Precocious puberty 5/6 year old

[SillySausij]

Has anyone experienced early puberty in their child? Do you mine me asking what was the signs and how/if it was treated.

My 5 year old has been showing what I think are signs for a few months now and I've taken her to the doctor. They have basically told me that what she's experiencing isn't the signs of early puberty, the only sure sign is breast tissue development.

They then accused me of feeding her junk and over feeding her (without actually asking what her diet was like) told me to cut of sugary high carb drinks (she only drinks water) and told me I've to wash her more as shes probably not washing herself properly as that will be likely causing the issues. My child eats a healthy diet, has plenty of exercise, I'm having to shower and scrub her daily to keep the odour under control. So it's definitely not the case of bad parenting like they are suggesting.

Her symptoms are huge growth spurts, she's already 4ft 1, with and adult size 1 feet, strong underarm body odour, greasy hair, vaginal discharge, growing pains in her legs and tummy aches with mood swings. She does have little breast buds but I was told that this was just fat (she's not fat) she's tall and slim and in proportion.

My poor child, I feel like all they have done is judged us based on assumptions, without actually asking any facts. I am slightly overweight at the moment due to a medical condition and medication that I take, so it's likely that they think we live like slobs.

I'm so upset that she is likely being refused the tests and treatment she needs and is yet again being failed by the NHS. Any advice on what to do would be very much appreciated.

I'd go back for a second opinion, ask for a referral.
If they refuse ask them to document in her notes that they've refused.

What do you mean by yet again she is being failed by the NHS?

I'd ask for a second opinion also.

Definitely ask for a second opinion and paediatric referral.

Request a second opinion

She had an issue as a baby that multiple doctors dismissed. It eventually escalated and she developed meningitis and sepsis and almost lost her life.

I'll definitely be asking for a second opinion. The thought of having to fight tooth and nail again to get her the care and treatment she deserves is soul destroying.

It feels like every doctor I see if hell bent on trying to prove me wrong instead of trying to find out if there is something wrong with my child.

https://childgrowthfoundation.org/project/central-precocious-puberty-story/

Just did a search and found this organisation that may be able to help or advise you. They have a support line.

@Snowmanscarf Thank you for this. I'll have a look today.

My daughter had her first period a week after her 8th birthday. She too had many of those symptoms. She had to use medicated soap from age 6 because of the under arm body odour. I didn’t take her to the doctor though? Perhaps I should have done but I didn’t think there was anything they could do? She’s 18 now and healthy.

She’s at the top of the scale for height, but still within range. When did she turn 5? How much does she weigh?

Get a second opinion as if it is precocious puberty than an endocrinologist will need to assess…..but I would highlight that if a medical professional is saying your child is overweight you perhaps should listen to this…people are often in denial about their own weight and about their children’s weight, and early puberty is associated with obesity.

My only worry is her bone health. I read on the NHS website that early puberty can cause osteoporosis later in life due to the hormones being produced too early. It can also lead to stunted growth even though they will initially be taller than their peers.

Did your daughter manage okay with her period starting at such a young age? How is her height now? My daughter is still very emotionally young for her age so I think she would be traumatised with an early period.

She is turning 6 in a few weeks.

The doctor showed me her height and weight on the growth chart and her weight was 2 or 3 points higher than it should be.
I understand that many parents are in denial however my daughter is definitely in proportion. We are a healthy family and encourage healthy eating and exercise. She's one of the only children in school to take vegetables and fruit for their morning snack and she doesn't like fizzy drinks, just water and the odd squash.

I have been noticing a lot more judgement from medical professionals with my own treatment since I've gained the extra weight. Almost everything I have issues with is brushed off and I'm often told its all because i'm overweight. I was definitely judged today before the doctor had any information on our lifestyle.

OP I've just sent you a PM.

Well we bought her black period pants that she wore every single day regardless so she didn’t have to ‘deal’ with it as such. She also wore a skort under her school uniform so she could keep doing cartwheels. Her flow was mercifully light at the time and she just seemed to be accepting of it. Getting her to wear deodorant consistently was a pain but that was it really.

She’s 5 ft 3 so not tall, but I’m 5ft 1 and her Dad isn’t that tall either so I don’t think it’s affected anything. And she was 8 by the time she started - at 5 going on 6 if she’d actually started bleeding rather than being a bit spotty and smelly I’d have been in the doctors like a shot. I’d not heard about the bones thing - I’ll let her know it’s something to be aware of.