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My son(just turned 13 in april) has been complaining about his hands since about winter time. At first I thought it was just from working outside with our wood piles. The work is all with his hands so that was that. Well while away on vacation he was holding his hands and said they hurt. At one point he was cramping up so bad he couldn’t use his hands at all. Now he was playing on a boogie board on the beach BUT The pain was before that and after as well so I know it wasn’t from that but the boogie board probably didn’t help it.
The day after we got home I had him in to see the pediatrician and she tested him for Lyme, Rheumatoid factors, and several other things. Everything came back normal except his Free T3 which was 505 Range was 335-480
His other Thyroid levels are
T-4, Free 1.1 (Range 0.9-1.4)
TSH, 3rd Generation 1.87 (Range 0.50-4.30)
T3, Free 505 (Range 335-480)They say don’t test him for 6months and see what it shows then since his TSH was normal.
My hands hurt when i was a little kid and still do, depending on my levels there are good and bads days. I am told that I do have arthritis in them as well but it’s not Rheumatoid thank God. I Have Graves disease (mild case but in remission right now), both sides of my family have thyroid issues as well. Paternal and maternal (graves/hashi’s)
I am going to my Endocrinologist tomorrow for a follow that is long over due. I will ask her about these findings then. But i did want to know if anyone had any suggestions or thoughts about this before I go there. I would like to know if I should be demanding other tests or not?
I am very upset about this and just want to know if I should leave alone or pursue this. I’m feeling a little whipped right now thinking I’m the one who caused this. I usually have a lets see what it is and fix it attitude but this isn’t me this is my son now.
Vent over, thanks
Hi mamabear,
What an appropriate name!
Bottom line, T3 is the least reliable level for thyroid testing, since it fluctuates often (potentially several times daily). It was also not that far out of range, and paired with the other results, I would say that the advice you’re getting (to wait and see) is reasonable ~ for thyroid issues.
If you are concerned that they have now stopped looking for the cause of his pain, that is a completely different topic. You may well want to stride into that doctor’s office and let them know that you will not stand by while your child is in pain without searching endlessly for its cause. That is the real danger ~ we say, “is it maybe thyroid?” and they give us an answer “no, probably not, go away.” The answer should be “no, probably not, so let’s test for something else until we find out.”
You have every right to ask them to continue their investigation into the actual cause, especially since this has been ongoing for some time. It might not be that particular doctor (if you were talking with an endo), but someone should be continuing the task.
~Ski
NGDF Assistant Online Facilitator
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