Why Am I So Tired? Understanding Hypothyroidism

If you've been struggling with fatigue that won’t budge, stubborn weight gain, hair thinning, dry skin, cold hands and feet, brain fog, or just not feeling like yourself… your thyroid may be the missing piece.

Hypothyroidism is one of the most underdiagnosed and misunderstood conditions in conventional medicine. At Vitality, we see firsthand how often thyroid dysfunction is missed—especially in women.

Let’s talk about what hypothyroidism really is, why it’s more than just a lab number, and how functional medicine takes a deeper, more effective approach to healing.

What Is Hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism simply means your thyroid gland isn’t producing enough thyroid hormones. These hormones—primarily T4 and its active form T3—regulate metabolism, energy, mood, digestion, and more. Think of your thyroid as the gas pedal for your entire body. When it’s underactive, everything slows down.

Symptoms Go Beyond the Obvious

Many people (especially women in their 30s–50s) go years being told their labs are “normal” while their bodies are screaming otherwise. Here are common symptoms that I see in patients with undiagnosed or undertreated hypothyroidism:

Persistent fatigue—even after a full night’s sleep
Difficulty losing weight, despite clean eating and exercise
Constipation
Depression or anxiety
Low libido
Hair thinning or brittle nails
Feeling cold all the time
Irregular menstrual cycles
Brain fog or memory issues

Why Standard Thyroid Testing Misses the Mark

Most primary care visits include a basic TSH test—and that’s it. While TSH is a helpful screening tool, it doesn’t tell the whole story. In functional medicine, we run a full thyroid panel.

This helps us understand:

Are you converting T4 to T3 properly?
For some we may even check if there is too much of a hormone which blocks T3?
Is your immune system attacking your thyroid (autoimmune hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s)?

Hashimoto’s: The Root Cause We Can’t Ignore

The #1 cause of hypothyroidism in the U.S. is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune condition where your body mistakenly attacks its own thyroid tissue. It’s often missed because antibodies aren’t checked.

At Vitality, we don’t just treat the thyroid—we ask: Why is the immune system attacking the thyroid in the first place?

Root Causes We Can Explore

Here are just a few of the underlying issues we investigate in every thyroid case:

Chronic stress → High cortisol levels suppress thyroid function
Nutrient deficiencies → Selenium, iodine, zinc, and iron are crucial for thyroid hormone production and conversion
Gut health issues → 70% of the immune system is in your gut. Leaky gut, dysbiosis, or chronic infections like H. pylori can trigger autoimmunity
Toxin exposure → Fluoride, plastics, heavy metals, and mold toxins disrupt thyroid function
Blood sugar imbalances → Insulin resistance or low blood sugar stress the thyroid and adrenals
Hidden infections → Reactivated Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Lyme disease, and others can suppress thyroid activity

Once we identify your root causes, your care plan is tailored to your body. No more band-aid solutions. You deserve to feel energetic, clear-headed, and vibrant. If you’ve been told everything looks “normal,” but you still don’t feel right, don’t give up. Your symptoms are real, and there is a path to healing.

At Vitality, we combine advanced testing, precision protocols, and compassionate care to help you feel like yourself again. Your thyroid matters. Your health matters. And with the right support, healing is absolutely possible.