Dear mummies, i am speaking from real experience and would like to caution all out there <B>not</b> to visit the mentioned pd and/or discontinue all follow up.
My 5 week old baby had a high TSH (thyroid stinulating hormone) reading in her blood at birth and a repeat test before we went home showed an improved but still out of range reading. The assigned pd at TMC was Dr KT Low then who requested us to follow up with him at his clinic at 6 days old.
At the follow up visit, another blood test was done and a day later doc called and said reading is improved and everything is ok.
During the follow up, we mentioned that we will be following up future visits n vaccinations w another pd due to proximity to our house. (And of cos paragon clinics has generally higher charges not to mention the parking.)
A couple of weeks later we received the test results which still showed TSH out of norm range (this time the norm range is different from at 3days old due to age of baby). We did not read much into the out of range result as dr low said everything is NORMAL.
Last week we went to another pd at tampines for her hep B jab, dr looked at her tsh and requested a blood test to be done again. We were perturbed but of cos went ahead (despite the heart ache seeing her blood drawn again).
Next day dr called and told us results are still not normal and we must go to nuh the following day with endocrinology pediatric specialist for the first mornin appmt.
Fyi all mummies, a high tsh reading could mean coginental hypothyrodism (CH) and early treatment is crucial as any delay would affect growth and development ie. Iq points could drop significantly.
Anyway we did the follow up, specialist prof loke scheduled an immediate thyroid scan. Luckily her thyroid gland is normal but her high tsh reading meant she has CH and required mediciation and blood test regularly till at least 3 yrs of age.
As worried as we are, we have to move on with this and hope her follow up test will show normal readings with this thryoid hormone replacement drug.
Today i decided to call dr kt low and hear for myself his intepretation of the 6 day blood test again. (He spoke to my husband then) Over the phone, he said in his oh-so-casual tone that
Doc: oh everything is normal, her reading has dropped so nothing to worry
Me: but her result still show not in norm range so in ur opinion no need another blood test?
Doc: her birth results r very high and 3 days later dropped alot, so this result dropped even further so <b>SHOULD BE OK LA</b>
Me: i ask the same question again
Doc: no need, cos if u apply insurance, sometimes they will request for another test to be done looking at the out of range results. So by then u can discuss with ur pd again lor.
Me: ok thanks
I was FUMING. I kind of regretted not scolding him on the phone but heck, actions speak louder and im requesting for ALL mummies to take note of the above and NOT to patronise this doc.
My own intepretation:
1. His diagnosis is based on assumptions: a trend of improved readings does not signifiy tt things will be OK. The 6 day abnormal test somehow did not push him to get us to follow up promptly
2. Lack of doc ethics: my gut feel is that, knowing tt we will not follow up w him, he has left the job for others to be done. Despite the importance that this is a TIME URGENT medical issue.
Seriously i cant imagine what will happen if i choose to continue with dr low as the next visit would be at 3 months of age and i cannot fathom what will happen..
Sorry for the long read but PLS SPREAD THE WORD around..our child's life cannot be left to the pd's hands only.
Full clinic details:
*Dr KT Low
Anson International Paediatric & Child Development Clinic
Paragon level 13
Any further info required pls feel free to pm me.
Thank you.
My 5 week old baby had a high TSH (thyroid stinulating hormone) reading in her blood at birth and a repeat test before we went home showed an improved but still out of range reading. The assigned pd at TMC was Dr KT Low then who requested us to follow up with him at his clinic at 6 days old.
At the follow up visit, another blood test was done and a day later doc called and said reading is improved and everything is ok.
During the follow up, we mentioned that we will be following up future visits n vaccinations w another pd due to proximity to our house. (And of cos paragon clinics has generally higher charges not to mention the parking.)
A couple of weeks later we received the test results which still showed TSH out of norm range (this time the norm range is different from at 3days old due to age of baby). We did not read much into the out of range result as dr low said everything is NORMAL.
Last week we went to another pd at tampines for her hep B jab, dr looked at her tsh and requested a blood test to be done again. We were perturbed but of cos went ahead (despite the heart ache seeing her blood drawn again).
Next day dr called and told us results are still not normal and we must go to nuh the following day with endocrinology pediatric specialist for the first mornin appmt.
Fyi all mummies, a high tsh reading could mean coginental hypothyrodism (CH) and early treatment is crucial as any delay would affect growth and development ie. Iq points could drop significantly.
Anyway we did the follow up, specialist prof loke scheduled an immediate thyroid scan. Luckily her thyroid gland is normal but her high tsh reading meant she has CH and required mediciation and blood test regularly till at least 3 yrs of age.
As worried as we are, we have to move on with this and hope her follow up test will show normal readings with this thryoid hormone replacement drug.
Today i decided to call dr kt low and hear for myself his intepretation of the 6 day blood test again. (He spoke to my husband then) Over the phone, he said in his oh-so-casual tone that
Doc: oh everything is normal, her reading has dropped so nothing to worry
Me: but her result still show not in norm range so in ur opinion no need another blood test?
Doc: her birth results r very high and 3 days later dropped alot, so this result dropped even further so <b>SHOULD BE OK LA</b>
Me: i ask the same question again
Doc: no need, cos if u apply insurance, sometimes they will request for another test to be done looking at the out of range results. So by then u can discuss with ur pd again lor.
Me: ok thanks
I was FUMING. I kind of regretted not scolding him on the phone but heck, actions speak louder and im requesting for ALL mummies to take note of the above and NOT to patronise this doc.
My own intepretation:
1. His diagnosis is based on assumptions: a trend of improved readings does not signifiy tt things will be OK. The 6 day abnormal test somehow did not push him to get us to follow up promptly
2. Lack of doc ethics: my gut feel is that, knowing tt we will not follow up w him, he has left the job for others to be done. Despite the importance that this is a TIME URGENT medical issue.
Seriously i cant imagine what will happen if i choose to continue with dr low as the next visit would be at 3 months of age and i cannot fathom what will happen..
Sorry for the long read but PLS SPREAD THE WORD around..our child's life cannot be left to the pd's hands only.
Full clinic details:
*Dr KT Low
Anson International Paediatric & Child Development Clinic
Paragon level 13
Any further info required pls feel free to pm me.
Thank you.
