My labs are "normal" but I still feel terrible....

My labs are "normal" but I still feel terrible.....

It's one of the most common statements we hear from a new patient.

Did you know that, on average, a patient with an autoimmune condition will see 7 doctors before they find someone that helps them? We've had patients come from a list of even more.

What makes us different?

First of all, did anyone ever tell you how those "normal" ranges are developed?

Would it SHOCK you to learn that those values come from a statistical analysis by the lab itself? The good ol' bell curve.

For example, we'll pick on TSH. We have seen TSH have a "normal" range, depending on the lab, of 0.5-5.0 or 0.4-4.0 or 0.4-4.5. So, if you had a TSH value of 4.5, two labs would label you healthy and one would have marked you "H" (or high, for possible hypothyroidism).

Who gets a TSH level run more often, a healthy person with no thyroid issues, or a person with symptoms or on an active thyroid treatment? (Hint: It's probably not the healthy person....) So, it would be fair to say that that statistical analysis (bell curve) is based on SICK people, right? Is it accurate to base the curve on sick people?

Second, did you have all the right labs run? 

We often request that you bring in copies of any recent lab work you've had done, and it's stunning how limited the panels are that are brought in. No wonder nothing "abnormal" was found when they checked so little of your body's systems. You won't find it if you don't look for it.

We look at labs a little differently. Of course we look at the reference ranges, but we also consider what functional medicine is calling "functional ranges" or a tightened value range for many (not all) reference ranges. This allows us to look at trends before they become major problems. Those values are marked on your report in yellow as a caution level.

Plus, we run a comprehensive panel. We look at your liver function, thyroid (more than TSH and T3), vitamin D levels, inflammation markers, a CBC.... a 52 point check up on YOU. We also run hair analysis, looking at heavy metal toxicity and mineral imbalances, and will run other testing as needed.

If you're sick and tired of being sick, you've got a call to make.