Aa
Son with TSH of 35
Hello, to begin with, I am a mother with Hypothyroidism/Hashimoto's. Diagnosed since the age of 22 and my TSH was 19, and I had a goiter, so I had probably been dealing with the problem for quite a few years undiagnosed. So... in December 2013 my 12 yr old son's personal trainer suggested I have his thyroid checked due to the fact that he had not lost any weight in a month's time, training four days a week, and his cousin had lost 16 lbs! She was also unaware of MY thyroid condition. So his pediatrician sent him to a pediatric endocriniologist who diagnosed with hypothyroidism. His TSH was 6. She told me it was probably due to his weight. If you are overweight it can lead to a hypothyroidism. She put him on 25 mcg of Synthroid and tested him again in May 2014. At that time his TSH jumped to 28.07 (Lab Ranges were L=0.36 to H=3.74) and his Free T4 was 0.54 (Lab Ranges L=0.76 to H=1.46) Also at time his fasting cholesterol was 218 (Lab ranges L=50 to H=200) and his Vitamin D, 25-OH, Total was LOW at 21 (LabRanges 30-100 ng/ml). Vitamin D3 was 21 (normal) and Vitamin D2 was 4 (normal).
This being said, him being 12, I was concerned. They raised his Synthroid to 75mcg and tested him again about 6 weeks later. I was told yesterday that his TSH is now 35!! He has also gained 16 lbs since his December appointment... and is still seeing a personal trainer. So even taking his medication at 6:30am every morning, with no food. Eating 30 min to an hour later and pushing his Vitamin D and multivitamin to the evening as to not interfere with the Synthroid absorption... his TSH is still steadily increasing. She is also checking for Hashimoto's but yesterday she failed to tell me if his labs suggested this, I will have to go get his results. When I asked why his TSH was increasing even though she had increased his Synthroid I was told it was probably where he is in a growth spurt. She asked if he was having any trouble. His symptoms are dry skin, hair loss, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, and recently he has been having trouble with his blood pressure dropping low at night when he lays down for sleep. Like one night it was 76/43 with a HR of 75. Both arms. Mine read normal when tested on me. I made him sleep on his back or his Rt side (avoiding lying on his Lt side) for the remainder of the night and tested it the next morning and it had risen to around 84/56. It is normal during the day fluctuating around the 120/80 range. I asked if she thought his low BP had anything to do with his TSH being out of whack and she said "No, No, No... although he may need to see a cardiologist". I have read on several different websites that severe Hypo/Hashi's can cause low BP and that it definitely needed to be addressed. She also told me low Vitamin D played no part with Hypo. and that his cholesterol and weight gain probably had nothing to do with his high thyroid.
So my question is... what would make his TSH be on a steady rise even while hormone replacement with Synthroid is in place? And why such a large jump from 6 to 35 within a 5 1/2 month period? She refused to do a thyroid ultrasound. He is 5'6" and 265lbs and has a large neck so she had told me earlier she "thought" everything felt normal but he had a lot of dense tissue there, but she "thought" it felt normal...
Are there any other tests he needs? Do I need to get a second opinion? I am so upset with the fact that I passed this horrible disease on to him... but there is nothing I can do but make sure he gets the best care possible. HELP!
This being said, him being 12, I was concerned. They raised his Synthroid to 75mcg and tested him again about 6 weeks later. I was told yesterday that his TSH is now 35!! He has also gained 16 lbs since his December appointment... and is still seeing a personal trainer. So even taking his medication at 6:30am every morning, with no food. Eating 30 min to an hour later and pushing his Vitamin D and multivitamin to the evening as to not interfere with the Synthroid absorption... his TSH is still steadily increasing. She is also checking for Hashimoto's but yesterday she failed to tell me if his labs suggested this, I will have to go get his results. When I asked why his TSH was increasing even though she had increased his Synthroid I was told it was probably where he is in a growth spurt. She asked if he was having any trouble. His symptoms are dry skin, hair loss, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, and recently he has been having trouble with his blood pressure dropping low at night when he lays down for sleep. Like one night it was 76/43 with a HR of 75. Both arms. Mine read normal when tested on me. I made him sleep on his back or his Rt side (avoiding lying on his Lt side) for the remainder of the night and tested it the next morning and it had risen to around 84/56. It is normal during the day fluctuating around the 120/80 range. I asked if she thought his low BP had anything to do with his TSH being out of whack and she said "No, No, No... although he may need to see a cardiologist". I have read on several different websites that severe Hypo/Hashi's can cause low BP and that it definitely needed to be addressed. She also told me low Vitamin D played no part with Hypo. and that his cholesterol and weight gain probably had nothing to do with his high thyroid.
So my question is... what would make his TSH be on a steady rise even while hormone replacement with Synthroid is in place? And why such a large jump from 6 to 35 within a 5 1/2 month period? She refused to do a thyroid ultrasound. He is 5'6" and 265lbs and has a large neck so she had told me earlier she "thought" everything felt normal but he had a lot of dense tissue there, but she "thought" it felt normal...
