Thyroid & Autoimmune Health in Brandon, FL
Your labs came back normal.You did not.
Exhausted, cold, foggy, losing hair, and gaining weight, while being told everything looks fine.
We run a complete thyroid workup, look at optimal ranges rather than only the standard ones, and check whether your immune system is part of the story.
Sound Familiar?
The symptoms that keep getting dismissed
If this is your daily life, "your thyroid is normal" is not an answer. It is a starting point.
Normal Is Not the Same as Optimal
Why "in range" can still feel awful
Standard lab ranges are wide, built from the general population rather than from people who feel well. Tap a marker to see where we look for it.
TSH
Thyroid stimulating hormoneA TSH of 4.2 is reported as normal, yet many people feel considerably better closer to the lower end of the range.
TSH alone cannot tell you whether your cells are actually getting active thyroid hormone. That is why we never stop here.
Optimal targets are a clinical judgment, not an official standard. They are guided by your symptoms, your history, your other labs, and current evidence, and they are always individualized. Ranges also vary by laboratory, by pregnancy, and by age.
The Workup
What a complete thyroid evaluation looks like
One or two markers
- TSH
- Sometimes Free T4
- No antibodies
- No Free T3
- Told you are "normal" and sent home
The full picture
- TSH, Free T4, and Free T3
- Reverse T3 when symptoms persist
- TPO and thyroglobulin antibodies
- Iron, ferritin, vitamin D, B12, and other nutrients thyroid function depends on
- Blood sugar, insulin, and inflammation markers
- Reviewed with you line by line
You can also order a complete thyroid panel yourself through our lab testing page, with or without a review.
When the Immune System Is Involved
Hashimoto's and autoimmune care
Hashimoto's is the most common cause of an underactive thyroid, and many people carry it for years without being told. Antibodies often rise long before TSH changes, which is why we check them early.
How this works with your specialists. We do not replace your rheumatologist, endocrinologist, or gastroenterologist. We work alongside them, focusing on the nutrition, gut health, nutrient status, stress, sleep, and inflammation that influence how you feel day to day. Keep taking your prescribed medication and never stop it without speaking to the prescriber.
How We Treat
More than one option, chosen for you
Some people do beautifully on standard therapy. Others need something different. We are not limited to one medication or one approach.
Levothyroxine
The standard T4 therapy, dosed carefully and rechecked until your labs and your symptoms agree.
T3 Therapy
Liothyronine added when you are not converting well or still feel unwell on T4 alone.
Desiccated & Compounded Thyroid
NP Thyroid, Armour Thyroid, or compounded options when they are the better fit for you.
Nutrient Repletion
Iron, ferritin, vitamin D, B12, selenium, and zinc. Your thyroid cannot work well without them.
Gut & Inflammation Work
Much of your T4 is converted outside the thyroid, and gut health and inflammation shape how well that happens.
Low Dose Naltrexone
Considered for some autoimmune conditions, when appropriate and after discussion.
Thyroid questions, answered
My TSH is normal. Can you still help?
Yes, and it is one of the most common reasons people come to us. TSH is one marker in a wide range. We look at Free T3, Free T4, antibodies, and the nutrients thyroid function depends on, alongside how you actually feel.
How much does thyroid care cost?
Thyroid and autoimmune care is part of our functional medicine visits.
First visit: $349
Second visit, your lab review and plan: $249
Follow-up visits: $185
Labs are separate. Standard thyroid labs can often be billed to your insurance, or you can use our discounted cash pricing or order a panel yourself.
Do you prescribe anything besides levothyroxine?
Yes. We prescribe T3 (liothyronine), desiccated thyroid such as NP Thyroid and Armour, and compounded thyroid when appropriate. The right choice depends on your labs, your symptoms, your history, and your preferences.
I have positive antibodies. Does that mean I need medication?
Not automatically. Positive antibodies point to an autoimmune pattern, and thyroid function may still be normal. It tells us to monitor you properly and to focus on the nutrient, gut, stress, and lifestyle factors that influence immune activity.
Can I keep my endocrinologist or rheumatologist?
Absolutely, and we encourage it. Many patients see us alongside a specialist. We focus on the whole-person layer, and we are glad to coordinate care.
Should I stop eating gluten?
Not before you are tested. Celiac screening is only accurate while you are still eating gluten, so we screen first, then decide together whether a change makes sense for you.
Do you do thyroid ultrasounds or treat nodules?
We order imaging when it is indicated and monitor known nodules with you. Anything requiring biopsy or surgical evaluation is referred to the appropriate specialist promptly.
You know your body.Let's find out what it needs.
A complete thyroid workup, optimal ranges, and a plan built around how you feel, not only what one number says.
Book Your Thyroid Visit Or call (813) 419-7911This page is for general education and is not medical advice. Care is provided only after an individual evaluation, and results vary from person to person. Optimal ranges reflect clinical judgment and differ from standard laboratory reference ranges. Autoimmune support is provided alongside, not in place of, specialist care. Never stop or change prescribed medication without speaking to your prescriber. Seek prompt care for a rapidly enlarging neck mass, difficulty swallowing or breathing, chest pain, or a racing or irregular heartbeat.