Mum to a 13yr old just diagnosed with hypothyroidism any adivce welcome

[kitsmum]

So im a mum of 4 and my yongest has just been diagnosed hypothyroidism.

Having looked up symptoms so much make sense now which makes me feel a mix of thing's guilty, relief and sad that this has been going on for at least 2/3yrs

Kit (my son) has just been given a prescription for levothyroxine, colecalciferol, and folic acid.

Im looking for any advice , will this condition go away after treatment? is there anything

I can do to help him?

Thanks for taking the time to read this and for any advice you can give me

[SlowDragon Administrator]

So have you got any blood test results?

Do you know if he has high thyroid antibodies? This is to diagnose if the cause is autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto's

The fact he also has low vitamin D and folate suggests it's likely

Did he have ferritin and B12 tested too?

Bloods should be retested after 6-8 weeks and likely dose will be increased in 25mcg steps

He should probably see a endocrinologist also specialist in children too

If he has Hashimoto's, it affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels

Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working

Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten

He might not thank you for suggesting this......but strictly gluten free diet helps a high percentage if he has Hashimoto's

According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

But don't be surprised that GP or endo never mention gut, gluten or low vitamins. Hashimoto's is very poorly understood

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies

Ask GP for coeliac blood test first

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