When to see an endocrinologist

[Anonymous]

OP here—to clarify and without going into too much detail, DD is showing early signs of puberty but DS is not unless you count grumpiness. Both are tracking on their usual growth percentiles. DS is busting through shoes every thirty seconds it seems and has very large feet. Pediatrician did not seem terribly concerned this summer but said “let’s keep an eye on it” which is why my worried brain is spiraling a bit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here—to clarify and without going into too much detail, DD is showing early signs of puberty but DS is not unless you count grumpiness. Both are tracking on their usual growth percentiles. DS is busting through shoes every thirty seconds it seems and has very large feet. Pediatrician did not seem terribly concerned this summer but said “let’s keep an eye on it” which is why my worried brain is spiraling a bit.

Perhaps you can take the kids, esp your son, to the ped 6 months after their summer appt for a growth check.

You may have to pay a copay since it’s not a regular well child check up, or some other out of pocket, but if it gives you peace of mind…. And if there is a possibility of further following by and endo, you wouldn’t have waited an entire year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here—to clarify and without going into too much detail, DD is showing early signs of puberty but DS is not unless you count grumpiness. Both are tracking on their usual growth percentiles. DS is busting through shoes every thirty seconds it seems and has very large feet. Pediatrician did not seem terribly concerned this summer but said “let’s keep an eye on it” which is why my worried brain is spiraling a bit.

Feet grow first. This all sounds normal, but just on the late side.

[Anonymous]

There are plenty of tiny 13 year olds. My oldest daughter and half her friends were tiny at this age. No breast buds until 8th grade. My daughter got her period at 14 with no real growth spurts. She’s 5’3”. I never once thought there was something wrong and neither did her pediatrician.

If there is concern the pediatrician will refer you to a specialist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We started by talking to their pediatrician and then at 14 went to see an endocrinologist. That whole time, DS's development seemed to be at a standstill.

After looking at the results, the endo said DS should start developing just before 15 and if not we'd start more intensive efforts.

A few months before 15, DS started growing and developing along with the associated increase in appetite. We're happy about it though we'll keep in touch with the endo for the time being.

Why waste the endocrinologist’s time when it’s already tough for seriously ill child to get an appointment? There’s nothing wrong with your child! You’re very lucky.

[Anonymous]

Sort of related, if my teen girl (14) has uneven breast development (noticeable) and no period, should we be thinking about seeing an endo? Other signs of puberty are present and have been for some time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We started by talking to their pediatrician and then at 14 went to see an endocrinologist. That whole time, DS's development seemed to be at a standstill.

After looking at the results, the endo said DS should start developing just before 15 and if not we'd start more intensive efforts.

A few months before 15, DS started growing and developing along with the associated increase in appetite. We're happy about it though we'll keep in touch with the endo for the time being.

Why waste the endocrinologist’s time when it’s already tough for seriously ill child to get an appointment? There’s nothing wrong with your child! You’re very lucky.

Yes, I know we are lucky. However it wasn't clear until DS started growing. We aren't going in to see the endo, but I certainly will have their number handy. For everything else, I feel no need to say anything more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here—to clarify and without going into too much detail, DD is showing early signs of puberty but DS is not unless you count grumpiness. Both are tracking on their usual growth percentiles. DS is busting through shoes every thirty seconds it seems and has very large feet. Pediatrician did not seem terribly concerned this summer but said “let’s keep an eye on it” which is why my worried brain is spiraling a bit.

Sounds normal. Plus they were twins, which probably means they were smaller at birth and possibly premature, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We started by talking to their pediatrician and then at 14 went to see an endocrinologist. That whole time, DS's development seemed to be at a standstill.

After looking at the results, the endo said DS should start developing just before 15 and if not we'd start more intensive efforts.

A few months before 15, DS started growing and developing along with the associated increase in appetite. We're happy about it though we'll keep in touch with the endo for the time being.

Why waste the endocrinologist’s time when it’s already tough for seriously ill child to get an appointment? There’s nothing wrong with your child! You’re very lucky.

Yes, I know we are lucky. However it wasn't clear until DS started growing. We aren't going in to see the endo, but I certainly will have their number handy. For everything else, I feel no need to say anything more.

