Hello I have Hashimotos and I am concerned about my 8 year old daughter. She has cold hands and feet, gets cold easily, has bad anxiety, trouble falling asleep, fidgets lots. I was concerned about a year ago actually and had her tested. The test results seemed OK to me but I feel her symptoms have slightly worsened. Would you say with the following results that her T4 is a bit low?
TSH 1.97 (0.27-4.2)
T3 5.7 (3.1-6.8)
T4 14 (12-22)
Her antibodies were well below the range.
I was just wondering if we have some sort of hereditary pituitary issue? Maybe I’m being paranoid!
Thanks
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Auntbessy
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My 12yr old is very much like I was growing up, I have hypothyroidism and have since tested positive for antibodies suggesting Hashimotos (which would fit my symptoms over the years)
I never crossed my mind that she could have an issue with her thyroid until the nurse suggested it a few weeks ago!! I just don’t know how to go about testing her as I know medichecks, who I use, don’t test on under 18s, and I know the GP who at best would be reluctant to test her, would only test TSH!
When I spoke to them about it, they didn't mention charging extra, and I can't think why they would charge more. They take the view that if the parent believes there's a need for their child to be tested, then it's the parent's choice and that's fine by them. Presumably the child's age/DOB would be provided together with the other standard details, when returning the filled vials, and appropriate reference intervals applied by the lab. You could phone them and raise any questions you have, they always seem very approachable.
Thank you MaisieGray, you’re always very helpful and knowledgeable and I appreciate the replies. It is something I will definitely look into as it’s something I believe now is a strong possibility especially considering our family history!
My grandad is hypo, my ex mother in law (Gracies Nan) is hyper, and I have Hashimotos! (Bless, reading it like that, my girl doesn’t stand a chance lol!)
Sorry I forgot to answer your question. To me your daughters T4 is definitely low as it’s only just within range. What the results actually mean though, I don’t have enough knowledge to comment on, I’m sure one of the others like greygoose or SlowDragon will be around tomorrow if not tonight to comment on it more. They absolutely know what they’re talking about!!
I am certainly no expert and know very little about children's thyroid conditions, while T4 is on the low side, her T3 is very good? I wonder if she'd benefit from having iron, b12, folate, vitamin d, maybe selenium tested ... all the things that can support the thyroid when optimal? My thinking, and it is only thinking, is that if my daughter was heading towards hypothyroidism then preventative mesaures with supporting supplements may be a good way to start... opposed to the other option of going on thyroid meds. Best of luck and I hope you daughter improves x
Theoretically her freeT4 is a shade low, as it's below the middle of the range. But like others I'd be reluctant to make a firm statement about it, because I'm only familiar with adult results, not childrens.
The freeT3 looks fine and even a little high (for both freeT4 and freeT3 a healthy adult would be close to the centre), and that TSH would be fine for an adult, too.
I think if these were adult tests, even though the freeT4 may be a little low I wouldn't be concerned, because its such a small amount away from what we might think of as optimal. In order to categorically say someone has a thyroid problem we need to see things cross a line. There is quite a lot of variation in what is normal and healthy.
I agree with others that it's worth checking vitamins as well and making sure they are completely optimal, and getting her diet completely spot on. Maybe try gluten or dairy free to see if either of them help.
Getting a new set of tests adds a lot of information to just having one set, because you can also see the change over time.
I hope that it will be OK with girl. I'm sad. Many things are heritage. I get it by my mom. My thiroid hormones were always OK. After I nearly passed away I find out. Lack of iodine. I experienced all possible symptoms. Low morning temperature. Before you get up from the bed is important symptom. It is not hipotiroditis. Just lack of iodine. I got mixedemic coma. Nearly died. Not recordgnised by 30 specialists in 8 years. After that, I don't believe anyone or anything even myself. I chack and test everything. Loosening hair becouse of male hormones. No any more! Don't believe that is normal and will be better by years. Chack by tests. It is easier to say then to do. 24 hours urine iodine test is only good method. Ask department for public health (social medicine) if thay can do. They do this tests to find out if general public or school children have enought iodine. To change mg in salt. Ask, ask, make demand. Chack symptoms. Read about symptoms of lack of iodine and conseqvences. After that read about symptoms of hipotiroditis and hipertiroidis, just to be educated. I hope I'm wrong and it could be only personal individuall think - I don't believe. I would chack it twice!
