I HAVE ADD!!!

• 09-30-2007 1:52 PM

  upholding birth Joined on 04-06-2005 NE Indiana Posts 413

  I HAVE ADD!!! Reply Contact YUP. American Doctor Drama!!!! OK, so here it is. developmentally they are ok. Tomorrow I find out the results of Faith's Echo/EKG and her blood work turned out ok. But first, they had a low result of a blood preprotein called prealbumin, which it turns out is low by a couple or few points naturally in breastfed infants. Therefore, I increased their protein intake. I will find out about those retest scores tomorrow also. More Drama. Crissie has some sort of thyroid issue. Her test results for Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (released by the pituitary to get the thyroid to release more iodine uptake hormones - T4. that turns to T3) were slightly elevated (or more depending on some research). Her Total T4 level is on the high side of normal. her results are T4 11.2 in a 'normal range' of 4.8-13.9 and her TSH is 7.88 in a 'normal range' of 034-4.82 (further research suggests anything above 2 is high and varied independently based on symptoms). Upon preliminary research, there is no condition in which these numbers should be like that. A low thyroid is indicated by high TSH and low T4 and T3 (T3 has not been tested). High thyroid has high T4 and T3 and low TSH. A pituitary situation is indicated by all the results on the same side of the scale (high T4, high TSH). Free T4 and Free T3 should also be examined to get the most accurate results. However she really does not have any symptoms of thyroid problems, though they do call her failure to thrive because she is not 'catching up' yet. At her age any thyroid problem should be congenital and found on the newborn screening test, of which she had two. No abnormal results were reported. On to what I found when I dug deeper. And, OH MAN, is the doctor going to get an earful, I just hope I can say it firmly yet nicely. My hair falling out in clumps a few months after they were born, issues with milk supply, hard to lose weight, tired, cranky, depression, high cholesterol and many other symptoms of hypothyroidism I have, plus a family history of various endocrinological issues. Lots and lots of them. Crissie is still partially breastfed, breastfeeds better than Faith, and more often on a daily basis. My theory is that my high TSH and low T4 is present in breast milk and passed on to her during nursing. If her thyroid is trying to regulate my high TSH while I do not have enough T4 (which is known to disguise infant hypothyroidism) then her numbers could match this diagnosis. What this means to me is I MUST be tested, and maybe have my breastmilk tested as well, and have this taken care of to prevent her thyroid from developing a permanent problem. Low thyroid also leads to low fat content of milk, which I have noticed since their birth when pumping (while realizing I do not let down well with a pump and lately not with them, either, which is also a symptom of hypothyroid). I will let you know how it goes.

  Filed under: slow, gain, breast, tired, weight, hair loss, birth, pregnancy, hypothyroid, milk, feed, failure to thrive, twins

• 10-01-2007 10:15 AM

  In reply to

  BethanyRose Joined on 02-22-2005 www.nomorebummers.com Posts 955

  Re: I HAVE ADD!!! Reply Contact I couldn't agree with you more!  I know it is VERY common for ones thyroid to change during pregnancy and after and my Dr. use to very often check for this after giving birth.  I had a friend that always produced low milk with both of her girls and with her second she was just ready to give up because no LC or Dr. could help her.  Then I told her she should get her thyroid checked and sure enough it was VERY low... but then of course she didn't feel like changing her diet so she quit nursing anyway.   Whatever!  Anyway I hope your Dr listens to you and you can get this taken care of naturally!

• 10-05-2007 1:33 AM

  In reply to

  upholding birth Joined on 04-06-2005 NE Indiana Posts 413

  Re: I HAVE ADD!!! Reply Contact We saw the nurse practitioner and she was quite willing to listen. They decided to retest Crismas in two weeks, so on Monday we are both being tested. Of course, I don't want to change my diet, either, however there are so many reasons I must.The biggest problem I am telling myself about changing my diet is the financial aspect. Food is expensive, especially the healthy stuff. I will have to eat a bit different than the children, fats and carbs mostly. Will power will seriously come into play. Actually, I am quite impressed with how the NP handled our cases. First, I made the appointment we had for myself and all 5 children, so she could see clinically that all of my children are of small weight and stature (so that takes care of the crap about their 'slow weight gain'). Next I offered that I have tons of symptoms, which I actually do, including high cholesterol. So now, I am being tested for thyroid panel (I felt retesting TSH was not a reliable indicator after much research), a lipid panel to check blood fats, and a metabolic/fatigue panel. We will be going on Monday to get our blood drawn and a week after to get the results. She also saw that Crismas didn't have any symptoms since I let her crawl around the room. She had plenty of energy for the visit, which she has at home. She is pulling herself up now, but only if I help her by holding her hands. Faith uses the couch, car seats, me, dad, boxes, baskets, exersaucer, swing, t.v., whatever is handy, lol. I will update when we get our results and decide on a treatment if needed.

• 10-05-2007 1:27 PM

  In reply to

  BethanyRose Joined on 02-22-2005 www.nomorebummers.com Posts 955	Re: I HAVE ADD!!! Reply Contact Thea recently said that taking coconut oil is really good for regulating ones thyroid... maybe that would help without making a TON of diet changes?  Good luck and let us know when you get another update!

• 10-10-2007 12:41 AM

  In reply to

  upholding birth Joined on 04-06-2005 NE Indiana Posts 413

  Re: I HAVE ADD!!! UPDATED!! Reply Contact I have half of our results. Crismas results are normal for T4, T3 uptake, and T7 but her YSH is still high. I found it is lower than what it was in July and lower than it was last time, but not that much lower than last time and her T4 is lower than last time, though still in normal range (although the range for adults was compared this time or something but the unit of measurement was the same. here are her numbers: Drawn: 7/23/07 T4 11.0 range 4.8-13.9 µG/dL TSH 10.29 (H) range 0.34-4.82 µIU/mL Drawn: 09/24/07 T4 11.2 range 4.8-13.9 µG/dL TSH 7.88 (H) range 0.34-4.82 µIU/mL Drawn: 10/08/07 T4 7.6 range 6.4-12.6 µg/dL T7 2.40 range 1.75-5.29 T3 uptake 31.6 range 27.3-42.0 % TSH 7.31(H) range 0.80-6.30 µIU/mL My results are in: all results are in the middle of the range, save for the triglycerides which were 357 with a range going to 150, HDL is low, and VLDL is high - means I really need to get out more. Also, the MPV was 0.1 point too high, which tests the size of the red blood cells. since Crismas's TSH is only slightly elevated and her T4 is in range, we are doing a wait and see and I will continue to nurse her as T4 is passed through breastmilk.