Persistent fatigue, weight gain, and feeling constantly cold - even when you're well-rested and bundled up - are classic signs of hypothyroidism. These symptoms are often dismissed when a standard TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) test comes back "normal." At Renew Health & Wellness, Dr. Jennifer Redmond, CNP, DNP takes a much deeper approach. She evaluates the full picture of your thyroid health by testing:

• Free T3 - the active thyroid hormone your body actually uses

• Free T4 - the storage form that must be converted to T3

• Reverse T3 - an inactive form that can block thyroid function

• Thyroid antibodies - to check for autoimmune activity

This expanded panel frequently uncovers dysfunction that standard testing misses entirely.

Common findings on this comprehensive panel include poor T4 to T3 conversion, elevated reverse T3, or autoimmune thyroiditis. Each of these can cause real, debilitating symptoms - even when your TSH appears normal. Treatment at Renew Health & Wellness is never one-size-fits-all. Dr. Jennifer Redmond, CNP, DNP designs your plan based on your complete lab results and how you feel. While levothyroxine (a synthetic T4) is a common starting point, many patients do not convert T4 into active T3 efficiently on their own. For these patients, combination therapy may be the better path.

When T4 alone isn't enough, Dr. Jennifer Redmond, CNP, DNP may recommend:

1. Cytomel - a synthetic T3 medication

2. Natural desiccated thyroid - such as Armour Thyroid or NP Thyroid, which contain both T4 and T3 naturally

The goal of treatment is never simply to get your TSH into a "normal" range. Instead, dosing is carefully optimized to bring your Free T3 to the level at which you feel and function your best. This distinction is critical - two people can have the same TSH and feel completely different.

Thyroid function depends on more than medication alone. Nutritional support is an important part of the treatment plan, targeting the key nutrients your thyroid needs to work properly:

• Selenium - supports the conversion of T4 into active T3

• Iodine & Zinc - essential for thyroid hormone production

• Vitamin D - helps regulate immune function

Gut health is also addressed as a priority, since your digestive system plays a significant role in how well thyroid hormones are absorbed and converted. At Renew Health & Wellness, normal labs with persistent symptoms are not the end of the conversation - they are the beginning of a deeper investigation.