Dr. Amie Hornaman – How Thyroid Health Became Her Life’s Mission
When you’ve heard “your labs look normal” for the ten-thousandth time, you start to wonder if anyone in the system is actually listening. Well, meet Dr. Amie Hornaman, The Thyroid Fixer, in our most recent RNegade podclass, to expose the chronic under-diagnosis and mismanagement of thyroid disorders—and she’s proof that we can do better.
In today’s healthcare climate—where “normal” lab results are all too often the final word—patients are still struggling with crushing fatigue, unexplained weight gain, and a host of other thyroid-related symptoms. And guess what? Recent studies show they’re not just imagining it. Research published by the Endocrine Society reveals that up to 60% of people with hypothyroidism continue to experience symptoms despite supposedly optimal TSH levels.
Dr. Amie’s personal experience with hypothyroidism began like most thyroid horror stories: misdiagnoses, minimal testing, and an “it’s all in your head” attitude from well-meaning (but painfully off-track) healthcare providers. Eventually, she found someone who actually listened, ran comprehensive labs—TSH, T3, T4, Reverse T3, antibodies, the works—and got to the root cause of her symptoms. This was the game-changing moment that catapulted her from patient-in-need to functional medicine warrior.
So where does thyroid health come into all this? Stress, autoimmune conditions, and thyroid disorders share the same messy Venn diagram, with elevated cortisol levels wreaking havoc on hormones and metabolism—cue brain fog and stubborn weight gain. That’s precisely why Dr. Amie insists on looking deeper. Dr. Amie hammered home how stress, autoimmune issues, and thyroid disorders are all interlinked. Cortisol levels shoot up under chronic stress, wreaking havoc on hormones and messing with metabolism (hello, weight gain!). When you’re dealing with a hormonal free-for-all—especially in patients with suspected thyroid dysfunction—going root-cause is key. It’s not just about “treating labs.” It’s about treating the human being behind them.
A superficial glance at TSH won’t reveal the full story, and “normal range” labs don’t mean squat if the patient still feels like they’re dragging. Enter comprehensive testing for Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3, and thyroid antibodies. A single TSH test might have gotten us through nursing school, but real-world practice demands a more thorough approach. Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3, and thyroid antibodies—if these aren’t on your radar, we may be leaving patients in the dark. And according to 2022 American Thyroid Association guidelines, going beyond TSH to include these additional markers is increasingly recognized as a best practice, especially for patients who remain symptomatic.
A Functional Medicine approach . . . There’s been a growing body of research suggesting that personalized treatment plans can significantly improve quality of life for individuals with thyroid dysfunction—particularly in managing complex cases where stress, hormonal imbalances, and autoimmune conditions all overlap. It’s not just about tossing someone a prescription for levothyroxine; it’s about validating the lived experience of your patient and understanding that stress (that silent saboteur) can spike cortisol, derail hormone balance, and fuel autoimmune flares.
Dr. Amie’s method encapsulates these principles by addressing root causes. She makes it clear: “You can’t cherry-pick labs and expect to fix the patient.” The latest research in integrative endocrinology backs her up, suggesting that ignoring factors like gut health, nutrient deficiencies, and chronic inflammation can keep patients in a state of perpetual limbo. Personalized care means factoring in all these variables, tailoring interventions, and—get this—actually listening to what the patient has to say.
If you’re ready to change the dialogue on thyroid health, don’t miss our full conversation with Dr. Amie. This episode is a treasure trove of clinical insights and real-world strategies that you can implement tomorrow. Nurses hold a unique vantage point in the healthcare system; we’re at bedside, fielding patient questions, and often picking up on subtle cues that get lost in the shuffle. We’re also key advocates for pushing providers to order more nuanced labs and consider integrative or functional approaches, because we see firsthand what the standard “cookie-cutter” model can miss. Nurses are the lynchpin of patient advocacy—so take that rebellious RNegade spirit and help flip the script on half-hearted thyroid care. We get to be the voice that says, “No, we’re not just going to accept that you’re ‘fine’—we’re going to figure this out.”
Join the RNegade Movement
This is where RNegade comes in. Our platform was built to empower nurses like you by offering engaging, thought-provoking content that translates directly into better patient care—and we do it all through formats that fit into your busy life. Dr. Amie Hornaman’s The Thyroid Fixer Podcast is now part of our growing library of nursing CE-approved content. That means you can binge-listen during your commute, tune in on a break, or relax at home while earning credits that truly count.
Ready to Level Up Your Practice?
If you’re looking for a CE experience that doesn’t feel like homework, that challenges your thinking, and that resonates with the real-world issues you face every day as a nurse, this is it. With Amie’s episodes, you’ll find yourself reflecting on your own clinical judgments, feeling more prepared for critical situations, and rediscovering the meaning behind the work you do.
Sign in, cue up an episode, and let Amie’s podcasts transform your approach to patient care. You’ll walk away more confident, more capable, and more engaged with the nursing profession—one CE credit at a time.
Listen to the this full podclass HERE—earn nursing CEs with this episode and start learning from Amie’s entire library at RNegade which is filled with information on improving thyroid health. Let’s make sure no patient falls through the cracks again. Because here at RNegade, “good enough” simply isn’t good enough.