Are there any other tests he needs? Do I need to get a second opinion? I am so upset with the fact that I passed this horrible disease on to him... but there is nothing I can do but make sure he gets the best care possible. HELP!
What is sad is that she is a pediatric endocrinologist! There are very few around us, within a 3 hour radius. So this means she probably has a lot of patients. *smh*
She told me the T3 was not important. Also, when I questioned her about an ultrasound she flat out said NO. It is my insurance. My money paying for these services.
As for the Synthroid... I take Synthroid and it works well for me. Granted, I also have Hashimoto's and I still have symptoms I deal with but I have been on 175 mcg for a year now and I have a lot more energy than I used to. Basically the only thing she did for him was up his Synthroid to 100 mcg. I would have felt better had she ordered the U/S considering he is having a rapid deterioration.
I am definitely getting a second opinion. I am in the process of searching for another pediatric endocrinologist. I wish I could take him to my endocrinologist. She is very good but she recently went to an OB/GYN office and isn't allowed to see him. I have been her patient for 18 years now and am regulated.
I am going to go request his labs tomorrow and I will then post the results. I am curious as to what his antibodies are.
Thank you so much for your comment. It is greatly appreciated!
She told me the T3 was not important. Also, when I questioned her about an ultrasound she flat out said NO. It is my insurance. My money paying for these services.
As for the Synthroid... I take Synthroid and it works well for me. Granted, I also have Hashimoto's and I still have symptoms I deal with but I have been on 175 mcg for a year now and I have a lot more energy than I used to. Basically the only thing she did for him was up his Synthroid to 100 mcg. I would have felt better had she ordered the U/S considering he is having a rapid deterioration.
I am definitely getting a second opinion. I am in the process of searching for another pediatric endocrinologist. I wish I could take him to my endocrinologist. She is very good but she recently went to an OB/GYN office and isn't allowed to see him. I have been her patient for 18 years now and am regulated.
I am going to go request his labs tomorrow and I will then post the results. I am curious as to what his antibodies are.
Thank you so much for your comment. It is greatly appreciated!
First and foremost...his doctor is not testing FT3. That's imperative. T3 is the hormone our cells actually use, so it correlates best of any of the tests with symptoms.
Being overweight does not lead to hypo. Hypothyroidism lowers your metabolism and causes you to gain weight (or not be able to lose it).
Antibody results would be helpful. Please post.
Low BP is a symptoms of hypo. Vitamin D must be present at a sufficient level or T3 cannot get into cells to do its work. D must be well up in range.
High cholesterol and weight gain are also symptoms of hypo.
U/S is standard. His doctor should have ordered this.
Yes, you need a new doctor, or you have to educate this one.
Synthroid could be the answer. If you read sites like sttm, you will be convinced that NO one ever gets well until they are on desiccated. This is, to put it politely, baloney. Many of us do fine on T4 (Synthroid, other brands and generics). What works for one of us doesn't work for the other, and we each have to find what's best for us. No therapy should be vilified until you've tried it for yourself, and then you should never assume that what works for you will work equally well for everyone else.
If your son's thyroid is rapidly deteriorating, it's quite possible that his meds increases aren't keeping up with that deterioration. This is why his TSH keeps increasing. But, you should be focusing on his FT3 and FT4. TSH is a very poor indicator of thyroid status.
Being overweight does not lead to hypo. Hypothyroidism lowers your metabolism and causes you to gain weight (or not be able to lose it).
Antibody results would be helpful. Please post.
Low BP is a symptoms of hypo. Vitamin D must be present at a sufficient level or T3 cannot get into cells to do its work. D must be well up in range.
High cholesterol and weight gain are also symptoms of hypo.
U/S is standard. His doctor should have ordered this.
Yes, you need a new doctor, or you have to educate this one.
Synthroid could be the answer. If you read sites like sttm, you will be convinced that NO one ever gets well until they are on desiccated. This is, to put it politely, baloney. Many of us do fine on T4 (Synthroid, other brands and generics). What works for one of us doesn't work for the other, and we each have to find what's best for us. No therapy should be vilified until you've tried it for yourself, and then you should never assume that what works for you will work equally well for everyone else.
If your son's thyroid is rapidly deteriorating, it's quite possible that his meds increases aren't keeping up with that deterioration. This is why his TSH keeps increasing. But, you should be focusing on his FT3 and FT4. TSH is a very poor indicator of thyroid status.
Thank you for confirming!!! And also for the site info!
I will look over those websites for sure. :)
I will look over those websites for sure. :)
Wow there is so much to say in response to your post. First being...GET A NEW DOCTOR. There will be many folks that will comment that are much more versed than I am in all of this, but I can tell you one thing....Synthroid is not the answer. Go to stop the madness .com and look there ...a ton of info and will explain a lof of this. Vitamin D, Ferritin and his adrenals are all critical in getting him well....also thyroid sexy facebook forum is incredible an has a ton of information under the notes section at the top of the page.
Good luck don't stop fighting for him your doctor is beyond clueless. Don't waste one more minute on her!!!!!
Good luck don't stop fighting for him your doctor is beyond clueless. Don't waste one more minute on her!!!!!
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