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Nicola Super Member
Joined: 13 Feb 2003
Last Visit: 23 Sep 2010 Posts: 1916 Location: NSW, Australia
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Posted: May 04 2010, 6:18 PM Post subject: Human growth hormone
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My 15 year old, Brendan, is on the 3rd percentile for height and although he has had tests in the past, we are going back for more testing soon. I have done way too much reading on the net, and am totally convinced that he has a growth hormone deficiency. His height at 18 months was on the 90th percentile, he looks really young for his age, puberty is late, and he has put on weight around his middle, which are all symptoms. What's more, his little sister is on the 97th percentile for height. When we had this looked into 18 months ago they said that everything was normal for a pre-pubescent male, but they did not do an overnight check of growth hormone. I am really upset with myself now that I did not push harder 18 months ago, because now just looking at his growth chart and seeing how many lines he has crossed makes me feel sick. We have been waiting 6 weeks now for a pediatrician appointment and still have another month to wait, and I feel that this is all lost time that he could be getting injections and growing.
Does anyone else have experience with HGH. I know that Leah does. If so, how much did your children grow and what height did they start from. am scared that this has been left too late, and that Brendan will always be short. Poor kid looks so young next to his strapping teenage peers, and Chiara towers over him. I can see his self confidence being totally eroded. I would love to hear your experiences.
_________________
Mum to Brendan 15, Chiara 14, Kiernan 12, Aidan 10, Lachlan 9, Gianna 7 (DS) and Sienna 5.
"This then is what Yahweh asks of you: to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with your God."
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lespring Super Member
Joined: 26 Mar 2005
Last Visit: 24 Sep 2010 Posts: 11459 Location: Twin Cities metro area, MN
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Posted: May 04 2010, 7:26 PM Post subject:
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Don't beat yourself up! Growth hormone deficiency is one of the most UNDER-DIAGNOSED conditions! It doesn't help that so many doctors (and parents) say, "Well the parents were short, so the kid is going to be." when chances had the parents been tested as kids they probably would have been found to be deficient as well!
My son Noah was on growth hormone therapy until he was 15. In your sons case, one good thing about being deficient is his growth plates are probably going to be a little late in fusing, so he'll be able to get some benefit out of treatment.
And, as you know from your reading, it is SO MUCH MORE than just being about how tall or short a person is! Growth hormone affects your entire metabolic system, and when it's deficient, it causes problems in many areas, not just growth. That's one of the biggest misconceptions about being growth hormone deficient. People just don't get it. Our bodies were designed like puzzles, and when one pieces isn't there, the other pieces don't fit together right.
Also, my son was one of the first kids put on growth hormone therapy who did NOT have an underlying syndrome (like Russel Silver syndrome, etc.) He had GHD and nothing else. There was a study done about 10 years ago on adults who'd been treated for GHD as kids, and stopped treatment when the stopped growing. As it turns out, about 60%(?) of people who were deficient as kids are still deficient as adults. That affects the heart and all the major organs, and is part of what keeps our bodies in balance, so adults who are deficient should be on a treatment protocol. (usually it's once a week injection instead of daily like for kids.)
Very few pediatricians are quick to refer to an endocrinologist for growth disorders. It's just sad! They refer to an ENT for ears, because that's their speciality, or an orthopedic specialty when there is something wrong with the bones, but they won't refer to an endocrinologist for questions about growth.
When we started Noah on treatment, he grew three inches in the first 3 months. That is more than he grew in then entire 3 years previous! Also, Noah was only deficient in IGF I, and his other factors were ok. But when they're deficient in I, the other factors can't work right. As is common for kids who are IGF I deficient, starting treatment did something to get his system back into whack, so when he stopped therapy he kept growing a few more inches. Noah wasn't off the charts when he started therapy, but he was dropping fast. The important thing was that he wasn't following a curve and had dropped several lines on the chart. (a huge red flag, as you well know!)
Have you gotten on the growth disorders listserve yet? There is a wealth of information there! http://health.dir.groups.yahoo.com/group/MAGIC_list/?v=1&t=directory&ch=web&pub=groups&sec=dir&slk=1
Also, contact the Magic Foundation http://www.magicfoundation.org/www
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LinMac Super Member
Joined: 27 Oct 2005
Last Visit: 25 Sep 2010 Posts: 3685 Location: Dublin, Ireland
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Posted: May 05 2010, 8:36 AM Post subject:
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Hi Nicola
Just want to say hello Friend....its so nice to hear from you!
This is a very interesting thread.
Leah's experiences are so insightful. I have never heard of this problem so I have no advice....just wanted to say GoodDay and ask how Gianna is doing!
Hope you get some answers.
_________________ Linda & John
mom to Hannah Kate (Age 12 ), Robert (Aged 6 - DS)
First day at school
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Karien Senior Member
Joined: 26 May 2009
Last Visit: 23 Sep 2010 Posts: 515 Location: Pretoria, South Africa
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Posted: May 05 2010, 9:17 AM Post subject:
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Nicola, plse keep us posted. It is very interesting. I have a question mark about the growth of one of my sons. He seems to follow a very slow curve, I think he is also on the 3rd persentile. He is 13 now, and shorter than most of his almost manly peers. At least his feet are growing, so maybe that's a good indication.
_________________ Karien: happily married to Neels
Mom to Ewald (16), Eduan (13), Alvin (9) and KALLEN
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