"Normal" Labs, Thyroid Cancer & The Things I Wish I Knew Before Surgery (Part 2)
- Sarah Rasnick
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
What if your lab work says you’re “normal”… but your body is telling a completely different story?
That was exactly what happened to me.
In Episode 2 of my thyroid cancer journey on the Natural Health Network Podcast, I share the critical difference between conventional thyroid testing and functional testing—and why deeper answers completely changed the course of my health journey.
🎧 Listen to the full podcast episode here:https://open.spotify.com/episode/0bl7k8fEyCvQNLm0D6ftC2
When “Normal” Labs Aren’t Actually Normal
One of the most frustrating things I hear from people in the Natural Health Network community is:
“I know something is wrong, but my doctor says my labs are normal.”
I understand that feeling deeply because I lived it.
Even after discovering a thyroid nodule and undergoing a biopsy that showed a 75% chance of thyroid cancer, I still had doctors looking at standard thyroid labs and telling me things looked “fine.”
Conventional thyroid testing often only looks at:
TSH
Sometimes T4
These tests are designed to detect disease once it has progressed to a diagnosable level.
Functional testing, however, looks deeper.
It often includes:
Free T3
Free T4
Reverse T3
Thyroid antibodies
And that’s where my answers finally appeared.
The Test That Changed Everything for My Thyroid Cancer Journey
After taking my diagnosis to two chiropractors trained in functional medicine, additional testing revealed something major:
My thyroid antibodies were extremely high. This meant my immune system was actively attacking my thyroid.
Suddenly, the symptoms I had been experiencing for years started making sense:
Anxiety
Blood sugar instability
Difficulty regulating body temperature
Fatigue
Voice changes
A visible lump in my throat
At that point, it became clear that my thyroid wasn’t just struggling—it was no longer functioning properly.
The Contributing Factors I Wish I Understood Earlier
This episode also dives into several lifestyle and health factors that may have contributed to my thyroid dysfunction over time, including:
Blood Sugar Disregulation
Years of unstable blood sugar and metabolic dysfunction can place enormous stress on hormones and the thyroid.
Fasted HIIT Workouts
I believed intense 5 AM workouts on an empty stomach were healthy—but for women dealing with hormone and thyroid imbalance, this can significantly increase cortisol and inflammation.
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Hormone replacement is not inherently bad, but without proper detox support and foundational health in place, they can create additional stress on the body.
Genetics
I later discovered a strong family history of thyroid cancer and thyroid disease.
As many practitioners say:
“Genetics load the gun, but lifestyle pulls the trigger.”
The Emotional Side of Thyroid Health
One of the most interesting things I’ve explored since my diagnosis is the connection between emotional stress and thyroid health.
The thyroid is often associated with:
Communication
Self-expression
Feeling unheard
Chronic stress and suppression
While emotions alone do not “cause” cancer, chronic stress absolutely impacts the body’s hormone signaling and nervous system regulation.
Our emotional health and physical health are deeply connected.
Advocating for Yourself Matters
This episode also shares a side of surgery prep that many people don’t talk about: the financial stress.
Just days before surgery, the hospital requested a $6,000 upfront payment—even though they couldn’t provide a finalized bill yet.
I share:
What questions I asked
What patients can legally request
Why it’s okay to slow down and understand your financial responsibility before agreeing to large medical payments
Too many people feel pressured to immediately say yes without understanding their options.
The Next Episode…
In the next episode of this series, I’ll be sharing:
What thyroid surgery was actually like
What I wish I had known beforehand
Recovery expectations
Unexpected symptoms after surgery
And the one recommendation from my functional practitioner that made an immediate difference in my recovery
🎧 Listen to Episode 2 here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0bl7k8fEyCvQNLm0D6ftC2
About Natural Health Network
The Natural Health Network connects individuals and families with vetted holistic practitioners, products, and services focused on root-cause wellness and whole-body healing.
🌿 Learn more at:Natural Health Network
Comments