Seeking Opinions About HGH

Im not in this situation but, I have a friend who is barely 5 feet, and she loves it, she can wear high heels and get a few inches if she feels like it. I personaly don't believe she will hate you for not giving her injections for five years to give her a couple of inches! She might thank you (I hate needles too) so I think that if you don't feel comfortable with this then don't do it.

I don't have any personal experience with this. I know that my cousin had a similar problem and his parents chose the injections. He was about 12 though at the time. He never talked about what it was like. I only know that he grew to be about 5'2" and is glad he is not shorter, but for a guy it's harder to be short. He was told if they'd started earlier, he could have been taller. I am 5'8" personally, and have been since I was 13. So people always thought I was older then I was. I imagine for someone short, that the opposite would be true and more aggravating. I realize she is just short and not a little person, but maybe you could try contacting Little People of America if you would like some insight on what it's like to be very short.

I would have to agree with victoria. is this something that has to start now? A friend growing up was on HGH when he was 11 - 13 and it did make a big difference for him. he was able (even at that age) to actively participate in the decision as well as giving the injections. At 4 and with a fear of needles she may not comprehend the reasons behind the shot. Best of luck whatever you decide!

I have no comment on the HGH. You are her mother and I say go w/ you heart IF you have researched it for yourself and are NOT just going on what doc says!
Now, I am 4'11". I was not a preemie, I've had no growth problems, God just chose to make me small.:>) I smiled when I read she would be ONLY 4'10" :>)Being that short is really NO BIG DEAL! If she were a boy it would be a bigger issue, but a cute ,little , girl is very acceptable. I am happily married (16 years),had a normal life w/ boyfriends, friends etc, before. I have given birth to 4 healthy boys (2 of which are projected to be only 5'2") IT IS REALLY NO BIG DEAL! As for the weight problem, ANY height can and does have weight problems! I am NOT overweight because I CHOOSE to eat healthy. TEACH her now to eat healthy and she won't have weight problems no matter what her height ends up being.
I am SO thankful that your daughter made it through her difficult birth! We have have had 1 preemie and know all the ups and downs of that! God bless!

J., your daughter is such a miracle, i have 5 children and prayed to have all healthy children, i didn't care what they were just as long as they were healthy my children were not born early , but my 5th child was born with a CHD (congenital heart defect) Called Hypoplastic Left Heart which means he was born with his left side of his heart missing, he has been thru 2 surgeries and has another surgery within the next year. My options after birth were to either have a pallative 3 stage surgery which means not a cure but to try to save his life or do nothing, i wanted him to have a chance at life no matter how long his life is for him. He is 19 months old and doing great!!!! he just had an echo and everything looks good. Talks of next surgery wont be until Sept his 2nd birthday. He has alot to accomplish he is delayed and small he just learned to crawl and pull himself up and not even near walking,he wears 6 month clothes, but heart babies have issues of gaining weight and getting big, but he is now 19 months and 19 pounds. We want to do whats right for our children and we don't ever want any of our children to be teased or feel bad about themselves, i feel if there is no side effects to the HGH go for it, i believe when she gets older and you tell her about her birth and what she has been thru she will know that you did this for her and everything you have done is for her. The same thing with my son, he has scars all over his chest and body and has to go thru more surgeries, but when he gets older its all for him. and he is such a happy boy that you wouldn't even know that he had been thru so much. I support you on your decision, and don't feel guilty or let anyone else make you feel this way, your reaching for some opionions but you know what your going to do and its scary not to know and want other peoples advise. Good luck with your decision, let us know RESULTS!!!
S. Mom to 5 amazing children 17yrs,9yrs,7yrs,3yrs,and 19months check out my sons journey at www.liamlockhart.com leave a comment so i know you stopped by :)

It's always so wonderful to read request like your that speaks of the goodness, grace and mercy of Our Heavenly Father. It is also a blessing that she is your daughter and you are her mother. I just sense that you have been in prayer over this, and I feel that you already have your answer. I can feel your heart on this and I feel that you are very knowledgeable and well informed on what the effects of HGH will be for your child, what it is and what it does exactly which in her best interest is the best thing and whatever you decide, just know that God gave you this child and He knows that you will do what is good and right in the child's interest and care. Remember, He knew all of us before He placed us in our mother's wombs. (scriptural). You have the answer and I would like to congratulate you on being such a loving and wise mother.

