TSH level of 150 in new born

Question

Hi

My 50 day girl has very recently underwent Thyroid tests As her jaundice persisted and did not go , 
Following are the results

T3 -0.19
T4-0.21
TSH-151

I am very worried about this TSH value. I even cross checked with another lab and it
showed very high TSH . The reading they passed on was >100 .

I am very worried about my daughter . Today she is undergoing a scan around her neck.
I have a few questions

1. Since both mother and father do not suffer from any throid disorder why did my child
   is showing so much abnormal readings.

2. I have not heard about such high TSH level in new borns (Although I have heard them in  5-25 year olds.)

3. Am I already late in detecting this ?

4. What will be the likely treatment for this ?

Please let me know as I am feeling very worried..

--regards
Ramnik

rsbhatia · Answer

Thanks . Yes she is taking the medicine levothyroxin. I have got
a second opinion also from another endo specialist. 

They have told me that that we have not started medicine too late.
However, it takes about 7-8 dasys to get the medicine working..

She has not passed motion for the last 3-4 days .Her jaundice is slightly better.
You have been a great help and support for me. Please keep in touch.

magpieannie · Answer

If your wife is nursing, put the pill in the babies cheek and then nurse until it disolves.

rsbhatia · Answer

Well, I have to rush to the doctor as my  babyy has vomitted out the
pill given to her (some through her nose )

Did anyone face this kind of prblem. Should I ask the doctor to have her take this medicine in his presence.

rsbhatia · Answer

Thanks Again. Doctor has recommended levothyroxine for her .1mg tablet I think 
which needs to be dissolved in water and then needs to be given to her in the morning. Doctors are hopeful that by next week her TSH levels will come down.
I will make sure that Free T3 and Free T4 tests are done for her next time .

I am actually out of station at my work place and baby girl is with her mother and
all the family members . I will be seeing her in the weekend . 

Hope she keeps well.


Ramnik

magpieannie · Answer

My dauhter was also born at 38 weeks (induced). She was slightly jaundice and also constipated (several days between) most of her life. She weighed 9 lbs. 6 1/2 oz. at birth and was 21 in. long. Big baby and continues to be bigger than most her age even now. The TSH will come down with the thyroxine (t4). TSH stands for Thyroid Stimulating Hormone. It is a signal from the pituitary gland that is signaled by the hypothalmus gland in the brain (TRH) that the brain and body need thyroid hormone. If her thyroid gland was working correctly then it would release the hormone into the body at the proper level. Since it is not, you will have to give it through medication. As the body receives it, it will convert into t3 within the body and then the TSH signal will come down into range letting you know that she has enough hormone in her body to thrive.

rsbhatia · Answer

THanks evrybody 

Doctor told that it will still take 7days for the 
TSH reading to come down. 

But I and doctors are still baffled tosee such a hgh value of 150 in new born 
more so since she was born in the 38th week of pregnanacy and was a normalchild 
with a weight of 3.25 kg. Altough, her currnet weight is 4.15 kg which means that 
her growth rate is not normal. But in the middle period (3to 4.5 weeks), her weight had increased by 25 g/day. 

We only got to know about this test when her jaundice persisted. 

I am very very disappointed and depressed to see these results as I could nt make out any symptoms 

Off late(for the past 3 weeks)  she was passing motion once in three days but before that she was passing it daily. 


regards 
Ramnik

magpieannie · Answer

Hello! My daughter was born without a thyroid gland in 2000. She is 9 and smart as a whip. Don't worry about low I.Q. as 7 weeks is in time to start thyroid replacement. Most doctors recommend it best to begin treatment by 7 to 12 weeks or sooner if detected earlier. We were able to begin by 3 weeks due to it being discovered in her 1 day old new born screening at the hospital, however we were not notified until she was 2 1/2 weeks old. My daughter was on synthetic t4 (Synthroid) until the age of 8 1/2. (See my journal article on my home page if you'd like to see our "journey"thus far.) If you are nursing continue to do so for as long as possible, as there issome traces of real thyroid hormone and other things in this milk that will help your daughter. I nursed 1 year but should have gone longer. (2 to even 3 years) You will need to read and study all that you can no matter how alarming. Your daughter will need you to be the expert! I always put her med. in her cheek and nursed her until it disolved. Don't miss meds. and take her for those labs. After age 2 my daughter quit crying and it became a day that she would get a special bravery day lunch and toy shopping! It will be imortant for her to have a healthy diet. Little sugar and limit fast food, and only good (low glosemic) carbohydrates. (limit cereal). Take all suppliments as she gets older at night with meds in the morning. Always get copies of lab work. There is also a facebook site for parents of children with hypothyroidism. Also, my husband, myself and my older two sons have no history of thyroid disease of any kind. It's just the luck of the draw I guess? Who knows? It' s the way it is so we just deal with it in a positive way. She will have a good life! Please post me with any further questions or concerns.God's blessings to you and your baby girl!

6hashi · Answer

I won't send you my number ,you can send me messages personally through the forum !

best wishes ,

rsbhatia · Answer

Thnaks buddy. Yes, I am at the hospital now and they are giving a medicine
for her. 

They are saying that she has to take the medicine life long. Also,
I have been told at the hospital that tehre is a still 5-10% chance that
she won't have a normal IQ. I am really depressed. 

Is there no way her own thyroid gland starts working on its own. Can
you please mail me your contact number . I will call you. My contact id is 
ramnik.***@****

6hashi · Answer

if she is 50 days old then you are not too late 
however , you should start treating this immediately  
she could have no thyroid gland or partial one 
and this if not treated can cause mental retardation 
they will give her thyroid replacement 
her high TSH can indicate that she has no gland ,but that is not necessarily true !

good luck,