Episode
70: Normal Labs but Still Miserable - Why Symptom Driven Thyroid Care Changes Everything with Brandy Valentino, Jessica Strauss and Krystal Adams
- Podcast
- Modern Thyroid and Wellness
- Published
- Feb 26, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3844
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://modern-thyroid.captivate.fm
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Summary
What if the reason many thyroid patients still feel unwell is not their labs, but how their symptoms are being interpreted? Today’s episode is the first installment of a multi-part clinician interview series on the Modern Thyroid Clinic podcast. Host McCall McPherson sits down with three of the clinic’s clinicians, Brandy Valentino, RN, WHNP, CNM , Jessica Strauss, DNP, FNP-C , and Krystal Adams, MSN, FNP-BC, LSO , to help listeners get to know the people behind the care. Together, they share their personal journeys into medicine, what led them to thyroid and hormone work, and why individualized, symptom-driven care matters so much for thyroid patients. You will also hear candid conversations about medical gaslighting, obesity bias, the limitations of TSH-only testing, and why many people with “normal labs” still feel miserable. Along the way, the episode brings plenty of personality and behind-the-scenes stories, including Brandy’s early inspiration from a care flight helicopter tour, Jessica’s love of travel and Disney, and Krystal’s surprising connection to a military dolphin trainer story. Episode Highlights Why this clinician interview series was created and what to expect in future parts Brandy’s story of being inspired in third grade by a care flight helicopter visit Brandy’s background in labor and delivery, women’s health, and midwifery How Brandy transitioned into thyroid care after questioning algorithm-based hormone protocols What Brandy finds most meaningful: the “fast forward” moment when patients get their lives back The misconception Brandy wants patients to understand: thyroid care is highly individualized The reality of being dismissed with “it’s not your thyroid” and why that harms patients Jessica’s personal experience of thyroid symptoms despite co…