My very, very best to you and your family. May God continue to walk with you and bless you all!

Dear J.,
Good Morning! My name is Kathy and I want to state here that you have done your home-work and seriously checked into everything! Cudos' to you!!! I think that in the aspect of wanting her to have the best, I would do the shots. But I also believe the answer to this situation lies already upon your heart! To do this now while she is young is better then later! I'd even suggest you try it in a warm bath to help soothe the shot. She is your miracle child and only you truly know what is best for her! Trust your own instincts! I will pray for you and your little girl! I trust in God to help the needs of children! He too hears the cries of His children! May God bless you all-always! You are a great mom!
Sincerely,
Kathy N.

Beautiful things come little packages. My 19 year old daughter is 4 10 - thank god healthy - and she loves it!!

HGH is relatively safe (but can have some side effects), yet the body's own production of HGH can be enhanced with natural supplements, which is even safer and may help with other issues. Getting your child natural supplements that contain adequate amounts of certain vitamins, minerals, and amino acids will help boost her natural HGH production and also help improve her thyroid function. Working to improve energy flow in her subtle energy system will also help. Does your daughter consume any sea vegetation (kelp, dulse, wakame, nori, spirulina, etc.)? For weak thyroid function that's one of the 1st things that can be considered - a lot of doctors have limited awareness about a number of things and it seems odd that your doctor claims to know the limit of how big your daughter will grow while she's just 4 right now. I would try the more natural approaches that help the body help itself before trying a more expensive and less safe therapy.

J.,
I'm a 60 yr old grandma, my nephew was a canidate for HGH and my sister opted to not give it to him. He is 42 now, at the time they weren't sure of the long term effects the drug would have on him, that was her major concern. I'm sure by now they have enough experience with HGH to know how it will effect your daughter. However, my newphew, while only 5'7", he is quite normal. If it were my decision, I would forgo the meds and let her be what God has created. She may be small all her life, but is size that important? Cheri

There are many side effects but it does have it's benefits. It improves appetite and reduces body fat but side effects are nausea, vomitting, changes in vision, abdominal pain or bloating which can cause so many stomach problems later on, headache, ear infection, joint pain, muscle pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, swelling of hands and feet and with long term exposure the side effects are really terrible. Research more
but I would not do it.

Not sure if a childhood friend did HGH but he was small and wasn't growing so they gave him something in the 70's/80's to make him grow.

He was older so he could make his own decision. He was all for it.

Being short in this society is not great either. I'm almost 5"5' but have always wanted to be much taller. Even girls want to be taller.

I'm sure someone will give you the positive side to HGH. The future happens quickly and you are only thinking of your daughter's well being. Remember to always be positive.

G-D Bless, R.

i know shes only 4yrs old but talk with her about it there are also support progams for children who go through this stuff

As your daughter is not old enough to make the decision, it is up to you and her father.
Personally, I am against all the toxic drugs doctors are pushing on us, especially the one giving to young girls for ovarian cancer. My youngest lived through asthma treatments, and also being a needle-phobic (like who isn't?) made it through several injections of antibiotics to avoid being hospitalized with an IV...It was a horrible experience for him and me.

However, back to your beloved, may I suggest you teach her self-esteem, so she loves her petite healthy self...I'll bet she's a cuty-pie and will be a fabulous news anchor one day!

Have you talked about this with your daughter? not in a way that you would speak to a grown up but explain a few things to her and see how she feels about being as tall as you and what will need to be done to get there, she might not get final say but at least you'll know her feelings. just a thought!

One of my children is a 15 year old girl. She is 4'1l, and has stopped growing. She's made it work for her. She's fiesty, stands up for herself, and takes on the world. To sum it up, she's a fighter.

