Aa
7 year old boy with autoimmune hyperthroidism
My 7 year old son was dianosed with autoimmune hyperthryroidism in October 2006. His levels were very high: T3 was 1800 and his heart rate at rest was 140bpm! He was put on 300mg/day of PTU and 50mg of Atenolol.
Since November he is seeing the best specialist in NYC at Mount Sinai hospital. His levels are now "normal" and he is now taking 50mg/day of PTU. The doctor is happy with his progress and says that he should now be feeling "normal".
He is not!
His grades have improved at school, he concentrates a little better, he has put on weight and has good energy....BUT....he has now become very agressive at home with his siblings and me. There seems to be so much hate bottled up inside him and he verbally and physically becomes very agressive out of the blue.
His pediatrician has advised that he be tested for learning disorders, anxiety etc and we will be doing that next week.
I thought that the PTU would be magic and cure my son and he would become himself again, was I disillusioning myself? Is there something else going on? Is this still the thyroid even though his levels are "normal"?
Can someone help me?
Thanks
Since November he is seeing the best specialist in NYC at Mount Sinai hospital. His levels are now "normal" and he is now taking 50mg/day of PTU. The doctor is happy with his progress and says that he should now be feeling "normal".
He is not!
His grades have improved at school, he concentrates a little better, he has put on weight and has good energy....BUT....he has now become very agressive at home with his siblings and me. There seems to be so much hate bottled up inside him and he verbally and physically becomes very agressive out of the blue.
His pediatrician has advised that he be tested for learning disorders, anxiety etc and we will be doing that next week.
I thought that the PTU would be magic and cure my son and he would become himself again, was I disillusioning myself? Is there something else going on? Is this still the thyroid even though his levels are "normal"?
Can someone help me?
Thanks
This sounds EXACTLY like my son. He has not been diagnosed yet but he has every symptom of Graves. I actually had been thinking he was bipolar until his counselor told me he may have a thyroid condition bc she noticed his eyes are big and he is very below weight and his moods being unstable. The graves Rage sounds like him to a T too. Whatever is going on with him I hope the doctor can figure it out we have an apt next week.
Thanks for your words of support. I have not been able to find a support forum for children anywhere on the website, I think it's because there are very few children with this disease. I cannot imagine being a child with these feelings.
There are so many ups and downs during the day and week to handle it gets to the point where you are not sure what the day is going to bring!
I did the same as you and followed my gut instincts for a thyroid blood test even though the pediatrician had tried all kinds of other tests (tape worm, lyme disease, celiac disease, blood sugar etc etc). I felt like I was always calling or seeing the doctor and he would say, "well let's try cutting out milk for a while" etc.
We even ended up doing an upper GI and it was there that we asked for thyroid blood work to be done. They were amazed with the T3 at 1800! I changed pedicatrician instantly as I was so angry. When I checked the websites and say the list of symptoms for hyperthyroidism and noted that my son had ALL the symptoms and even an enlarged goiter that the specialist saw immediately...I was seething!
What worries me is stabalizing his mood swings and the long term effects of the meds. He suffers from stomach ache everyday still, even though his thyroid levels are now normal. He is able to keep it together at school for the moment but explodes at home, he says he hates school, so we make a point of having things to look forward to at weekends, evenings and holidays.
I cannot imagine what it would be like with an adolescent with this disease, especially with a girl and all those hormones involved. I hope you get some down time for yourself to recover?
We should get our own forum going to children, you're right.
I'm away on vacation for a week from tomorrow, but when I am back, I will look into creating a website/forum and will let you know.
Thanks again
There are so many ups and downs during the day and week to handle it gets to the point where you are not sure what the day is going to bring!
I did the same as you and followed my gut instincts for a thyroid blood test even though the pediatrician had tried all kinds of other tests (tape worm, lyme disease, celiac disease, blood sugar etc etc). I felt like I was always calling or seeing the doctor and he would say, "well let's try cutting out milk for a while" etc.
We even ended up doing an upper GI and it was there that we asked for thyroid blood work to be done. They were amazed with the T3 at 1800! I changed pedicatrician instantly as I was so angry. When I checked the websites and say the list of symptoms for hyperthyroidism and noted that my son had ALL the symptoms and even an enlarged goiter that the specialist saw immediately...I was seething!
What worries me is stabalizing his mood swings and the long term effects of the meds. He suffers from stomach ache everyday still, even though his thyroid levels are now normal. He is able to keep it together at school for the moment but explodes at home, he says he hates school, so we make a point of having things to look forward to at weekends, evenings and holidays.
