RE: Thyroid results for my 13 year old

[Guest guest]

>

> His blood test results have just come back from the GP and the secretary says

that one of the results, his bone result, was abnormal, so the GP needs to see

him. The thyroid result is described as normal and I asked for the figures.

>

> TSH is 3.29 and T4 is 12.1.

>

> (I don't know the range yet, but presumably it is still the one where the TSH

normal range is 0.something to 5.5)

>

> Could someone tell me whether those results are OK for a 13 year old boy,

given his wider family history of thyroid problems?

> Thanks,

> Tracey

>

You might find it useful to read this paper:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2645400/?tool=pubmed

I'd say he's struggling, and the bone result may show that: hypothyroid children

can have immature skeletal growth.

Hope you find the paper useful,

Cat.

[Guest guest]

Hello Tracey

No - your son's results are NOT normal - his TSH should be

around 1.0 in the reference range and his free T4 is too low. For anybody who

is not taking any thyroid hormone replacement a 'normal' free T4 should be just

above the middle of the reference range and your son's is far too low. He needs

his free T3 testing also, but the NHS are closing ranks on this and either

refusing to do them, or the laboratory is refusing to carry out the doctors

orders, which they have no right to. If the laboratory believe the TSH and free

T4 is 'normal' they say there is no need to test fT3 - but this is wrong.

Because of what you are noticing about your son I would not take

the risk of leaving it in the hands of your GP because we have all heard too

many stories about how badly treated patients with symptoms of hypothyroidism

are treated. I would therefore, write a letter to his GP listing all of his

symptoms and signs. Go to our web site www.tpa-uk.org.uk

and click on 'Hypothyroidism' in the Menu, and in the drop down Menu, click on

Symptoms and Signs and ask your son to check his against those there. You can

see what 'signs' he is showing.

Next, list all the members of your family who have a thyroid or

autoimmune problem as this runs in families and affects both females and males

(more recently, there appears to many more males with thyroid problems).

Next, take his basal temperature before he gets out of bed in a

morning and before he has had anything to drink for 4 or 5 days. List these in

the letter. As you are aware, normal temperature is 98.6 but if your son's is

less than 97.8 (and they could be much less) this is an indication his

metabolism is not functioning as it should - the most likely cause is hypothyroidism.

Next, ask for the full thyroid function test that should include

TSH, free T4, free T3 and TPO and AgTb antibody tests. Ask also for his

ferritin, vitamin B12, vitamin D3, magnesium, folate, copper and zinc levels to

be tested to see whether any of these are low in the range, and tell the GP you

are specifically asking for these because it is well known that should any of

these be low, his thyroid hormone cannot be utilised properly at the cellular

level. Ask also that when these results are returned, that you be sent a copy

of the results together with the reference range for each test done.

Next, because you appreciate your GP is not an expert in thyroid

disease, ask for him to be referred to an endocrinologist of your choice. I

will send you are updated list of doctors recommended by our members. You are

allowed to see a specialist outside of your area, especially if there is not a

thyroid specialist around, and these are few and far between, most

endocrinologists specialising in diabetes.

Next, ask for your letter of requests to be placed into your

son's medical notes, send a copy to the Head of Practice and keep a copy

yourself, just in case this letter gets 'accidentally' lost.

Start as you mean to go on Tracey, as you know yourself what you

went through and let them know that you are determined to get to the bottom of

the reason why he is feeling so low at the moment.

Luv - Sheila

I'm hypothyroid as are my mum, her sister, female

cousins and their female children.

My son has just turned 13 and, for the past 6 months, has been having a

terrible time waking up in the morning and he struggles to stay awake at

school. He's been suffering from insomnia and has been feeling so rough, he's

even stopped skateboarding to the extent he used to enjoy.

His blood test results have just come back from the GP and the secretary says

that one of the results, his bone result, was abnormal, so the GP needs to see

him. The thyroid result is described as normal and I asked for the figures.

TSH is 3.29 and T4 is 12.1.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for all the extremely helpful replies. My son sees a different doctor to

me, though at the same health centre. We have an appointment in 2 weeks to

discuss the blood test results. He was tested for a whole range of things but I

cannot get a copy of the results until after the appointment.

I've printed off your advice and shall certainly go prepared!

My main problem is going to be getting anything in writing. As my son has been

persistently late for school, the Education Welfare Office is considering fining

me unless I can produce proof there is a medical reason for his malaise. This is

in spite of my keeping the school informed and asking for their help throughout.

( My son's school report even shows that his work is average and

above-average, so he is cerainly not failing academically. He will if I get

fined though, as failure to pay it could lead to my imprisonment. It is quite a

worry!

Tracey

[Guest guest]

Progress report:

He's getting worse and now has an appointment at the hospital paediatrician

clinic to investigate what could be the problem.

However, the blood tests he had done this week are interesting:

TSH=4.83 and T4=12.4

Back in February they were TSH=3.29 and T4=12.1

His blood sugar level was so low at just 2.4 (he'd eaten just an hour before),

that the laboratory alerted the surgery who then phoned me to see if he was

conscious! At least it has now been acknowledged there is a definite problem.

Tracey