She had problems with health issues, but hers were due to being over ten pounds at birth. We've never made her feel her medical issues were anything more than extra challenges in life. She's had so much physical and occupational therapies as she was growing, but she takes that all in stride, too.

Its very important that you make sure you don't treat her differently or highlight any differences. Embrace them, address them, accept them. They will define your child (and you.)

She, too, is always mistaken for being younger, or worse yet, the youngest in the house...this really gets on her nerves when her baby brother has to look down at her!

Think...is this all for her, or do you think she should be taller? I have a friend whose daughter went through all those shots (similar reasons that you are considering it.) Her daughter did grow a few inches over many years, but her child simply hated it. Daily shots, many extra doctor visits and lab work, etc. The child resented it most of the time and wanted to know why it wasn't okay to be short. She felt that there must have been something wrong with her and her self-esteem plummeted, too.

Good luck with your choices; its never easy to know if you are making the right decisions...you just have to trust yourself enough to do what is right for you child.

Happy Mother's Day to you!! First of all I applaud your dedication and love of this child!! Then I'm going to tell you about myself: I'm a doctor, AND a mom of a 29 week preemie myself!! And guess what? My son is now 14 and, like your daughter, has outgrown almost all his preemie problems except for the growth issue and a few other things. And we did decide to treat him with the growth hormone, but we waited until puberty to do it.

I am 5'2"; my husband was 5'10". Our son was always below the growth curve and we had been thinking about this for a while, giving him a chance to grow on his own. We waited until he asked for the treatment. Now, I'm sure you have a pediatrician and an endocrinologist to help you make the decision as to when to treat. We just know that statistically, tall men are more successful than short ones, and even with the treatment, the endocrinologist is hoping he gets to 5'6". (he is 5'2" now, after about a year of treatment during which time he has grown quite a bit!) The problem is now, that he is advancing quickly thru puberty, and we are fighting against time because when his growth plates close, all growth will stop. So they may consider delaying puberty, but are going to see how his bone age progresses.

with women, short stature is not as much of a problem, but she will be taken more seriously as an adult if you can get her taller. So i would encourage you to do it! And talk to your dr. about the different options for injections that don't even look like a shot...the kids don't even know there is a needle in some of these devices. My endocrinologist has 4 year olds doing their own injections! The new devices make it very easy. Sometimes if a child has a sense of control, they feel better about the whole thing.

Please write to me if you want to talk more about this or need some encouragement from someone who has been there!!!

Hi, my daughter was born at 26 weeks and is now four but she is quite short. No doctor has ever said anything to me about her height or about putting her on medication for it. I personally would not want that medication in her for only a couple inches. I am only 5 feet tall and I love it!! My daughter had to have a colostomy temporarily after she was born and it has been reversed-she had so many appts because of this and the eye dr and we feed so blessed to have her healthy and alive that her height doesnt matter to me or to her. I dont think people are ever 100 percent happy with themselves but I feel the medication is risky. If you are too tall-that person would say if only I were a little shorter when a short person will always say I wish I were a little taller-a skinny person will say I wish I had a little meat on me and a fat person would say I wish I were skinnier so I say Thank God she is here and alive and she is how God made her and he must have wanted her to be here on this Earth so I say just let the height issue go and concentrate on other things. Take Care, S.

I'm not sure if this has been answered, since I didn't read the replies before i responded, but what if you give her the hgh for a few years and then stop, what will/can happen? To give her the hgh for 6 yrs of treatment to only make her grow 2-3inches, i don't think its worth the trauma, if she's afraid of needles. It's only 2-3- inches...not a big difference and only slightly noticeable. Although I don't have a child like your child, my cousin was a preemie and is short, as well as my BF. my BF is 4'11 and my cousin is 5ft. they are both happy and healthy with families of their own. she'll always be cute due to her shortness, noone thinks that being short is a horrendous thing, in fact people tend to be protective of them. are there any consequences to the hgh? side effects? is there anything that you could do hollistically? why rush the growth?

