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Original poster

To be terrified about my daughter's thyroid

28 replies

Greengreengrassss · 13/11/2025 20:19

My daughter is 7 and her TSH levels have been creeping up for a few years now. The most recent result has come back at 10. Her T3 and T4 are normal but she does have thyroid antibodies.
Her paediatrician has sought advice from endocrinology and they've said she doesn't need treatment unless her levels go above 20 but want to have repeat tests to keep an eye on it.
She has a genetic condition and her auntie, grandma and great grandma all have an underactive thyroid.
I don't want her to end up on medication for the rest of her life and dealing with symptoms.
My understanding is that her pituitary gland is working over time to keep the T4 and T3 levels normal because the antibodies are attacking it.
I feel like it's only a matter of time before things start to go downhill.
I just feel so sad for her. She's faced so many challenges and overcome them but I feel as though the odds are against her.
Am I being silly? Does anyone have any experience of this, especially in children? Is my understanding correct?

OP posts:
Libellousness · 13/11/2025 21:03

I know it’s uncomfortable to think about your 7 year old potentially needing to be on medication for life, but in reality, it’s not that big a deal, and I think it’s important to regularly remind yourself of that. People deal with far worse than swallowing a few tablets every morning - Type 1 diabetes is a much more involved illness, for example.

Over half of British adults take daily medication - and it’s not just older people. Millions of young to middle-aged women take the oral contraceptive pill everyday, and your dd may well be among them in 10 years or so.

We’re lucky we live in a time where these symptoms can be easily controlled with a simple pill.

LadyFriend · 13/11/2025 21:02

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at age 7. I’ve been taking thyroxine every day since then and I’m now 47. It hasn’t affected my life at all, apart from having to take the medication and having regular blood tests - usually once a year. I’ve had 2 DC and there were no problems with my pregnancies.
Hope that reassures you a bit.

AmyDudley · 13/11/2025 20:56

I'm sorry you are worried about your DD, I don;t know if my experience is of any use to you because my DD is an adult, she has hashimoto's disease. I suspect it started when she was younger as she had always been a child who tired easily and was always very thin.
Anyway she started getting more obvious symptoms as a young adult (hair falling out, extreme fatigue, goitre in her throat etc).
It is hard to think of being on meds for the rest of your life, and no one wants that, but my DD has felt so much better since she started meds and got the disease under control. Really it is just one small tablet a day, it doesn't have any side effects, and although it can take a few adjustments to get the levels stable, once it settles it is just a question of blood tests every few months to check all is OK.
If it is well medicated then the symptoms will be well controlled.

I've also got thyroid disease (definite genetic component) but Graves disease in my case. I've got pretty good at knowing things don;t feel quite right and I just get a blood test and get my meds adjusted if necesary.

I hope things go well for your DD.

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