You wake up exhausted. Your weight won’t budge. You can’t focus, your skin’s dry, and you’re freezing all the time. But your doctor runs your labs and says everything’s normal.Let’s be real: “Normal” labs don’t always mean optimal health.In this week’s episode of Feel Better, Feel Great, Dr. Andrea McSwain and Rachelle Corianic unpack the overlooked truth about thyroid function—and why Synthroid alone won’t fix the problem if deeper imbalances are being ignored
Most doctors only run TSH—a signal from your brain to your thyroid. But that doesn’t tell you:How much active thyroid hormone (T3) your body can useWhether your stress hormones are blocking conversionIf reverse T3 is keeping your cells from receiving the hormoneOr if antibodies are attacking your thyroid altogether Dr. McSwain reveals the comprehensive labs you actually need, including:Free T3 and Free T4, Reverse T3, Thyroid antibodies, Ferritin, Vitamin D, Cortisol and more “TSH is just your brain’s request for thyroid hormone. That’s not the same as having enough active hormone in your cells.”
Synthroid is T4—the inactive form of thyroid hormone.Your body still has to convert it to T3 to actually use it. But what if you:Have nutrient deficiencies (like iodine, zinc, selenium)Are inflamed or stressed out (hello cortisol)Have gut or liver dysfunction?Then your conversion process fails—leaving you exhausted, foggy, and frustrated, even on medication.
Growth factors are proteins or signals that help cells grow and divide. In cancer, certain growth factors become overactive, helping the cancer to grow faster and become more aggressive. By understanding which growth factors are present, doctors can determine the most effective way to stop or slow down cancer growth.
Growth factors are proteins or signals that help cells grow and divide. In cancer, certain growth factors become overactive, helping the cancer to grow faster and become more aggressive. By understanding which growth factors are present, doctors can determine the most effective way to stop or slow down cancer growth.
Your adrenals are the boss of your thyroid.If you’re living in a cycle of burnout, wired-but-tired energy crashes, or high stress with poor sleep… your thyroid can’t do its job. Even the “perfect” dose of Synthroid won’t help unless your adrenal function is supported.
Other root causes of thyroid dysfunction include:
- Chronic stress or trauma
- Gut infections + leaky gut
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Hormone imbalances
- Immune dysregulation
- Adrenal fatigue or dysregulation
The active hormone your body uses
Inactive hormone—needs to be converted
Can block receptors + cause symptoms
Can indicate autoimmune thyroid disease
Shows adrenal stress + thyroid suppression
If you’ve been told “your labs are fine” but still feel off…it’s time to take your power back.📂 Membership-Exclusive Lab Guide: Members of the Feel Better, Feel Great podcast community get exclusive access to our Thyroid + Adrenal Lab Guide.
✔️ Compare it to your labs—even if your doctor says they’re normal
✔️ Look at what’s missing, not just what’s “in range”
✔️ Ask: Am I surviving… or actually healing?
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Join the membership to access the full guideReal thyroid healing is possible. But it starts with listening to your body, getting the right labs, and addressing what’s actually going on underneath.
You’re not crazy. You’re not broken. You’re just ready to heal.
Let us walk with you.
