my 4 year old son has an elevated TSH level...what does this mean?

tickbattler

Regular Member

Joined : Jul 2007

Posts : 327

Posted 10/25/2008 1:36 PM (GMT -8)

Hi all,

One of my sons who is being treated for lyme, bart and babs just got his CBC done and it showed his TSH, 3rd Generation to be a little higher than the norm. The range was .5 to 4.3 and his was 4.46.

Does anyone know what this means and what could cause it? Is it significant? We have a telephone conference with DR. J in 2 weeks, but I'd like to understand something about it before the call.

Thanks,

tickbattler

Gretchen P

Veteran Member

Joined : Sep 2005

Posts : 1784

Posted 10/26/2008 6:54 AM (GMT -8)

tickbattler
A high TSH result often means an underactive thyroid gland that is not responding adequately to the stimulation of TSH. It is good you are consulting with Dr J, is your son currently a patient of his?

nakita

Regular Member

Joined : Dec 2006

Posts : 60

Posted 10/26/2008 11:21 AM (GMT -8)

I got thyroid problems a few years after I got LD. Does anyone know if the thyroid problems will go away if you cure the Lyme Disease?

tropicalsun

Regular Member

Joined : Jul 2006

Posts : 415

Posted 10/26/2008 12:08 PM (GMT -8)

Hope you get your questions answered. My Daughter goes to Dr. J. Who do your children see? My daughter has Bart & Babs as well. Hoow has your son been treated so far? Has your son's present Dr. commented on the results at all?

tickbattler

Regular Member

Joined : Jul 2007

Posts : 327

Posted 11/24/2008 6:19 PM (GMT -8)

Hi all,
Thanks for your comments. Sorry for my late reply; I forgot I had asked this question...

My son does see Dr. J and he said that it is not a problem because the other thyroid numbers were normal. I plan to have him retested later, however.

Frango - were all of your sons thyroid numbers abornal? Did you have your son treated through Dr. J? Just curious, who is your LLMD? Did his thryroid symptoms improved with lyme treatment? How are his lyme symptoms now?

tropicalsun - My son is currently on Bactrim, azithromycin, Mepron and artimisinin. We have seen improvement in his fatigue, but not really his other symptoms, yet. It has been 5 months so far. His night sweats have diminished as well.

Thanks,

tickbattler

alfers

Veteran Member

Joined : May 2005

Posts : 2671

Posted 11/24/2008 7:46 PM (GMT -8)

Hi Tickbattler,

Thyroid treatment is another one of those controversial issues (though not as controversial as lyme!). Some doctors think that if the T3 level is off (which it sounds like you're saying), the thyroid is not functioning normally and the person could use thyroid supplements. Other doctors -- I think the majority -- think that the TSH is the number to go by, and as long as that's normal it doesn't matter if the individual numbers are off. My T3 was off (but TSH level was normal) and I started taking Synthroid, and I felt tremendously better. You might want to talk about all this with Dr. J.

I don't think anyone knows if the thyroid usually goes back to normal after treatment or not.

Sorry I don't have more answers!

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