Why Do My Labs Look Normal But I Still Feel Sick?”

Why Do My Labs Look Normal When I Still Feel Sick? The Overlooked Side of Mystery Illness

For many of my clients, the hardest part of living with a mystery illness is not just the pain or fatigue — it’s the dismissal. They’re told, “Your labs are normal. You’re fine.” Yet every day feels like a battle just to function.

“I know what it feels like when your body is screaming something is wrong, but the medical system only sees a normal lab report.” – Danielle Pashko

Why “Normal” Doesn’t Always Mean Healthy

Lab ranges are based on averages - not on what’s ideal for you. That means:

You can fall inside the “normal” thyroid range, but still live with fatigue, weight changes, or anxiety.

You may test negative for autoimmune disease while early immune dysfunction is already at play.

Chronic infections like Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), Lyme disease, or viral reactivation often go undetected by routine screening【NIH†source】.

The truth is, normal lab results often miss the earliest stages of imbalance.

A Personal Perspective

Even with two decades of experience in wellness, I wasn’t immune. After COVID, I developed Lyme reactivation that left me exhausted, foggy, and frightened. For months, my labs read “normal.” But I knew my body was not.

That experience shaped how I practice today: with deep compassion for those who are sick but undiagnosed.

What To Do If You’re Sick but Undiagnosed

If you’re living in this gray zone, where doctors don’t have answers but your symptoms persist, here are steps that can help:

1. Ask Different Questions

Instead of only asking, “What’s wrong?” start asking, “What’s out of balance?” This shift opens doors to functional medicine testing and deeper exploration.

2. Expand Your Lab Work

Consider:

• Micronutrient panels (deficiencies often go undetected in standard labs)

• Comprehensive thyroid and hormone testing

• Viral titers for EBV, CMV, and Lyme

• Advanced inflammatory markers

3. Focus on Resilience, Not Just Diagnosis

Even if your condition remains “undiagnosed,” you can take steps to improve energy, reduce inflammation, and restore quality of life.

Tools That May Help While You Search for Answers

I never believe in one-size-fits-all solutions, but I have seen these help many clients with chronic, unexplained symptoms:

• Magnesium Glycinate – Supports nervous system balance and eases pain.

• N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) – Powerful antioxidant support that helps detox pathways.

• Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC) – A mushroom extract shown to modulate immune response in chronic illness.

Disclaimer: This is not medical advice. Always consult with a qualified practitioner before beginning supplements.

Final Thoughts

If your labs are normal but you still feel sick, you are not imagining it. Your symptoms are valid. You may be in the early stages of imbalance, viral reactivation, or a condition not easily detected by standard labs.

I specialize in helping people with undiagnosed illnesses, chronic fatigue, and mystery symptoms uncover hidden causes and take steps toward healing. If you’re ready to explore what’s really happening in your body, I invite you to book a consultation.