#614: Stop Guessing Which Hormone is the Problem

In this episode, I'm talking about why so many of us default to blaming "my hormones" the second something feels off, and why that's often the wrong starting point.

What we cover:

• Why symptoms alone can't tell the full story — and how dozens of symptoms usually trace back to just a few systems (digestive, endocrine, nervous, lymphatic)

• The most common "it's my hormones" symptoms: fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, mood swings/rage, low libido, sleep disruption, joint pain, temperature dysregulation, and more

• Why the same symptom (like weight gain or brain fog) can point to totally different root causes — estrogen/progesterone decline, HPA axis dysfunction, thyroid issues, blood sugar

• The difference between standard blood labs and comprehensive/functional labs — and why "normal" range isn't the same as "optimal"

• A breakdown of the tests I actually use in practice:

• Full thyroid panel (TSH, free T4, free T3, reverse T3, thyroid antibodies) — not just TSH

• HTMA (hair tissue mineral analysis) — a ~3-month snapshot of mineral status and ratios (I share my own recent copper/zinc imbalance as an example)

• DUTCH test — dried urine testing for comprehensive sex hormones, cortisol rhythm, and neurotransmitters

• Stool testing — mapping the microbiome, pathogens, and gut integrity markers

• Why testing without a thorough intake (and a practitioner who can connect the dots) rarely gives you real answers

• Why you have to actually be willing to act on what the results tell you

Let's dive in!

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