My son suddenly is lacking focus..secondary hypo

My son was has hypothyroidism (secondary) caused by a tiny tiny tumor in his pituitary. His t4 is supressed. The only reason I found out was his side effects. His grades were going down in school, and his hair was falling out as if he had alopecia. My question is, can it really effect his school work. I have made an apt with his teachers to discuss his sudden lack of intrest. The school wants a letter from the Dr that states it could be a possiblity? The Endo is not comfortable giving me this. He wont rule it in or out, but my sons primary Dr thinks thats insane and provided me a letter that states its could be a possiblity and he needs time for his meds to level him out to see an improvement. Im feeling soo confused and lost. Could this thryroid problem cause a temporary change in school effort?

Here is some of my sons backround. He is in 5th grade- a talented/gifted school and has always pulled straight A's in acedmics along with effort easily. He was diagnosed in Dec with the hypo/pit problems. Started meds 6 weeks ago after an MRI. His grades started to go down to C's in November? He is just showing that he lacks concentration and memory issues. He forgets EVERYTHING. This is at home as well as school. It reminds me of my friends child who as attention def disorder in a way....... but my son never had this prob prior. Nothing has changed in his life except the illness????? Is there any way this could effect him to focus? He takes 75mcg of Levothroxine (levothyroxine) and .1 mg of clonidine to help get his sleep cycles back to normal (at bed time). Any advise would help me. Thank you so much.

[SarahB79]

I agree with your family Dr. the Endo is being silly by not providing you with this note for school and I am so glad the family Dr. did.  

This child has been through a lot and is feeling lousy still most likely.  Of course his moods and focus are going to change with this stuff going on in his fragile body.  Going to a school for the gifted, you'd think these teachers and administrators would be more bright and sympathetic to such medical crisis.  

My only advice is... talk to your son a lot about how it's ok that he's slipping and that you love him no matter what and want to see him suceed.  Promise to help him with his studies and that you will get to the bottom of this for him.  

Levothyroxine can take up to 3 or 4 months to really gain full effect.  And a recently sought a second consult from a different endocrinologist than my normal one and he stated that generic thyroid medicine shouldn't be perscribed... get him on a name brand medication that is more steadily regulated.  Don't let him have caffine and make sure he is sleeping well.  Good diet and all that jazz.  He will bounce back and he'll have a great mom like you there to help him do so.  

What other hormones were checked after his pituitary tumor was found?  Anything else irregular?

[rumpled]

You child needs to see a pediatric neuro endo. He may also need other hormones.  Thyroid alone may not be enough. He may also need T3 - was that tested?

Sleep issues can be cortisol or growth hormone related. He needs more testing.