62: Still Sick on Thyroid Medication? – The Shocking Truth Doctors Aren’t Explaining with Elle Russ

What if the reason you still feel exhausted, foggy, and unwell on thyroid medication is because the system treating you is using decades-old rules that no longer serve patients?

In this powerful episode of Modern Thyroid and Wellness, McCall McPherson sits down with Elle Russ, bestselling author of The Paleo Thyroid Solution, to unpack why so many people with hypothyroidism and autoimmune thyroid disease continue to suffer despite being “treated.”

Elle shares her deeply personal thyroid journey, including years of misdiagnosis, failed protocols, and the self-education that ultimately led to her recovery. Together, McCall and Elle explore where conventional thyroid care falls short, why outdated guidelines continue to harm patients, and how individualized thyroid hormone therapy can fully resolve symptoms when done correctly.

This episode is a candid, science-grounded conversation about self-advocacy, education, and reclaiming health in a system that often dismisses thyroid patients.

Key Topics Covered

1. Why patients are still symptomatic even while taking thyroid medication
2. How outdated protocols from the 1970s continue to shape modern thyroid care
3. The dangers of relying solely on TSH to assess thyroid health
4. Why suppressed TSH is often misunderstood and incorrectly treated
5. The difference between symptom management and true thyroid optimization
6. How thyroid dysfunction impacts cholesterol, blood pressure, mood, fertility, and weight
7. The role of T3, T4, reverse T3, and timing in thyroid hormone therapy
8. Why many patients are prescribed unnecessary medications instead of correcting thyroid function
9. Common misconceptions about natural desiccated thyroid versus synthetic hormones
10. The importance of education and self-advocacy in thyroid recovery

Key Takeaways

1. Persistent symptoms are not normal when hypothyroidism is properly treated
2. Thyroid dysfunction is often the root cause of secondary conditions like depression, PCOS, infertility, high cholesterol, and fatigue
3. “Normal” lab ranges do not equal optimal thyroid function
4. Thyroid hormone replacement, when individualized, is safe and often life-changing
5. Patients must often educate themselves to help clinicians provide better care
6. Thyroid issues are fixable at any age with the right knowledge and support

About the Guest

Elle Russ is a thyroid health educator, author, and advocate who has helped thousands of people reclaim their health after being dismissed by conventional medicine. She is the author of The Paleo Thyroid Solution and creator of The Ultimate Thyroid Course, a comprehensive educational program focused on restoring thyroid function through evidence-based strategies and patient empowerment.

Resources Mentioned

1. Elle Russ Website: https://elleruss.com
2. Free Thyroid Guide & Lab List: https://freethyroidguide.com
3. Book: The Paleo Thyroid Solution by Elle Russ

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