Got Thyroid Problems? Here's What Your Labs Aren't Telling You -- with McCall McPherson of Modern Thyroid Clinic

On this episode we sit down with the brilliant and equally gorgeous, McCall McPherson, PA-C, founder of Modern Thyroid Clinic, to discuss her personal journey with thyroid disease and how it inspired her to create one of the country's leading integrative thyroid practices. McCall explains why so many people with thyroid symptoms are told their labs are "normal" despite continuing to struggle with fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, hair loss, anxiety, and hormone imbalances. She shares how comprehensive thyroid testing, individualized medication strategies, and addressing root causes—including gut health, nutrient deficiencies, mold and toxin exposure, stress, and inflammation—can dramatically improve outcomes for patients with Hashimoto's and hypothyroidism. The conversation also explores the powerful connection between thyroid health and sex hormones, practical ways to reduce thyroid antibodies, and a preview of McCall's new book, Take Back Your Thyroid.

Book a Free Discovery Call with The Modern Thyroid:

https://www.modernthyroidclinic.com/

Pre-Order McCall's Book: Take Back Your Thyroid https://book.modernthyroidclinic.com/

10 Key Takeaways

1. A TSH-only thyroid test misses many cases of thyroid dysfunction. A complete thyroid evaluation should include TSH, Free T4, Free T3, Reverse T3, and thyroid antibodies.
2. "Normal" lab ranges are often too broad. Modern Thyroid Clinic uses narrower, outcome-based optimal ranges to better identify thyroid dysfunction.
3. Many patients benefit from adding active T3 medication (such as liothyronine/Cytomel or micro-dosed T3), which can lead to significant improvements in energy, metabolism, and cognitive function.
4. Natural desiccated thyroid medications (such as Armour® or NP Thyroid®) can be effective, but many patients still require additional T3 to achieve optimal results.
5. Splitting T3 doses between the morning and late afternoon may help maintain consistent energy while supporting metabolism, digestion, hair, skin, and overall thyroid function.
6. Hashimoto's is an autoimmune disease driven by inflammation. Addressing gut health, nutrient deficiencies, chronic infections, toxin exposure—including mold—and other root causes can help lower thyroid antibodies and, in some cases, achieve remission.
7. Helpful strategies for reducing thyroid antibodies include targeted nutrition, gut repair, selenium, antioxidants like astaxanthin and glutathione, low-dose naltrexone (LDN), and carefully selected peptide or GLP-1 microdosing when clinically appropriate.
8. Thyroid hormones and sex hormones work together. Evaluating adrenal function, progesterone, estrogen, testosterone, and other hormone imbalances is especially important during puberty, pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, and menopause.
9. Environmental toxins—including BPA, microplastics, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals—along with chronic stress and inadequate recovery can significantly impact thyroid function, making lifestyle changes an essential part of treatment.
10. The best outcomes often come from a team-based approach. Thyroid specialists can optimize medications while other practitioners and coaches support nutrition, gut health, lifestyle, and targeted supplementation to address the underlying drivers of thyroid dysfunction.

Resources:

• Modern Thyroid Clinic: https://modernthyroidclinic.com
• Take Back Your Thyroid Book: https://book.modernthyroidclinic.com/