Is she growing and developing properly? Is her mental development normal or slow? Is she doing well at school? Is her diet at an optimum level? Is she receiving full sleep and minimum processed foods? Is she physically active? These are things to look at.
I say :better to be a worried/paranoid mom! I wish someone would have helped me through my school years, looking back.... I didn’t really fight for my health until I turned thirty and hit rock bottom. I am in constant alert with my children as well. Diagnosed with hashis at 30 but for sure had low thyroid/hashis since I was five... a lot of years to struggle through...Maybe I’m a bit paranoid too 😜
Yes I am quite anxious about her tbh. It’s hard not to see patterns repeating. My mum died from an autoimmune illness quite young so I’m very sensitive about health matters. My daughter is on a gf and dairy free diet but does not find it easy to fall asleep so that must have a bearing on her health. Thanks everyone for being so supportive. I will stop worrying about her having a thyroid problem like me but will look out in the future.
Don't worry. Chack. Test. You feel and know, so why You are asking. Your subconscious mind is telling You. Abbey it. Chack. Test. Read my post and think. I'm disabled becouse of lack of iodine. For girls it is catastrophic. Generally iodine in salt is enought for not get goitre. Some of us need more. Wish all the best.
I wouldn't say paranoid Auntbessy You are best placed to know your daughter and can't see you putting her through the stress of testing without good cause. Although the results are not abnormal her ft 4 does look low in range but not likely to be considered worthy of further investigation by your doctor.
It may just be a case of getting vitamins at optimal levels and monitoring symptoms for now. After an initial 18 months of watching and waiting it has taken 4 years to finally get GP to agree to a 2.month trial of levo and b12 injections for my 15 Yr old son. It can be a hard and stressful road to get a definitive diagnosis so be guided by your daughters symptoms and her ability to cope to know when to start pushing. Good luck x
Thyroid looks fine at the moment, but if you want to look at root causes and nipping them in the bud I suggest reading Dr Rangan Chaterjee's book as the diet and lifestyle suggestions are very good for anyone who may potentially succumb to autoimmune illnesses. For anxiety, poor sleep etc Magnesium is brilliant. Dr Carolyn Dean who wrote Magnesium Miracle (everyone should read this) suspects that a lot of autoimmune illnesses begin when things deplete the body of Magnesium including high sugar diets, candida, antibiotics, certain pharmaceuticals, stress and over exertion. Just by adding a little extra Magnesium (as our soils have lost Magnesium) and its cofactors like vitamin d and b6 (ideally p5p) we can prevent a lot of future health issues. A supplement like Neurobalance (can be used by 2 year olds!) by Igennus may be good; give them a call. For a child of only eight an Epsom Salt bath before bed will help calm her down. The bedtime Better You Magnesium lavender spray may also work. An anti Candida diet (mentioned by both of these doctors) is also worth trying - mostly just low sugar will do the trick.... Withdrawal symptoms will cause issues and possible outbursts, so buy in creamy unsweetened yogurt (I use coconut or almond yogurt as I am lactose intolerant) and things like flaked almonds, coconut and sultanas to add for a healthy filling snack. Stewed cooking apple with added cinnamon and honey is also filling and good for the gut.
I am on Dr Dean's mailing list and today received a really interesting article about Hashi's prevention which is a coincidence. She recommends not just iodine, but selenium (too much iodine will cause selenium deficiency so they need to be in balance which is why selenium is possibly essential for those on Levo - I take it) and 8 other thyroid minerals in her ReMyte formula. Now that is quite pricey, but you can get multimineral mixes which may work almost as well. Using Celtic Sea Salt rather than regular salt is good for the adrenals and has a good balance of minerals.
