Growth Hormone Deficiency?

[DozeyRose]

Hi,
My youngest DS received his blood results back as there were concerns about his growth. It appears he had a low count of growth hormone.

He is three years old and weighs 12 kilos and is only 90 cm in height. His eldest siblings were always on the higher end of the centile chart!

My GP has referred him to see a specialist in this field, to explain in depth and give us our options. This could take up to a month though.

Essentially, I'm not 'worried', but am a little anxious as I know very little about this. I have done a some research online, but until I speak to the specialist, I don't know how severe it is and what our options are. I'm not liking the possible thought that he will have to be injected with hormones on a regular basis :-(

Has anyone had experience with this? And what are the setbacks if you chose not to inject them with hormones?

Other than the fact that he has hyper mobility, he is, generally, a healthy young toddler.

Thanks in advance

speak to the growth foundation call them and talk to a human being they are v helpful and will epxlain next steps www.childgrowthfoundation.org/Contact.aspx

The CGF helpline is available to everyone but if you are not a member and find the service helpful please consider becoming a member, because without the income from our members the service would not be available to help you and others.

Available from 9.30am until 4pm, Monday to Friday (please leave a message if we are not available and we will get back to you as soon as possible).
?Friendly, informed staff
?Practical advice
?If we can?t answer your queries relating to growth, we will do our best to direct you to the relevant people

Telephone: 020 8995 0257

Thank you - very useful!

The Child Growth Foundation is an amazing group and our sister group so to speak in the UK! In the states we routinely refer our ovrseas families to them so that everyone can best coordinate good help. If anyone from the States is reading this and has questions about their child's growth, please visit: www.magicfoundation.org

DS2 had tests for GHD when he was 3 or 4 as his growth had slowed right down. He was on the 75th centile as a baby, but at around 2 or 3 dropped down to the 25th as he just seemed to stop growing.

His results came back as borderline - his bone age was lower than it should be but wasn't quite bad enough to start hormone injections yet. They took a wait and see approach. I did however get the opportunity to speak to a mother whose son was receiving the hormone injections and she said that although it was difficult at first once they got used to giving them it made a huge difference.

DS2 did slowly start growing again, and so hasn't needed the injections (although he is still monitored by the paediatrician). He is still small for his age, but as long as he is growing, albeit slowly, they are happy to leave it.

I hope you get your appointment quickly and they are able to put your mind at rest.

Our son has GHD and we give him an injection every night - and he's been on it just over 2 years. Started in Aug 2010 and he was 5 yo and height 98cm and now a height of 120cm so growth hormone definitely works and I know docs won't put children on if borderline as it's expensive and affects the family and child. We waited a good year before definitely going down the injection route and once all tests confired GHD several times in the course of the 12-18 months before starting.

Yes, we did have to chase our DC round the house for 45mins, then pin him down to do the injection and we honestly thought that this would never end. 1-2 weeks later, we then calmed down, bribed him with sticker charts (as one does) and eventually now do them when he's asleep and he rarely wakes up!

Hope you get some resolution soon.

Dozeyroze - am presuming you have not had the tests for GH yet if you have not been referred to an endocronologist yet. If IGF1 is low that is an indicator that it may need checking but my understanding is that it is a long test requiring fasting and a day in hospital and they often monitor growth over a period of time first.

For those who have been tested for GH how was it as my DS is about to have it? His blood tests showed low levels of IGF1 and he has been monitored for growth for several years by a paediatrician. He is 108cm at age 8.