Testing for Thyroid Triggers with Tracy Farrell

EPISODE 80

With the wide range of tests available, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the options.

Our approach at Natural Endocrine Solutions is to prioritize the tests that best inform our treatment plans. Depending on a patient’s budget, that could look like several baseline and follow-up tests, while others may only choose one or two.

Whether we’re doing comprehensive or conservative testing, it’s essential to understand each test’s benefits, requirements, and limitations.

Today I’m joined by Functional Diagnostic Nutrition® (FDN) practitioner Tracy Farrell to talk about the testing we do with our patients with thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions. Tracy has been part of the Natural Endocrine Solutions team for over three years, and, like me, she is very passionate about helping people save their thyroid and regain their health.

In this conversation, we discuss a lot of different tests, but it’s ultimately up to you which tests you want to do. I also address concerns with false negative and false positive test results, SIBO, and mold testing, and why I’m not a big fan of colonoscopies. Enjoy the episode!

About Tracy Farrell

Tracy Farrell has more than 20 years of experience in healthcare, starting on the administration side working as Director of Children’s hospitals with a think tank on women’s and children’s health, and then as a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner & Integrative Health and Nutrition Coach at Natural Endocrine Solutions. She did her undergraduate at St. John’s University and received a postgraduate research certificate from Adelphi University.

During this episode, you’ll learn:

Tracy’s path to becoming a health coach and FDN Practitioner
The foundational tests covered in Tracy’s FDN and postgraduate training
Tracy’s favorite tests
What you need to know about the most common tests we use at Natural Endocrine Solutions
- Adrenal saliva test
  - Measures the circadian rhythm of your cortisol levels
  - Gives a view of a full day vs. a moment in time
  - Main markers we observe
    - Cortisol
    - DHEA
    - 17-hydroxyprogesterone
    - Secretory IgA
- DUTCH Test
  - Utilizes urine to analyze sex and adrenal hormones and their metabolites
  - You take several samples throughout the day to give
  - Main markers we observe
    - Sex hormones and metabolites
    - Adrenal hormones
    - Oxidative stress biomarker
    - Organic acids
  - Provides insights for treating many conditions
  - Can be more helpful than blood testing for specific markers
  - DUTCH Cycle Mapping™ can provide insights over a full menstrual cycle
- Hair Mineral Analysis Test
  - Gives a snapshot of heavy metal exposure
  - Cases we’ve seen with clients with lead poisoning and copper toxicity
  - Limitations of hair mineral analysis testing
  - Variables that can cause elevation in each of the minerals
- GI-MAP Comprehensive Stool Panel
  - Why this test is a game-changer for gut health
  - Results provide a numerical result vs. a positive/negative result
  - The depth of detail available concerning gut health
  - My take on testing for zonulin as a leaky gut marker
  - Key differences between a comprehensive stool panel and a basic stool panel
  - Why we assume most patients have leaky gut
- Organic Acids Testing
  - Snapshot of your cellular health with 76 markers
  - Key markers we observe
    - Yeast overgrowth
    - Mold markers
    - Nutrient indicators
    - Mitochondrial markers
    - Neurotransmitter markers
  - A good overall test that covers different areas
- Mediator Release Test (MRT®)
  - Challenges with food sensitivity testing
  - Why we prefer the MRT to IgG testing
How common false negatives and positives are
My concern with colonoscopies

Connect with Tracy Farrell & Natural Endocrine Solutions

Mentioned in the episode

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Podcast - Testing for Thyroid Triggers with Tracy Farrell