Why Your Thyroid Labs Are Normal But You're Still Exhausted.
Why Your Thyroid Labs Are Normal But You're Still Exhausted.
Why Your Thyroid Labs Are Normal But You're Still Exhausted.
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 TSH might be "normal," but that doesn't mean your thyroid is actually working right. Here's what your doctor isn't testing, and why it matters.
Your TSH might be "normal," but that doesn't mean your thyroid is actually working right. Here's what your doctor isn't testing, and why it matters.
Your TSH might be "normal," but that doesn't mean your thyroid is actually working right. Here's what your doctor isn't testing, and why it matters.
You're wiped out. Your hair's thinning. You're gaining weight no matter what you do. You finally get your doctor to test your thyroid, and it comes back: TSH 2.8. "Perfectly normal," they tell you.
But you don't feel normal.
Here's what your doctor isn't saying: TSH is just one piece of the thyroid picture — and honestly, it's often the least useful one.
TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) measures how hard your pituitary gland is working to get your thyroid to make hormones. The "normal" range is usually 0.5 to 5.0 mIU/L. But functional medicine research shows optimal TSH is between 1.0 and 2.0 — and plenty of women start feeling symptoms when their TSH goes above 2.0.
Even more important: TSH doesn't tell you what's actually happening with your thyroid hormones. It doesn't show:
If your thyroid is making enough T4
If your body is converting T4 to active T3
If Reverse T3 is blocking your thyroid function
If your immune system is attacking your thyroid
You can have "normal" TSH and still have real thyroid problems. That's why you need comprehensive testing.
The Tests Your Doctor Isn't Running
Most doctors stop at TSH. But a full thyroid panel shows what's really going on.
Free T3 (Triiodothyronine)
This is the active thyroid hormone your cells actually use for energy, metabolism, and brain function. You can have normal TSH and T4 but low T3 — meaning your body isn't converting thyroid hormone into the form it can use. This is one of the most common reasons people stay exhausted even when their labs look "fine."
Free T4 (Thyroxine)
Your thyroid makes T4, which then converts to T3. Low T4 means your thyroid isn't making enough hormone to begin with. High T4 with low T3 means you have a conversion problem.
Reverse T3 (rT3)
This is an inactive form of T3 that blocks active T3 from working. When you're chronically stressed, inflamed, or low on certain nutrients, your body makes more Reverse T3 as protection. High rT3 can cause severe hypothyroid symptoms even when TSH and T4 look perfect.
TPO Antibodies (Thyroid Peroxidase)
High TPO antibodies mean Hashimoto's thyroiditis — an autoimmune condition where your immune system attacks your thyroid. You can have Hashimoto's for years before TSH becomes abnormal. Catching it early lets you do something about it before there's permanent damage.
Thyroglobulin Antibodies
Another marker for autoimmune thyroid disease. Some people have high thyroglobulin antibodies but normal TPO, which is why you need to test both.
Why doesn't your regular doctor test these?
Insurance companies usually only cover TSH testing unless TSH comes back abnormal. Conventional medicine is set up to diagnose and treat disease — not optimize how you feel. By the time TSH gets abnormal enough to trigger more testing, you've often been struggling for years.
Why Women's Thyroid Issues Get Ignored
If you've been told "your labs are normal" while feeling awful, you're far from alone. Women's thyroid problems get dismissed constantly in conventional medicine.
Here's why:
Insurance-driven testing
Doctors follow guidelines designed to save money, not give comprehensive care. TSH-only testing is cheap. Full panels cost more. Unless TSH is flagged, insurance won't pay for more tests.
Training focused on disease, not feeling good
Medical schools teach doctors to treat obvious disease. Subclinical hypothyroidism — where you have symptoms but labs are "borderline" — often gets brushed off. You're told to wait until it gets worse.
Women's symptoms get blamed on stress or "just hormones"
Fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, and mood changes get chalked up to stress, anxiety, depression, or "just getting older." Women get prescribed antidepressants or told to exercise more — while the actual thyroid problem goes untreated.
