86. No, Your Blood Work Probably Isn’t ‘Normal’ Over 40

Don’t Miss An Episode!

If your doctor told you your labs are “normal” but you still feel tired, bloated, anxious, or off in your body, this episode is for you. Claudia explains the difference between conventional lab ranges and optimal ones, the patterns most doctors overlook, and how functional blood work can finally give you the clarity and answers you’ve been missing in perimenopause.

You’ll learn:

• Why “normal” lab results don’t mean your body is functioning optimally
• The difference between conventional and functional lab interpretation
• Common markers that get dismissed – and why they matter
• What functional practitioners look for that most doctors don’t
• How missed patterns can lead to years of unnecessary symptoms
• How we use blood work inside The Perimenopause Method to build effective plans

Sources:

Defining laboratory reference values

Understanding the limitations of laboratory reference ranges

Has your doctor ever told you, ‘your labs are normal’ – yet you’re still exhausted, moody, gaining weight, or not feeling like yourself?

Maybe you’re starting to wonder if it’s all in your head. Well, it’s not. Today, I’m going to share why ‘normal’ labs don’t always mean you’re healthy, how this shows up for women in perimenopause, and why this is one of the biggest reasons women come to work with us inside The Perimenopause Method.

🔬 Why “Normal” Lab Ranges Miss the Mark on Optimal Health

First, let’s talk about lab ranges — because this is where so much confusion happens. When you get your blood work done, your results are compared to something called the reference range. And that range is based on the average of everyone who’s ever gotten tested in that lab… and that includes people who are already sick, on medications, or living with chronic conditions. So, being in the ‘normal’ range is comparing you to an unhealthy population. It does not mean you’re at an optimal, feel-good level. Here’s an analogy: it’s like saying your car is fine because it’s not completely broken down — but the check engine light has been on for weeks. You wouldn’t ignore that in your car, but when it’s our health, we’re told to wait until it gets bad enough to take action. When we look at labs, we look for optimal ranges — the sweet spot where your body functions best. And that difference is huge in how you feel day to day.

🔎 Looking Beyond TSH: The Complete Thyroid Picture

The other thing is: conventional medicine often looks at each lab marker in isolation: is it high? is it low? If it’s in range, they move on. But your body works as a system, and one marker can look okay while another tells a different story. The real insight comes from looking at how these markers relate to each other. For example, we’ve had clients come to us with thyroid labs run by their doctor – usually TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) — and they were told it’s ‘normal.’ Their doctors say they’re fine. But when we dig deeper and look at Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3 and antibodies — they’re often at suboptimal levels. Which can explain fatigue, hair shedding, brain fog, and even weight gain. While their doctors said ‘everything looks fine,’ the reality is many of these women were running on low thyroid output, and no one connected the dots for them.

🛑 Critical Lab Markers Your Doctor is Likely Missing

A recent client had been struggling with fatigue and we suggested thyroid labs and when we looked at them, we saw that they were suboptimal. So we made recommendations to discuss with her provider, she started thyroid hormone replacement and she said since starting, it has made a HUGE difference in her energy. Alongside that, we address minerals, because when those are imbalanced, your thyroid under-functions. This is why so many women are stuck for years without answers. And here are some things that are missed all the time:

• Early insulin resistance — your fasting glucose might look great, but your fasting insulin is creeping up, which means your body is working harder to keep blood sugar stable.

• Low-grade inflammation — your CRP, an inflammation marker, isn’t flagged, but it’s still higher than ideal, which can affect mood, energy, thyroid and hormones.

• Nutrient deficiencies — things like B vitamins, magnesium, or iron can be borderline low and never addressed because they’re technically still in range.

• Cardiovascular disease risk – most providers only order total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglycerides if you’re lucky, but we recommend a much larger lipid panel to assess cardiovascular health

And in perimenopause, these subtle shifts matter even more because your body is already adjusting to declining hormones, which add fuel to the fire. Every single year, women are told they’re fine when they’re not. And for many, those missed years mean more frustration, more wasted money on things that don’t work, and more strain on their relationships, work, and mental health. If you’re in your 40s and you’re already feeling the effects of perimenopause, you cannot afford to be overlooked or told to just wait until it gets worse.

✅ Get Answers: The Perimenopause Method’s Functional Approach

Inside The Perimenopause Method — we provide a list of labs to get from your provider or you can purchase our panel and then we review your blood work in detail from a functional health perspective, spotting patterns your doctor misses, and paying attention to suboptimal levels, then we create a plan that is personalized to you. We combine that with mineral analysis, stool testing if needed, and ongoing support so you finally have answers – and a clear path forward. If you’ve been told your labs are fine, but you don’t feel fine, you don’t have to accept that. Apply to work with us — the link is in the show notes — and let’s get you feeling like yourself again. See you next time.

Claudia Petrilli is a Functional Health Coach, Integrative Nutrition Coach, Women’s Health Educator, and creator of The Perimenopause Method program. Having experienced debilitating periods, digestive issues, a sluggish thyroid, a pituitary tumor, and perimenopause symptoms in her late 30s, she knows exactly what it’s like to get dismissed by doctors and spend years searching for answers. 

CONNECT WITH CLAUDIA: 

Website

YouTube

Instagram

Facebook

Inquiries

FREE RESOURCES: 

Mini Training: Why You’re Exhausted, Moody & Inflamed – And Why It’s Not Just Your Hormones

Peri-What?! The Must-Have Guide for Women 40+ Navigating Hormone Changes

Perimenopause Daily Checklist

HRT 3-Day Crash Course

GET SUPPORT: 

Perimenopause Clarity Session

The Perimenopause Method Program

Perimenopause HRT Roadmap Course

PRODUCTS WE LOVE:

Equip Prime Protein (Save 15% w/ code: healthcoachclaudia)

Microbiome Labs Total Gut Restoration (Save 15% w/ code: claudia123)

BodyHealth Reds Powder

Symphony Natural Health Melatonin

Eusari Menoplay Non-Hormonal Solution

Glow Below Vaginal Estrogen or DHEA

For more products we recommend, click HERE.