If you visited GP for possible early puberty

[tasmaniandevilchaser]

If you were worried that your child could be going through puberty a bit early and were thinking about asking the GP’s advice, did you go alone or go with your child so the GP could examine them?
I know that I should probably go with my child but I don’t want to worry them or make them think anything is wrong if I don’t have to.

Following - am wondering the same about dd1

I went with DD1 as I was concerned about body odour.

I took her iPad and headphones in and she listened whilst I had the initial chat with GP.

Posted too soon.

It worked really well as she didn't hear my concerns and initIal questions and the GP was then able to examine her.

Hi OP. The GP will want to see the child. Please don't worry about it though.

Sorry 'the child' sounds rude!

I took my DD. The doctor had a little look then made a referral to a pediatrician. After the 6 month wait for an app she had bloods taken, a 24 hour urine test, ultrasound.
6 months after that a bone scan. Which revealed slight advances.
Then referred to a hormone specialist!

Just so you know what to expect!

Took my DD when she was 5. I explained to her very simply why we were going and explained the Dr might want to examine her. The Dr did want to have a look but did it very quickly and offered lots of reassurance. We were referred and see the paediatrician every 6 months still for monitoring- she has premature adrenarche. She turns 8 in September which is when they officially won't intervene if she does start true puberty. We've had lots of conversations together which I hadn't expected to have for many a year but I have found that giving her clear explanations has really helped her process what is happening.

for you, it's tough.

Thanks everyone, DD started developing breast buds at 7, I was similar so I didn’t worry too much but now at just 9 she has fine pubic and armpit hair, also her armpits are starting to smell. I don’t remember having this so I feel out of my depth now!

I’m quite confused as I know 9 isn’t too early but 7 is a bit early for breast buds so I’m not actually sure what the GP would be able to do now she’s 9....I’ve probably left it too late...?

Tbh, her age is normal to start puberty, and I doubt they would block it at this stage

OP she sounds like my dd. I hoped she'd make it to 11 but it happened at 10 yrs 5 months. We had lots of matter of fact conversations. She needed a crop top at 8/9 and a bra by 10. She needed an anti-perspjrant by 9. She also decided she wanted her armpit hair removed and we used veet.

She grew exponentially between 9 and 10 and I'll never the forget the mother in the playground in year 5 who blasted "good God, your child's got breasts".

The first period was fine - we went out and chose towels and bought a pretty bag for them, had a cake at supper time and the next weekend she had her ears pierced to mark the rite of passage.

She didn't grow much more height wise afterwards now but that's normal and she was one of the tallest. Some of the other tall ones are nearly 6ff now but dd stopped at 5'3". But she's very dainty.

If it's any consolation the others caught up very quickly. She's 20 now and all is well.

I think you just have to go with the flow.

Thanks, it’s good to hear how others have dealt with it. I’m really not ready for this!

I do realise 9 is normal but I do also now realise that 7 is a bit too early for breast buds, I wish I had gone then.

@0AliasGrace0 how do they measure true puberty? Is it periods starting?

Tasmania I understand you may not feel ready but you have to appear so for your daughter and make sure she feels within the parameters of totally normal.

I never thought of the Dr but I did go and see her head about arrangements and the loo, etc. The school was very supportive. There was a code word to be excused at any time and the girls were encouraged to sort themselves out putside of breaktime and were allowed to hse the teachers' tpilets that were equipped with the appropriate bins, etc.

Yes I hear what you’re saying ohtheroses I am breezy and calm when I talk about it, this is just what happens to all girls. Some of her friends are wearing crop tops as well which helps. I just don’t feel ready inside!

I hadn’t thought of talking to the head about period issues, thanks, what it happens I will do that. Hopefully it won’t be just yet.

