I have Hashimotos and have posted here previously asking for help deciphering my bloods and now I'd like some help with my daughter's results as I believe that she is also suffering from hypothyroidism. My mum has it and I have it so it's not impossible.
She's 8 and has been experiencing sporadic urticaria for the past year. This is how my illness started presenting over 6 years ago and told the hospital this when she was admitted after a particularly bad reaction which affected her mouth, throat and breathing and she was taken to hospital in an ambulance.
She has also been constantly ill over the past two years and had numerous infections or bouts of illness which usually result in her having time off school. Considering she is fit, active and has a very healthy diet we were suspicious that there was something else going on. The past few months her moods have worsened and she has extreme changes in short spaces of time; she is a completely different child and it's obvious she's suffering so I pushed for blood work to be done.
Worth mentioning that the GP thinks I'm a hypochondriac and the results came back as 'satisfactory', which I know means absolutely nothing so asked for a print out.
I will copy out the ones that were under/over guidelines:
From my googling, it states that she has a mild form of hypothyroidism but I would appreciate someone's help in preparation for a doctor appointment next week.
I have included a picture of the full blood work results also in case I have missed anything.
Many thanks in advance.
Written by
GippyKiyYay
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
The first thing I would want to check is that the reference ranges for the blood tests done on your daughter actually used the paediatric reference ranges. Some of the results you've given seem to have ranges that are the same as the ones for adults - but I could be wrong. The child and adult ranges don't always differ dramatically but it is worth knowing that differences might exist. And reference ranges for all ages may differ from lab to lab, so the following link doesn't apply to everyone. Some labs will post their lab ranges online. You have to be sure that you are using the right ones, you can't just use any ranges that take your fancy.
Mean Cell Haemoglobin (MCH) is slightly below range. It isn't something that is directly measured in a blood sample, it is calculated from other values in the test. Haemoglobin gives red blood cells their red colour. See this link :
A below range MCH suggests that the patient has pale red blood cells, and this could be caused by low iron and/or ferritin (iron stores). Pale red blood cells don't carry oxygen around the body as efficiently as they should, and the patient might be slightly breathless.
The Mean Cell Volume is 81.1 (77 - 95) which is 23% of the way through the range. This is suggesting that your daughter's red blood cells are smaller than average. This might be because your daughter is a little bit lower than optimal in iron. There is nothing to suggest that she needs supplements yet, but increasing the iron content of her food might help. Low iron and/or ferritin (iron stores) are very common in people with thyroid disease. It would be helpful to know if she has had B12 and folate tested too, and what the results and reference ranges were if you've been told.
Your daughter is of an age where she might start menstruating in the next 2 - 4 years. Being a bit low in iron/ferritin before she starts is not good, so start now to think about her iron intake and how to improve it.
.
Lymphocytes count - 2.23 (1.5 - 7.0)
Immunoglobulin E level - 25ku/L (0.0 - 63.0)
These results are well in range so aren't something to worry about.
.
Serum TSH level - 2.3 my/L (0.27 - 4.2) Very close to mid-range
Serum free T4 level - 16.7 pmol/L (12.0 - 22.0) 47% through the range, so only slightly under mid-range
Doctors in the UK often only diagnose patients with hypothyroidism when TSH is 10+ which is sadistic in my opinion. I don't know if this is true for children as well. But this link (for adults) shows you how skewed the distribution of TSH is, and how mid-range is not optimal for most people and is higher than the TSH of most healthy people. I assume the TSH distribution is skewed for children too.
Edit : I forgot to give the link I was referring to :
For an adult with hypothyroidism optimal results for Free T4 and Free T3 are usually around 60% - 70% of the way through the range, although those percentages are not set in stone. Some people feel best with lower or higher levels of Free T4 and Free T3.
T3 is the active thyroid hormone that is needed by every cell in the body, but doctors refuse to believe that and rarely test it.
.
Serum potassium level - 3.8 umol/L (3.5 - 5.3)
With respect to potassium - the result is quite low in range but would officially be considered "normal" because it is within range. Personally, I prefer my potassium to be fairly close to mid-range. Since your result is within range but low in range I would suggest improving it with food that contains higher levels of potassium than you normally eat. I wouldn't suggest supplementing.
Please be aware that tests for creatinine and creatinine clearance are NOT the same thing, and your test was for creatinine. I'm not very knowledgeable about creatinine.
I started monitoring my 18 year old daughter a few years ago.
She too it seems developed symptoms that didn’t exist prior to that.
Testing these every 2-3 months: thyroid antibodies, TSH, FT4, FT3, ferritin, b12, folate, and d3.
For my daughter, her TSH and free ts have jumped around a bit, every time they go in the wrong direction, the next blood test seems less conclusive. But I also know the early stages of hypothyroidism are nit always a straight line.
I got her a thyroid ultrasound. Was normal.
In the meantime, I’ve supplemented her B, D and iron dosing and adjusting after every blood test. Which does help.
I think I’m one (or 2?) blood tests from maybe figuring out if she actually has a thyroid issue. Sometimes it can be clear cut, other times not.
There is no crystal ball, but with the input of this forum, I’ve known what to test for and have been watching and monitoring.
You’ve got great replies here. Let us know what other questions you have.
I’m with Slowdragon in the very simple immediate next steps - get those specific blood tests. They are the same I get every coupe months for my daughter as well. You can’t make an informed decision without them all.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Help with supplements please
Help with results please?
Help with results please
Help with Results and Support Please 
Please can someone help me interpret my blood results and what else could be done
