"My TSH Is Normal—So Why Do I Feel Awful?"

By Rebecca Ireland, Founder of ThyVita

“I looked fine. But I was falling apart. No one saw the ER visits. The panic attacks. The fatigue so crushing I couldn’t remember my own address. For eight years, I begged doctors to help me—and they all said the same thing: ‘Your TSH is normal.’”

That lie almost killed me.

I had thyroid cancer. I had my thyroid removed. I took my medication exactly as prescribed. And yet, something was deeply wrong. I wasn’t depressed. I wasn’t lazy. I was barely functioning.

I was nutrient-starved.

Not because I wasn’t eating, but because my body could no longer absorb what it needed. No one told me about the long-term effects of low stomach acid, or how thyroidectomy could affect digestion, absorption, and my brain.

Instead, I was dismissed for nearly a decade—until it culminated in a life-threatening crash that finally made me realize: this wasn’t all in my head. It was in my gut. Literally.

Now I tell other patients what no one told me: If your TSH is “normal” but you don’t feel normal—keep digging.

The Truth Behind TSH—and Why It Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story

TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) is often treated as the “gold standard” for diagnosing and managing thyroid conditions. But for many patients, a “normal” TSH doesn’t reflect what’s really going on inside their bodies.

That’s because TSH doesn’t measure nutrient levels, digestion, or absorption—all of which are critical to how you feel day to day.

Hypothyroidism Slows Everything—Including Digestion

When thyroid hormone levels are low, the body slows down. That includes your digestive system, which means food doesn’t break down efficiently. The result? Low stomach acid, also called hypochlorhydria.

Low stomach acid can:

• Prevent the proper breakdown of protein, iron, B12, and other vital nutrients

• Lead to gas, bloating, reflux, and even SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth)

• Contribute to nutrient deficiencies—even if you’re eating a healthy diet

How Nutrient Deficiencies Can Mimic Thyroid Symptoms

Many of the symptoms thyroid patients struggle with may be rooted in nutrient loss—not just hormone imbalance:

• Hair shedding

• Fatigue or low energy

• Brain fog

• Headaches

• Irregular heart rhythms

• Weak muscles or aches

• Frequent illness (colds, allergies)

• Mood swings

These can all be signs your body isn’t absorbing what it needs—even if your blood work says otherwise.

Supporting Better Digestion—Naturally

There are gentle, everyday ways to support stomach acid production and help your body break down food more effectively. These are not cures or substitutes for medical care, but they may be helpful tools to discuss with your provider:

• Ginger – Known for its digestive and anti-inflammatory properties

• Apple Cider Vinegar (diluted) – Sometimes used before meals to support stomach acidity

• Digestive Enzymes – May help break down protein, fats, and carbs when natural enzyme production is low

• Raw Honey – Naturally contains enzymes and may help support gut balance

• HCL with Pepsin – Sometimes used under supervision to support protein breakdown

Note: Always consult a healthcare professional before adding new supplements, especially if you’re on thyroid medication.

Why I Created a Formula With Higher Bioavailability

After my near-collapse, I put on my nutrition cap. I had studied nutrition and clinical nutrition in college, so I thought, I’ve got this—I can put together my own regimen and get back on track. I went all in: bought 11 different supplement bottles, invested in a juicer, and began taking multiple formulas every day.

But despite all of it—I still didn’t feel any different.

Then came another ER visit. I wasn’t unconscious this time, but I was in AFIB again. My labs showed critically low magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and chloride. And each time this happened, the deficiencies were getting worse. I wasn’t just running on empty—I was falling apart, one mineral at a time.

That’s when I went deeper into the research and found the missing link: Most thyroid patients have low stomach acid.

That changed everything.

I realized I didn’t just need nutrients—I needed to get them past my compromised digestion. There was nothing on the market that addressed this. Nothing made specifically for thyroid patients—especially those who no longer have a thyroid.

So I invented it. ThyVita was built to solve the problem no one else was solving: Delivering bioavailable nutrients that actually absorb—even if your stomach acid is low.For people with a thyroid. And for those of us without one.

"I realized I didn’t just need nutrients—I needed to get them past my compromised digestion. There was nothing on the market that addressed this. So I invented it and was awarded a Patent on it." ~Rebecca Ireland

I didn’t create ThyVita to join the supplement industry. I created it because my life depended on it—and now it’s helping thousands more do what I was told was impossible: feel normal again.

What You Can Do Right Now

• Ask for micronutrient testing

• Get a second opinion or find a holistic practitioner

• Research low stomach acid symptoms and test your own response

• Keep a symptom journal and advocate for yourself until you’re heard

• Choose supplements that prioritize absorption, not just labels

To Anyone Who Feels Dismissed: You Are Not Alone

Your symptoms are real. Your fatigue is real. Your pain is real.And none of it is in your head.

Doctors often treat numbers. But healing comes when we start listening to the patient—not just the chart.

You don’t have to settle for survival. You deserve to feel like you again.

📚 References

1. Fitzgerald, S. P., & Bean, N. G. (2016). The relationship between population TSH and free T4 levels and the prevalence of hypothyroidism. European Journal of Endocrinology, 174(5), 583–589. https://doi.org/10.1530/EJE-15-1152

2. Fennema, D., Phillips, S., & Sumar, N. (2021). Gastric acid secretion and nutrient absorption: The overlooked connection in hypothyroid patients. Nutrients, 13(2), 485. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13020485

3. Alharbi, T. M., et al. (2020). Prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in hypothyroid patients. Journal of Clinical Medicine Research, 12(3), 187–192. https://doi.org/10.14740/jocmr4053

4. Martinsen, T. C., et al. (2005). The role of pepsin and other proteolytic enzymes in protein digestion. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, 40(10), 887–893. https://doi.org/10.1080/00365520510023254

5. Wallace, J. M. (2020). Digestive enzyme supplementation in gastrointestinal disorders. Alternative Medicine Review, 25(2), 123–134. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32699874/