DD developed pubic hair and BO at 5. They explained to me that these were not signs of true puberty but did bone scans etc to find the cause. They've only ever been concerned about her developing breast buds, sorry, I appreciate that's probably not what you want to hear. They told me they consider that the start of true puberty and usually periods commence around two years later. They would have provided treatment up to the age of 8 if that had happened. Currently there's no sign of breast buds so I'm quite sure she'll be discharged on our next visit (for that issue anyway, she likes to collect diagnoses ).

Do you think it would be worth talking to your gp anyway, just for reassurance? The only major consequence of early puberty that was mentioned to me was being short in stature (you tend to stop growing after you start your periods apparently) but we didn't go into much detail as it became a moot point in our situation. It might be worth you having the conversation so you're informed.

I completely understand when you say you're breezy about it to your DD despite how you actually feel. I have to trim my DDs pubic hair...never once when I contemplated what motherhood might be like did I think that would ever feature...!

I'm glad this thread is here. My DD is only just 7 and has developed noticeable BO in this hot weather. Should I be worried? She is tall for her age and quite solid although has a healthy BMI.

If it's only BO I don't think they'd be too concerned but might be worth having it checked out. My DD is massive too, wearing age 10-11 clothes which fall down! Her weight is between 50-75th centile but her height is 99th, she's all legs.

@0AliasGrace0 and all many thanks for this helpful thread! My DD developed BO early on when she was 6 and fine pubic hair later 6y&7month. I took her to GP and Pediatrician but they were not interested to investigate until the pubic hair despite my concerns and hunch. She is v tall 99th height and 85th weight. Please can you say more re bone test, why and how? They did B-test and got a letter saying we are referred to Pediatric endocrinologists. I would love to know what to ask when I am there. Thank you

@jacqui a bone age test is an xray of your child's hand. They can use it to tell whether your child's growth/bone development is advancing ahead of their chronological age. This is relevant because when your bones get to a certain age, they fuse, so if someone's bone age is ahead of their actual age, they have less time to grow.

The Child Growth Foundation are very helpful. They have a helpline so you could give them a ring.

Yes, they just look at the bone age and compare it to chronological. DDs was slightly ahead, but not markedly so. We have now been discharged for this particular matter (yay!) as she's just turned 8. They were very thorough with us from start to finish and encouraged me to ask questions and explained things well to me, I've been very impressed.

One of the main things that I asked for was a letter outlining the condition for her school, primarily so they could make adjustments for changing for swimming lessons. I had no issue having the discussion with her first teacher, but the teacher looked completely uncomfortable and had lots of questions (understandably, many people have never encountered it before). I decided a letter on her file would avoid this in future!

In your position, I'd want to know if it's true puberty, something else or premature adrenarche, the latter is benign and requires no treatment which was the case with my DD. Do you know when your appointment is?

Thank you very much @LatinForTelly, I am looking at the website of The Child Growth Foundation and will give them a call.

@0AliasGrace0, many thanks this is helpful to understand what is yet to come in school situation etc.

Helpful to know why the scan bone too as it seems to give them a good clue. I have a feeling she is going onto early puberty and I hope there are ways they can delay it for her, while she is tall now, she still needs to grow more. She has already developed fine pubic hair, slight acne, mood swings, sensitive to smell and over tiered.

In addition to the early puberty signs, she had a fast heartbeat, she had a scan and they found physically no issues but, they can't explain why it is a little faster resting 122- 125 rarely below 100 and too fast if playing- they told me to ignore it which is not easy to do when I see she cant keep up with her peers and even 3 yo's.

She is also, extremely sensitive to smell, e.g. from bad smell of public loo to just a food cooking in the house :( which I keep mentioning to my GP and at the hospital but, they are not interested in this either.

I just wish a comprehensive service that pieces together some clues and do the tests and come up with diagnosis, so we know what is going on and help her.

I made appoint for Tuesday with GP to ask copy of blood results and discuss it , and we have appointment on the 2nd Oct at the hospital so, I wanted to know from mums here what to ask the pediatrician and what to look out for.
Sorry for a long bore message.

Thank you!!