My 12 year old son-thyroid

[bigsis0929]

My 12 year old son is overweight, has dry skin and hair.
Has a very round face, flushed. His TSH is 5.78.
Have a history in the family of thyroid problems.
My grandmother had a goiter, among other thyroid problems. My sister has PCOS, my neice has hyperparathyroidism. My other son has juvenile arthritis. My 12 year old is always warm. The doctor did not do a T3 or T4, at least not that I have results for.
He also has gynecomastia, and pink to purple striae on thighs and abdomen. I just feel something is wrong! He is active, and eats a normal diet. Please tell me I am not crazy!
Thank You!! PAM

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

TSH is borderline high -- the gynecomastia is not uncommon with boys entering/in puberty.  The stretch marks may indicate excessive cortisol, but are likely due to the weight gain.  Would see a pediatric endocrinologist to make sure there is nothing wrong.  Recent data suggest that overweight adolescents have higher TSH levels -- it's complicated, but the conclusion is that this does NOT mean the thyroid is causing the weight.

[turkey2]

Check out the below website.  It will give you the readings that your tsh levels should be at.  The levels were lowered a couple of years ago and maybe not all doctors realize that.  Keep talking to your doctor about it and if he is not open to discussion you may want to take your son to an endocinologist.
http://thyroid.about.com/library/howto/htthyroid-test.htm