Thyroid supplementation?

[laurasnowbird]

Hi all! I'm wondering how many have kids who take meds for low thyroid. We have Ethan's values tested yearly, and his TSH has been inching up every year, indicating that his pituitary gland is pushing his thyroid to work. The most recent labs showed that his TSH is now above normal, but his T4 is still in the low normal range.

Some doctors will starting treating with thyroid meds at this point, considering this to be a sign of impending hypothryoidism or even subclinical hypothyroidism, others will wait a few months and repeat the testing. Wondering what you guys have experienced?

We had the test done earlier than our annual because Ethan has been very fatigued lately, and nothing else has changed (and this was before the time change, LOL!). He's been falling asleep on the bus, and then falling asleep again in the hallway of school while getting his things off! He's getting as much sleep as ever at home, so we're looking at other possibilities. Any thoughts?

Thanks! Laura

[wrblack]

Charlie's been treated for hypothyroidism for several years now. Just had regular 6 mo visit with pediatric endocrinologist at CHOP satellite office yesterday. Now need to go for blood work, was already holding lab slip from gastro waiting to get lab slip from endo before getting Charlie stuck.
Trust you've already read Dr. Leshin on thyroid (probably several times by now) www.ds-health.com/thyroid.htm
Don't know what I would do in your situation. Think I'd be looking for a good pediatric endocrinologist, or two, maybe three. -- Bob

[Googsmom aka Jennifer]

{{{{{HUGS}}}}}

[Connie]

Laura,

Collin has been on Synthroid now for about 3.5 years. They started him on it before his Thryroid went completely kaput. We just upped his synthroid in January. I just had him retested in March and now his TSH is really low (.028) but his Free T4 is normal so they just want to watch him. This really concerns me because he is now going the other way and hyperthroidism causes hyperactivity and troubles with sleeping and we do not need that at all!!

Good luck!!
Connie

[Chris too]

Stevie doesn't have any symptoms of hypothyroidism, but I expect she will some day since it runs up and down both sides of my family. I have been taking synthroid for over 5 years and it makes a huge difference for me, though my numbers are in the normal range without it (I have a goiter and symptoms, so my doc treats). Are there any risks at all to taking synthroid? Not that I can find. All the possible side effects are from taking too large a dose since they are some of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism, and the possible long-term effects also are the same as those of long-term hyperthyroidism (lower bone density, possibly). So I'm thinking that as long as thyroid levels are checked periodically and you are aware of the symptoms of both hypo and hyper thyroidism, then you've got that covered. And why not feel better?

[Kaylis]

Mikah's been on synthroid since he was 2 1/2. At that point his numbers were borderline low, but the doctor said that it was better to start treatment then rather than wait until they got lower. The only differences we noticed was that his rate of growth speeded up a bit after about six months on the medicine and his palms and foot soles were a bit softer. He doesn't mind taking it as long as one or another of us are also taking our medicine at the same time. This isn't hard since we are ALL taking something or other.