Why the Standard TSH Test Isn’t Enough to Diagnose Thyroid Problems

If you’re feeling tired all the time, gaining weight, or just not feeling like yourself, your thyroid might be to blame. The thyroid is a small gland in your neck that controls how your body uses energy. Doctors often test your thyroid by checking something called TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone). But here’s the problem: the TSH test doesn’t always tell the whole story.

What Is TSH?

TSH is a hormone that tells your thyroid to make more thyroid hormones. When your TSH is too high, it can mean your thyroid isn’t working enough (hypothyroidism). If it’s too low, it could mean your thyroid is working too much (hyperthyroidism). Sounds simple, but one must dig deep to find the right solution. The problem with running just a TSH test is...

TSH doesn’t always show what’s really going on with your thyroid. 

Here’s why:

1. It’s Too Basic: The TSH test doesn’t check your actual thyroid hormones, like T3 and T4, which are what your body uses to make energy.

2. It Misses Autoimmune Issues: The most common thyroid problem, Hashimoto’s disease, is caused by your immune system attacking your thyroid. The TSH test can’t detect this.

3. “Normal” Isn’t Always Normal: TSH has a wide range of what’s considered “normal.” But what’s normal for one person might not be healthy for you.

What should you do?

If your doctor only looks at TSH, they might miss the real reason you feel bad. That’s why functional medicine practitioners dig deeper. They check not just TSH but also your T3, T4, and thyroid antibodies. This gives a clearer picture of how your thyroid is working and if something is causing it to act up.

You deserve answers. If you’ve been told your thyroid is “fine,” but you still feel awful, don’t give up. Ask for more tests or find a practitioner who will look deeper. A functional medicine practitioner is a great choice for thorough thyroid care. Your thyroid is too important to leave unchecked. When you find the real cause of your problems, you can start to feel like yourself again.