Low Thyroid Number

[Kukla56]

My 9 1/2 year old daughter was just given an ADHD diagnosis.  As part of the consultation with her pediatirician, I requested bloodwork (at the advice of one of the books I've read on ADHD) and her free thyroxine tested low at .65 ng/dL.  Her pediatrician retested after 3 weeks and that result was .75 ng/DL.  Her TSH was within normal range on both tests.  We've been referred to a pediatric endocrinologist but the earliest possible appointment is in early June.

We know of no family history of "thyroid problems".  What could possibly be causing this?  Is there anything we can do nutrition-wise between now and the endocrinologist appointment that could improve her situation?

She is not on any medications.  In the past year, she was taking a stool softener daily (Miralax).  She was on it for about a year, however she has not been on that in about 6 months.  She has periodic UTI's 1-2/year) and had at least one kidney infection 5 years ago, so she has had her fair share of antibiotics.  Also, She has had eczema since she was 6 months old.

There is very little info on the web that I can see.  Can you direct me to some sights?

[Deanna L Aftab Guy, MD]

Her thyroid functions look fine to me, each lab varies and I guarantee that when you see the endocrinologist that repeat labs are going to be normal. I would not worry just yet, let them settle this, they know which labs to get and can interpret them to settle things (most of the times!-sometimes we scratch our heads too!)
I see many many patients for abnormal thyroid tests done at one hospital and get to give the good news that all is ok, wait for the appt in June, it is only a month away and I always tell a pediatrician to repeat in a month anyway to retest. She does not sound like she is sick and otherwise I do not think that the thyroid test is related to adhd.