Has anyone done growth hormone testing?

[Anonymous]

DS is 11. His height is currently in the 18% and his weight in the 17%. Last year height was 23% and weight was 28%. He has always been a small kid (born full term, but was not on the charts yet, except for his 99% head). He was below 10% for height and weight for a long time. The dr is concerned because of the significant drop in both percentiles and recommended this. DS was very against it because of the blood test (and he had to get 3 shots that appointment, so wasn't the best time to bring it up). He does NOT seem small height wise compared to his friends,. I can't really tell weight wise, but he is skinny. His younger brother is 50% height and 38% weight.

Both his dad and I are only 5'4 and his dad's family is Hispanic and not the tallest (most of the women are under 5 feet). I think the tallest man is about 5'7?

I know a test is a test and it doesn't mean we have to do anything, and it will just give us information, but just wondering if others have been through this. If so, what pushed you to get tested.

[Anonymous]

We had our son tested. He was always small and his final height appears to be 5’5” or so. Turns out it’s just hereditary for him, not a growth hormone or other medical issue. We got him tested so that we would have the answer. Insurance covered it so it was like a couple of $15 copays to have it done.

[Anonymous]

I would talk to an endocrinologist for a second opinion. That doesn’t seem very short but if you do need to do treatment I think it has to be before he’s through puberty so you don’t want to wait too long.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would talk to an endocrinologist for a second opinion. That doesn’t seem very short but if you do need to do treatment I think it has to be before he’s through puberty so you don’t want to wait too long.

Thanks, that is a good idea. He is 4'5 now at age 11. Which again I feel like his friends are similar sizes so kind of shocked that it was only the 17%! maybe he just makes short friends lol.

[Anonymous]

This is something I will be looking at in the future for my DD who is on the short and skinny side and has dropped a bit on the curve. The doctor is monitoring it. It's most likely due to genetics.(I am very petite and so is many in my family but my husband and his side are all tall). I am I will definitely do a blood test to rule out anything else.

Where do you live? You can ask your local listserv for some names/places of those who are better at drawing blood. If you are in the DMV I can give you some names if you are interested. There are some that will come to your home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would talk to an endocrinologist for a second opinion. That doesn’t seem very short but if you do need to do treatment I think it has to be before he’s through puberty so you don’t want to wait too long.

Thanks, that is a good idea. He is 4'5 now at age 11. Which again I feel like his friends are similar sizes so kind of shocked that it was only the 17%! maybe he just makes short friends lol.

Yes, that doesn't sound that small to me, particularly based on genetics. Did you ped recommend a bone age scan? If you go to an endocrinologist, that will be the first thing ordered.

Also, if your son does the growth hormone study, it lasts hours and he would only have to be pricked once - to insert the IV. It's not that bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would talk to an endocrinologist for a second opinion. That doesn’t seem very short but if you do need to do treatment I think it has to be before he’s through puberty so you don’t want to wait too long.

Thanks, that is a good idea. He is 4'5 now at age 11. Which again I feel like his friends are similar sizes so kind of shocked that it was only the 17%! maybe he just makes short friends lol.

Yes, that doesn't sound that small to me, particularly based on genetics. Did you ped recommend a bone age scan? If you go to an endocrinologist, that will be the first thing ordered.

Also, if your son does the growth hormone study, it lasts hours and he would only have to be pricked once - to insert the IV. It's not that bad.

The Dr mentioned a blood test and a bone age scan. Interesting that it takes hours. I had no idea! Maybe that is different than what the doctor was talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is something I will be looking at in the future for my DD who is on the short and skinny side and has dropped a bit on the curve. The doctor is monitoring it. It's most likely due to genetics.(I am very petite and so is many in my family but my husband and his side are all tall). I am I will definitely do a blood test to rule out anything else.

Where do you live? You can ask your local listserv for some names/places of those who are better at drawing blood. If you are in the DMV I can give you some names if you are interested. There are some that will come to your home.

We are in Arlington and that would be great!

[Anonymous]

There isn’t that big of a difference between the 23% rank and the 18th. There is a margin of error when kids get their heights measured. Genetically your family is short so his height percentiles match the family’s.

My husband is in the 50th percentile for height, I am in the 25th, and our son is in the 10th. He has varied from the 20th to the 10th. That isn’t short enough for the drs we saw to do anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would talk to an endocrinologist for a second opinion. That doesn’t seem very short but if you do need to do treatment I think it has to be before he’s through puberty so you don’t want to wait too long.

Thanks, that is a good idea. He is 4'5 now at age 11. Which again I feel like his friends are similar sizes so kind of shocked that it was only the 17%! maybe he just makes short friends lol.

Yes, that doesn't sound that small to me, particularly based on genetics. Did you ped recommend a bone age scan? If you go to an endocrinologist, that will be the first thing ordered.

Also, if your son does the growth hormone study, it lasts hours and he would only have to be pricked once - to insert the IV. It's not that bad.

The Dr mentioned a blood test and a bone age scan. Interesting that it takes hours. I had no idea! Maybe that is different than what the doctor was talking about.

Maybe the doctor wanted regular bloodwork to see if there are any other issues that could cause growth to slow before assessing next steps. Definitely start with that.

The test that takes hours is the Growth Hormone Stimulation test was ordered by my son's endocrinologist. Here is a description.

https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/tests/growth-hormone-stimulation-test

[Anonymous]

That test can also cause a lot of nausea so kid may be vomiting for hours.

[Anonymous]

17th percentile is not very small. It's fine. The kids who usually need treatment are not on the chart and there is some medical issue.

[Anonymous]

I’ve been through it with two kids. One kid failed the stim test and he was at <1%ile for height. (He is growth hormone deficient, in other words, and receives growth hormomes). My next kid was at the persistent 3rd percentile and passed the stim test, but bone age is significantly delayed. That kid has growth delay.

There are basic blood tests to consider thyroid and celiac, etc. the bone age is a hand x-ray and I would say that is extremely important so you know what how much time you have left. The stim test is about 4-8 hours depending on the protocol and can make the kid really nauseated.

At 17th percentile I don’t think he would even be approved for the stim test, but maybe the dropping percentiles would qualify him.

Good luck! Whatever you do, do not wait. At 11 you are running out of time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been through it with two kids. One kid failed the stim test and he was at <1%ile for height. (He is growth hormone deficient, in other words, and receives growth hormomes). My next kid was at the persistent 3rd percentile and passed the stim test, but bone age is significantly delayed. That kid has growth delay.

There are basic blood tests to consider thyroid and celiac, etc. the bone age is a hand x-ray and I would say that is extremely important so you know what how much time you have left. The stim test is about 4-8 hours depending on the protocol and can make the kid really nauseated.

At 17th percentile I don’t think he would even be approved for the stim test, but maybe the dropping percentiles would qualify him.

Good luck! Whatever you do, do not wait. At 11 you are running out of time.

*typos. Ugh. “Like celiac and thyroid” - those are simple lab draws that you would need before proceeding to more significant testing.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone! I think we will do the basic blood test and growth plate scan just to ease worries (well hopefully)