Let’s talk thyroid health and thyroid lab markers you want to get checked…
You likely know by now the advice to “just eat healthier and move more”…. well, it’s not quite as simple as that.
Have you ever heard the saying “sluggish thyroid sluggish everything”?
Think of the thyroid like the thermostat for the body. When it gets turned down or turned up it’s gonna affect how the whole rest of the body feels/runs.
It’s used inside the cell to make ATP (cellular energy) which fuels virtually every processes in the body.
Symptoms of Low Thyroid Hormone (Hypothyroid)
- fatigue/sluggishness
- constipation
- muscle aches
- dry skin
- feeling cold all the time (full body cold)
- high cholesterol
- inability to lose weight
Symptoms of High Thyroid Hormone (Hyperthyroid)
- high heart rate/breath rate
- anxiety
- shaking
- looser bowel movements
- feel hot all the time
- feeling of weakness
- difficulty sleeping
- brittle hair
- goiter
- inability to gain weight
What Can Go Wrong with the Thyroid
- Insufficient thyroid critical nutrients – nutrients like selenium, iodine, protein, zinc, vitamin A are required to make T4 and convert it to its more active form T3
- Difficulty converting to the active form – also requires nutrients and troubles like inflammation and a congested liver or gut dystopias can further impair as this conversion happens in the gut, liver and kidneys.
- Cellular inflammation – can also impair the T3 conversion… and here’s the kicker — this type of impairment doesn’t always show up in blood work because it’s happening inside the cell!
- High stress hormones aka cortisol – when stress is high more T4 gets converted to Reverse T3 – basically the opposite of T3 which takes up receptor space so T3 cannot be active.
This is why you want to know these thyroid lab markers to gauge thyroid health:
- TSH
- Total T4
- Total T3
- Free T4
- Free T3
- Reverse T3
- TPO antibodies
- Anti-TG antibodies
To get a complete picture of your thyroid health, request that your doc run a full thyroid panel that includes the thyroid lab markers – NOT just TSH, which is actually a brain hormone (not produced in the thyroid) and is not a good indicator of whole body thyroid sufficiency.
Most docs only run TSH and not the other thyroid lab markers to check thyroid health because this is the test insurance covers.
(if you want to read more about this and the problem with our health care system go read this post here.)
Most insurances will only cover a full thyroid panel if you have an abnormal TSH. This is why there is so much thyroid dis-ease that goes undiagnosed and so many women in particular who are needlessly suffering and being told “you’re fine.”
If you suspect your thyroid, push for this testing to get the thyroid lab markers that gives a complete picture of thyroid health. And if you can’t get it through your doc I can help you get the thyroid lab markers you need.
You don’t have to struggle – fatigue, sluggishness, not being able to lose weight despite everyyyyything – these things are not “normal” or part of “just getting older.”
You deserve better.
Demand better.
I’m here right behind you.
Even better — I can be in your corner.
This is exactly the kind of stuff I help my clients navigate so they can finally get answers and start feeling like themselves again (even when their doctor’s told them “it’s part of life.” (insert red angry face emoji here))
I’m currently on a waitlist with a couple of spaces opening up next month. If you’re interested or want to know more about how I can help, best thing to do is schedule a time for us to chat here.
P.S. If you’re dealing with stubborn weight, or it feels like no matter what you do the weight just won’t budge, there’s likely more to it than diet and exercise. There’s additional testing (like those thyroid lab markers) and other factors at play that are often missed in a doctor’s office. If you’re like “yes, that’s me!” I’d love to see if I can help. Book a time for us to chat here.
Megan Adams Brown, CHC, is a certified health coach based in Austin, Texas. Megan helps people take charge of their health and make “healthy” not feel so high maintenance. The content in this post is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice.
