If you live in the wellness world long enough, you’ll inevitably say, “My labs came back normal, but I still feel off.” It’s a sense of knowing that on-paper, your doctor is telling you that you’re normal, but something doesn’t feel right.
It could be a gut issue, feeling tired constantly, or walking through life in a brain fog.
To cut through the noise of being “normal on paper,” we sat down with Dr. Preyasi Kothari of Innovative Vitality. We unpacked how to use your symptoms as real data, and what to tweak in your daily routine to feel truly vibrant, not just disease-free.
Normal vs. Optimal: Knowing the Difference
When visiting your doctor for your annual visits, your bloodwork is compared to the population. Your thyroid numbers, for example, may read “in range,” yet if you have brain fog, constipation, weight gain, or energy crashes, your thyroid might be suboptimal for you.
“A lot of fertility specialists like to keep that range, especially when it comes to the thyroid tightly regulated,” Dr. Kothari shared. “They’re very goal-directed on helping women get pregnant And so this is where the reference range, the normal is not ideal.”
Your Symptoms Are Data: Track Them Like a Scientist
One of Dr. Kothari’s biggest reminders: Be your own advocate. She advised anyone experiencing an “off” feeling to keep a log of symptoms including energy, mood, sleep quality, bloating, appetite, bowel habits, and cycle changes (especially if you’re in your late 30s–40s — hello, perimenopause).
Record these daily over multiple cycles. Bring this context to your next visit — it’s as crucial as lab values.
“Write down even your capacity to handle stress,” she advised. “I have a 3-and-a-half-year-old. I know that the second half of my cycle, I probably have a little bit less tolerance for my husband and my kiddos.”
Hidden Clues: The “Normal” Symptoms We Ignore
There’s an interesting phenomenon for women when it comes to our health. The best way to explain it is through the viral TikToks of women having their IUDs inserted without pain medicine. Here’s a compilation video.
We follow a long line of women who are told that we’re exaggerating our symptoms or if our pain is believed, we’re advised to simply “tough it out.” This leads women to diminish, ignore or simply not report their own symptoms. But with the right provider, you should feel comfortable sharing your symptoms, because they could be packed with important health data.
Dr. Kothari shared a few overlooked signs that deserve more curiosity:
- Shoulder pain in perimenopause can signal estrogen decline. If you haven’t heard of the frozen shoulder, it involves stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint and can last up to three years.
- Inexplicable rashes are another sign of the hormonal changes that come with perimenopause. Track any changes to your skin, especially rashes.
- Tinnitus (or a ringing in the ears) is another marker of menopause and perimenopause. Isn’t it fun to think about all of the ways our changing hormones make us feel crazy?
- Midsection weight gain and post-meal crashes are an important symptom to monitor, no matter your age. This could hint at impaired metabolic flexibility, meaning that the body may be having trouble switching between fuel sources – like carbs and fats.
Why You’re Tired Even After 10 Hours of sleep
If you’ve given into the tracking phenomenon – maybe you’re wearing an Apple Watch or an Oura ring to bed, or maybe you have an Eight Sleep, you lucky duck – you’re familiar with the numbers associated with sleep. Our devices track how long it takes you to fall asleep, how long you’re in bed, and your time spent in REM and deep sleep. But If you’re waking up exhausted, it’s time to look outside of the quantitative and check your habits.
A few sleep habits to weave into your day that just might change the way you sleep:
- Morning sunlight: get sunlight + movement ASAP to anchor circadian rhythm.
- Adjust your lighting to mirror the sunset: dim your lights and ditch screens
- Tell your body it’s time to rest by sticking to an eating schedule: Yes, rest and digest is an important part of your daily cycle – and to help with sleep, stop eating at least two hours before bed (even that one last chocolate square!)
- Calm your brain by putting your worries on paper before bed: journaling releases mental clutter, lowers nighttime nervous system activation.
And, a tough love reminder: No TV in bed. Read an actual book instead.
Be Your Own Best Advocate
If you feel “off” but get brushed off, switch providers. You shouldn’t feel nervous about sharing your symptoms and you shouldn’t feel like your symptoms are ignored.
Bring your data (symptom log and labs), ask curious questions, and find a practitioner who treats you as a partner, not a number on a chart.
Ready to Feel Better Than “Normal”?
Your health deserves more than a population average. Book a consultation with Dr. Kothari and the Innovative Vitality team — and get a care plan designed for you, not just the mean of the bell curve. Book a Consultation at Innovative.