I cannot imagine what it would be like with an adolescent with this disease, especially with a girl and all those hormones involved. I hope you get some down time for yourself to recover?
We should get our own forum going to children, you're right.
I'm away on vacation for a week from tomorrow, but when I am back, I will look into creating a website/forum and will let you know.
Thanks again
I think it is a very good idea for you two, to start a forum for parents of thyroid children and for thyroid children. If you do, let me know so that I can refer your site to others. I am manager of another forum for Graves' Disease and RAI and monitor at another. I have information regarding thyroid children and you can also post there but need to join. It is much freer atmosphere. The Graves' Disease and RAI site has a lot to offer with its site, type in the title in your search engine and check out the site, see if you like that type. I will help you in anyway I can. Or maybe they will put one up here for you.
Good Luck!
GL
GravesDiseaseAndRai
Thank you both of you for responses RE: starting websites for parents and children w/thyroid problems. I am quite saavy on the Internet myself, but starting a support group never entered my mind. I also have extensive skills of working with kids 5-15 as well as parents since I worked as a school counselor for 15 years. I'm laid off that job for now, but I ought to use my skills for something!
Indian--a word RE: school for your son--don't sweat it. I have a lot of knowledge from the school district point of view RE: something called "section 504" plans (named after section 504 of the federal Disability Code). EVERY parent has the legal right to set up a customized school plan for their child whenever a physical condition interferes with academic/social functioning at school. It IS different from special ed. or EEN services, which children need to qualify for. I am planning on calling my daughter's counselor after spring break to set up her 504 meeting for our daughter RE: how many credits she can realistically get our of this semester, possible summer school, and a plan for classes for next year.
Let's contact each other again in a week or two and see what we can get going. 3 cheers for the Internet that can bring people thousands of miles apart together to meet over coffee for real support and a way to solve tough life problems!
Indian--a word RE: school for your son--don't sweat it. I have a lot of knowledge from the school district point of view RE: something called "section 504" plans (named after section 504 of the federal Disability Code). EVERY parent has the legal right to set up a customized school plan for their child whenever a physical condition interferes with academic/social functioning at school. It IS different from special ed. or EEN services, which children need to qualify for. I am planning on calling my daughter's counselor after spring break to set up her 504 meeting for our daughter RE: how many credits she can realistically get our of this semester, possible summer school, and a plan for classes for next year.
Let's contact each other again in a week or two and see what we can get going. 3 cheers for the Internet that can bring people thousands of miles apart together to meet over coffee for real support and a way to solve tough life problems!
I posted about a month ago RE: my 17 y.o. daughter. She was diagnosed in Feb. with Graves Disease and she started with 20 mg. of methimazole, now down to 15 mg. Fortuneately, she seems to be improving in her mood as well as her ability to think and reason over the last few weeks. I also have been looking around for some sort of support forum for kids with this disorder, but I haven't been able to find one.
When I first posted on this forum, my daughter was at a real low point for her (crying herself to sleep, saying she felt like her head was going to explode, etc.). I am actually VERY thankful that I trusted my gut and insisted that my daughter get a blood test for TSH from her regular doctor (who gave me signals that I was a being a hypochondriatic mom UNTIL the tests came back positive...). I am still upset with the psychiatrist my daughter WAS seeing (whom I fired) for putting her on Celexa without even consulting the family/personal medical history or requesting a physical. Now we have to have my daughter's regular doctor monitor the Celexa, since she would like to be weaned from it if possible once her thyroid levels stablize.
We are actually creating kind of an artificial "stress-free" environment for our daughter. We have pulled her out of regular classes this semester and she is seeing a tutor once a week to get a few assignments. We are hoping this will be ultimately the best choice, but of course we still have doubts. Our daughter has gone from being an excellent student (3.5 GPA), accomplished artist, and active student leader to a teen who hasn't contacted her friends for weeks, sleeps at times during the day, and watches The Price is Right in between brief homework, cooking projects, and personal writing/sketching.
My understanding of the treatment is that the anti-thyroid meds continue for 1 1/2 - 2 years at varing dosages, often supplemented by thyroxine to achieve the normal thyroid hormone balance. If the pills don't work adequately, I was told that radioactive iodine treatment (that does not harm the patient, but the patient has to be isolated for 3 days and then handled very carefully at home for 3 more days) might be an option. Last but least, thyroid surgery is looked at.
