thyroid testing for 15 year old

[Balletmumlou]

I am searching for help with getting a full thyroid test done for my 15 year old daughter, rather than a general TSH test.

my daughter has recently been diagnosed with PCOS and been taking Metformin for 6 months. Symptoms are fatigue, weight gain, acne, now hair is getting thin. Looking for advice please.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

PCOS strongly associated with autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto’s

Hairloss often low thyroid/low iron

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high TPO and/or high TG thyroid antibodies

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

Significant minority of Hashimoto’s patients only have high TG antibodies (thyroglobulin)

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing

thyroiduk.org/testing/

Blue Horizon will test under 18’s

Recommend you pay extra for private blood draw

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/testing/thyro...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/signs-and-sym...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

support.medichecks.com/hc/e...

[Balletmumlou in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you so much for this in-depth reply. I will look into blue Horizon blood test and the one you recommended.

My daughter is under Alder Hey, but they haven’t tested any of those apart from TSH which came back at 0.8 last time.

We have so many autoimmune conditions in our family sadly, PCOS, coeliac disease, alopecia and I myself had a parathyroid adenoma and have low thyroid function.

My daughter is training at a full time ballet school and we need answers asap so she can feel well.

Thanks for your help.