If you’ve ever felt exhausted, foggy, puffy, or just off, only to be told your labs are “normal”, you’re not imagining things. Thyroid concerns are some of the most common I come across, and they’re also some of the most poorly understood. Despite how often the thyroid gets blamed (or brushed aside), very few people actually understand how it works, what those lab numbers are measuring, or what can be done when something’s not right.
Part of the problem? Thyroid levels are all over the place depending on who’s reading them. I’ve seen one practitioner call a TSH of 4.5 “perfectly fine,” while another recommends treatment if it’s over 2.0. It’s wild. It shouldn’t be this inconsistent, especially when you’re dealing with something that affects everything from your energy and weight to your mood, menstrual cycle, and ability to focus.
One of my favorite resources for understanding this better is Body into Balance by Dr. Aviva Romm. It’s thorough, accessible, and offers a far more nuanced vi…
