Your Labs Are “Normal”… So Why Do You Still Feel Terrible?
One of the biggest frustrations that leads patients into my office is the experience of feeling deeply unwell, but being told everything looks fine in their lab tests. Many people are left feeling helpless, and they are looking for answers. Our maxed out medical system simply does not have the capacity currently to work with people on achieving their optimal health, and instead is fighting a battle just to help those who are critical.
The answer to many is a mystery as to “what is wrong with me?” The reality is that there is often a big difference between what is considered “normal” lab ranges and the optimal levels for how your body actually functions.
Early imbalances may impact energy, mood, metabolism, hormones, and overall wellbeing.
Here are a few common key tests where “normal” may not always mean optimal.
A common culprit for low energy, Vitamin B12 is essential for energy production, nervous system health, brain function, and red blood cell formation.
Signs that your B12 levels may be suboptimal:
- Fatigue
- Brain fog
- Tingling or numbness
- Low mood or anxiety
- Poor concentration
- Weakness.
Things like low stomach acid, gut inflammation, vegetarian diets, stress, aging, and certain medications can all impact dietary absorption of B12 and supplementation can be highly beneficial in these cases.
Ferritin
Ferritin is something we test to measure your stored iron… and this is a huge one for menstruating women.
You can technically have “normal” hemoglobin while still having depleted iron stores and be left feeling awful.
Low ferritin can contribute to:
- Fatigue
- Hair shedding
- Dizziness
- Anxiety or low mood
- Poor exercise tolerance
- Feeling cold
- Restless legs
Many people begin noticing symptoms long before ferritin reaches the bottom of the lab range. Heavy periods, restrictive diets, gut issues, and chronic stress can all contribute to low iron stores over time.
Always consult with your healthcare provider before supplementing iron.
Thyroid
Thyroid health is one of the most frustratingly overlooked pieces of the fatigue puzzle.
Most people are told their thyroid is normal because their TSH falls within range, and conventional testing stops there, but thyroid function is more complex than one single marker.
Additional markers can provide a more complete picture:
- Free T3
- Free T4
- Thyroid antibodies
Symptoms of poor thyroid function may include:
- Fatigue
- Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
- Dry skin
- Hair loss
- Depression
- Constipation
- Feeling cold
- Low motivation
Stress, nutrient deficiencies, inflammation, and autoimmune activity can all impact thyroid function.
Insulin & A1C
Blood sugar imbalance doesn’t happen overnight. Many people experience symptoms of insulin resistance years before they develop diabetes, and catching this early can allow us to reverse the process and prevent further development.
Signs of insulin resistance include:
- Energy crashes
- Sugar cravings
- Brain fog
- Increased belly fat
- Mood swings
- Feeling shaky when hungry
- Afternoon fatigue
Conventional testing looks at fasting glucose, or A1C, which may still appear “normal” while insulin levels are elevated behind the scenes. Looking at insulin earlier can help identify patterns before more serious metabolic issues develop.
Vitamin D impacts far more than bone health. It plays a role in immune function, mood, hormone regulation, bone health, energy levels, and muscle function. Low vitamin D is incredibly common especially in Canada with our dark winter months.
Symptoms of low Vitamin D look like:
- Fatigue
- Frequent illness
- Low mood
- Muscle aches
- Poor recovery
- Low immunity
Many people feel significantly better when levels are brought into a more optimal range rather than simply avoiding a deficiency, and I recommend that most people consider supplementing with Vitamin D!
What to Do About it?
OK, so what to do when your doc sends you home saying everything looks normal but you still feel like… c r a p?!
- Sign up for Health Gateway
This is the province's online portal to be able to view your lab results online. Accessing this information can help you to understand where your bloodwork actually stands, and research further as to what may really be going on.
- Talk to a Naturopathic Doctor
ND’s have a lot more availability and we focus on prevention to dive further into your health investigation with you and create a customized health plan to get you back to feeling your best!
- Advocate for Yourself
As they say, the squeaky wheel gets the grease! Push your concerns further with your healthcare provider to explore further and find real solutions to the issues you are experiencing.
Everyone deserves to feel their best, and have the energy to live their lives well! This is something I feel passionately about, and a big reason I became an ND myself. I deeply hope that we can continue to grow in our understanding of health as a society and focus more resources into the power of prevention!
