BellaOnline Forums Health and Fitness Thyroid Health Quick Update

Just wanted to update on my DS condition-he was moved up to 175mcg, he has been on this for 6 weeks now. His numbers have improved I think. Doctor said she just wants to keep the dose the same. He seems to have the same symptoms and we have added a couple more but they don't seem concerned.

I would like to get some input on his recent numbers. He has central hypothyroidism

TSH - 0.01
FT4 - 2.3
T4 - 10.3
LH - 8.3
FSH - 7.7
TESTOSERONE - 547
IGF-1 849
IGFBP3 - PENDING

Because of his chronic fatigue she wanted to check his growth hormones and testosterone. She said they were normal. The only thing think I might ask is that I thought his testosterone levels would be at the higher end since he is a teenager. He is losing weight and the shortness of breath continues but his T4 went from 1.2 to 2.3 and I think that is where they want it.

cybercat,

Thanks for updating us and we hope he sees more improvement as he is on the newer dose for a while longer.

Patients with Central Hypothyroidism sometimes need a very supressed TSH as his is.

FT4 usually has a high-normal cut-off of about 2.0 and he's just barely above that and maybe flagged slightly high but depends on what the lab's range is that did the testing.
Total T4 usually has an upper cut off of about 12.0, so he would be in the upper range on that one.

Do you have normal ranges on those other five tests? If so, add those to this thread. I'm limited in knowledge on those particular tests but other members may have some input to add.

We all add our hopes, wishes and prayers for him to see more improvement!

Jim thanks for the reply - you have been so much help.

Here are the ranges from the last set plus I added the numbers from the same tests a year before. I see that his LH and FSH has gone down. My concern lies with how low the TSH has gone and I know that you say they don't look at that number but I am wondering if he is over medicated. She also said they won't check his numbers again for 6 months. Does that seem normal?

March 09

TSH - 0.01 (0.37-6)
FT4 - 2.3 (1.0 - 2.4)
T4 - 10.3
LH - 8.3 (4.8 - 20.4)
FSH - 7.7 (<3.0 - 10.5)
TESTOSERONE - 547 (110 - 975)
IGF-1 849 (No range given)
IGFBP3 - PENDING (3.5 - 10)

March 08

TSH - 1.17 (0.37-6)
FT4 - 1.5 (1.0 - 2.4)
T4 -
LH - 11.5 (4.8 - 20.4)
FSH - 8.3 (<3.0 - 10.5)
TESTOSERONE - 490 (110 - 975)
IGF-1 642.4 (No range given)
IGFBP3 - 4.3 (3.5 - 10)

cybercat,

I too wondered when seeing those most recent labs they did on him, if he might be on slightly too high a dose but the range on that FT4 shows high-normal and not flagged high. With levothyroxine brands, they can do 12mcg dose changes which is small but helps tweak it. His Dr. will likely tweak it down a bit if the next blood retest shows the T4 to be flagged slightly above normal.
If you feel he should be rechecked a little sooner than 6-months, you might discuss with him wanting the thyroid ones reordered at two month entervals for a while longer. I would bet the Dr. will agree to it. Six months is reasonable in patients whom a Dr. feels has reached their proper dose level. Your son's case is a more complicated situation and for your own comfort, it's understandable you would like to see a shorter time between retests, at least for now.