Test Results

[Foggy73]

My 12 year old has lots of underactive thyroid symptoms, including rapid weight gain and tiredness and her blood test results came back as:

T4 - 13.2 (Range 12.6 - 21)

TSH - 2.31 (Range 0.51 - 4.3)

T3 - 5.6 (Range 3.9 - 7.7)

I have underactive thyroid and I was 0.1 below normal when I was diagnosed and I felt absolutely dreadful.

Is it worth asking the GP to prescribe Levothyroxine to trial it and if so, if it makes no difference, can she stop taking it or does it change things so once you start it you can’t stop it?

Also, please can someone give me the website that you enter your test results and ranges and it tells you where about in the range you are.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Foggy73

Is this your daughter's first thyroid test? If so then GP is unlikely to agree to a trial, they usually want two "out of range" tests before prescribing.

If she has a test where the FT4 result comes back below range then you have a case for your GP to consider Central Hypothyroidism (CH), this is where the problem lies with the pituitary or the hypothalamus rather than the thyroid. CH is diagnosed when TSH is normal, low or minimally elevated with a low/below range FT4. Not many doctors are aware of CH.

It's also worth getting her thyroid antibodies tested especially as you have Hashimoto's.

[Foggy73 in reply to SeasideSusie]

This is her 3rd test. I need to get the results printed for them, as I can’t remember them. I know the first one was lower than the second one, but still “in range”. Also I think she had thyroid antibodies tested and it was in normal range. It’s so frustrating because she has so many symptoms and I’m clutching at straws to resolve it.

[humanbean]

My 12 year old has lots of underactive thyroid symptoms, including rapid weight gain and tiredness

Be aware that low levels of various nutrients (vitamins and minerals) can cause both of these problems.

For example, low iron and/or ferritin (iron stores) can lead to rapid weight gain, and makes it virtually impossible to lose weight.

See this link for more info :

youtube.com/watch?v=PtczW43...(Not working as expected?)

[Foggy73 in reply to humanbean]

I have an appt with the Dr next weekend so I will ask about Iron etc to be tested.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

ESSENTIAL To test vitamin D, folate, B12 and full iron panel test for anaemia including ferritin

What’s her diet like

Is she vegetarian or vegan

Gluten intolerant or dairy intolerant

As you have Hashimoto’s she needs BOTH TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested

Unfortunately NHS only tests TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are high/positive

You may need to test privately

Blue horizon will test children

Need to pay extra for private blood draw

suggest you see what her vitamin levels are like first

List of private testing options and money off codes

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

[Foggy73 in reply to SlowDragon]

Normal diet, admittedly not the best with sweet stuff.

I have all her thyroid results:

17/2/22

T4 - 11.8 (Range 12.6 - 21)

TSH - 2.38 (Range 0.51 - 4.3)

T3 - 5.3 (Range 3.9 - 7.7)

12/4/22

T4 - 13.4 (Range 12.6 - 21)

TSH - 2.55 (Range 0.51 - 4.3)

T3 - Not done

30/11/22

T4 - 13.2 (Range 12.6 - 21)

TSH - 2.31 (Range 0.51 - 4.3)

T3 - 5.6 (Range 3.9 - 7.7)

She has had one below result.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Foggy73]

Always test early morning to get highest TSH

Keep good records of test results and symptoms

Come back with new post once you get vitamin and antibodies results

[Foggy73 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you. The first 2 were taken at about 11am and the 3rd one was 1.30pm.

I will post again with other results when they are done.

[BB001]

Have a look at these research based articles showing that thyroid hormone ranges vary according to age and are different for teenagers and children.thyroidpatients.ca/2022/07/...

thyroidpatients.ca/2022/08/...

[Decant]

Hi Foggy73.

I wrote the result calculator, you can find it at thyroid.chingkerrs.online/

Levothyroxine is not for life, I think a trial (if you can get it) would be fine.

Good luck!

[Foggy73 in reply to Decant]

Thank you very much. I used the result checked and it says that her T4 is 7.1%. I just don’t want to push for Levothyroxine if it will do more harm than good, but I’m desperate to help her.

[Decant in reply to Foggy73]

That seems very low, but I'm not that experienced and certainly not in children. Hopefully one of the experts here can give you good advice. Fingers crossed. God bless