Low T4, high T3 for 8 yo daughter

[RachelP03]

Hello,

Given my family history and my daughters own health (she has very low platelets, is breathless, low energy, extreme anxiety, dry skin and hair to name a few) I had her GP test her bloods and the results are as follows. Can anyone provide any insight or experience of this

Thanks

B12 785 (range 187 - 883)

Folate 15.8 (range 3.1 - 20.5)

TSH 2.39 (rang 0.35 - 4.94)

FT3 5.80 (range 2.63 - 5.7)

FT4 13.0 (range 9.01 - 19.05)

Anti-thyroid peroxidase 16.0 and Anti-TPO negative

Results for antibodies pending for thyroglobulin

Her Vit D is good.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

RachelP03

Her thyroid results will be classed as euthyroid, they're all in range.

B12 and folate seem good.

Was ferritin tested? I would be asking for an iron panel, or at the very least ferritin.

Symptoms of low ferritin include:

◾Weakness

◾Fatigue

◾Difficulty concentrating

◾Poor work productivity

◾Cold hands and feet

◾Poor short-term memory

◾Difficulty remembering names

◾Dizziness

◾Pounding in the ears

◾Shortness of breath

◾Brittle nails

◾Headaches

◾Restless legs

Symptoms of iron deficiency can mirror or coincide with those in thyroid disease. An iron panel tests serum iron, transferrin saturation % and ferritin and would be the better test than ferritin alone and will show iron deficiency. Symptoms of iron deficiency include:

◾Persistent fatigue

◾Pale skin

◾Shortness of breath

◾Headaches

◾Dizziness

◾Heart palpitations

◾Dry skin

◾Brittle hair and hair loss

◾Swelling or soreness of the tongue or mouth

◾Restless legs

◾Brittle or ridged nails

[RachelP03 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you. Her iron panels did all seem low yes but it was the low in range T4 but over range T3 that flagged as odd to me! Any ideas on that?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to RachelP03]

RachelP03

Her FT4 wont be classed as low in range, it is 39.74% through range. That would be classed as quite low for someone on Levo but it may not be low for a healthy person. The trouble is, none of us know what our own individual normal levels are because we're never tested for a baseline in health. So your daughter's TSH might be normal for her and her FT4 might be normal for her. You just wont know.

The body will always prioritise T3 as it is the active hormone that every cell in our bodies need so we can't do without it.

What were the results/ranges of her iron panel?

[RachelP03 in reply to SeasideSusie]

I couldn’t add a picture annoyingly so here they are:

Transferrin 2.5 (range 1.7 - 3.4)

Transferrin saturation 16% (range 16 - 55)

Iron level 10 (range 9 - 22)

Ferritin 40 (range 7 - 140)

She also has low red blood cell distribution width, high eosinophil count, high lactate dehydrogenase level.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to RachelP03]

RachelP03

Transferrin saturation 16% (range 16 - 55)

Iron level 10 (range 9 - 22)

Has her GP said nothing about these? Technically they are within range but optimal iron panel levels according to rt3-adrenals.org/Iron_test_... are:

Serum iron: 55 to 70% of the range, higher end for men - hers is 7.69% through range

Saturation: optimal is 35 to 45%, higher end for men - hers is just 16%

Ferritin: Low level virtually always indicates need for iron supplementation; High level with low serum iron/low saturation indicates inflammation or infection; High level with high serum iron and low TIBC indicates excess iron; Over range with saturation above 45% suggests hemochromatosis - hers is 24.81% through range so is very suggestive of low in range.

I think these results, along with her symptoms, might possibly suggest iron deficiency so something to pursue with her doctor.

A high eosinophil count can be indicative of an infection but there are other reasons too so maybe discuss with her doctor.

I know nothing about high lactate dehydrogenase level so again discuss with her doctor.

If you're not confident of further investigation with the doctor you've already seen then maybe see a different doctor.