thyroid question again...

[Ericsmomma]

Eric has been diagnosed with possible hypothyroid (they want to repeat the bloodwork again in about 3 months). My question is,
for your kids with hypothyroid, did they gain weight? Eric is such a skinny little guy...7yrs old and weighs 40lbs. His legs look like "strings' hanging from his shorts! He eats well, drinks pediasure, etc. But he has always been alittle on the "light" side.
I was just wondering if this will change. Now he definetly has the "tired" thing going on...he needs at least 11-12 hours sleep per night, and if he sometimes conks out in the afternoon for a few hours. So he fits that symptom. I was just thinking I should probably start watching his diet more now, just in case. ( I gained 40lbs. when I found out I was hypothroid...how lovely!...and 2 yrs later, I'm still trying to take it off). Just wondering how you all handle this......Thanks

[wrblack]

Sorry to tell you this, Dolly, but our experience suggest that correctly treating the hypothyroidism makes it more difficult to get them to put on weight. Charlie has always been small, started out as a preemie, along with everything else. But just before we got the hypothyroidism dx at age 3, he had finally been getting a bit chunky. My memory is faulty, but I think he'd gotten up to more than 35 lbs. But he was also lethargic. We probably overdosed him a little to start with, got that sorted out, and he had dropped a few pounds. Then he took forever to get it back and go on. Hung out around the 50th percentile on the Ds chart for height and around the 25th for weight. Toyed with us for a couple of years about getting to that 40 lb. mark. Finally got there about 2 years ago and seems to be stuck again. Just had our annual visit with Dr. Pipan, T21 program at CHOP, and will see Charlie's regular ped and his endocrinologist next month. That's going to be a topic, Charlie putzing around at 40 lbs. for past couple of years. His line on the height chart has fallen off its curve a bit too, though not as much as the weight. Now I think he's down around the 25th on height, 42 in., and 5th on weight. Becoming a matter of some concern. Think first things we'll look at is his reflux meds and finding new ways to add some calories. Dr. Pipan mentioned adding Carnation Instant Breakfast to his morning cup of milk, get some good nutrition along with extra calories.
And Charlie's got sticks for legs too. Just our experience. Maybe yours will be different. Another danger of sterotypes revealed. All kids with Ds are short and fat. Yeah, except the ones who are tall and skiny and you can't fatten up. -- Bob

[CC]

"All kids with Ds are short and fat. Yeah, except the ones who are tall and skiny and you can't fatten up. -- Bob "

LOL Bob

Just something to keep in mind. Christopher although does not have any thyroid problems, he too for the longest time OMG he never put on weight or grew and when he did was very very little. Honestly I could go years if I wanted and never really have to buy him anything new to wear. If ever I get a scanner on here I will post you some photos of him, so you don't think I am making it up Then about 2 to 1 and a half years ago, I think it was BAM he grew and put on weight so fast that he actually has stretch marks LOL I didn't even know what the marks were till I took him to the Docs. LOL YUP I had never seen stretch marks before

Chris is 14 and 5'2" and weighs bout 130 or 135. So although he is not big big the Doc now advised us to watch what he eats. The sad part a little is he now just starting to enjoy eating, he was never a big eater before.

Anywho I know this thread was about Thyroid and I too don't like to group all with DS will be short and overweight... I just wanted to share that although when they are little you may think OMG they are so tiny BUT just wait till puberty hits

CC ~

[Connie]

Dolly,

Sounds like Collin and Eric are about the same size. Collin is about 45" and 45lbs.

He has only been on his meds for about 2 weeks now and the only change I've noticed is in his BM's.

Connie