My husband, oldest daughter, and I all have hypothyroidism, but I never imagined one of our kids would develop this disorder. My husband and I have been stable on our dosage of meds for several years, but my oldest daughter seems to need it adjusted more frequently. I am also watching both this oldest daughter as well as our youngest daughter because of problems that both of them have with frequent throat infections. In fact, my oldest daughter teased the youngest one during the holidays about "when she was going to join THE (thyroid) CLUB--hopefully never!!!
Feel free to post here and I'll chat back with you. Maybe some other parents of affected kids will respond as well, and we at least can get a parent support forum going.
When I first posted on this forum, my daughter was at a real low point for her (crying herself to sleep, saying she felt like her head was going to explode, etc.). I am actually VERY thankful that I trusted my gut and insisted that my daughter get a blood test for TSH from her regular doctor (who gave me signals that I was a being a hypochondriatic mom UNTIL the tests came back positive...). I am still upset with the psychiatrist my daughter WAS seeing (whom I fired) for putting her on Celexa without even consulting the family/personal medical history or requesting a physical. Now we have to have my daughter's regular doctor monitor the Celexa, since she would like to be weaned from it if possible once her thyroid levels stablize.
We are actually creating kind of an artificial "stress-free" environment for our daughter. We have pulled her out of regular classes this semester and she is seeing a tutor once a week to get a few assignments. We are hoping this will be ultimately the best choice, but of course we still have doubts. Our daughter has gone from being an excellent student (3.5 GPA), accomplished artist, and active student leader to a teen who hasn't contacted her friends for weeks, sleeps at times during the day, and watches The Price is Right in between brief homework, cooking projects, and personal writing/sketching.
My understanding of the treatment is that the anti-thyroid meds continue for 1 1/2 - 2 years at varing dosages, often supplemented by thyroxine to achieve the normal thyroid hormone balance. If the pills don't work adequately, I was told that radioactive iodine treatment (that does not harm the patient, but the patient has to be isolated for 3 days and then handled very carefully at home for 3 more days) might be an option. Last but least, thyroid surgery is looked at.
My husband, oldest daughter, and I all have hypothyroidism, but I never imagined one of our kids would develop this disorder. My husband and I have been stable on our dosage of meds for several years, but my oldest daughter seems to need it adjusted more frequently. I am also watching both this oldest daughter as well as our youngest daughter because of problems that both of them have with frequent throat infections. In fact, my oldest daughter teased the youngest one during the holidays about "when she was going to join THE (thyroid) CLUB--hopefully never!!!
Feel free to post here and I'll chat back with you. Maybe some other parents of affected kids will respond as well, and we at least can get a parent support forum going.
I remember you well too from the end of last year when my son was first diagnosed.
I thanked you then for your excellent advice and help and I want to thank you again.
The information you provided is very thorough and sounds so much like my son it's unbelievable! I cannot begin to imagine how he must feel when he experiences his moments of "rage", but he does tell me "I can't help it" and I do believe him. Hard to imagine having to cope with those feelings when you are only 7. But we want to do everything we can to provide the tools with which we can function as a family and all pull together.
Our other children are 6 and 9, he is the middle child and has always been very close to me. Therefore I seem to be the one that gets it the most when he is in a "rage", I remain very calm as I know that he does not mean it and that certainly does help. Even though sometimes the "I hate you's" do take their tole and I feel quite down in the evenings.... lucky for me that I have a caring husband!
I am most certainly going to try the natural supplements (in conjuction with the pediatrician and the results of the child psychologist). I have a feeling he may have a language processing problem also as he is in a bi-lingual school and they cover the same curriculum in half the time so he is under a lot of pressure there.
Until my son started with this illness I had really no idea what to expect and no matter how experienced the specialists are that treat him, I really found out more information from the internet and kind people like yourself.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
I thanked you then for your excellent advice and help and I want to thank you again.
The information you provided is very thorough and sounds so much like my son it's unbelievable! I cannot begin to imagine how he must feel when he experiences his moments of "rage", but he does tell me "I can't help it" and I do believe him. Hard to imagine having to cope with those feelings when you are only 7. But we want to do everything we can to provide the tools with which we can function as a family and all pull together.
Our other children are 6 and 9, he is the middle child and has always been very close to me. Therefore I seem to be the one that gets it the most when he is in a "rage", I remain very calm as I know that he does not mean it and that certainly does help. Even though sometimes the "I hate you's" do take their tole and I feel quite down in the evenings.... lucky for me that I have a caring husband!
