01/30/2026
This is why a single lab result rarely tells the whole story.
Many people ask to have their thyroid tested — and for good reason.
The thyroid plays a central role in energy, metabolism, brain function, mood, weight regulation, heart rate, and hormone balance. When symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, mood changes, cold intolerance, or weight resistance show up, the thyroid is often suspected as the root cause.
But here’s where things get confusing.
Thyroid testing is not one number.
There are multiple thyroid markers, each reflecting a different part of the thyroid signaling pathway:
• TSH – the brain’s signal to the thyroid
• Free T4 – inactive hormone production
• Free T3 – active hormone available to cells
• Reverse T3 – a stress-related blocker of thyroid activity
• Thyroid antibodies – markers of autoimmune thyroid disease
It is entirely possible for one value to be “normal” while others are not — and symptoms may persist despite being told everything looks fine.
So what happens if your thyroid labs are normal?
When comprehensive thyroid testing does not explain symptoms, we look deeper. Persistent fatigue, brain fog, palpitations, mood changes, or weight challenges are often influenced by:
• Hormone imbalance (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone)
• Adrenal and stress physiology
• Iron, B12, vitamin D, or magnesium deficiencies
• Insulin resistance or metabolic dysfunction
• Inflammation or immune activation
This is why a single lab result rarely tells the whole story.
At our practice, we take a comprehensive, systems-based approach. We evaluate the full thyroid cascade and, when needed, investigate the other physiologic systems that influence how thyroid hormone is produced, converted, and utilized at the cellular level.
If you’ve been wondering whether your thyroid is the issue — or you’ve been told your labs are normal but your symptoms say otherwise — answers are possible.
Schedule a consultation or message us to learn how a comprehensive evaluation can help clarify what’s really driving your symptoms.