“Why Your Labs Are Normal—But You Still Feel Awful” A functional medicine guide for women who’ve been dismissed, misdiagnosed, or misunderstood.
You got the bloodwork. You got the call.
“Everything looks normal.”
But you’re exhausted. Bloated. Moody. Foggy. Your period’s a mess. You crash by 3pm. You don’t feel like yourself.
So why are your labs saying you're fine?
This is one of the most common—and most infuriating—things I hear from women who walk into my practice. And it’s not that your symptoms are in your head. It’s that traditional labs are designed to catch disease, not dysfunction.
There’s a massive difference between normal and optimal.
And that’s the entire reason why functional medicine exists.
Why ‘Normal’ Isn’t the Goal
“Normal” ranges on lab reports are population averages—pulled from people who are often already unwell. The reference range doesn’t tell you whether your body is thriving. It just tells you whether your values are worse than the general public’s.
Let me say that again:
You can have “normal” labs and still feel terrible—because no one’s checked if your body is actually functioning well.
Here’s the truth:
A TSH of 3.9 might be “normal” but leave you hypothyroid in every way
A ferritin of 15 is not an iron deficiency by conventional standards—but it feels like fatigue, hair loss, anxiety, and brain fog
B12 might be “in range” at 300—but you may not be absorbing or utilizing it efficiently
Cortisol dysregulation won’t show up in basic bloodwork—but it might be why you’re wired at night and exhausted all day
This is the blind spot. This is the gap functional medicine fills.
The Problem with 7-Minute Medicine
Most conventional appointments are under 10 minutes. They’re focused on checking boxes, ruling out disease, and prescribing a fix.
You’re not being evaluated for how your systems are communicating. You’re not getting answers for your symptoms unless something is catastrophically wrong.
So what happens to the woman who’s exhausted, inflamed, hormonally imbalanced, and stuck in survival mode—but whose labs say she’s “fine”?
She gets told to drink more water. Sleep more. Maybe consider an antidepressant.
In other words—she gets dismissed.
And eventually, she stops asking. She starts blaming herself.
Until she finds someone willing to look deeper.
What Functional Medicine Does Differently
At Trinity Health & Wellness, we don’t stop at normal. We go further.
As a licensed primary care provider practicing through the lens of functional medicine, I order advanced labs that evaluate:
How your thyroid is actually functioning (not just a single TSH number)
Whether your hormones are communicating properly (not just if you’re in menopause)
Nutrient status that affects mood, metabolism, energy, and detox
Inflammatory markers that can explain chronic pain, fatigue, or skin issues
Metabolic health that’s often missed in women until it’s spiraled into insulin resistance
Gut and immune markers that point to deeper dysfunction
I don’t run these because they’re trendy. I run them because they tell me what’s actually going on in your body—and give us the information needed to design a targeted, personalized plan.
You Deserve More Than “Normal”
This isn’t about over-testing. It’s about intelligent, evidence-based investigation.
Most of the women I work with have spent years trying to feel better—only to be handed a clean lab report and a prescription. But once we find the why, everything starts to shift.
Because when you know the cause, you can treat the root—not just manage the symptoms.
You’re Not Crazy. You’re Just Undervalued.
If you’ve been told your labs are normal…
But you’re still bloated, tired, foggy, anxious, inflamed, or exhausted…
It’s time for a different approach.
My job is to believe your body, not just your chart.
My goal is to restore function—not manage decline.
Ready for Better?
We begin with a comprehensive intake and clarity consult to see if our model is right for you. If it is, you’ll be guided through a 6-month process that includes lab testing, a personalized wellness plan, and true clinical support—without insurance interference or rushed visits.
This is primary care reimagined.
This is functional medicine that actually functions.