Well it took me 7 yrs to get my now 24 yr old checked and tested. The local endo took him off the trial of level even though his results were then in range, blaming it on him being special needs and not having a job (I kid you not!). I knew he had the same condition as me (Hashis) even before all the testing. I had to have second opinion and surgery even had a doctor meeting about it but thankfully they agreed (ridiculous that they should have to do this in my opinion). Bearing in mind they now want to only test when TSH is 20 or over and that people over 65 should not be treated or even taken off their thyroid meds as according to them it is more than likely age related!
I would be keeping at least a close eye on things, and making sure she gets checked once a year (TSH, T4, T3, TPO, Tgab, etc) but also making sure vitamins and minerals optimal as docs wont often check for these and dont think its important that they are optimal rather than just in range. I didnt want my son to have to take medication for life but if needed then so be it. The problem is that if things are left too long with no treatment, health declines and the thyroid is no more.
I also agree with Myro about iodine. Unfortunately NHS wont test for it and you have to do it privately. Iodine used to be in bread but it was taken out and replaced with bromide for some ridiculous reason. Lots of people use table salt instead of sea salt or hymalayan salt. Govt advises low salt diets but they are wrong. You need salt in every cell and organ of your body and more iodine is stored in the thyroid if it is normal. There are several books on this subject, Salt your way to Health is one, and the Iodine Crisis by Lyn Farrow is also worth reading. I believe lack of salt and iodine cause many, many health issues which could be avoided if GPs, NHS England changed their stance on this. They wont because they prefer to doll out Big Pharma medications instead. It really is very sad, but I dont think things will change any time soon so we have to look after our own and our families health in the end because we are left with no choice.
I dont think there is anything wrong with being a concerned Mum, after we know our children best.
More than likely age related, eh? That's right. Old people don't mind feeling sick or being in pain. Or dying. Every time I see a medical article saying that older people have higher TSH, it frosts me. I guess it never occurred to them that older people could have higher TSH because their thyroid gland is old and failing and could use some help. They no longer think it is OK for older people to have higher blood pressure.
My hubby has had aches and pains and peripheral neuropathy. They put him on low dose AD which didnt
agree with him sending HR up to 150! Doc originally thought fibromyalgia or age related. He is 66 in November! On a plus side she did ask about his thyroid!
Just as well I self treat with myself with thyroid meds. No doc is ever going to take them away from me or right me off due to age!. I type letters in a hospital (older people dept)_and the number of times I see a patient on 25mcg of levo or not being treated at all - they have so many co-morbidities and then they wonder why?!
Some doctors just don't understand how complex the human body is and how one small (in their opinion) change can cause big problems. Despite my protests, my doctor took away my menopausal hormone treatment in 2002. My cholesterol numbers soared and my BP went way up. He refused to restore my hormones. So I took matters into my own hands and began ordering my meds from overseas. Guess what. Cholesterol and BP both went back to normal. But what do I know? I can't possibly know anything because I am not a doctor.
Ive just been testedvlow for menopause but am 64 and some docs say Im too old tochawve it now but if you look on line it can go on into your 70s! Not been given anything for it though and would be interested in getting on line myself but dont know where.
Also I recently discovered I have mild sleep apnea even though Im thin. My watch showed higher heart rate at night and it seems I have been breathing through my nose for years. Dreadful sleep issues. I started wearing a chin strap and now a nose clip and guess what rarely get the higher heart rate and sleeping much better too. NHS say I dont qualify for sleep study as Epley score only 5. Was told by doc that as I was thin it was unlikely to be sleep apnea. Proved her wrong though. Plenty of info on net says thin people can get it and also children who breath through their nose who are also thin! Cardiologist wanted me on a beta blocker which obviously I dont need! . One size does not fit all but hey Im not a doctor either. They dont like us looking on the net but what choice do we have if they wont treat us due to hands being tied with so called NICE Guidelines?!
I was top at school but also started havinG Hashimotos by the time I was seven often feeling very ill but not diagnosed with what (had lots of tests) till I developed a goitre later. I was still always near the top at school.
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