growth hormones for 12-year old girl--thoughts? side effects?

[Anonymous]

+1 to seeing a pediatric endocrinologist. My DD had an unexpected growth spurt at 5 yo, and our ped was worried that she might be going through early puberty or something else wonky was going on.

Pediatric endocrinologist did a blood test, wrist bone x-ray, and ultrasound of her ovaries/uterus. She didn't find anything, so didn't recommend any treatment, and we just kept an eye on DD for any other symptoms. Nothing else happened, DD is fine, and it was reassuring to hear that from endocrinologist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you. She's about 4'9, and 12 years old. She's not the shortest in her class, but smaller than the average bear. Well-proportioned. Adopted from Eastern Europe--she was always tiny, and born prematurely.
I just wanted the doc to reassure us that she's in the ballpark of normal, and, well, that didn't happen.

My DD was 4'7" at 12, and she is now 22 and 5'1". She grew an inch and a half halfway through college. Of similar ancestry to your daughter... you're fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you. She's about 4'9, and 12 years old. She's not the shortest in her class, but smaller than the average bear. Well-proportioned. Adopted from Eastern Europe--she was always tiny, and born prematurely.
I just wanted the doc to reassure us that she's in the ballpark of normal, and, well, that didn't happen.

My DD was 4'7" at 12, and she is now 22 and 5'1". She grew an inch and a half halfway through college. Of similar ancestry to your daughter... you're fine.

Honestly this is irresponsible advice. You have no idea if her daughter is fine. Sher is two years post first menses and is 4'9". NOW is the time to see an endocrinologist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you. She's about 4'9, and 12 years old. She's not the shortest in her class, but smaller than the average bear. Well-proportioned. Adopted from Eastern Europe--she was always tiny, and born prematurely.
I just wanted the doc to reassure us that she's in the ballpark of normal, and, well, that didn't happen.

My DD was 4'7" at 12, and she is now 22 and 5'1". She grew an inch and a half halfway through college. Of similar ancestry to your daughter... you're fine.

Honestly this is irresponsible advice. You have no idea if her daughter is fine. Sher is two years post first menses and is 4'9". NOW is the time to see an endocrinologist.

Also, OP's daughter likely had malnutrition issues which could affect growth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you. She's about 4'9, and 12 years old. She's not the shortest in her class, but smaller than the average bear. Well-proportioned. Adopted from Eastern Europe--she was always tiny, and born prematurely.
I just wanted the doc to reassure us that she's in the ballpark of normal, and, well, that didn't happen.

My DD was 4'7" at 12, and she is now 22 and 5'1". She grew an inch and a half halfway through college. Of similar ancestry to your daughter... you're fine.

Honestly this is irresponsible advice. You have no idea if her daughter is fine. Sher is two years post first menses and is 4'9". NOW is the time to see an endocrinologist.

+1 Girls typically grow an average of 1-3 inches in the two years after starting their period. Some girls grow more than this, beyond those two years, but most don’t. It’s worth consulting with a specialist.

[Anonymous]

OP,
I recognize this is an older thread. Any update? I am facing similar situation with DD, who is 11 and 4’7”. She had a physical today and menstruation is more imminent than
expected. I have been on the phone with pediatric endocrinologists and can’t get an appointment until September! Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP,
I recognize this is an older thread. Any update? I am facing similar situation with DD, who is 11 and 4’7”. She had a physical today and menstruation is more imminent than
expected. I have been on the phone with pediatric endocrinologists and can’t get an appointment until September! Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

Took DD to see Dr. Ali Mohamadi in Chevy Chase for issues related to the possibility of precocious puberty at age 8. Best decision ever.

[Anonymous]

Celiac disease can also impede growth. Simple blood test for that. Worth asking while you wait to get in to see a specialist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think another consideration would be ethnicity -- you don't specify and could it play a factor in her height?

I continued to grow through my freshman year of college -- not a lot, but I got taller. I have no idea if that's normal.

How old was she at 2? I thought that was a fairly good indicator of how tall a person would be as an adult?

Generally they're 2 at that age.

[Anonymous]

My cousin was given growth hormones 25 or so years ago. Side effects were tumors. Sure enough she got tumors behind her eye. The growth hormones didn’t seem to work either, she is still short. About 4’7

[Anonymous]

My DD is 13, 4'9", 70lbs, no period yet. We hope she makes it to 5'1"....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My cousin was given growth hormones 25 or so years ago. Side effects were tumors. Sure enough she got tumors behind her eye. The growth hormones didn’t seem to work either, she is still short. About 4’7

IMO, tumors are too risky for growth hormones. Being barely 5' is better than a high risk of getting tumors.

-signed a 4'10" woman who hates being short and who has short kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My cousin was given growth hormones 25 or so years ago. Side effects were tumors. Sure enough she got tumors behind her eye. The growth hormones didn’t seem to work either, she is still short. About 4’7

IMO, tumors are too risky for growth hormones. Being barely 5' is better than a high risk of getting tumors.

-signed a 4'10" woman who hates being short and who has short kids

I neglected to say DH is over 6'.

[Anonymous]

DD is 12, 4’6” and 60 lbs. She’s been seen by three endocrinologists, three pediatricians, a pediatric GI, and two nutritionists. She’s had every test and all came back normal. My husband and I are tall. She’s small. Sometimes that happens. She’s not close to puberty yet, but even so her docs expect her to be small. OP, I get your concern. I’d see the endocrinologist if I were you. You may get some answers or more questions. For me I needed to exhaust every medical validation to trust my instincts - that DD is happy and healthy. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP: Yes, it came early (age 10).

Probably too late for growth hormones. My DD took them b/c of a genetic condition, got her period at 10.5, was done growing (bone age test) at 12, no more growth hormones, they become dangerous if you are no longer growing naturally. But it can't hurt to see an endo.