disease. They're not designed to catch the subtle dysfunctions that cause chronic, debilitating fatigue.

Standard "comprehensive" blood work in conventional medicine typically includes:

  • CBC (complete blood count) to check for anemia, infection, or blood disorders

  • BMP/CMP (basic/comprehensive metabolic panel) to check kidney and liver function, electrolytes

  • Maybe TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone)

That's it.

What standard blood work misses:

  • How your thyroid hormones are actually working (not just TSH). T3 conversion, Reverse T3, antibodies

  • Your cortisol rhythm throughout the day. Stress hormones that control energy

  • Whether you're making energy at the cellular level. Mitochondrial function

  • Nutrient deficiencies affecting energy production. B vitamins, iron, magnesium, vitamin D

  • Chronic inflammation. Low-grade inflammation that drains energy

  • Hormone imbalances driving fatigue. Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone

  • Gut dysfunction affecting nutrient absorption. Can't make energy without nutrients

You can have "perfect" standard blood work and still have severe energy dysfunction. That's why you need comprehensive testing.

Stories

Your CBC and basic metabolic panel came back fine. Your doctor says "everything looks good." But you can barely function. Here's what standard testing misses, and why you're still exhausted.

What "Normal" Blood Work Actually Means (And Doesn't Mean)

You need two cups of coffee just to function in the morning. By 2 PM, you're crashing. You go to bed exhausted and wake up exhausted. You've canceled plans because you just don't have the energy.

Your doctor orders "blood work." It comes back normal. They tell you to "get more sleep" or "reduce stress." But you ARE sleeping. And you've tried everything.

Here's the problem: standard blood work tests about 15-20 markers. Most focus on ruling out severe disease. They're not designed to catch the subtle dysfunctions that cause chronic, debilitating fatigue.

Standard "comprehensive" blood work in conventional medicine typically includes:

  • CBC (complete blood count) to check for anemia, infection, or blood disorders

  • BMP/CMP (basic/comprehensive metabolic panel) to check kidney and liver function, electrolytes

  • Maybe TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone)

That's it.

What standard blood work misses:

  • How your thyroid hormones are actually working (not just TSH). T3 conversion, Reverse T3, antibodies

  • Your cortisol rhythm throughout the day. Stress hormones that control energy

  • Whether you're making energy at the cellular level. Mitochondrial function

  • Nutrient deficiencies affecting energy production. B vitamins, iron, magnesium, vitamin D

  • Chronic inflammation. Low-grade inflammation that drains energy

  • Hormone imbalances driving fatigue. Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone

  • Gut dysfunction affecting nutrient absorption. Can't make energy without nutrients

You can have "perfect" standard blood work and still have severe energy dysfunction. That's why you need comprehensive testing.

Stories

Your CBC and basic metabolic panel came back fine. Your doctor says "everything looks good." But you can barely function. Here's what standard testing misses, and why you're still exhausted.

What "Normal" Blood Work Actually Means (And Doesn't Mean)

You need two cups of coffee just to function in the morning. By 2 PM, you're crashing. You go to bed exhausted and wake up exhausted. You've canceled plans because you just don't have the energy.

Your doctor orders "blood work." It comes back normal. They tell you to "get more sleep" or "reduce stress." But you ARE sleeping. And you've tried everything.

Here's the problem: standard blood work tests about 15-20 markers. Most focus on ruling out severe disease. They're not designed to catch the subtle dysfunctions that cause chronic, debilitating fatigue.

Standard "comprehensive" blood work in conventional medicine typically includes:

  • CBC (complete blood count) to check for anemia, infection, or blood disorders

  • BMP/CMP (basic/comprehensive metabolic panel) to check kidney and liver function, electrolytes

  • Maybe TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone)

That's it.

What standard blood work misses:

  • How your thyroid hormones are actually working (not just TSH). T3 conversion, Reverse T3, antibodies

  • Your cortisol rhythm throughout the day. Stress hormones that control energy

  • Whether you're making energy at the cellular level. Mitochondrial function

  • Nutrient deficiencies affecting energy production. B vitamins, iron, magnesium, vitamin D

  • Chronic inflammation. Low-grade inflammation that drains energy

  • Hormone imbalances driving fatigue. Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone

  • Gut dysfunction affecting nutrient absorption. Can't make energy without nutrients

You can have "perfect" standard blood work and still have severe energy dysfunction. That's why you need comprehensive testing.

