Hi I have recently joined this group and have been reading the various posts. I seek help regarding my children who have been recently diagnosed with hypothyroidism.
My daughter is only 15 below are her blood test readings:
Se thyroid peroxidase Ab conc - 43.7 IU/ml
Serum TSH Level - 15.15 mIU/L
Serum free T4 Level - 10.2 pmol/L
Serum Vitamin B12 - 485 nb/L
Haemoglobin Estimation - 66 g/L
We got a call from out of hours GP service that her haemoglobin level was very low and that we should see our GP first thing the next morning. Prior to this my daughter complained of tiredness and fainted once during her period. I took her once to the GP as she used to get her periods every three weeks and were heavy. I was sent home saying give it time, she is young and things would settle down. But after her fainting I was very concerned and requested my GP for a blood test. The above are the results.
She's now been put on Ferrous Fumerate 210 mg three times a day &
Levothyroxine 50 mcg per day.
She's been referred to a pediatrician but the appointment has not come through yet. We saw the GP first week of February and we were told that we would hear from NHS in two weeks. Still waiting!!!
The other thing I went to the GP was my daughters height. She's just 5 foot. Whereas my son on the other hand is 5' 10".
I got my sons blood tests done and we were told that his TSH is 38.
He has been put on levothyroxine 50 mcg too. He's 18 prepping for his AS exams.
So here's my story. Pretty distressed that my kids will be on mess for the rest of their lives.
I'm a hypo myself since last 20 years and currently on levothyroxine 150 mcg. With TSH of 0.5 (Last blood test was done ages ago).
I would appreciate any replies and what needs to be done further as I'm a complete novice. Until last week I didn't know there was something called T3 and NDT and Hashimotos. So as you all can imagine pretty confused and now stressed as my kids are at the mercy of NHS. Please help.....
Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.
All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and don't take Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)
If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's
You really want to consider gluten free diet for Hashimoto's
SeasideSusie and humanbean are iron experts. Would have thought she might need iron infusion with ferritin results that low. Did GP advise on taking iron with vitamin C?
She would likely benefit from improving vitamin D, though it's not low enough for GP to prescribe any thing
Detailed supplements advice on how to improve low vitamin here on this link
If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's
Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels
Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working
Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten
According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)
But don't be surprised that GP or endo never mention gut, gluten or low vitamins. Hashimoto's gut and gluten connection is very poorly understood
Her coeliac test is negative
But it's very likely changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies
Thank you. Will read the links. Isabella wentz also talks about taking some enzymes. But don't know how much to take. Will look up the gluten free diet. Thanks again.
Regards
My daughter complained of being tired after sports and would get snappy but my son is well built and is a rugby player. So apart from winter colds that too a couple there has been no other symptoms and that's why we are bit shocked.
Thank you for you. I will definitely keep that in mind. Does ferritin have to be taken separately? Where would I get rda's for children?
Yes certainly. But didn't think much of it at that time. When took her to the GP she fobbed me off too. Better late than never as they say. I will ring my GP for the low iron as the one we regularly see was away on holiday, we saw a locum.
She's now been put on Ferrous Fumerate 210 mg three times a day
We got a call from out of hours GP service that her haemoglobin level was very low and that we should see our GP first thing the next morning. Prior to this my daughter complained of tiredness and fainted once during her period. I took her once to the GP as she used to get her periods every three weeks and were heavy. I was sent home saying give it time, she is young and things would settle down. But after her fainting I was very concerned and requested my GP for a blood test. The above are the results.
.....
I'm not surprised that your daughter has fainted during her period. What I am surprised by is that she has only fainted once, and is able to walk at all. She must get breathless with almost no exertion and be permanently exhausted.
Regarding your daughter's haemoglobin...
The World Health Organization defines anaemia as:[1]
Haemoglobin (Hb) <13 g/dL in men over 15 years old.
Hb <12 g/dL in non-pregnant women over 15 years old.
Notice that the units of measurement are different when comparing your daughter's haemoglobin result and the quote from the World Heath Organisation.
So, your daughter's result is 66 g/L, which is the same as 6.6 g/dL. It should be a minimum of 12 g/dL (or 120 g/L).
The ferritin level of 3 is incredibly low. (Ferritin is a measure of the body's iron stores, and your daughter has practically none left.) You haven't given a reference range for the ferritin, but let's assume that the commonest range applies and is 13 - 150. With that range the patient is likely to feel best with a ferritin level of approximately 70 - 100 - and your daughter's level is a tiny fraction of this.
Iron can be replenished in the body with iron transfusions. Your daughter should be offered one of these as soon as possible. It should raise your daughter's iron level very rapidly - within a few hours.
I am worried that the doctor or the hospital will only offer iron pills to raise her iron though. If the iron supplements she has been prescribed by the GP are just to tide her over then fine. But if that is the only intended treatment I don't think it is good enough. She desperately needs a proper infusion as soon as possible.
Iron pills will raise iron, but it can take anything from 6 months up to a couple of years to raise iron to optimal levels with iron pills. I had virtually no iron left in 2013. I started supplements (the same ones your daughter has been prescribed), and it took me 21 months to get my ferritin level to mid-range.
Oh - final comment - increasing your daughter's iron should raise her haemoglobin level as well as her ferritin and iron levels.
Thanks a lot humanbean for taking time out and giving a detailed reply. Much appreciate that. Just got the letter from NHS for her pideatrician appointment which is on the 26th of March. Will discuss all this with them. Yesterday I gave her a 65,000 iu tablet of vitamin d3 which was bought store bought. The GP has advised to take one 1,000 iu tablet everyday. Will start that from today.
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below are her blood test readings:
Teenage son has thyroid function slightly low
Thyroid disease starting as a young teenager and do I need to worry about my younger sister?
Teenage Hypothyroid- Opinions Please
Possible hypothyroid teenager
2019 Thyroid Test Results