If he has another issue obviously you will make an appointment. It’s the people who bring their kids to specialists who treat serious issues just because their kid is short. That’s a problem when a child is being referred to an endocrinologist for Type 1 Diabetes and the wait is long.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We started by talking to their pediatrician and then at 14 went to see an endocrinologist. That whole time, DS's development seemed to be at a standstill.

After looking at the results, the endo said DS should start developing just before 15 and if not we'd start more intensive efforts.

A few months before 15, DS started growing and developing along with the associated increase in appetite. We're happy about it though we'll keep in touch with the endo for the time being.

Why waste the endocrinologist’s time when it’s already tough for seriously ill child to get an appointment? There’s nothing wrong with your child! You’re very lucky.

I believe OP's concerns are valid. Furthermore, its a real concern, especially for her son, because if a problem is not caught and addressed early, it could risk him ending up short as an adult.

Finding out later there was something you could have done to avoid that fate would be terrible for OP and worse for her poor son!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We started by talking to their pediatrician and then at 14 went to see an endocrinologist. That whole time, DS's development seemed to be at a standstill.

After looking at the results, the endo said DS should start developing just before 15 and if not we'd start more intensive efforts.

A few months before 15, DS started growing and developing along with the associated increase in appetite. We're happy about it though we'll keep in touch with the endo for the time being.

Why waste the endocrinologist’s time when it’s already tough for seriously ill child to get an appointment? There’s nothing wrong with your child! You’re very lucky.

I believe OP's concerns are valid. Furthermore, its a real concern, especially for her son, because if a problem is not caught and addressed early, it could risk him ending up short as an adult.

Finding out later there was something you could have done to avoid that fate would be terrible for OP and worse for her poor son!

I see the height troll is back

[Anonymous]

OP here—the person who referenced getting the name of an endocrinologist for her 14 year old is not me. I posed my original question because I wanted some feedback on when others would pull the worry cord. My twins were slightly premature so that’s definitely part of the equation and I’m beginning to realize that that combined with my genetics and the reality that they are growing on their usual percentile means they are okay. We’ll see what happens at the next annual physical and go from there…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sort of related, if my teen girl (14) has uneven breast development (noticeable) and no period, should we be thinking about seeing an endo? Other signs of puberty are present and have been for some time.

The start of menstruation comes later in a girl’s puberty, really after everyone else has come, including her big height growth spurt.

How 14 is she? Meaning just turned? On the verge of 15?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We started by talking to their pediatrician and then at 14 went to see an endocrinologist. That whole time, DS's development seemed to be at a standstill.

After looking at the results, the endo said DS should start developing just before 15 and if not we'd start more intensive efforts.

A few months before 15, DS started growing and developing along with the associated increase in appetite. We're happy about it though we'll keep in touch with the endo for the time being.

Why waste the endocrinologist’s time when it’s already tough for seriously ill child to get an appointment? There’s nothing wrong with your child! You’re very lucky.

I believe OP's concerns are valid. Furthermore, its a real concern, especially for her son, because if a problem is not caught and addressed early, it could risk him ending up short as an adult.

Finding out later there was something you could have done to avoid that fate would be terrible for OP and worse for her poor son!

I see the height troll is back

???

I don’t know what you are talking about; you must have me confused with someone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BTDT with both a DS and a DD (also twins). Your first stop should definitely be the pediatrician. What does the pediatrician say? You can’t necessarily tell your kids’ stage of puberty without an exam, as the early signs will not necessarily be noticeable to a parent. It is unusual for a DD to not have started puberty at 13 (if that is indeed the case) but less unusual for a DS.

Our ped was able to assure me that both of my kids were just “on the late to very late side”- and were showing early signs of puberty that I was unaware of. At age 13, both of my kids were 5’0” and looked liked skinny children. DD continued to grow gradually and started her period just before she turned 15. DS didn’t start growth spurt until 14.5 but has grown 7 inches in the past 18mos. At age 16, they are 5’11” and 5’7”, and obviously look like teens.

I always wondered if this had something to do with them being twins- but ped assured me that is not the case, nor can I find any literature that points to that. Also we know lots of other twins who have developed on a more typical timeline. My DH was a late bloomer so there is some family history.

Anyway- talk to you pediatrician and ask specifically what stage of puberty they are.. If not satisfied, you can always make an appt with an endo.

Lots of boys haven’t hit puberty at 13 (mine was among them and he grew six inches freshman year in HS)