Why Your Labs Are Coming Back Normal, but You Don’t Feel Normal

Have you ever felt like something was off with you, so you ran tests, only to be told that everything looks “normal”? Maybe it’s not that your primary care physician doesn’t believe you feel the way that  you do. More likely, they’re interpreting your tests from the perspective of giving you a diagnosis for a disease, or to refer you to a specialist. You might not meet the criteria for either of those interventions. If you’re staying on top of how you feel, these early symptoms might not be enough to tip the scale on routine tests. Doctors, to their credit, are looking for the diagnostic criteria for disease and won't give you a direct answer on what you’re experiencing unless it qualifies for diagnosis, often because they are bound by that criteria. 

I don't know about you, but I don't want to wait until I meet the diagnostic criteria for disease to get more information! I know you want answers and direction when you're motivated to make change. You feel off, and the longer this goes on without answers, the more you get used to feeling like sh*t and accepting it. 

So, you begin mentally normalizing what you've been told is normal… but really isn't! These symptoms are actually a lifeline that can pull you to a better life. You see, if you wait for things to be out of the normal range, it's going to take longer to get back on track. If you catch things when they start to stray from normal function, you'll be back to feeling good and you've had the opportunity to intervene on chronic disease before it hits. 

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t just wake up one day with chronic disease. Often, by the time things are showing up on a standard blood panel, things have been far from optimal for some time. In fact, the lab ranges your doctor uses are typically representative of the average of the population… which isn’t a good gauge for optimal health as we know nearly half of the American population suffers from at least one chronic disease. 

That's the beauty of looking at tests from a functional perspective over a traditional perspective. Let's look for optimal function at the root, rather than waiting for a value to fall out of range and into diagnostic criteria. Perhaps the tests you've had run previously aren't ever going to produce the answers you need to move forward. Maybe they just need to be looked at from a different perspective. 

Looking at labs from a functional perspective, the focus is on optimal function so that all of the body systems work together in the way that they are intended to. When you change the way you see your health from a once yearly check-up to instead focusing on all of the habits that influence your health in between those visits, you have the power to take your health into your own hands. You become informed on what’s working for you, what’s hurting you, and you know when something doesn’t feel right. A whole body, integrated approach to well-being. 

There are always more ways to look at the issue you're experiencing, so don't settle if the person you've gone to for help hasn't been able to figure out how to help you. Above all else, TRUST what your body is telling you over any test that you take. If you don't feel good, keep looking for answers until you feel your best again. Don't let anyone convince you that feeling bad is normal!

I hope you find all of the answers you need, friend! If you are feeling unsure of how to move forward on your health journey, let's chat. I'd love to help you get the answers you need! On a call, we can see if we are a good fit to work together. If it isn't the right time, I'll give recommendations on what you might do next to get the results you want.* Zero strings attached. You can book a call with me here. Looking forward to helping you transform your wellness!

*Functional Diagnostic Nutrition® health coaches do not diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease or condition. Nothing we share with our clients is intended to substitute for the advice, treatment or diagnosis of a qualified licensed physician. Functional Diagnostic Nutrition® (FDN) Practitioners may not make any medical diagnoses or claim, nor substitute for your personal physician’s care. It is the role of a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition® Practitioner to partner with their clients to provide ongoing support and accountability in an opt-in model of self-care and should be done under the supervision of a licensed physician.

This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be used as medical advice or replace it in any way.