What's Actually Causing Your Exhaustion (That Standard Labs Miss)

When standard blood work comes back "normal" but you're exhausted, we test for these eight energy roadblocks:

1. Thyroid Dysfunction Beyond TSH

You can have normal TSH but terrible T3 conversion. Reverse T3 can block T3 from working. Thyroid antibodies can indicate autoimmune attacks.

Symptoms: Cold all the time, weight gain, brain fog, severe fatigue

2. Adrenal Dysfunction & Cortisol Dysregulation

Cortisol is supposed to give you energy in the morning and decrease at night. When this rhythm is off, you're wiped. High cortisol at night means you can't sleep. Low cortisol in the morning means you can't wake up.

Patterns: Feeling "wired and tired," crashing at specific times

3. Mitochondrial Dysfunction

Mitochondria are your cells' energy factories. When they're not working properly, you can't make energy no matter how much you sleep or eat.

Causes: Nutrient deficiencies, toxins, chronic stress, aging, inflammation

4. Iron Deficiency (Even With "Normal" Hemoglobin)

Your hemoglobin can be normal while your ferritin is critically low. Iron is essential for oxygen transport and energy production.

Classic pattern: Exhausted, always cold, pale skin, heavy periods

5. B Vitamin Deficiencies

B vitamins are essential for energy production. Low B12, folate, B6, B1, or B complex will cause severe fatigue.

Risk factors: Gut issues preventing absorption, vegetarian diet, MTHFR mutations

6. Chronic Inflammation

Your body is in constant state of immune activation, draining energy for "defense" instead of daily function.

Sources: Gut dysfunction, food sensitivities, autoimmunity, toxins, chronic stress

7. Hormone Imbalances

Estrogen dominance, low progesterone, or perimenopause can cause severe fatigue. Hormones affect energy production, sleep quality, and thyroid function. Often overlaps with thyroid dysfunction.

8. Gut Dysfunction Affecting Nutrient Absorption

SIBO, leaky gut, or dysbiosis prevents nutrient absorption. You can't make energy without nutrients.

Symptoms: Bloating, irregular bowels, food sensitivities plus fatigue

The pattern we see constantly: Women with 3-5 of these issues happening at once. Your fatigue isn't one thing. It's a perfect storm of thyroid plus cortisol plus nutrients plus inflammation. And standard blood work catches none of it.

When Rest Doesn't Help (And Why Doctors Are Stumped)

"Have you tried sleeping more?"

Yes. You've tried everything. You sleep 8-9 hours and wake up exhausted. Here's why:

It's Not About Sleep Duration. It's About Energy Production.

Sleep helps recovery, but can't fix broken mitochondria. You can't sleep your way out of nutrient deficiencies. You can't rest away thyroid dysfunction.

The problem isn't lack of sleep. It's inability to produce energy.

Cortisol Dysregulation Prevents Restorative Sleep

  • High cortisol at night means you can't fall asleep or stay asleep

  • Low cortisol in the morning means you can't wake up

  • Cortisol crashes throughout the day mean you're exhausted at 2 PM

More sleep doesn't fix cortisol patterns.

Inflammation Causes Non-Restorative Sleep

You're sleeping but not reaching deep sleep stages. You wake up feeling like you didn't sleep at all. Your body is stuck in light sleep due to inflammation.

The Fatigue Is Coming From Cellular Dysfunction

The problem isn't in your muscles. It's in your cells. Mitochondria can't make ATP. Energy production pathways are broken. More rest doesn't fix metabolic problems at the cellular level.

Why Your Doctor Says "Everything's Fine" (When You're Clearly Not)

Testing Is Designed to Rule Out Disease, Not Optimize Function

Standard labs are designed to catch:

  • Severe anemia

  • Kidney failure

  • Liver disease

  • Diabetes

They're not designed to catch:

  • Suboptimal thyroid

  • Low-grade inflammation

  • Nutrient deficiencies

  • Subtle hormone imbalances

"Normal" means "not dying," not "feeling good."

Fatigue Gets Blamed on Mental Health

Can't find a cause equals depression diagnosis. Antidepressants get prescribed. Underlying metabolic dysfunction never gets addressed.

Some cases ARE depression, but many are missed thyroid, hormone, or nutrient issues that get misdiagnosed.

