Kids Have Hypothyroidism Too (Another Reason to Question "Normal Labs")
Monday, January 3, 2011 at 6:44PM Lizzy A big wow, you'd think I would have explored this sooner. My poor son, who turns nine this month, has always struggled with weight. He is a big guy; off the charts for height, and weight has always been in the "at risk" range. So I've been watching his development knowing there could be a thyroid issue because it can be herediatary. Of course, I don't want to be one of "those moms" who projects all her phobias onto her kid. And I don't want him to have an eating complex or low energy in sports like I did as a kid. So what's a mom to do?
Well, for the last eight months my son has been on my diet which is no grain, no flour and minimal sugar. He has been a real trouper about it; eating eggs, potato and lettuce for breakfast, smoothies made with stevia for lunch, and hamburger without a bun for dinner. You get the idea. Pretty lame food for a kid.
Amazingly though the diet only stopped his weight gain (which is still a success) but he really hasn't been able to take the weight off which is seemed odd. This experiment made me realize his metabolism is just like mine. As a kid, just looking at a box of cereal made me gain weight. Yet my sister could eat the whole box of cereal and stay skinny as a rail. (Sigh, its such an injustice.) Anyway, I am not so concerned if my kid is skinny. I just want him to be healthy and not suffer the low metabolism, hypothyroid nightmare
This got me to thinking he might have thyroid problem. But two years ago, at his regular doctor I asked for thyroid lab work and the doctor said: "His TSH labs came back normal". I accepted this information as is, didn't question it, and didn't think to ask: "What is the actual TSH level?" But I still felt something has not be right so I decided to take my son to my doctor, the super awesome Dr. Brummer.
Dr. B look at the labs and said my son's "TSH is a 6. That's on the very high end of normal. And most labs have a much lower range... 2.5 is more in the range of normal." Shocker!
What does it mean?! My son could very well be hypothyroid. All this time. It just goes to show how important it is to know our lab work, and ask what the actual numbers are. So yeah, wow! This is a huge discovery and might mean I save my son from an otherwise dreadful path of weight gain, low energy, depression and other illnesses. A big "hurray" to me, for following my mother's instinct.
If you are hypothyroid there is a good chance your kids have it too. Call your doctor and ask what their actual labs levels are (not whether they are "normal"). And do the symptom checklist for your kids. Go mamas!
xxoo
Lizzy
Reader Comments (1)
I haven't commented here yet, but just thought I'd tell you that I have 4 children on thyroid right now and 2 of them on cortef. Having trouble balancing them too.
I think it's that naturethroid change. Dangit! I cannot afford compounded for all
of them!
One of my daughters is overweight, not grossly but about 25-30 lbs.
I don't call that obese as the med charts like too. I feel that's a label used way too loosely just to sell weight loss gimmicks. Unfortunately she does not take it seriously and isn't consistent about taking it. It's been 3 years and at 17 you'd think she'd want to do something to feel and look better. She feels it doesn't work because she hasn't lost weight, but she sabotages herself constantly and then comforts herself with food. And then because she doesn't feel great, she doesn't exercise. All 3 daughters are carboholics and just roll their eyes at me when I tell them they need to stop. All 3 are overweight to some degree. I may bring the two oldest two to your workshop. I think they need to hear this stuff from you because they can relate to you. I've always been slight, always liked exercise and generally like being healthy. I've definetly had health issues that have slowed me down, but I think they think it's easy for me because I've never had as much to lose as they do. But I have lost 20 lbs. before and I gained it back being sick, but I'll get rid of it again- even if it's hard. They don't like hard things. I think they might listen to you and be inspired. I'm just their mom, what do I know, right?
Thanks for all you do! Sue