Why Your Labs Are Normal But You Still Feel Terrible (And What Your Doctor Is Missing)

Jan 13

Quick Answer: Standard bloodwork only checks if you're sick enough for medication. It misses blood sugar crashes, early adrenal dysfunction, gut inflammation, and hormone imbalances that cause the exhaustion, bloating, and weight struggles you're experiencing every day. You're not crazy, and you're not "fine" - you just need someone to look deeper.

I've Been Exactly Where You Are…

I was born with congenital hypothyroidism. My labs were "managed" with medication, but I was still absolutely exhausted. As an elementary teacher, I was living on coffee, adrenaline, and sheer willpower - running my battery down to empty every single day. By 2pm, I'd crash so hard I could barely function.

When I finally couldn't take it anymore and went back to my doctor, guess what they said?

"Your labs look fine."

But I wasn't fine. I had stage 3 adrenal fatigue. My body was screaming for help, but the standard tests my doctor ran? They completely missed it.

That's when I realized: conventional labs aren't designed to catch you when you're struggling. They're designed to catch you when you're already sick.

What Your Doctor's "Normal" Labs Are Actually Checking…

Here's the truth about standard bloodwork: it's looking for disease, not dysfunction.

Your doctor is checking:

Thyroid: Is your TSH within the (very wide) "normal" range? Great, you're "fine" - even if you're at the high end and barely functioning. Functional: 0.5-4.5… but OPTIMAL is 0.8 - 1.2.
Blood sugar: Is your fasting glucose under 100? Perfect, nothing to see here - never mind that you're crashing at 2pm every day…Functional: 7-120… but OPTIMAL is 75 - 85
Iron/B12: Are you clinically anemic? No? Then you're "good" - even if your levels are barely above the minimum.
- a big thing to check if your fatigue and recovery is a shit show is FERRITIN!!!

These tests are checking if you're sick enough to need medication, not if your body is actually thriving.

They're missing:

Blood sugar dysregulation (the rollercoaster that's causing your energy crashes)
Early adrenal dysfunction (why coffee is the only thing keeping you upright)
Gut inflammation (the bloating, indigestion, and that "always full" feeling)
Hormone imbalances (PCOS, estrogen dominance, low progesterone that's wrecking your cycle)
Nutrient deficiencies that haven't crossed into "anemia" territory yet
AND liver function! That baby works through SO MUCH every day!!

And here's the kicker: By the time these issues show up on standard labs, you've been suffering for YEARS.

Signs You Need Deeper Testing (Not Just "You're Fine")

Does this sound like you?

✓ You crash at 2pm no matter how much sleep you got the night before
✓ You're bloated after every meal and feel like your digestion has completely stalled
✓ You can't lose weight even though you're eating "healthy" and exercising
✓ Your periods are a nightmare - heavy bleeding, terrible PMS, or completely irregular
✓ You wake up tired even after 8+ hours of sleep
✓ You're living on coffee and adrenaline just to get through the day
✓ You feel anxious or overwhelmed for no clear reason
✓ Your doctor dismissed your concerns with "your labs are normal" or "maybe you're just stressed"

If you checked off 3 or more, your body is literally begging you to look deeper.

What's Actually Going On (And Why Your Doctor Missed It)

When I work with burnt-out caretakers - moms, teachers, nurses who put everyone else first - here's what I find over and over again:

Blood Sugar Dysregulation

You're eating breakfast( a bagel and huge-ass cup of coffee) , but you're starving 2 hours later. You need sugar or caffeine to push through the afternoon. You feel shaky if you skip a meal. Standard labs check fasting glucose, but they don't catch the rollercoaster happening all day long…

Adrenal Dysfunction

Your body has been in survival mode for so long that your adrenals are tapped out. You're running on cortisol and adrenaline, which is why you feel "tired but wired" at bedtime. Standard labs don't test cortisol patterns throughout the day, but it IS something that I test!

Gut Issues

Bloating, indigestion, irregular bowel movements, maybe even diagnosed with IBS but never tested for SIBO, H.Pylori, or leaky gut. Your doctor might've told you to "eat more fiber" and sent you on your way, but your digestive track is a hot mess.

Hormone Imbalances

PCOS, estrogen dominance, low progesterone, thyroid dysfunction that's "borderline" but never addressed. These don't just affect your period - they affect your energy, your weight, your mood, your sleep, EVERYTHING!

The problem? These aren't diseases. They're dysfunctions. And your 15-minute doctor visit isn't designed to find them.

This Is Why I Created the Realignment Review

After going through this myself - being dismissed, being told I was "fine" when I clearly wasn't - I knew there had to be a better way!! The Realignment Review is the assessment I wish I had when I was desperately Googling "why am I so tired all the time" and do I actually have leaky gut??

Here's what we actually look at:

✓ Digestion & gut function - what's really happening with bloating, indigestion, and bowel movements
✓ Blood sugar patterns - the crashes, the cravings, the energy rollercoaster
✓ Adrenal function - where you are on the burnout spectrum (yes, it's a spectrum)
✓ Hormone balance - the real story behind your cycle, PMS, and stubborn weight

You'll walk away with:

A clear understanding of what's ACTUALLY going on in your body (finally!)
A personalized action plan that addresses root causes, not just symptoms! ( we dive DEEP into symptoms over here!)
Hope!! (Now that someone actually believes you!)

No more guessing. No more being dismissed. No more "your labs are fine" when you KNOW something's wrong.

What My Clients Say

"Not only did she help identify what was going on, but she also laid out a clear and actionable plan to address each issue — something no one else has been able to do for me in years of struggling."

"Working with Jackie Robb has been an absolute game changer. Her deep knowledge of functional nutrition helped me create sustainable routines that support my adrenals and lymphatic system. I can feel the difference in my energy, focus, and overall well-being."

Ready to Finally Get Real Answers?

If you're exhausted, frustrated, and done being told "you're fine" when you clearly aren't - let's figure out what's really going on.

The Realignment Review is $97 and it's the starting point for everyone who works with me. Because you can't fix what you don't understand.

👉 Book your free 20-minute consult here - let's talk about what's going on and whether the Realignment Review is right for you.

Or if you're not ready to talk yet, grab my free resources - the same handouts I use with paying clients to help you start understanding blood sugar balance and nervous system regulation.

You deserve to feel good again. And "normal" labs don't get to tell you otherwise.

About Jackie Robb, NTP
I'm a Nutritional Therapist and Functional Testing Specialist in Austin, TX who specializes in helping burnt-out caretakers (moms, teachers, nurses) get their energy and health back. I've been where you are - stage 3 adrenal fatigue, dismissed by doctors, living on coffee and willpower. Now I help others find the root causes their doctors missed.

📍 Serving Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park, and all over the United States! (Visits are ALL virtual!)
📧 jackie@eathappy.today
🌐 www.eathappy.today