How many years have they been evaluating this drug? Has it been long enough to evaluate the long-term effects? 10 years? 20 years? I can speak from experience, being a short woman. I'm 4'8 and I'm done growing. I'm not a midget or a dwarf. My limbs are the right length for my body. I'm just short by genetics. Both of my grandmothers are knocking at 5 feet. I love being short. I always get compliments. There's nothing negative about being short. It's socially more acceptable for women than men, so that's a plus when you're making your decision. Weight could possibly be a factor. I should be about 99lbs, but at my smallest I've been 120 lbs. But my weight suits me...not too skinny, and not too big. I'm just right :) So...I just wanted to shed light on someone who is in the position you're about to be in.

Hi J.,
First I want to tell you that you and your family are in our prayers. I can not imagine how hard it must be as a parent to see your child in pain. We are blessed to live in America with wonderful advancements medical science. Life can be very difficult for people that are shorter than average and if by a simple injection each day, you can help your child to live a better, less difficult, more fulfilling life- I would do that. Children are very resilient and a shot a day is comparable to what a diabetic would need to do. Praise God that she is now healthy and thriving and that her condition is not worse.
I would recommend praying about what God would have you do- He loves your daughter even more than you can and has blessed her with loving intelligent parents. You'll make the right decision. God Bless You

Hi J.,

I totally understand ! My son will be four next week and looks to be about two years old.

After a long struggle to figure out why he was not growing, our wonderful endocrinologist discovered that he has Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 deficiency (IGFD). We have been treating him with IGF1 injections for 16 months and it is going well.

It was traumatic at first, but he got used to the shots. He really laughs when I announce where his shot will be given by saying, "It is a bootie day!" or "It is a leggie day!" He is so proud of himself when he sits still for his shot. Sure, he would rather not have shots, but he does not like being called a baby and understands that the shots help him grow.

Today we celebrated his FINALLY getting up to 30 pounds with pizza and a new booster seat! He absolutely LOVES his new seat and is glad not to be in the "baby seat" any longer.

As far a timing, I say go for it now. Waiting won't gain you anything. The younger you start injections, the easier it will be and she will have less catch-up work to do.

Also, HGH has been used for a really long time and there is a lot of research to support its safe use. From what I understand, HGH is easier to use than the drug we have to use. We are doing daily injections, but HGH injections are much less frequent.

While you are online check out the Magic Foundation website: www.magicfoundation.org. It was very helpful to us when we started our growth journey. You can get loads of information about HGH and connects to other families with growth problems.

Good luck,
L. (SAHM of three cuties)

Hi J.,

First of all I don't have a child like you, so this is just an outside opinion. I do have a friend who's son was undergoing HGH treatments and had to stop because it was giving him horrible migrains that even caused vomiting at times and he also had tremendous difficulty sleeping. My advise is to do more research on HGH because there are some potential side effects known and consider the unknown, especially in females and the possibility of damage to the reproductive system. Make your decision then. Also, in my opinion you are only talking about a two inch height difference, weigh the risks and hassles against the gains. On this I can speak as I was only 4'11" until adulthood when I achieved 5'0" and have conseqently shrank back to 4'11". Life at this height is not bad at all. High school had some teasing, but no more than any other kid for one thing or another. Heels and date heights were never an issue LOL. The only thing my height has ever caused a problem with was the inability to drive a TransAm when I was a teenager, I couldn't see over the dash because of the way the seats and dash were made. Good luck wrestling with your decision.

Can you visit her classroom before she attends to see for yourself how she can manage getting around physically? If you go with her and she tries it out and is fine, that can give you peace of mind about waiting if you choose to wait. I would also recommend consulting a pediatric endocrinologist as well as her doctor for HGH injections.

J.,
If you have researched this treatment thoroughly and your doctor says that it is safe, then I would do it. She is 3 and while giving her the daily injection may be a battle, in the end, by then time she is an adult, she will not remember the "trauma" of the daily injections.

Also, I wonder, if you are spiritual? Have you considered taking this matter to God and allowing His Holy Spirit to help you consider what the right choice may be? If you belong to a church, it would be helpful to have others pray with you. May God bless you and your miracle child. I hope you know in your heart that your baby has survived all of these obstacles because He does have a plan for her and these challenges you have had to endure with her will only add to her testimony one day.