No Time for Complex Cases

Ten to 15 minute appointments can't dig into multifactorial fatigue. It's easier to say "it's stress" than investigate thyroid conversion, cortisol rhythm, and nutrient status.

Complex cases need comprehensive testing, not quick dismissals.

Insurance Won't Pay for Comprehensive Testing

Insurance won't cover:

  • 4-point cortisol

  • Organic acids

  • Comprehensive nutrient testing

  • Hormone metabolites

They only cover:

  • Basic CBC

  • CMP

  • Maybe TSH

Can't diagnose what you can't test. Insurance-driven care keeps testing limited.

The Result

Women get told "you're fine" or "it's in your head" when they have multiple, measurable, fixable metabolic dysfunctions. That's why we test comprehensively to find what's actually broken.

Care should make sense in your real life. We start with your day, then use labs to guide what to change first.”

Care should make sense in your real life. We start with your day, then use labs to guide what to change first.”

— Dr. Karolina

— Dr. Karolina

Care should make sense in your real life. We start with your day, then use labs to guide what to change first.”

— Dr. Karolina

Your questions.
Answered.

Not sure what to expect? These answers should help.

Didn’t find your answer? Send us a message — we’ll respond with care and clarity.

About Naturamed

What is a comprehensive thyroid panel?

What is a comprehensive thyroid panel?

A comprehensive thyroid panel tests TSH, Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3, TPO antibodies, and Thyroglobulin antibodies. It shows how your thyroid is actually functioning — not just whether your pituitary is trying to kick-start it.

This gives us the full picture of what's happening: whether your thyroid is making enough hormone, whether your body is converting it properly, whether inflammation or autoimmunity is involved, and whether anything is blocking thyroid function.

Most doctors only test TSH. We test all of it.

Why doesn't my regular doctor test my T3 and T4 levels?

Why doesn't my regular doctor test my T3 and T4 levels?

Usually because insurance won't cover it unless TSH is already abnormal.

Conventional medicine follows guidelines built around saving money. TSH is cheap to test. Full panels cost more. If your TSH looks "normal," most insurance companies won't pay for more testing — even when you clearly have symptoms.

That's why so many women get stuck: they feel awful, but their one test comes back "fine," so nothing happens.

What is Reverse T3 and why does it matter?

What is Reverse T3 and why does it matter?

Reverse T3 (rT3) is an inactive form of thyroid hormone your body makes when you're stressed, inflamed, or low on nutrients like selenium or zinc.

The problem: rT3 blocks active T3 from working. So even if your T3 levels look okay, high rT3 means the T3 isn't getting into your cells. You end up with all the classic hypothyroid symptoms — exhausted, gaining weight, can't think straight — even though your TSH and T4 look normal.

This happens all the time in women dealing with chronic stress, gut problems, or autoimmune issues. And most doctors never test for it.

Can I have thyroid problems if my TSH is under 2.5?

Can I have thyroid problems if my TSH is under 2.5?

Absolutely.

TSH doesn't tell you what's actually happening with your thyroid hormones. You can have a TSH of 1.5 and still have:

  • Low T3 (conversion problems)

  • High Reverse T3 (blocking thyroid function)

  • Hashimoto's antibodies (early autoimmune disease)

  • Low Free T4 (not making enough hormone)

A lot of women start feeling symptoms when their TSH goes above 2.0, even though that's still "normal" by standard ranges.

If you don't feel right, your testing needs to go deeper than just TSH.

Your questions.
Answered.

Not sure what to expect? These answers should help.

Didn’t find your answer? Send us a message — we’ll respond with care and clarity.

About Naturamed

I’ve seen so many doctors and still don’t feel better. How is this different?

I’ve seen so many doctors and still don’t feel better. How is this different?

Most doctors' appointments are about managing symptoms. We dig deeper to figure out what's actually causing them.

We take time to listen, run tests that go beyond the standard panel, and look at how your hormones, gut, thyroid, stress levels, and daily habits are all connected.

It's not about throwing more prescriptions at the problem. It's about figuring out what your body is trying to tell you.

What kinds of problems do you help with?

What kinds of problems do you help with?

A lot of our clients come to us after dealing with unexplained fatigue, gut problems, hormone issues, thyroid dysfunction, anxiety, or chronic inflammation for years.

