What To Do When Your Lab Tests Are Normal, But You Still Feel "Off"

If a similar scenario has happened to you as well, here are some common reasons why you may be getting normal results:

There are so many things that go into getting lab testing right. And if just one of those goes wrong, you end up with skewed results. Learn more about the steps a lab takes, and where errors might occur.

As a physician, I really try to listen to the entire story before running tests. But sometimes, your doctor may not be hearing the full scope of what you're dealing with. Or, the ER doctor who is checking labs on you may think that your symptoms of palpitations sound like a heart problem — when it's really a thyroid issue. Want to prevent this from happening? Read more below.

In fact, there simply may not be an adequate test in existence for your condition. In my field, I've seen this a lot with celiac disease or wheat allergy testing, where the results are normal but the patients get very ill after eating wheat products.

Optimal rates of thyroid, vitamin D, ferritin and so on are very different from "normal ranges" used in lab tests. After you receive your results, make sure to ask your physician if your levels are optimal, not just normal.

While you are waiting for answers and exploring other tests, aim to get more sleep, more recharge time, and better stress management. You'd be surprised how well that works for some conditions.

Remember more is not always better. Too much testing can be expensive and might raise false concerns. And sometimes your condition doesn't even have a lab test that can diagnose it. That being said, if you're working with a specialist physician for your problem, it may be helpful to look into having them order special testing that you haven't tried yet.

This is a simple tool that really helps health care providers pinpoint your problem. Of course, a journal that's 40 pages long is not likely to be carefully read by a busy practitioner. But a clear, one-page summary of all your symptoms, when they happen, and what you were doing and eating at that time can be really helpful. This can lead the physician to think of things they may not have gleaned from your standard office history.

When I myself was struggling with hormone imbalance, I became frustrated with the medical system until I realized that sometimes these issues are very difficult to diagnose with labs and routine doctor’s visits. After reading countless books and talking to various friends, I decided to start with my diet and lifestyle — and finally found success.