Hi J.,

Wow, those are a lot of heavy thoughts and questions..........I just felt the need to speak up because I was born relatively normally (at about 36 weeks, weighing just under 5 pounds), and am just under 5 ft. (I saw I'm 5 ft., but whenever I'm measured it's 4'11 1/2"). My mother had maybe 1/2 inch on me, my father was only about 5'5". So I guess I was destined to be short. My uncle was the "tall one" in our family, and he's still 5'9". Several of my aunts are shorter than me. So......what I would say is, what is the goal of using the HGH? To give your daughter another 1-2 inches of height? You are not being told that she will only get to like 4 feet, right, just that she'll be a little shorter than average? Sure, I always kind of wished I had a couple of extra inches, so I wouldn't have to shorten my pants, etc., but it hasn't really made an impact in my life. My aunt who is probably 4' 9" or 4' 10" (she's shorter than me in heels, it seems)has dealt with it by living in heels - which is of course, her choice. So, I'm not saying, don't do the HGH. I'm just saying, weigh the pros and cons carefully, and don't let fears that your daughter will be a little too short make your decision for you.
Best of luck,
S.

My question would be... "how long can we wait to make this decision?" Not because I disagree with doing it (I don't), but because if you have a long "window" of time to do it, you might consider waiting until your daughter is older and understands more about why she is undergoing the treatment, and might be able to consent better so that you don't feel like you are putting her through it without her agreement. We had some friends whose son underwent similar treatment when he was about 11 or 12 years old (the very END of the window for him). He finally grew!! He was old enough to self-administer the shots. So that is what I would check into, how long is the window of opportunity?
Best wishes for you...

Hi, J.. Well, I prayed about this before I wrote you. In no way am I going to condemn you for thinking about this. Of course you want the best for your child in every facet of her life. What I think, since the process of trying to make her grow to a more normal height is going to traumatize her with daily shots, and you have no idea what tampering with any hormone will do in any child's emotional life...that the best preparation you can give her for the rest of her life is to accept her as she is and love her the way God gave her to you.

We cannot shield our kids from all their trials and tribulations. Her predicted height is not horrendously short. I would not put my child through the shots if I were in your shoes.

I hope everything works out for the best, and all of you are healthy, happy, and loving each other unconditionally.

Peace,
Syl

Hi! First off I'd like to say I'm SO happy to hear she's doing well after everything she's most likely been through - that's just amazing. Congrats to your and your hubby for being strong and making it through the hard times. My opinion about the procedure is to not do it. #1 she's been through so much already. #2 I grew up with four friends that were between 4'8" and 4'11" and they never had any issues with weight or with being that height. They are actually my most self-confident friends. When we would all go out dancing they got lots of attention from the guys (not sure you want to hear that right not LOL) and had a great time. They learned to drive cars (with some help from pillows) and they are all good to this day (we're in our 30s now). Of course this is a very personal decision between you and your hubby snd I wouldn't fault you either way but just wanted to give my point of view. I hope it helps!

First I want to say I am so happy for you that your daughter is doing so well. My boss's son is going through the same treatment. My thought is if your daughter had diabetes you would give daily injections. Well this is a medical treatment that will benefit her in the long run. Your child has been amazingly resilient so far and she will get through this as well.

Congradulations on your little miracle. I would not do the treatment and expose her any more to treatments. She's healthy keep doing what your doing, and God will prevail.

This will be putting it differently than most, but here's my take on it. I am 5'2" at 31 years old. I have always wanted to be taller, and I think my ideal height would be about 5'7". My biggest gripe is that I can't reach the top shelves in my kitchen and have to use a step stool. Also, at the grocery store, I can't always reach items on the top shelf. I have to sit close to the steering wheel when I drive a stick shift because otherwise I can't reach the clutch. Now, if someone came to me and told me that I could take this shot for 6 years...!!!6 years!!! and it would make me taller, but only by 1-2 inches. Perhaps I could be 5'3" or 5'4" but that is the most I could hope for. Do you know what I would say? I would tell them what they could do with that shot, and spend those 6 years enjoying my life at my current height. Also, even if your daughter does manage to reach 5'0" she will still face the same challenges as someone who is 4'10". What advantage will those extra 2 inches (maybe, hopefully, probably) give her in life? Is it worth the pain, anxiety, and trauma for ONLY 1-2 inches? Those are the questions I would ask myself.

