129: Hypothyroidism goes undiagnosed all the time in midlife. This episode: everything you need to know to ensure this doesn't happen to you.

May 13, 2025

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Your thyroid is not just "another hormone"—it's the maestro that sets the tempo for your whole body, and it especially needs love as progesterone drops in perimenopause. But here's the problem: so many practitioners still miss the real story. If all you've had checked is your TSH and you were told "it's normal," you could still be sidelined by sluggish thyroid symptoms—because so much more is happening under the surface.

A full thyroid panel really matters. That means pushing for TSH, free T4, free T3, reverse T3, and thyroid antibodies. But it doesn't stop with testing. You need someone looking at your labs with a functional lens (the 'optimal' prevention-focused ranges, not just "fine for the average population") and someone who understands the nuances—like how stress, inflammation, and gut health all play a role in your thyroid feeling sluggish.

Here is what we cover in this episode:

Top Symptoms of Hypothyroidism: Think constipation, hair loss (even in your brows!), feeling chilly all the time, low libido, dry skin, stubborn bloating, and more. If you nod along to two or more, this episode is for you!
Why "Normal" Thyroid Labs Can Still Mean Trouble: Many women have labs that come back "normal," yet their symptoms scream otherwise. I explain why that happens and what labs you actually need.
What a Full Thyroid Panel Really Looks Like: Most practitioners aren't running the full panel! I spell it out for you (hint: it's more than just TSH and T4).
Reverse T3—The Missing Piece: This marker is rarely tested, but it tells you if your thyroid hormone is actually getting into your cells where it belongs, or if it's being blocked!
The Role of Gut Health and Minerals: If you want lasting thyroid health (and overall well-being), you have to zero in on gut health and the minerals your thyroid loves—spoiler: copper is way more important than you think!