Lab ranges based on sick people
The "normal" TSH range of 0.5-5.0 was created by testing people who already had thyroid issues. It's not a range for optimal health — it includes early-stage dysfunction. Functional medicine uses tighter, research-based ranges that reflect actual wellness.
The result? Women suffer for years with fixable symptoms because standard testing isn't designed to catch thyroid problems early.
You're wiped out. Your hair's thinning. You're gaining weight no matter what you do. You finally get your doctor to test your thyroid, and it comes back: TSH 2.8. "Perfectly normal," they tell you.
But you don't feel normal.
Here's what your doctor isn't saying: TSH is just one piece of the thyroid picture — and honestly, it's often the least useful one.
TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) measures how hard your pituitary gland is working to get your thyroid to make hormones. The "normal" range is usually 0.5 to 5.0 mIU/L. But functional medicine research shows optimal TSH is between 1.0 and 2.0 — and plenty of women start feeling symptoms when their TSH goes above 2.0.
Even more important: TSH doesn't tell you what's actually happening with your thyroid hormones. It doesn't show:
If your thyroid is making enough T4
If your body is converting T4 to active T3
If Reverse T3 is blocking your thyroid function
If your immune system is attacking your thyroid
You can have "normal" TSH and still have real thyroid problems. That's why you need comprehensive testing.
The Tests Your Doctor Isn't Running
Most doctors stop at TSH. But a full thyroid panel shows what's really going on.
Free T3 (Triiodothyronine)
This is the active thyroid hormone your cells actually use for energy, metabolism, and brain function. You can have normal TSH and T4 but low T3 — meaning your body isn't converting thyroid hormone into the form it can use. This is one of the most common reasons people stay exhausted even when their labs look "fine."
Free T4 (Thyroxine)
Your thyroid makes T4, which then converts to T3. Low T4 means your thyroid isn't making enough hormone to begin with. High T4 with low T3 means you have a conversion problem.
Reverse T3 (rT3)
This is an inactive form of T3 that blocks active T3 from working. When you're chronically stressed, inflamed, or low on certain nutrients, your body makes more Reverse T3 as protection. High rT3 can cause severe hypothyroid symptoms even when TSH and T4 look perfect.
TPO Antibodies (Thyroid Peroxidase)
High TPO antibodies mean Hashimoto's thyroiditis — an autoimmune condition where your immune system attacks your thyroid. You can have Hashimoto's for years before TSH becomes abnormal. Catching it early lets you do something about it before there's permanent damage.
Thyroglobulin Antibodies
Another marker for autoimmune thyroid disease. Some people have high thyroglobulin antibodies but normal TPO, which is why you need to test both.
Why doesn't your regular doctor test these?
Insurance companies usually only cover TSH testing unless TSH comes back abnormal. Conventional medicine is set up to diagnose and treat disease — not optimize how you feel. By the time TSH gets abnormal enough to trigger more testing, you've often been struggling for years.
Why Women's Thyroid Issues Get Ignored
If you've been told "your labs are normal" while feeling awful, you're far from alone. Women's thyroid problems get dismissed constantly in conventional medicine.
Here's why:
Insurance-driven testing
Doctors follow guidelines designed to save money, not give comprehensive care. TSH-only testing is cheap. Full panels cost more. Unless TSH is flagged, insurance won't pay for more tests.
Training focused on disease, not feeling good
Medical schools teach doctors to treat obvious disease. Subclinical hypothyroidism — where you have symptoms but labs are "borderline" — often gets brushed off. You're told to wait until it gets worse.
Women's symptoms get blamed on stress or "just hormones"
Fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, and mood changes get chalked up to stress, anxiety, depression, or "just getting older." Women get prescribed antidepressants or told to exercise more — while the actual thyroid problem goes untreated.
Lab ranges based on sick people
The "normal" TSH range of 0.5-5.0 was created by testing people who already had thyroid issues. It's not a range for optimal health — it includes early-stage dysfunction. Functional medicine uses tighter, research-based ranges that reflect actual wellness.
The result? Women suffer for years with fixable symptoms because standard testing isn't designed to catch thyroid problems early.
You're wiped out. Your hair's thinning. You're gaining weight no matter what you do. You finally get your doctor to test your thyroid, and it comes back: TSH 2.8. "Perfectly normal," they tell you.