I wanted to add one more thing, concerning the school. In the early 80's I had a friend who was very, very small and I believe he may have been a preemie as well. When we were in Kindergarten he looked like he was only about 3 years old. But he had a larger than life personality and was extremely confident in himself and his abilities. he made and kept friends easily. When we were in 3rd grade he was so small that he could not ride a bicycle, he still had to ride a tricycle. Yet he had parties and sleep overs and all of his friends knew this. Even in 6th grade he appeared to only be in the 3rd or 4th grade. The key was that he never let it bother him. Honestly, I have never seen a more happy, well-adjusted, and confident child. By the time we were in Junior High school he was in the marching band, in the gifted and talented program, student council and graduated in the top 10% of his class. He was very popular, and never had trouble getting a date. By graduation he had grown to about 5'6" or 5'7".

I think that whether or not she receives the HGH, what's most important is her self confidence. If she believes in herself and her abilities, keeps a good attitude, and is a hard worker then I do not believe her height will ever be an issue.

Hi J.! First off, I don't think anyone would dare write you a hurtful letter..the thought of someone being that evil makes me want to cry! You are a WONDERFUL mother...my hat is off to you and your strength, as well as the strength of your little girl. I don't know too much about HGH. I did a quick google search, and from a very brief look, it is said to be safe, unless abused..which then connects it to breast and colon cancers. This is really a very tough one, but a decision that, in your heart and soul, I believe you will feel. If I were in your shoes, I would research the heck out of it before I considered it. And to me, that means going far beyond your dr (or anyone in the medical community...try to get real stories from people who have gone through it). I am sure you have done plenty of research already. Is this something that can wait a few years, until she is maybe 6? It seems like she has gone through so much, and at 4, might not really be able to understand what this is all about. If you could just leave it alone for a few years, and then let her be part of the decision making process, that would be ideal. The difference, in 2 inches, is not too much..but I understand that the dr is saying she might not even make it to 4'10" alone. Just remember, dr's are human, and only able to make educated guesses. She may very well grow to 5' on her own. Stranger things have certainly happened. My last piece of advice...that comes from my own mom: Make all of your decisions with love, knowing that you are doing your very best at that time. If the result is not what you intended, or falls short, you can never be angry at yourself, because you know that, at that time, you were doing your very best. I hope any of this helps!
A. :)

Hello J.

I was reading your post. First I want to wish you a Happy Mother's Day this weekend. Sounds like you are a wonderful mom to your daughter. She is very lucky to have you and you to have her. My son was born premature also. We were lucky I feel the answer to a lot of prayers he was born without problems. He was colic, gasey and had issues with eating but grew out of it fairly soon. Nothing like what you have dealt with. Your amazing, she clearly has your spirit within her...she is a fighter.

I don't know about HGH at all...I am sure you have done all the research. I know you have talked to your husband and family about it. But what I wanted to say was your heart already knows the answer. I can tell in the way your wrote the post. Sometimes we forget that we have a gift as a mother within us. It tells us yes, no or to wait on things. We just forget to listen sometimes. It is a HARD choice. You have come so far to do anything you can to get her healthy. Thinking of her future, her emotions now and later etc. I think you got a lot of great advise from some of the other posts espcially Amy and Victoria. The amazing thing about becoming a mother is...once you have a child...all children become your child. When you hear of another child's struggles or hardships you put yourself and your own child in mind when thinking of those you hear about.

I know your looking for answers. You'll find them with research, time and patience. Because you asked our thoughts I have to say if it were me I agree with those who said if you can wait it out a few years and make her part of the choice I would. That way you made the choice with her instead of for her. You have to consider emotional side effects as well.

