Why Your Thyroid Issues Are Getting Ignored: The Bullshit Behind Incomplete Testing

If you’ve been tired, gaining weight, losing hair, feeling anxious, depressed, cold as hell, or just “off”, and your doctor ran a thyroid test only to tell you “everything looks normal”—this one’s for you.

Here’s the ugly truth: there are 13 thyroid markers, but your doctor probably only tested 3 or 4 of them. Why? Because insurance companies and pharmaceutical giants only require those basic tests to justify handing you a prescription—not to actually find the root cause of your issues.

So instead of getting real answers, you’re stuck playing medical gaslighting bingo while your symptoms keep getting worse. Let’s call this bullshit out.

 

The Bare Minimum Tests You’re Getting (And Why They’re Useless on Their Own)

Most conventional doctors will only test: ✅ TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) – Measures how much your brain is screaming at your thyroid to work harder. It’s helpful, but it doesn’t show the full picture. ✅ Free T4 (Thyroxine) – This is inactive thyroid hormone. Just because it’s in your blood doesn’t mean your body is using it properly. ✅ Maybe Free T3 (If You’re Lucky) – This is the active form of thyroid hormone that actually gets shit done in your body, but it’s often ignored because “normal” ranges are outdated as hell.

That’s it. Three (maybe four) markers out of thirteen. Meanwhile, you’re sitting there feeling like absolute garbage because no one is looking at the whole damn puzzle.

 

The Full Thyroid Panel You Actually Need (Because Half-Assing It Won’t Fix Shit)

If you want the real picture of what’s going on, you need ALL of these markers tested:

🔥 TSH – Part of the picture, but not the whole damn story. 

🔥 Free T4 – Measures inactive thyroid hormone. 

🔥 Free T3 – The active thyroid hormone your cells actually use. 

🔥 Reverse T3 – If this is high, your body is blocking thyroid function and keeping you in survival mode. Not ideal. 

🔥 Total T4 & Total T3 – Shows how much thyroid hormone is floating around. 

🔥 Thyroid Antibodies (TPO & TgAb) – These tell you if your immune system is attacking your thyroid (hello, Hashimoto’s and Graves’ disease). 

🔥 Thyroglobulin & Thyroxine Binding Globulin (TBG) – These can reveal if you have hormone transport issues. 

🔥 TSI (Thyroid-Stimulating Immunoglobulin) – This helps diagnose Graves’ disease (hyperthyroidism).

Without these tests, you’re literally missing half the damn story. And if your doctor refuses to run them? That’s a massive red flag.

 

Why Doesn’t Insurance Cover the Full Panel? Because Fucking Profits.

Because insurance companies and Big Pharma don’t make money when you fix the root cause.

Here’s how the scam works: 1️⃣ They only test TSH and Free T4 because those are the only markers required to start prescribing Synthroid (levothyroxine). 2️⃣ If you still feel like shit on meds? Too bad! Your numbers look “fine.” 3️⃣ They ignore T3, reverse T3, and antibodies, leaving you undiagnosed, untreated, or misdiagnosed. 4️⃣ Instead of addressing the real issue, they send you off with antidepressants, stimulants, weight-loss drugs, or birth control to “manage” your symptoms.

It’s not healthcare—it’s a business model.

 

How to Get the Full Thyroid Testing You Deserve (Because You’re Not Crazy, You’re Being Ignored)

💰 Go through a Functional or Holistic Provider – Nurse Practitioners (NPs), Integrative MDs, and Functional Medicine doctors will test all 13 markers (some insurance may cover this, but expect to pay out-of-pocket for at least part of it).

📋 Order Your Own Labs – Sites like Ulta Lab Tests, Everlywell, and Rupa Health let you order a full thyroid panel yourself if your doctor won’t.

👩⚕️ Push Back with Your Doctor – If they refuse, ask why. If they say it’s not “necessary,” run. You deserve better.

 

The Bottom Line: Stop Accepting Half-Assed Answers

If your thyroid tests are "normal" but you feel like absolute shit, you are NOT crazy. You are being ignored by a system designed to medicate, not investigate.

🔥 Demand the full thyroid panel. Find a provider who gives a shit. Stop settling for medical gaslighting. Your health depends on it.