My daughter will be 2 at the end of this month. She was just diagnosed with Growth Hormone Deficiency and she has an elevated TSH (thyroid). She is seeing a ped endocrinologist and has an appt. on Tues. I was wondering if anyone else is dealing with this and what questions do I need to ask. I am going to find out if they are going to treat her thyroid issue. The symptoms that I found for that she has (most of them). Her energy level has droped and the worse part is she was a good eater until last week. She also has an MRI scheduled for April 22. I have been researching both problems and the information is so overwhelming. Please anyone with any advice would be helpful. Thank you.
I just found this web site....you have to check it out. It gives you so much info on GHD www.magicfoundation.org
It will be okay, there is so much info out there, and thank god it is not 1988 cause no one could of determined what your daughter was going through.
A., did the doctor diagnose GHD or is it being ruled out? Sounds to me like your daughter has hypothyroidism which undiagnosed in children can lead to a slower growth. Synthroid should help prevent complications including a growth deficit.
GHD is usually picked up much earlier than 22 months.
What is the MRI of?
One thing, please make a list of questions you have to take with you to the endocronologist. As a nurse and parent, I know I have forgotten things I wanted to ask and had to wait until the next appointment.
My daughter was 8 1/2 when she was diagnosed with thyroid disease. She had actually stopped growing at the age of 7. Her school picture showed this chubby little girl, she was wearing a size 12 or 14, she was tired and cold all the time. Her energy level was totally gone and she was having a hard time with her bowel movements. Her pediatrician suggested a laxative, and I kept telling her that something was wrong. She finally had blood work ordered on a Friday, by Monday they had me into Childrens hospital because her levels were so high. Her TSH levels were in the 700s and her brain function was in the 800s they were amaized that she was able to function in school at all. She then started synthroid at a low dose so not to startle her system. It's amaizing the difference, after 2 weeks we started to notice the change. After 6 months quite a change, 1year later she is thin in the face and is wearing a size 10 and some 12, she has grown 5 inches and is thinning out nicely, she is so active she might be a little to hyper right now, (I keep threatened to take her off her medicine.) Her bowels are active again and her bone scan for her growth showes her at 8 1/2. I still have to hem her pants about 6 inches but she seems to be growing into them nicely. Please keep an eye on your daughter, because it is quite amaizing what all the thyroid actually does. Good luck
Hi A., My now 21 year old son was diagnosed with GHD when he was 5 years old (1992). He did not have any other symptoms or problems..just short stature. I'm sure things have changed over the years but this is how he was diagnosed. We went to a hosp as outpt and they gave him this pill that told his pituitary to produce gh. they then took blood every 20 mins until they had about 6 samples and then took the gh levels. On another day they did an MRI of his pituitary gland to make sure there was no problem with the pituitary. There was not...he simply was not producing enough growth hormone to help his bones grow..he was tiny..but well proportioned and active. We also saw a ped endocrynologist at Thomas Jefferson in Philadelphia. She was great. It sounds like you may have more issues to deal with than I did but just breathe and take one step at a time. Is she going to be sedated for the MRI...make them explain the procedure step by step to you. Does the MRI facility have a patient relations department..ask if they have anyone on their staff who can help you help your child through this. If you don't already, start keeping a medical binder for each of your children...ask for a copy of any test they do and keep it in the binder. I'm sure there are other things I am missing...feel free to email me anytime...if any lightbulbs go off for me I will email you. By the way my son stopped taking gh when he reached 5'8''...the height he was supposed to be..he is off gh because his body does produce what he needs through life it just did not produe enough for growth..Take care, M.