But you don't feel normal.
Here's what your doctor isn't saying: TSH is just one piece of the thyroid picture — and honestly, it's often the least useful one.
TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) measures how hard your pituitary gland is working to get your thyroid to make hormones. The "normal" range is usually 0.5 to 5.0 mIU/L. But functional medicine research shows optimal TSH is between 1.0 and 2.0 — and plenty of women start feeling symptoms when their TSH goes above 2.0.
Even more important: TSH doesn't tell you what's actually happening with your thyroid hormones. It doesn't show:
If your thyroid is making enough T4
If your body is converting T4 to active T3
If Reverse T3 is blocking your thyroid function
If your immune system is attacking your thyroid
You can have "normal" TSH and still have real thyroid problems. That's why you need comprehensive testing.
The Tests Your Doctor Isn't Running
Most doctors stop at TSH. But a full thyroid panel shows what's really going on.
Free T3 (Triiodothyronine)
This is the active thyroid hormone your cells actually use for energy, metabolism, and brain function. You can have normal TSH and T4 but low T3 — meaning your body isn't converting thyroid hormone into the form it can use. This is one of the most common reasons people stay exhausted even when their labs look "fine."
Free T4 (Thyroxine)
Your thyroid makes T4, which then converts to T3. Low T4 means your thyroid isn't making enough hormone to begin with. High T4 with low T3 means you have a conversion problem.
Reverse T3 (rT3)
This is an inactive form of T3 that blocks active T3 from working. When you're chronically stressed, inflamed, or low on certain nutrients, your body makes more Reverse T3 as protection. High rT3 can cause severe hypothyroid symptoms even when TSH and T4 look perfect.
TPO Antibodies (Thyroid Peroxidase)
High TPO antibodies mean Hashimoto's thyroiditis — an autoimmune condition where your immune system attacks your thyroid. You can have Hashimoto's for years before TSH becomes abnormal. Catching it early lets you do something about it before there's permanent damage.
Thyroglobulin Antibodies
Another marker for autoimmune thyroid disease. Some people have high thyroglobulin antibodies but normal TPO, which is why you need to test both.
Why doesn't your regular doctor test these?
Insurance companies usually only cover TSH testing unless TSH comes back abnormal. Conventional medicine is set up to diagnose and treat disease — not optimize how you feel. By the time TSH gets abnormal enough to trigger more testing, you've often been struggling for years.
Why Women's Thyroid Issues Get Ignored
If you've been told "your labs are normal" while feeling awful, you're far from alone. Women's thyroid problems get dismissed constantly in conventional medicine.
Here's why:
Insurance-driven testing
Doctors follow guidelines designed to save money, not give comprehensive care. TSH-only testing is cheap. Full panels cost more. Unless TSH is flagged, insurance won't pay for more tests.
Training focused on disease, not feeling good
Medical schools teach doctors to treat obvious disease. Subclinical hypothyroidism — where you have symptoms but labs are "borderline" — often gets brushed off. You're told to wait until it gets worse.
Women's symptoms get blamed on stress or "just hormones"
Fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, and mood changes get chalked up to stress, anxiety, depression, or "just getting older." Women get prescribed antidepressants or told to exercise more — while the actual thyroid problem goes untreated.
Lab ranges based on sick people
The "normal" TSH range of 0.5-5.0 was created by testing people who already had thyroid issues. It's not a range for optimal health — it includes early-stage dysfunction. Functional medicine uses tighter, research-based ranges that reflect actual wellness.
The result? Women suffer for years with fixable symptoms because standard testing isn't designed to catch thyroid problems early.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ready to find
your path?
Ready to find
your path?
Ready to find
your path?
If this story resonates with you, maybe it’s time to start your own. Therapy isn’t about quick fixes — it’s about meaningful change, one clear step at a time.
If this story resonates with you, maybe it’s time to start your own. Therapy isn’t about quick fixes — it’s about meaningful change, one clear step at a time.
If this story resonates with you, maybe it’s time to start your own. Therapy isn’t about quick fixes — it’s about meaningful change, one clear step at a time.
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