Need input! Teen with Thyroid issues, update

[d.k]

*Gotcha. WELL, kids never think they'll get old, do they?? SOMEDAYS, I STILL marvel that I'm nearing 5O-- in my head I still feel about 23!

 

[wegotchickens]

Well, we saw the GP yesterday. He wasn't going to prescribe ANYTHING until we talked about how she sleeps 18 hours a day and still can't function for more than an hour or so before being ready to sleep again. After hearing her symptoms, and after hearing that her father is already taking 135mg per day thyrozine (his mother takes 88mg), the doctor prescribed K 25mg per day.

He said we'd give that 4 weeks and see if it made a difference. If not, or if there were other complications, he'd refer us to a pediatric endocrinologist.

K's dad had pitched a fit over my choice of doctors leading up to yesterday, so I was a ball of nerves by the time we got to the appointment. Stayed calm, though, and so did he (I was amazed). Even more amazing is that after the visit the ex decided he REALLY liked this guy after all! I was so relieved. All we had to do then was wait while K left a urine sample, and then we were on our way.

Unfortunately, the GP's office just called. There was sugar in K's urine. So now she goes back again tomorrow for another fasting blood sugar and urine screen.

K was already flunking all her classes and we're only 6 weeks into the semester. So I've been in touch with all her teachers to let them know there were health issues (and to keep it confidential) and could they please work with K to help her get caught up. All were VERY supportive. But K says they are being so sweet to her that it's almost worse than if they discussed the medical stuff to her friends!! She's gone from being the class clown sleeping through every class to a victim of sympathy.

And as a self-conscious teen, she's very worried about how her skin is all flaky and 'gross' looking (to her more than us, of course). We'd been looking into better moisturizers before her diagnosis. Now I think I'll pull a fast one and claim that eating some of the food you all suggested will naturally make her skin do better, from the inside out. It's not entirely untrue, but...

Her father has Type II diabetes as well as the almost non-functional thyroid, so the sugar test is going to upset K terribly. On top of the upset from knowing that she'll deal with the thyroid stuff the rest of her life. I'm praying that the sugar was a fluke, and all will be okay in the morning!

 

[Cuban Longtails]

I don't know if it will help or not, but you can try using pure aloe vera gel for the dry facial skin. I do and it helps me, but everyone is different.

Just remind her to be patient and that it takes time for the skin to repair itself.

Here's the product I use: Fruit of the Earth

You can find this at Wal-Mart, usually in the section they have lotions. It's easier to find during the summer though, but the ones around here carry it year-round (just gotta hut for it, 'cause they're always moving)

 

[d.k]

*Hi, WGC- Wow! A lot going on there, eh? So, he put her *ON* synthetic thyroid w/ a TSH already over a 3?? Am I reading that right??

 

[wegotchickens]

Yup, she's on thyroid medicine. The doc wouldn't have put her on it except for such a high family history.

But the sugar tests from the time of the blood test were fine.
So why sugar in her urine 2 weeks later? (and she had just drank a glass of water since she didn't need to go)

 

[Farmer Kitty]

She'll start feeling better within days. I know when I forget mine it doesn't take long for my body to remind me to go get it!

I don't know what would have been up with the sugar counts.

 

[d.k]

O.K.-- I am kinda at a loss here. K's original TSH was SLIGHTLY HIGH @ 4.38; *They SAID 'High', right???

 

[wegotchickens]

d.k :

O.K.-- I am kinda at a loss here. K's original TSH was SLIGHTLY HIGH @ 4.38; *They SAID 'High', right???

No, actually the doc originally said he wanted to wait a bit and retest, since it wasn't that high. BUT, Then we started discussing her symptoms, which are extreme, and the family history. Since her father (my ex) has such extreme thyroid trouble, as does his mother, the doc decided the history was strong enough when paired with the symptoms to warrant medication. Thyroid trouble runs on my side as well, but not as direct nor as strong.

I still want a 2nd opinion ASAP. But, quite frankly, the kid is barely functioning and needs SOMETHING done now. If she sits still, she's asleep in a second. And that's after sleeping 18 hours a night. SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT with my baby.

And now the sugar issue... There's Type II Diabetes on both sides of the family, his & mine. So that's really muddying all this up even worse, for me and my understanding of what to do and what comes next. Is this the complication that sends us to a pediatric specialist????​

 

[d.k]

*Well, see-- My family is ALL very, VERY low-- Meanwhile, MINE was breaking records; it was SO outrageously HIGH!! They were trying to SLOW it, not ADD to it!! You see? -- What about depression as a possible cause of K's sleeping all day?? Any discussion on that angle??

 

[wegotchickens]

Actually, yes. Quite a bit, early on. But the guidance counselor said to get a good physical first to make sure there weren't any chemical issues going on.
And the GP told K that if the thyroid responded well to treatment but the symptoms didn't, then he was going to start asking her some hard questions...