Elevated TSH in 6 month old?

[cwaters7]

My son who is almost seven months has had an elevated TSH since birth.  His doctor says it is just barely out of normal range and both the T3 and T4 are normal.  He has only consulted with an endo once at 4 months and was told to wait till six months to test again.  The test has come back with the same results and we will be waiting to talk to the endo next week.  It seems to me that the process is moving very slow considering the effects of Hypo in young infants.  Should I be concerned and demand faster reaction to these tests or is it time for a second opinion?  If my son needs to be treated for this what is typically the next step and is he likely to live a normal life being normal size and normal brain function.  Thanks in advance for your response, I look forward to the info.

[magpieannie]

Hi, Stella asked me to contact you. My daughter was born in 2000 without a thyroid gland. Do you know the exact levels for your sons TSH, t3 and t4? Also, are you nursing by chance? No matter what is said, breast milk does have lots of thyroid hormone in it and that could cause the doctors to think that the problem is less then it is. The elivated TSH and the absence of improvement in labs is something that needs to be taken seriously. Also, it depends where in the "Normal Range"your sons freet3 and freet4 are? If they are low normal and if the TSH is high normal then there is an issue that needs addressed ASAP! Proper brain and body growth depend on having enough  thyroid hormone available in the first two to three years of life. It is very serious and I don't think that the doctors should have put you off. Some studies show that the hormones need to started before 12 weeks to insure that intellectual development is not hampered in any way. Babies brains are growing and developing at a high rate of speed,  (90% of brain growth is in the first 2 years of life!)So take no chances here and get  a second and third opinion if needed!  How did you learn of your sons issue? My daughters TSH was elivated at birth, however her T4 was normal! My pediatrician also tried to put us off as he felt it was not urgent due to her having t4 in range. Problem was, it was my breast milk masking this! I did not wait 4 months to see his network pediatrician, instead I found my own and she began Synthroid at 3 weeks old! It was not until I quit nursing at 1 year that her TSH levels jumped up and her t4 and t3 drastically fell, that we truly realized how much thyroid hormone she was getting through my milk. We then had an ultrasound and radioactive iodine uptake scan performed and no thyroid gland was found! (See my journal entry on my profile page). The good news today is that she is normal in every way. (no developmental or physical delays) She is bright and beautiful and makes straight A's! I hope this helps you in some way? Please move forward on this as those developmental windows don't stay open forever! Take no chances, as these doctors are only human and can make mistakes. Please keep us posted. God's blessings to you and your son.

[6hashi]

Hello ,
some doctors consider any TSH under 10 with normal FT's as normal ,I have two nephews at the age of 2 years with hashimoto ,and I suffered all my life ,don't panic since the free's are normal, however ,falling in the normal range does not mean normal and so I would recommend an endo who specializes in children !

good luck ,

[stella5349]

This is a post that a member magpieanne should check out. Her daughter was in this situation 8 years ago. If she doesn't respond here - please message her.

[acker]

sounds like you could definitely start lining up a paediatric endo or neonatal endo. i know - it's a tricky situation. sorry can't help with any other sound knowledge, hope someone else here can...