Some have a diagnosis already. Others just know something's off.

If you've ever heard "your labs look normal" but still feel like crap, we can help figure out what's actually going on.

What can I expect from the first appointment?

What can I expect from the first appointment?

Your first visit isn't a quick 10-minute thing. It's a real conversation where we go through your full history - past lab work, symptoms, stress, lifestyle, all of it.

You'll walk away with a clear plan for next steps and personalized testing that actually starts giving you answers.

Do I need to stop seeing my current doctor?

Do I need to stop seeing my current doctor?

No. We're not here to replace your doctor, we work alongside them.

We actually collaborate with your other providers pretty often. The goal is to help everyone on your team see the full picture.

How long does it take to start feeling better?

How long does it take to start feeling better?

It depends. Some people notice changes in their energy and sleep within a few weeks. For others, the deeper stuff takes a few months.

We're not into quick fixes. We focus on real, lasting improvements, so every step actually moves you forward.

Is this covered by insurance?

Is this covered by insurance?

Functional medicine typically isn't covered.

But think of it this way: it's an investment in finally getting real answers and a plan that actually works, instead of spinning your wheels with symptoms no one seems able to help with.

Can you help if I’m not local?

Can you help if I’m not local?

Yep. We do virtual appointments for clients in Michigan, Florida, and Texas.

We can ship testing kits to you, and we'll go over your results in detail during video sessions. You get the same level of care, just from home.

Your questions.
Answered.

Not sure what to expect? These answers should help.

I’ve seen so many doctors and still don’t feel better. How is this different?

I’ve seen so many doctors and still don’t feel better. How is this different?

Most doctors' appointments are about managing symptoms. We dig deeper to figure out what's actually causing them.

We take time to listen, run tests that go beyond the standard panel, and look at how your hormones, gut, thyroid, stress levels, and daily habits are all connected.

It's not about throwing more prescriptions at the problem. It's about figuring out what your body is trying to tell you.

What kinds of problems do you help with?

What kinds of problems do you help with?

A lot of our clients come to us after dealing with unexplained fatigue, gut problems, hormone issues, thyroid dysfunction, anxiety, or chronic inflammation for years.

Some have a diagnosis already. Others just know something's off.

If you've ever heard "your labs look normal" but still feel like crap, we can help figure out what's actually going on.

What can I expect from the first appointment?

What can I expect from the first appointment?

Your first visit isn't a quick 10-minute thing. It's a real conversation where we go through your full history - past lab work, symptoms, stress, lifestyle, all of it.

You'll walk away with a clear plan for next steps and personalized testing that actually starts giving you answers.

Do I need to stop seeing my current doctor?

Do I need to stop seeing my current doctor?

No. We're not here to replace your doctor, we work alongside them.

We actually collaborate with your other providers pretty often. The goal is to help everyone on your team see the full picture.

How long does it take to start feeling better?

How long does it take to start feeling better?

It depends. Some people notice changes in their energy and sleep within a few weeks. For others, the deeper stuff takes a few months.

We're not into quick fixes. We focus on real, lasting improvements, so every step actually moves you forward.

Is this covered by insurance?

Is this covered by insurance?

Functional medicine typically isn't covered.

But think of it this way: it's an investment in finally getting real answers and a plan that actually works, instead of spinning your wheels with symptoms no one seems able to help with.

Can you help if I’m not local?

Can you help if I’m not local?

Yep. We do virtual appointments for clients in Michigan, Florida, and Texas.

We can ship testing kits to you, and we'll go over your results in detail during video sessions. You get the same level of care, just from home.

Didn’t find your answer? Send us a message — we’ll respond with care and clarity.

About Naturamed

Ready to find your path?

Ready to find your path?

Ready to find your path?

If you're exhausted despite "normal" blood work, it's time to test what standard panels miss. Chronic fatigue has root causes — and they're findable and fixable. You're not lazy. You're not imagining it. Something is broken. Let's find it.

If you're exhausted despite "normal" blood work, it's time to test what standard panels miss. Chronic fatigue has root causes — and they're findable and fixable. You're not lazy. You're not imagining it. Something is broken. Let's find it.

If you're exhausted despite "normal" blood work, it's time to test what standard panels miss. Chronic fatigue has root causes — and they're findable and fixable. You're not lazy. You're not imagining it. Something is broken. Let's find it.

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