Thyroid Dysfunction: Why “Normal Labs” Don’t Always Mean Optimal Health
- Dr Bret Ellington DACM, CFMP, LAc
- Mar 6
- 2 min read
Updated: May 7
The Problem With Standard Thyroid Testing
Many patients are told their thyroid is “normal” even while experiencing classic hypothyroid symptoms. Conventional testing often misses conversion issues, autoimmunity, and cellular thyroid resistance.
Normal Labs Don't Always Mean Optimal
Western medicine has some of the greatest diagnostic tools. However, we only seem to treat (medicate/prescribe) when the levels get too high or too low. Until then, "you're normal." Well, normal labs don't always mean optimal. Typically, that's why you're getting the lab work done. You don't feel normal!!!
When you have multiple lab markers that are "normal," but close to abnormal, you start feeling pretty bad. That's why we look at the big picture and run multiple labs to get a full picture of what's going on in your body. Instead of addressing symptoms and treating them individually, we're looking at systems! Why? When a system isn't functioning properly it creates a symptom. Treating only the symptom doesn't fix the system, it mutes the symptom. Then a different symptom appears because you didn't treat the root cause, the underlying cause.......the system!
Symptoms of Suboptimal Thyroid Function
Fatigue
Cold intolerance
Hair thinning
Weight gain
Constipation
Low mood
Fertility challenges
Functional Medicine Thyroid Assessment
We assess TSH, free T3, free T4, TPO antibodies, TG antibodies, Reverse T3, cortisol interaction, nutrient cofactors (iodine, selenium, iron), and gut inflammation.
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