13 year old son's results.

[emmylou71]

Hi. Can you look at these results? He's been feeling really tired and I'm worried as several family members are hypothyroid.

Tsh - 2.43 (0.3-5)

FT4 - 16.2 (10-18.7)

Thanks.

[jimh111]

This looks very good. If his only signs and symptoms are tiredness I'd check out other possibilities. I was very tired at that age because I used to listen to Radio Luxemburg into the night but nowadays there are other distractions.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

emmylou

Nothing really untoward there. His FT4 is good - 71% through the range. His TSH is probably where we'd expect to see it in a normal person 2-2.5 but of course we're used to seeing adults' results here.

Were these tests done with the GP? Were any other tests done? If not you should request ferritin (maybe an iron panel and full blood count too), B12, folate and Vit D.

[emmylou71]

Thanks so much. I've just been really worried esp with me being hypothyroid. Yes this was done through the gp. His full blood count was ok + iron levels too. No ferritin or vitamins were tested. He's been tired, feels the cold and keeps going very grey in his face colour. He's got asthma and eczema already so I was getting really worried that he may have something else.

[shaws Administrator in reply to emmylou71]

He really needs a Free T4 and Free T3 blood test which is more informative and I'll give you a link for information. Most doctors only test TSH and T4 but a blood draw has to be at the very earliest possible, fasting (he can drink water). The TSH, for instance, is at its highest early a.m. and drops throughout the day. This can mean the difference between being diagnosed/or not. I'd get a Full Thyroid Function Test and we have labs which will do a home blood test (finger-prick) which is:-

TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies. Regardless of the results of the other tests, if antibodies are present he should be prescribed.

(I am not medically qualified). There's a special offer on the following link:-

thyroiduk.org.uk/

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

A mother's instinct is better than a doctor's at times as I know full well, to my regret. I was ticked off by the doctor for 'putting ideas' into daughter's head. She was around 11.

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

[ShinyB]

hi Emmylou

Have a look at the symptoms checklist in this link: thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_... and see if he has any other symptoms of low thyroid function.

I think you are wise to check it out properly with the family history. If he has got a thyroid problem, the earlier it is detected and treated, the more straightforward treatment will be.

Blood tests are not always conclusive (and this one has missed testing his Free T3 which is the active thyroid hormone that FT4 has to be converted to. Your doc also hasn't tested for thyroid antibodies.). Are you in a position to pay privately for a more thorough blood test such as this one: medichecks.com/thyroid-func... This one also tests for other things that have an impact on thyroid function.

Bear in mind that it IS possible for someone to have 'normal' results but still be hypothyroid.

Dr Broda Barnes, Dr Peatfield, Dr Mark Starr and many other thyroid specialists, advocate taking resting temperature and resting pulse - this can be a really useful pointer to thyroid function. Have a thermometer and something to measure the pulse (an oximeter or blood pressure cuff will do the trick if you don't know how to take a pulse by hand, and are relatively cheap to buy) ready by the side of the bed. Take both temp and pulse first thing, before your son moves or gets out of bed. If it's a digital thermometer, have him hold it in his mouth for a few minutes before turning it on, to get a more accurate figure.

Take the readings over a couple of weeks. If thyroid function is low, you'll see a lower reading. Consistently under 35.5 for temperature is indicative of hypothyroidism. Pulse seems to have differing views on what is ok, but personally if it was regularly 60 or under at rest, I'd be concerned. Some people say anything under 85 is hypothyroid but that seems a silly figure to me!

I've just had a quick google for a link for you about this and found this one: regenerativenutrition.com/c...

Good luck and I hope you get some answers soon for your boy