child with goiter

[chellabob]

Okay, I'm really concerened about my daughter.  She is 10 Yrs. old and just got diagnosed with a multinodular goiter and presents with an enlargment of her thyroid gland, one side being larger than the other.  Also bloodwork shows elevated tsh level at 6.4(normal range is up to 5.5) t4 and t3 and thyroid antibodies came back with in all normal ranges.  How long do you think this may have been developing?  I'm just afraid that this is serious.  She cannot get in to see the ped. Endo for a while and she is the only one within my insurance plan-so her primary wants to start her on synthroid immediatley.  Do you think this is a good idea?  I think maybe I should just wait for her to see the pediatric Endo.  Please let me know your expert opinion.  I greatly appreciate it!!!Thanks

[utahmomma]

My regular endo takes pediatric thyroid patients.  Don't limit yourself to a pediatric endo - most of them are dealing with pediatric diabetes.  Call and find a good thyroid specialist endo then talk to the nurse (a secret to getting around the receptionist) about your daughter's condition - that may get you in faster.

Starting her on Synthroid isn't a bad idea now but she needs long-term followup with an endo.  While her primary care doctor is starting this, did they do an ultrasound of your daughter's thyroid or just determine the multinodular goiter through palpitation?  If she hasn't had an ultrasound, she needs one.

[ifupleze]

She needs to be on meds to bring her TSH level down.  Trust your doctor.  Wthout the meds, she will continue to go more hypo and this can be devastating  She is not that far off of the normal range, so a low dose would be suggested to start with,  even if it is 25mcg, but get her started on it immediately.