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Pediatric Endocrinology (Expert Forum)
Hypothyroid Concerns
Answered by
Deanna L Aftab Guy, MD - Short Stature, thyroid, Pituitary abnormalit, Puberty concerns, Rapid Growth, Adrenal problems, Parathyroid abnormal, Rickets and bone dis
Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital
Nashville - TN
Questions in the Pediatric Endocrinology forum are answered by Dr. Deanna L Aftab Guy, affiliated with Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. Topics covered include adrenal problems, diabetes insipidus, menstrual irregularities, obesity, parathyroid abnormalities, pituitary abnormalities, puberty concerns, rapid growth, rickets and bone disease, short stature, and thyroid.
Hypothyroid Concerns
by kashunt, Sep 03, 2008 01:30PM
My daughter was diagnosed with hypothyroidism 3 years ago at age 10. She had a TSH level of 282.6, T4 of 0.30 and T3 of 48. She began taking synthroid at that time and after about a year and 1/2 her levels were normalized. At the same time she was diagnosed with hypothyroidism she began seeing a psychiatrist for severe anxiety, depression and OCD. Later, he diagnosed her with bi-polar. She had previously been diagnosed with ADHD and severe learning disabilities. Although her blood tests come back "normal" at this time, she still suffers from depression, anxiety, mood swings, irritability, OCD, lack of concentration, air-hunger, joint pain etc. Are there other tests besides Free T4, Total T3, and TSH we should request? Do you think that these symptoms could be related to her hypothyroidism despite the normal test results?
Doctor's Answer
by Deanna L Aftab Guy, MD, Sep 10, 2008 04:35PM
, Sep 10, 2008 04:35PMTo: kashunt
Sometimes the medications used for bipolar and ocd can affect the thyroid but her labs appear to be unrelated and coincidental, she has hypothyroidism, getting thyroid antibodies will more than likely confirm that this is Hashimoto's-an autoimmune thyroid disease that is very common and easily treated. I usually check free T4, TSH and at least once thyroid antibodies to confirm the type of thyroid problem we are working with. Her symptoms do not sound like they are all related to thyroid, work closely with her psychiatrist and be sure they are pediatric, her diagnosis has changed so much do not want her overtreated or overdiagnosed
