What You Need to Know About Thyroid Testing

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It's Thyroid Awareness Month so I want to bring some attention to thyroid testing.

I have two types of people who consult with me for thyroid issues. One who is on a thyroid medication because the doctor said their thyroid numbers were abnormal, and one who isn't on thyroid medication because the doctor said their thyroid numbers were normal, yet they have all the symptoms of thyroid dysfunction.

In either scenario, my first question is always WHAT WAS TESTED?

Most of the time the answer is TSH. On the rare occasion, someone will say TSH and T4. And on an even rarer occasion, they'll say TSH, T3, and T4.

Simply testing TSH alone is not enough to diagnose a thyroid condition (or not diagnose one). And just so you know, TSH isn't actually a thyroid hormone...it's a pituitary hormone. The pituitary releases this hormone to tell the thyroid what to do. It's a signal to tell the thyroid to produce T3 and T4 which are the actual thyroid hormones.

So let's take a look at some of these other hormones that should be tested if you're wanting a clear picture of thyroid function.

What is T3?dline

T3 is our active thyroid hormone. It's the one that is actually used by the cells and tissues of the body to regulate metabolism.

The thyroid only produces a small amount of T3. It relies mainly on the liver, kidneys and muscles to convert T4 (which it makes a lot of) into more T3.

What is rT3?e

Reverse T3 (rT3) is a metabolically inactive form of T3. It actually blocks the action of T3.

Having some levels of rT3 is normal because it does help balance the function of the thyroid, but we don't want a lot of rT3 blocking the action of T3.

Reverse T3 is rarely if ever tested by a general medical practitioner.

What is T4?e

T4 is our inactive thyroid hormone. The thyroid sends this to the liver, kidneys and muscles to be converted to T3. But it can also be converted to rT3.

What are Thyroid Antibodies?

Anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (Anti-Tg ab) and Anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (Anti-TPO ab) are antibodies that help you determine if you have an underlying autoimmune condition. This is where the body is attacking itself and happens to be attacking the thyroid specifically.

If your testing shows up with high thyroid antibodies, know that this is not a thyroid hormone problem. However, it is likely that your doctor will still treat it like a thyroid hormone problem and prescribe thryoid hormone medication. Giving hormones to someone who doesn't have a hormone problem is the reason why so many people feel worse on medication.

What if my Tests are Normal?

You ran all the tests and they came back normal, but you still have all the symptoms of thyroid dysfunction. What gives?

You must understand that the thyroid is part of one big hormonal loop with other organ systems of the body. How it plays with the other organs determines your overall health.

There are a variety of things that can mimic or even directly affect your thyroid. Stress, inflammation, blood sugar dysregulation, mineral absorption, gut health, liver congestion, and even other medications can all be factors playing into how you feel.

Key Points

So here's what you can put together from everything I've stated above:

Testing TSH alone is NOT a good indicator of thyroid function. It could possibly indicate a pituitary issue.
If T3 is low, don't assume that you need more thyroid hormone (T4). It could be that your body is making enough, it's just not converting it properly.
Elevated rT3 is caused by stress to the body whether immediate or prolonged.
Autoimmune conditions are not hormone conditions.
Thyroid testing in and of itself is not good enough alone.
Thyroid medications in most instances are not the answer.
You need good functional medicine providers on your team to really be able to evaluate this condition appropriately.

And let me end with one additional note.

Tests are a snapshot in time and usually aren't indicative of what's occuring right at this moment. Some of the fluctuations in these hormones will occur over periods of weeks and months. So don't get too caught up in ONE test.

If you are having symptoms you think are related to your thyroid, please reach out for a consult. I will not promise that homeopathy is a fast answer to healing or even the only answer to healing, but I can promise that it is ONE answer to healing that many people do not even know about or take advantage of.

As always, please share this information with your friends and family.

Hi! I'm Dr. Kristi!

I’m a wife, mom, and alternative health care practitioner. I like to live a little differently and go against the grain.

I consult with people of all ages who are looking to ditch the drugs for alternative methods of healing. But I’m most passionate about teaching parents how to care for their kids illnesses at home using homeopathy and other alternative health care practices such as nutrition, natural remedies, minimalist ideas, and more.

I’m completely obsessed with ice cream, waterfalls, and all things travel related.

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