My Doctor Was Wrong About My Thyroid (Yours Might Be Too)
(00:00)
Dr. Tabatha: Before we get started with our awesome episode, I need to add this amazing golden nugget. I hear from so many women, "I'm afraid to tell my doctor what I'm doing with my functional provider." They're scared to share about supplements or that they're doing the Fast to Faith program because they're worried their doctor won't understand.
(00:32)
Dr. Tabatha: Will you just quickly break down some key points to equip women to confidently advocate for themselves at conventional doctor appointments?
(01:08)
Lisa: 100%. Even as a pharmacist, I felt intimidated to talk to my doctor about my health journey. I recommend women take time before appointments to list what’s important in a primary care doctor—especially if you're finding a new one. I wanted someone I could talk to about all aspects of my health, including functional medicine.
(02:11)
Lisa: I told my new doctor, “I work with a functional medicine doctor. I want to feel comfortable bringing ideas to you and not have them dismissed.” It’s about creating a collaborative triangle—me, my primary, and my functional provider.
(03:12)
Dr. Tabatha: That’s so good. And women can ask their girlfriends for doctor recommendations, or even call offices to see if the doctor is open to alternative or root cause medicine. Don’t be afraid to doctor-shop. You have the right to choose.
(04:23)
Dr. Tabatha: We have way more say in our health than the white coats give us credit for. You’re paying for your insurance—you get to choose. Stand up for yourself.
(05:05)
Dr. Tabatha: This episode is going to be amazing. We're talking about significant weight struggles—50 pounds or more—and the underlying causes. Today’s guest is not only a patient but a Fast to Faith certified coach. Welcome, Lisa!
(05:40)
Lisa: Thank you, Dr. T! I’m so excited to be here and share my story. Hopefully, it helps someone who’s going through the same thing I went through.
(06:41)
Lisa: When I came to you, I had been struggling with thyroid issues for years. I’m a pharmacist, but even I wasn’t taught everything about how the thyroid works. I’d ask my doctor for specific tests, but I’d only get one standard test back—never the full picture.
(07:35)
Lisa: Eventually, I ordered my own labs and discovered I had Hashimoto’s. No one had ever looked at that before. If I’d known earlier, I think it could’ve helped me so much with weight loss.
(08:08)
Dr. Tabatha: That’s such an important point. Most conventional doctors order a reflex TSH test, which only digs deeper if something is really off. Women get dismissed when their TSH is “normal,” but they still feel awful.
(11:18)
Lisa: In my 40s, the weight just started piling on—up to 285 lbs. Life hit hard. I was working 10-hour days, and I just stopped weighing myself. I think I was already in perimenopause when things got really tough.
(14:12)
Lisa: In my late 40s, hormones shifted fast. 20–30 lbs came on quickly. No matter what I did, I couldn’t lose it. I didn’t realize how much my thyroid and hormones were playing into it.
(17:18)
Dr. Tabatha: And you’d also had part of your stomach removed, which meant you couldn’t absorb nutrients properly. You weren’t even digesting food in the same way anymore.
(18:46)
Lisa: I’m someone who wants to know why certain foods are right for me. Learning that gluten affects thyroid health was a big turning point. I wish I’d known that sooner. Cutting it out wasn’t as hard as I thought, and it really helped.
(20:26)
Dr. Tabatha: And your medication wasn’t working properly either, because the right labs weren’t being run. You didn’t have accurate information.
(22:08)
Lisa: Exactly. And hardly anyone ever talks about T3, which is critical. There are so few medications for thyroid—yet doctors don’t look beyond the basics.
(23:42)
Dr. Tabatha: What would you say to the woman who feels too busy to take care of herself, let alone go through testing or see a new doctor?
(26:30)
Lisa: First and foremost—you are worth it. You deserve the same level of care and worthiness you give to everyone else. You’ve got to take care of yourself to show up for others.
(28:07)
Dr. Tabatha: And now you’re pouring into other women. You’re leading book clubs and helping with Fast to Faith. It’s like God is multiplying your time now that you’re prioritizing Him and yourself.
(29:39)
Lisa: I used to do all the talking in prayer. I never stopped to listen for God’s direction. But now I’m learning to be still and let Him lead.
(31:02)
Lisa: God already knows the future—so if something isn’t happening the way I planned, it’s because He has a better plan. I just need to listen.
(32:37)
Dr. Tabatha: That’s such a powerful perspective. And I love that you’re bringing it back to God’s timing. So often we fight against it instead of trusting it.
(34:25)
Lisa: Another big piece of my healing journey was understanding trauma. I didn’t realize how much was still hanging around. Releasing it helped me get into a parasympathetic state and let my body heal.
(35:47)
Dr. Tabatha: And it’s about connecting the dots—food, emotions, sleep, movement. You know your body better than anyone. You have to track and trust what you’re experiencing.
(37:34)
Lisa: You have to make the time for yourself. There won’t be a magical free minute. And yes, people around you might push back. But that’s okay—it’s just change.
(40:07)
Lisa: Eventually they’ll see: there’s no catastrophe if you take an hour for yourself. The world doesn’t fall apart. You’ll come back stronger.
(41:34)
Dr. Tabatha: That’s what I tell women—have the conversation with your family. “I’m doing this because I can’t keep giving from an empty tank.”
(43:14)
Dr. Tabatha: Lisa, you are incredible. Thank you for sharing your story. If you're listening and struggling with weight, thyroid, hormones, or gut issues—come find us. We’re here to help.
(44:57)
Dr. Tabatha: And if you're not already in the Fast to Faith app—download it. It’s totally free. We’re in there cheering each other on. Lisa, thank you for being such a light in that Sisterhood.
