Anyone with experience of Underactive Thyroid in Children?

[laurel123]

I have a Doctors appointment this afternoon for my 11 DS, he has bad skin ( chicken skin on arms now spread to face, Weight gain, complaining of sore joints. I have a seriously underactive Thyroid (on 200mg) and have read that this can be hereditary and wanted to check this out. When I spoke to the doctor originally he just wanted to dismiss this. Just wondering if there is anyone who has experience of underactive Thyroid in children. In my experience GP are really bad @ diagnosing and dealing with Hypothyroidism. I may have got it all wrong but something is not right so want to get to the bottom of it.

Sorry only just spotted this - how did it go?

My DD has an underactive thyroid but she was diagnosed following a routine blood test because she has Type 1 Diabetes. It is also an autoimmune problem so they test you regularly whether you have symptoms or not. She may or may not have had symptoms - she has been tired anxious depressed but this is mire likely because of her diabetes age and other problems she has or believes she has.

I believe she is undermedicated and am currently trying to persuade her Endo of this - had a phone conversation today but got no where.

At least I have a blood test result to go on (FT4 16 but TSH is 4.8). Hope you can get your doctor to do tests. Have you looked at Thyroid UK? You can pay for tests yourself - it's not cheap and with an NHS we shouldn't have to - but have a look at the site if the GP didn't help.

Good luck

Spoke to the GP and she said "it is as rare as hens teeth in kids" but she has agreed to a blood test, thyroid and diabetes, so will see what happens. I remember when I was diagnosed 10 years ago it it took me so many visits, GP simply did not think there was a problem, now on 200mg a day. So I guess in my DS cased I was not going to take a fob off

Good for you laurel

'Rare as hens teeth' means non existant which is crap, to be blunt. It is not rare in children with T1 diabetes - there certainly wasn't a big deal made over it when DD was diagnosed - whereas when she was diagnosed with cataracts there was/is disbelief and surprise.

All children(and adults) with T1 diabetes are routinely tested so it can't be that rare. Also if you have it wouldnt be impossible for your child to. I hope it not thyroid, (and certainly hope its not diabetes:() but I do hope you get to the bottom of this soon.