Thyroid Testing in Greenville, SC
Thyroid Testing at IHP Greenville. Dr. Hendry, DAOM — functional medicine, root-cause diagnostics, personalized care. Call (864) 365-6156.
"Dr. Hendry has been working with me to heal my GI tract. 100% improvement in how I feel, taking 1/4 of my blood pressure meds, and am no longer taking cholesterol meds."
— Karen Hill · January 2025 · Google Review
TSH reflects pituitary demand for thyroid hormone. It does not tell you whether T4 is being converted to active T3 at sufficient rates, whether reverse T3 is occupying T3 receptors and blocking the signal, or whether autoimmune antibodies are quietly destroying thyroid tissue. The 2016 Thyroid study established that free T3, not TSH, was the strongest predictor of patient well-being and metabolic rate in hypothyroid patients. Gärtner showed that selenium supplementation reduces TPO antibodies by 40% — but you can't identify the patients who need it without ordering the antibodies. My standard thyroid panel is seven markers. Not one.
How Thyroid Testing Works
Dr. Hendry's standard thyroid panel includes: TSH, free T3, free T4, reverse T3, TPO antibodies, and thyroglobulin antibodies. This panel reveals: TSH (pituitary signaling), free T3 (active thyroid hormone), free T4 (storage form), reverse T3 (functional blocker), and autoimmune activity. Results are interpreted using functional ranges (TSH optimal 1.0—2.0 mU/L; free T3 optimal upper third of range; free T4 mid-range).
Conditions Treated with Thyroid Testing
Comprehensive Thyroid Panel vs. TSH-Only Screening
Standard thyroid screening orders a single TSH test. If it falls within the lab reference range (typically 0.4—4.5 mU/L), the patient is told their thyroid is normal. At IHP, Dr. Hendry runs a 7-marker panel: TSH, free T3, free T4, reverse T3, T3 uptake, TPO antibodies, and thyroglobulin antibodies. A patient with a TSH of 2.8 — technically normal — may simultaneously have free T3 in the bottom quartile of the reference range (insufficient active hormone reaching tissues), reverse T3 elevated (blocking T3 receptors despite adequate production), and TPO antibodies significantly elevated (indicating Hashimoto's autoimmune thyroiditis destroying thyroid tissue silently). The conventional result: "Your thyroid is fine." The functional medicine result: Hashimoto's identified, T4-to-T3 conversion impairment confirmed, selenium supplementation initiated, gluten elimination recommended, and a 6-month monitoring plan established. These two interpretations of the same patient diverge completely in clinical action and outcome.
Research & Evidence
The clinical inadequacy of TSH-alone thyroid screening is supported by published research. A 2016 study in Thyroid demonstrated that free T3, not TSH, was the strongest predictor of patient well-being and metabolic rate in hypothyroid patients. Gärtner et al. (2002) in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism showed that selenium supplementation (200 mcg/day) reduced TPO antibody titers by 21% in Hashimoto's patients — a finding that requires antibody testing to identify eligible patients. Stagnaro-Green et al. (2011) in Thyroid documented that thyroid disease affects approximately 12% of the US population over their lifetime, with Hashimoto's being the single most common cause of hypothyroidism — yet antibody testing is not part of routine screening. Early identification and treatment of the autoimmune component can slow or halt the progressive thyroid destruction that standard levothyroxine replacement does not address.
Cost & Insurance Information
A comprehensive thyroid panel goes well beyond the single TSH that most insurers cover, so the additional markers (free T3, reverse T3, antibodies) are often a self-pay specialty test — Dr. Hendry reviews the cost before ordering. Testing is billed separately from the consultation and any treatment. We do not bill insurance directly but can provide superbills (itemized receipts) for out-of-network reimbursement where your plan allows. Payment is due at time of service. Call (864) 365-6156 for current rates.
Treatment Timeline
Your First Appointment
Bring any prior thyroid lab results. Thyroid medications should be listed. Thyroid testing is most accurate when taken at the same time of day as prior tests. Dr. Hendry may ask you to take thyroid medication after the blood draw for more accurate testing.
Why Dr. Hendry for Thyroid Testing
Dr. Hendry's functional medicine training includes advanced thyroid assessment and treatment — he understands the clinical significance of reverse T3, the gut-thyroid axis, and the nutritional factors (selenium, iodine, zinc, vitamin D) required for optimal thyroid conversion.