I am most certainly going to try the natural supplements (in conjuction with the pediatrician and the results of the child psychologist). I have a feeling he may have a language processing problem also as he is in a bi-lingual school and they cover the same curriculum in half the time so he is under a lot of pressure there.
Until my son started with this illness I had really no idea what to expect and no matter how experienced the specialists are that treat him, I really found out more information from the internet and kind people like yourself.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
PS I did ask the specialist if my son had Graves disease and he replied that he preferred to call it Auto-immune hyperthyroidism, so I imagine that it is the same thing?
I remember your posting from months back. Glad to hear that your son is doing better.
Your son sounds like autoimmune Graves'. If this is his case, then there is a condition know by us Gravers called "Graves' Rage". And yes I do suffer from it.
Graves' can effect all parts of our body including the mind, and/or, can exasperate existing mental problems or even mimic mental illness.
Before thyroid conditions were known and treatment found, most of Graves' people (not knowing they were Graves' or Graves' known period) were thrown in a mental institutions because of their mental behavior.
"Graves' Rage" is inappropriate feelings of anger, frequently followed by an impulsive destructive response to this anger. Obsessed, not letting go of the inappropriate anger without somehow lashing back.
The medical literature states that patients with Graves' disease are likely to experience emotional problems, including nervousness, irritability, anxiety, depression, and emotional liability, characterized by mood swings. Sudden crying for no apparent reason and overreacting are also common. Many patients report feeling edgy and irritable one minute, and normal the next. The literature also states that before hyperthyroidism was recognized as a disease, many patients with Graves' disease spent their days in asylums.
Emotional changes in Graves' disease are primarily caused by the effects of excess thyroid hormone on thyroid receptors in the brain. Emotional disturbances may also result from nutrient deficiencies and exhaustion. Cognitive changes in GD caused by hormonal imbalances also weaken the ability to cope with stress. Compounding the problem, stress causes endocrine and immune system changes, which exacerbate symptoms in autoimmune thyroid disease.
Anxiety in GD takes on an exaggerated form in which the increased worrying and overall feeling of insecurity and instability are worsened by mood swings, anger, inability to focus and foggy memory. The fear associated with these symptoms may cause patients to develop panic attacks and agoraphobia, a condition that renders its victims fearful of leaving their homes.
In early stages of GD, patients may feel energetic and elated. They may even experience hypomania, a subdued form of mania, which may progress to mania or psychotic episodes in some individuals. Some patients, especially those with mild symptoms, merely feel enthusiastic and exuberant. Many patients end up missing this exuberance if they happen to undergo treatment with an aggressive therapy that renders them hypothyroid. This is my case, I miss the natural high and exuberance. I was like the energizer bunny; I kept going and going and going and going and going........
......most common mental effects of hyperthyroidism as anxiety, nocturnal anxiety with insomnia, panic attacks, depression, excessive concern about physical symptoms, emotional withdrawal, disorganized thinking, guilt feelings, loss of emotional control, irritability, intense mood swings, episodes of erratic behavior, paranoia, and aggression.
Tremors and hyperkinetic movements are also a frequent occurrence and are caused by the effect of excess thyroid hormone on the nervous system. Muscle wasting can be so dramatic in Graves' disease that patients may have difficulty climbing stairs, adding to their anxiety and depression.
IED - Intermittent Explosive Disorder (Graves' Rage)
http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/jun2006/nimh-05.htm
http://psychcentral.com/disorders/sx51.htm
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/graves_disease/66568
I take anxiety medication when needed, others take antidepressants. But for children and teenagers antidepressants are well tolerated therefore not desirable.
Adolescents diagnosed with IED have been reported to respond well to clozapine (Clozaril), a drug normally used to treat schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.
You might try some natural remedies and/or vitamins and mineral supplements. With your sons pediatrician knowledge and approval.
The MAGIC Foundation The Magic Foundations Thyroid Disorders in Children & More
Major Aspects of Growth In Children (MAGIC) - Main Page. On the right of page is a new message board - don't know if this would be want you want but check it out. http://www.magicfoundation.org/www
Major Aspects of Growth In Children (MAGIC) - Thyroid Disorders
http://www.magicfoundation.org/www/docs/114/thyroid_disorders.html
GL
Hyper/Graves'/RAI
Your son sounds like autoimmune Graves'. If this is his case, then there is a condition know by us Gravers called "Graves' Rage". And yes I do suffer from it.
Graves' can effect all parts of our body including the mind, and/or, can exasperate existing mental problems or even mimic mental illness.
