Many people with thyroid symptoms are told their labs are normal, even though they still feel tired, foggy, or unwell. The issue is often not the thyroid itself but how the thyroid is being tested.
Most Doctors Only Check TSH
TSH stands for thyroid-stimulating hormone. It tells the thyroid to make more hormone when levels are low. While TSH is helpful, it does not show how well the thyroid is actually working or how much hormone your body can use. TSH can appear normal even when thyroid hormone levels are off. This is why so many people are told their labs look fine while their symptoms continue.
What a Complete Thyroid Panel Includes
A full thyroid panel gives a much clearer picture. It should include:
- TSH
- Free T4
- Free T3
- Reverse T3
- TPO antibodies
- Thyroglobulin antibodies
Free T4 shows how much hormone the thyroid is making. Free T3 is the active form your body uses for energy, brain function, and metabolism. Reverse T3 can block active hormone and is often high when the body is under stress. Thyroid antibodies help diagnose Hashimoto’s, an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the thyroid.
Other Factors That Affect Thyroid Function
Even if your thyroid hormone levels are fine, you may still have symptoms if your body is not converting T4 into T3. That conversion depends on nutrients like selenium, zinc, and iron. Inflammation, blood sugar problems, poor gut health, and liver stress can all interfere. These important factors are rarely tested in standard care but can make a big difference in how you feel.
The Functional Medicine Approach
Functional medicine takes a full-body view. It looks at the root causes of thyroid symptoms, not just the numbers on a lab report. This includes evaluating digestion, nutrient absorption, hormone balance, and immune system activity.
When the right tests are done and the full picture is understood, a personalized plan can be created to help you feel your best. If you have thyroid symptoms but have never had a complete panel, you may be missing the answers your body has been trying to give you all along.