If you think you are experiencing symptoms of a slow thyroid, the first thing you have to remember is that you are your #1 health advocate. Many signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism can be brushed off as “normal.” But if you’re feeling off, have a conversation with your healthcare provider.

My goal with this blog post is to educate and give you valuable resources to guide that conversation, so that you can get the support you need. 

How to test for hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is measured through blood testing. So, the first way to get tested is to ask your doctor! They will send you to a lab and if you have insurance, it should be covered (more on this in a moment). 

But, make sure you ask for the right tests

Most doctors will only test for TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone). I still do not understand why this is the standard test, as it does not actually show the entire picture!

Instead, your labs need to measure:

* TSH

* FREE T4

* FREE T3

* Reverse T3

* Thyroid antibodies

The great news: you don’t have to remember all of these! Simply ask for a “full thyroid panel” and it will cover each of these hormones. Want to learn more? This video talks about why testing for each of these hormones is so important.

If you ask your doctor for this, the full thyroid panel should be covered by insurance, too.

If you can’t get a full thyroid panel through your doctor, go to this website and order it for yourself. Use the code angelabrown for 20% off!

Photo by Testalize.me on Unsplash

So you got your testing. Now what?

The results of your full thyroid panel will show levels of each of the above hormones as a specific number. Your doctor will likely compare these to a “reference range” to determine whether your results are “normal,” whether you need to be prescribed medicine, or whether another intervention needs to happen.

Now, these ranges are really big generalizations - you might feel better with numbers outside of the “normal range.” And each of us is different! For example, the levels where I feel best at may be completely different than yours! It’s much more important to go by how you feel. Though understanding where you’re falling within a recommended range is very important.

Download my guide to the Secret to Reading Your Thyroid Blood Test for details on what I recommended as reference ranges for my clients, based on years of testing and supporting women on their thyroid health journeys.

Still don’t feel good after testing?

Don’t give up! Instead, keep advocating for yourself. Ask for additional testing. Explore other thyroid medicines. Find another doctor. Speak to a functional practitioner. Look at other factors that are slowing down your thyroid - lifestyle, environment, diet, exercise, stress, and more.

Here’s the thing… you don’t need a diagnosis to have a slow thyroid. It’s certainly a great confirmation, but even if your doctor says things are fine, there are many other things you can do to try and kick start your thyroid and get your sexy back!

I have so many more resources and tools available for you on my blog and YouTube channel. If you want some one-on-one support on your thyroid health journey, please reach out as I would love to help you.