Usually fine
Normal ups and downs
- Tired after a busy week, then recovering
- Feeling the cold on a cold day
- Small weight changes over the seasons
- A few more hairs in the brush now and then
Private thyroid clinic · Macclesfield · Online across the UK
Your Thyroid.Properly Understood.
Still tired, cold, foggy or gaining weight, on medication or told your results are normal? We find out what is really holding your thyroid back, and build a plan to get you feeling well again.
Always alongside your GP, never instead of them. Please don't change prescribed medication without speaking to your GP.
Why we exist
Thyroid problems rarely have a single cause
A standard test usually measures TSH, and sometimes free T4. It doesn't look at how well your body converts T4 into active T3, at reverse T3, or at thyroid autoimmunity. Nutrient gaps, blood sugar, stress hormones, gut and liver health all affect how your thyroid works.
2.3 million
people in the UK are estimated to have an underactive thyroid1
5–10×
more women than men are affected by an underactive thyroid2
No.1
cause of underactive thyroid in the UK is Hashimoto's, an autoimmune condition2
35 million
levothyroxine prescriptions were dispensed in England in a single year3
1 in 4
people on levothyroxine with a normal TSH still report thyroid symptoms4
1 in 10
people over 70 in the UK have an underactive thyroid1
Sources: 1. UK hypothyroidism prevalence study, Newcastle University, Clinical Endocrinology (2017). 2. NICE guideline NG145, Thyroid disease (2019). 3. NHS Business Services Authority, Prescription Cost Analysis 2025–26. 4. Hidalgo et al., Endocrine Practice (2023).
Know the signs
What's normal, and what's worth checking
Thyroid symptoms creep in slowly and are easy to put down to age or stress. The pattern matters more than any single symptom.
Worth checking
Worth looking into
- Constant tiredness, even after sleep
- Weight gain that's hard to shift
- Always feeling cold
- Brain fog and low mood
- Thinning hair, dry skin or brittle nails
- Constipation
- Still symptomatic on thyroid medication
- Told your results are "normal", but still unwell
Don't wait
See your GP promptly
- A new lump or swelling in your neck
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing
- A hoarse voice lasting more than three weeks
- A racing heart, tremor and weight loss
- Pregnant or planning pregnancy while on thyroid medication
Chest pain, or a racing heart with breathlessness or fainting: call 999.
Early intervention
The window for change is early
Thyroid problems often build quietly for years, with antibodies rising long before TSH moves. The earlier the drivers are found, the more can be done to protect your thyroid.
1
Early changes
Tired, cold, foggy; results "normal"
2
Antibodies rising
Hashimoto's developing, often unnoticed
3
Subclinical
TSH creeping up; symptoms building
4
Diagnosed
Underactive thyroid, starting treatment
5
Still struggling
On medication, symptoms persist
6
Complex
Multiple autoimmune or hormone issues
Stages 1–4 · The window where early care makes the most difference
Stages 5–6 · Requiring a full diagnostic work-up with specialist labs and in-depth care
Our philosophy
Your thyroid doesn't work alone
Thyroid
Making T4, and the immune system that, in Hashimoto's, attacks the thyroid itself.
Body
The gut and liver convert T4 into active T3; the adrenals, blood sugar and nutrients decide how well that works.
Brain
The brain controls the thyroid through TSH, and feels the effects first: energy, mood and focus.
Thyroid Based CausesOf Symptoms
- Hashimoto's thyroiditis
- Low T4 production
- Poor T4 to T3 conversion
- High reverse T3
- Medication dose or timing issues
Body Based CausesOf Symptoms
- Low iron, selenium, zinc, iodine or vitamin D
- Blood sugar swings
- Adrenal stress
- Gut problems affecting absorption
- Sluggish liver function
Brain Based CausesOf Symptoms
- Long-term stress
- Poor sleep
- Low mood and anxiety
- Brain fog and slow thinking
- Hormone changes around menopause
Measure, don't guess
Our Assessment Profiles
Three layers of assessment build a clear baseline before anything is recommended.
01
Online · £12, refunded when you book
Thyroid Profile
An online symptom assessment with an instant personal PDF report, scoring six areas that affect your thyroid.
Start here →02
After your Discovery Consultation
Functional Blood Chemistry
A baseline blood panel read against functional ranges, not just "normal" or "abnormal".
03
Where your results point to it
Advanced Testing
Targeted tests for the contributing factors your baseline points to, never as a blanket screen.
See the lab tests →Your results
Everything comes together in a personal plan: a baseline to measure progress against, the factors holding your thyroid back, and what to change first.
Your care journey
What to expect
Every consultation is online, by secure video. Each step builds on the one before.
Step 1
Discovery Consultation
Your £12 Thyroid Profile fee is refunded when you book.
- Review of your Thyroid Profile
- Medical and medication history
- Lifestyle and diet review
- Review of any previous lab results
- Recommendations for which tests would be useful
£95Online
Book Online Consultation
Step 2
Full Consultation
Once your test results are back.
- Your thyroid results explained in plain terms
- Reviewed alongside your other tests, especially adrenal and liver
- Your personal dietary protocol
- Targeted nutritional support
- The start of your treatment plan
£120Online
Book Online Consultation
Step 3
Follow-up Consultation
- Regular reviews of your progress
- Symptoms tracked against your baseline
- Retesting where it's useful
- Your plan adjusted as you improve
- Liaison with your GP where helpful
£95Online
Book Online Consultation
Laboratory test costs depend on which tests you need, and are discussed with you before anything is ordered. More about our consultations →
About your practitioner
Alan Lee
Alan is a clinician, educator and researcher in functional medicine and functional neurology, specialising in gut, hormonal and brain-based imbalances.
He looks beyond TSH to the whole picture: how your thyroid is making, converting and using its hormones, and what is getting in the way. He works alongside your GP and specialists.
- Institute of Functional Medicine
- The Kharrazian Institute
- Carrick Institute of Neurological Sciences
- International Association of Functional Neurology and Rehabilitation
- Association of Functional Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine
Not sure where to start?
The Thyroid Profile is an online symptom assessment that scores six areas, from thyroid and gut to blood sugar and adrenals, with an instant personal PDF report. Your £12 is refunded when you book a Discovery Consultation.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Will I have to stop my thyroid medication?
No. Please keep taking any prescribed medication. We never advise stopping or changing it without your GP's involvement.
Can I come if I haven't been diagnosed with a thyroid condition?
Yes. Many people come to us with symptoms of low thyroid function and results they've been told are normal.
What happens at the first appointment?
Your Discovery Consultation goes through your Thyroid Profile, medical and medication history, lifestyle and any previous lab results, and we recommend which tests would be useful.
Do I need a GP referral?
No. You can book directly. We're happy to work alongside your GP and share results with them if you'd like.
Do you see people outside Cheshire?
Yes. Every consultation is available online, by secure video, anywhere in the UK.
How much does it cost?
Discovery Consultation £95, Full Consultation £120, Follow-up Consultation £95. Laboratory test costs depend on which tests you need and are discussed with you before anything is ordered.
Still struggling with your thyroid?
The sooner you understand what is holding your thyroid back, the more can be done.
Book a Discovery Consultation