hyper and hypo

[katima]

I have recently undergone testing to determine why I am hyperthyroid and am seeing the endocrinologist tomorrow for the results. While I was going through this testing, I asked that my teenage daughter be tested as well.  For the past three years she has not been menstruating without assistance of birth control pills and even then not regularly, she could sleep for 18 hours a day, has gained an extreme amount of weight and where she used to play every sport going, now plays nothing, has aches and pains all the time.  We have been to the doc for this many times over the years and they keep switching pills.  I  am insisting now that she get a referral to the gynecologist.  Today she found out that her tsh was high 4.65 (range 1.4 - 2.8).  This was bad enough until we found out that it was high a year ago when she had it done and it was missed.  She is so upset.  She can't stop crying.  She feels that since this was missed she has had an extra year to gain weight and to be tired.  I feel guilty that I didn't insist more was done when it was my gut feeling that something wasn't right.  She had more blood work done today and will see someone next week and I think meds is likely next.  Anyone else a teen or have a teen dealing with the same issue?  Is it coincident that two people in the same house are both having thyroid issues?  Please  any advice would be appreciated.   My diagnosis tomorrow seems so unimportant now.

[katima]

I don't have the reference ranges.  I am getting all my info second hand from my daughter.  She got some numbers but not all the necessary ones.  From what I gather from our conversation, the doc feels the numbers arent that bad but since she has so many symptons, she is being treated.  After a month she will take altroxin (sp)?  the good news is she will see the same endo as I and I will go with her and get more info. I am in Canada and we have to get lab results directly from doc not the lab and even then they are reluctant to give printouts...or at least mine is.

[magpieannie]

Do you have a copy of the lab with the reference ranges? If so can you please post each lab with the reference range beside it-It makes it easier for us to see where she is falling within those ranges so we can better advise you with our opinions. Recommended TSH now is under 3.0. Also, do you know what "stronger" med the doctor is wanting to change your daughter to? Is it Tirosint? This is a new t4 med that just came out.

[katima]

daughter started meds today...she is taking the lowest dose of synthroid for a month and then changing to a different stronger medicine after a month.  
Does this seem appropriate?

[katima]

I have two questions I am hoping someone can help with...
I was diagnosed with graves this week based on blood work, uptake scan, symptoms...however thyroid antibody test was negative.  Can you have graves with a negative antibody test?
My 17 year old daughter is to start thyroid meds tomorrow...low dose to start for one month and then increased.  She has also been referred to an endocrinologist.  Her blood results are not that bad but based on the extreme weight gain, no periods, fatigue etc, it has been decided she needs meds.  Her results were:  TSH 4.65 (0.4 - 2.8) , Free T3 - 5.4 (when measured in 2009 it was 2.7; I don't know the correct range); T4 15 Thyroid antibodies - 15 (in mid normal range)  Is it advisable for a teen to start meds with these blood levels?  She has every symptom of hypothyroid.

[gimel]

A good thyroid doctor does not diagnose a patient by TSH testing alone.  TSH is a pituitary hormone that is affected by so many variables that it is at best an indicator, to be considered along with more important indicators such as symptoms, and also levels of the actual, biologically active thyroid hormones, free T3 and free T4.  FT3 is the most important because studies have shown that it correlates best with hypo symptoms.  

In my opinion the best way to treat a thyroid patient is to test and adjust levels of FT3 and FT4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  Symptom relief should be all important.  Frequently we hear from members that symptom relief for them required that FT3 was adjusted into the upper part of its range and FT4 adjusted to at least midpoint of its range.   You should discuss this with your doctor and if he has a problem treating your daughter clinically, in this manner, then you will need to find a good thyroid doctor that will do so.  

If you will get the additional testing done and post the results and reference ranges, members will be happy to help interpret and advise further.