(00:00)
Dr. Tabatha: Before we get started with our awesome episode, I need to add this amazing golden nugget. I hear from so many women, "I'm afraid to tell my doctor what I'm doing with my functional provider." They're scared to share about supplements or that they're doing the Fast to Faith program because they're worried their doctor won't understand.
(00:32)
Dr. Tabatha: Will you just quickly break down some key points to equip women to confidently advocate for themselves at conventional doctor appointments?
(01:08)
Lisa: 100%. Even as a pharmacist, I felt intimidated to talk to my doctor about my health journey. I recommend women take time before appointments to list what’s important in a primary care doctor—especially if you're finding a new one. I wanted someone I could talk to about all aspects of my health, including functional medicine.
(02:11)
Lisa: I told my new doctor, “I work with a functional medicine doctor. I want to feel comfortable bringing ideas to you and not have them dismissed.” It’s about creating a collaborative triangle—me, my primary, and my functional provider.
(03:12)
Dr. Tabatha: That’s so good. And women can ask their girlfriends for doctor recommendations, or even call offices to see if the doctor is open to alternative or root cause medicine. Don’t be afraid to doctor-shop. You have the right to choose.
(04:23)
Dr. Tabatha: We have way more say in our health than the white coats give us credit for. You’re paying for your insurance—you get to choose. Stand up for yourself.
(05:05)
Dr. Tabatha: This episode is going to be amazing. We're talking about significant weight struggles—50 pounds or more—and the underlying causes. Today’s guest is not only a patient but a Fast to Faith certified coach. Welcome, Lisa!
(05:40)
Lisa: Thank you, Dr. T! I’m so excited to be here and share my story. Hopefully, it helps someone who’s going through the same thing I went through.
(06:41)
Lisa: When I came to you, I had been struggling with thyroid issues for years. I’m a pharmacist, but even I wasn’t taught everything about how the thyroid works. I’d ask my doctor for specific tests, but I’d only get one standard test back—never the full picture.
(07:35)
Lisa: Eventually, I ordered my own labs and discovered I had Hashimoto’s. No one had ever looked at that before. If I’d known earlier, I think it could’ve helped me so much with weight loss.
(08:08)
Dr. Tabatha: That’s such an important point. Most conventional doctors order a reflex TSH test, which only digs deeper if something is really off. Women get dismissed when their TSH is “normal,” but they still feel awful.
(11:18)
Lisa: In my 40s, the weight just started piling on—up to 285 lbs. Life hit hard. I was working 10-hour days, and I just stopped weighing myself. I think I was already in perimenopause when things got really tough.
(14:12)
Lisa: In my late 40s, hormones shifted fast. 20–30 lbs came on quickly. No matter what I did, I couldn’t lose it. I didn’t realize how much my thyroid and hormones were playing into it.
(17:18)
Dr. Tabatha: And you’d also had part of your stomach removed, which meant you couldn’t absorb nutrients properly. You weren’t even digesting food in the same way anymore.
(18:46)
Lisa: I’m someone who wants to know why certain foods are right for me. Learning that gluten affects thyroid health was a big turning point. I wish I’d known that sooner. Cutting it out wasn’t as hard as I thought, and it really helped.
(20:26)
Dr. Tabatha: And your medication wasn’t working properly either, because the right labs weren’t being run. You didn’t have accurate information.
(22:08)
Lisa: Exactly. And hardly anyone ever talks about T3, which is critical. There are so few medications for thyroid—yet doctors don’t look beyond the basics.
(23:42)
Dr. Tabatha: What would you say to the woman who feels too busy to take care of herself, let alone go through testing or see a new doctor?
(26:30)
Lisa: First and foremost—you are worth it. You deserve the same level of care and worthiness you give to everyone else. You’ve got to take care of yourself to show up for others.
(28:07)
Dr. Tabatha: And now you’re pouring into other women. You’re leading book clubs and helping with Fast to Faith. It’s like God is multiplying your time now that you’re prioritizing Him and yourself.
(29:39)
Lisa: I used to do all the talking in prayer. I never stopped to listen for God’s direction. But now I’m learning to be still and let Him lead.
(31:02)
Lisa: God already knows the future—so if something isn’t happening the way I planned, it’s because He has a better plan. I just need to listen.
(32:37)
Dr. Tabatha: That’s such a powerful perspective. And I love that you’re bringing it back to God’s timing. So often we fight against it instead of trusting it.
(34:25)
Lisa: Another big piece of my healing journey was understanding trauma. I didn’t realize how much was still hanging around. Releasing it helped me get into a parasympathetic state and let my body heal.
(35:47)
Dr. Tabatha: And it’s about connecting the dots—food, emotions, sleep, movement. You know your body better than anyone. You have to track and trust what you’re experiencing.
(37:34)
Lisa: You have to make the time for yourself. There won’t be a magical free minute. And yes, people around you might push back. But that’s okay—it’s just change.
(40:07)
Lisa: Eventually they’ll see: there’s no catastrophe if you take an hour for yourself. The world doesn’t fall apart. You’ll come back stronger.
(41:34)
Dr. Tabatha: That’s what I tell women—have the conversation with your family. “I’m doing this because I can’t keep giving from an empty tank.”
(43:14)
Dr. Tabatha: Lisa, you are incredible. Thank you for sharing your story. If you're listening and struggling with weight, thyroid, hormones, or gut issues—come find us. We’re here to help.
(44:57)
Dr. Tabatha: And if you're not already in the Fast to Faith app—download it. It’s totally free. We’re in there cheering each other on. Lisa, thank you for being such a light in that Sisterhood.
