Recommend Endocrinologist for a teenager

[DonegalGirl]

Hello,my daughter is 16, she has a lot of symptoms-weight increase of a stone in 2 months,always cold, bursts into tears for no good reason,flaky nails, puffy face, tingling in hands and arms and more.

She had tests with the gp showing normal iron levels, B12 and vitaminD (according to the gp ) but a TSH level of 5.3.

The gp is now testing her for T3. I am concerned because the gp kept referring to the extra blood tests as precautionary and said the TSH is just outside the normal range.All i know is my daughter has changed so much physically and emotionally in two months.

I have a couple of questions;-

1)Is the acceptable TSH level the same for everyone or should it differ between say a teenager and an old woman?

2)Can anybody please recommend an endorocrinologist in the London area who is good and sympathetic or with a particular interest in a young person. Thank you

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

She had tests with the gp showing normal iron levels, B12 and vitaminD (according to the gp )

Do you have the results for these tests DonegalGirl? What a GP means by normal is that it is somewhere within the range, but that doesn't mean optimal. If you can post the results with their reference ranges we can see if she is low in anything.

Besides testing for T3, your GP should get thyroid antibodies tested too. There are two types - Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) and Thyroglobulin (TG). NHS rarely does TPO and almost never does TG, but as you can be negative for TPO but positive for TG then it's important to test both to see if there is autoimmune thyroiditis aka Hashimoto's.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

For full Thyroid evaluation your daughter needs TSH, FT4, TT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies. Plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12.

Essential to test thyroid antibodies, FT3 and FT4 plus vitamins

Always get actual results and ranges on all blood tests

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.

All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's

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The fact that you say she has put on a stone in a couple of months & has a puffy face raises flags to me, is she having trouble sleeping, is her weight mainly around her tummy, has she got acne? Have a look at Cushing's to see if she fits the profile for that as it can also affecct the thyroid.

[Espisnowwoman]

Wow shes so young! Sounds like she has hypothyroid.

[DonegalGirl]

Thank you all for your ideas.As we begin this journey it is good to have so many helpful people around.