The Empowered Thyroid Podcast
Have you been told your thyroid labs look "normal," but you still feel exhausted, struggle to lose weight, have brain fog, hair loss, bloating, anxiety, or just don't feel like yourself anymore?
You're not imagining it, and you're certainly not alone.
Welcome to The Empowered Thyroid Podcast, where we go beyond TSH and thyroid medication to uncover what's really driving hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's.
I'm Dr. Rachel Vong, a naturopathic doctor who has spent more than a decade helping women with thyroid disease uncover the root causes behind their symptoms. Every week, I'll break down complex thyroid topics into simple, practical conversations that actually make sense, so you can better understand your body and finally feel empowered to take control of your health.
We'll cover topics like:
• Why you still feel terrible on thyroid medication
• Hashimoto's, thyroid antibodies, and the immune system connection
• The full thyroid panel your doctor probably isn't running (and what the numbers actually mean)
• How gut health, liver function, blood sugar, hormones, and stress all impact your thyroid
• Weight loss with hypothyroidism
• Fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum thyroid health
• Fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, hair loss, and more
Most importantly, this podcast is here to remind you that there is always a reason why you feel the way you do.
Because when you understand your body, you can advocate for yourself with confidence and that's where healing begins.
The Empowered Thyroid Podcast
Episode 04: TSH Is Not Enough: The Thyroid Blood Tests You Actually Need
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If your doctor is only testing your TSH, you are not getting the full picture of your thyroid health.
TSH is important, but it’s only one piece of a much bigger puzzle. And when we rely on that one number alone, we can miss important information that may help explain why you’re still exhausted, struggling with your weight, losing your hair, dealing with brain fog, or simply not feeling like yourself.
In this episode of The Empowered Thyroid Podcast, I’m taking you on a deep dive into the blood tests I believe every woman with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s should understand—what each marker actually tells us, why it matters, and how these results fit together.
We’ll break down TSH, free T4, free T3, reverse T3, anti-TPO and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies, but we’re also going beyond the thyroid panel to talk about other important markers that can give us clues about your nutrient status, blood sugar and insulin, inflammation, liver function, stress response, and more.
I’ll also explain the difference between a lab result being “within range” and what I consider to be an optimal result, and why your symptoms should always be part of the conversation when interpreting your thyroid labs.
If you’ve ever looked at your blood work and wondered, “What do all these numbers actually mean?” or you’ve been told your thyroid labs are normal even though you still feel terrible, this episode is for you.
LINKS:
- Download my FREE thyroid lab guide: https://www.drvongnd.com/thyroidlabguide
- Book a complimentary thyroid consult with my team: https://www.drvongnd.com/apply
- Learn more about our comprehensive 5-month thyroid program, the Thyroid Reset System: https://thyroidresetsystem.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/1107407
CONNECT WITH DR. RACHEL:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drvongnd/
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