Before thyroid conditions were known and treatment found, most of Graves' people (not knowing they were Graves' or Graves' known period) were thrown in a mental institutions because of their mental behavior.
"Graves' Rage" is inappropriate feelings of anger, frequently followed by an impulsive destructive response to this anger. Obsessed, not letting go of the inappropriate anger without somehow lashing back.
The medical literature states that patients with Graves' disease are likely to experience emotional problems, including nervousness, irritability, anxiety, depression, and emotional liability, characterized by mood swings. Sudden crying for no apparent reason and overreacting are also common. Many patients report feeling edgy and irritable one minute, and normal the next. The literature also states that before hyperthyroidism was recognized as a disease, many patients with Graves' disease spent their days in asylums.
Emotional changes in Graves' disease are primarily caused by the effects of excess thyroid hormone on thyroid receptors in the brain. Emotional disturbances may also result from nutrient deficiencies and exhaustion. Cognitive changes in GD caused by hormonal imbalances also weaken the ability to cope with stress. Compounding the problem, stress causes endocrine and immune system changes, which exacerbate symptoms in autoimmune thyroid disease.
Anxiety in GD takes on an exaggerated form in which the increased worrying and overall feeling of insecurity and instability are worsened by mood swings, anger, inability to focus and foggy memory. The fear associated with these symptoms may cause patients to develop panic attacks and agoraphobia, a condition that renders its victims fearful of leaving their homes.
In early stages of GD, patients may feel energetic and elated. They may even experience hypomania, a subdued form of mania, which may progress to mania or psychotic episodes in some individuals. Some patients, especially those with mild symptoms, merely feel enthusiastic and exuberant. Many patients end up missing this exuberance if they happen to undergo treatment with an aggressive therapy that renders them hypothyroid. This is my case, I miss the natural high and exuberance. I was like the energizer bunny; I kept going and going and going and going and going........
......most common mental effects of hyperthyroidism as anxiety, nocturnal anxiety with insomnia, panic attacks, depression, excessive concern about physical symptoms, emotional withdrawal, disorganized thinking, guilt feelings, loss of emotional control, irritability, intense mood swings, episodes of erratic behavior, paranoia, and aggression.
Tremors and hyperkinetic movements are also a frequent occurrence and are caused by the effect of excess thyroid hormone on the nervous system. Muscle wasting can be so dramatic in Graves' disease that patients may have difficulty climbing stairs, adding to their anxiety and depression.
IED - Intermittent Explosive Disorder (Graves' Rage)
http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/jun2006/nimh-05.htm
http://psychcentral.com/disorders/sx51.htm
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/graves_disease/66568
I take anxiety medication when needed, others take antidepressants. But for children and teenagers antidepressants are well tolerated therefore not desirable.
Adolescents diagnosed with IED have been reported to respond well to clozapine (Clozaril), a drug normally used to treat schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.
You might try some natural remedies and/or vitamins and mineral supplements. With your sons pediatrician knowledge and approval.
The MAGIC Foundation The Magic Foundations Thyroid Disorders in Children & More
Major Aspects of Growth In Children (MAGIC) - Main Page. On the right of page is a new message board - don't know if this would be want you want but check it out. http://www.magicfoundation.org/www
Major Aspects of Growth In Children (MAGIC) - Thyroid Disorders
http://www.magicfoundation.org/www/docs/114/thyroid_disorders.html
GL
Hyper/Graves'/RAI
I dont know of any support groups but if you go to fourms here at medhelp there is a forum for child behavior on the unmoderated sectoin.
goood luck with the psychologist next week.Let me know how it goes.Love Venora
goood luck with the psychologist next week.Let me know how it goes.Love Venora
Yes, we will be taking him to see a child psychologist next week for testing. I can just see that my son is not happy and it is heartbreaking to feel so helpless.
We are very lucky that the school has been very supportive and understanding and have been with us every step of the way.
Do you know of any support groups for children with hyperthyroidism, so that I can exchange information with other families?
It just helps knowing that others are in the same situation.
Thanks,
We are very lucky that the school has been very supportive and understanding and have been with us every step of the way.
Do you know of any support groups for children with hyperthyroidism, so that I can exchange information with other families?
It just helps knowing that others are in the same situation.
Thanks,
Well it could be still the thyroid but I suspect there are other issues at hand.Have you thought about taking him to a psychiatrist and therapist to see what else is going on?Especially a therapist to help him work out things he may not be able to express.
Let us know how it goes I will say prayers for your son.
Love Venora
Let us know how it goes I will say prayers for your son.
Love Venora
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