I just wanted to wish you and your daughter all the best. I know you'll make the right choice either way.

All my best to you both.

Billy

My best friends son started failing to grow at 6 months, he literally didn't grow from 6 months until almost 3 yrs old. She started getting the daily injection then and grew almost 7 inches in one year. He is now barely on the growth chart and is starting to catch up with other children at the age of 7. He does have a sensitivity to other kids treating him like a preschool "baby" because he is little. I know without the shots, he would be destined to a lifetime of feeling inferior and missing out on regular play because all the other kids assume he's only 4 years old. Now that he is catching up, he is gaining new friends, confidence and will one day feel more like a "man". There are no side effects and the needle is so sharp and fine he doesn't even feel it. If given the oppurtunity and if your insurance covers it, I would definitely give it to my child. Having known this child for the past three years, I have watched his blossom into a well-adjusted child and also have watched the world's perspective of him improve. The teachers still fawn over him because he is so "cute" but they are starting to notice his curly hair and his bright blue eyes rather than the fact that he is "sooooo tiny". For your daughter's own self-esteem, I would go through with it. Let go of the thought that daily injections will cause trauma or drama. It's simple. Get personal support from someone who has to inject their child daily, another HGH user, or parent of a diabetic child. Make a sticker chart that helps her see her growth and also offers a reward for taking her daily meds.

I think you are great for educating yourself on ways to help your daughter overcome being born premature. I think getting shots is tough but I can tell you that when I was 9 I had to go to the dermatoligist for this horrible scar I had on my chest at that age I hated it and really wanted it gone. They injected the scar over 10 times with cortisone to stop it from growing. It was so painful to me that I never wanted to try it again. However I hated the scar more than the pain so I decided that I wanted to try it again. My mother took me to a different dermatoligist and they prescribed a cream called emla which numbed the first few layers of skin this made a dramatic difference and I got the shots til I was 17, I beleive that if my mom would not have been there for me and supported me getting the shots then I would have a much larger scar on my chest and it would be very red. I believe that you have to go with your instinct and if they tell you that the shot should help her get over 5" ft tall and that there will not be side effects I think that would be positive. Good luck!

You give her a pill everyday to help her thyroid and have no problem doing that - I say give her the shot for HGH as well. You do whatever you can for your child. Don't let the stigma others place on this cause you to change your mind. You do what you think is right. I am only 5 foot too, and never had any problems due to height, but as you mentioned, who knows if she will even get to 4'10" - you do whatever you think is right Mom. You love your girl and there is no reason to even mention it to anyone else if you don't want to. She's lucky to have a mom who is willing to make difficult choices for her

I think that you should do in your heart what you feel is right.......I am 4' 9'' and I am very happy......and healthy....my weight is about 108..........I think so long as you have a positive few on her height and the fact she survived....so will she......

I'm sure I will sound like many moms... the decision is solely upon you and your family.

Please think about this that you wrote when deciding if this is the path to go:

"I don't want to make her take an unnecessary shot every day..."

Is it unnecessary or necessary to you or to her? To me it sounds necessary, but you and your husband are the deciding factors.

I believe that you are throroughly taking in all of the research and issues at hand! I totally commend you on that!

Good luck and God bless.

J.,

After reading your question i was so in awe over how much you have gone through as a mother and how far she has come. Way to go mom and it is seen that you are so loving and want nothing but the best for her. i would say to give her the shots she will hate you now but later will love you. weight is very hard. my sister had growth issues and is very short. my parents didnt do the shot and she is always struggling with her weight and hates it. She had a baby a few years ago and the weight was so hard for her after (she only gained 30) but 30 pounds to a not even 5 foot tall woman is so hard to lose. i hope this helps and remember as long as your only doing it out of love, youll be fine. I hope you have a wonderful mothers day.

Take care,
A.

I am so happy to hear that your little one is doing well.
The final decision to go forward or not with the HGH. I have a younger brother who never reached puberty and didn't shoot up when he was supposed to for a young man. He was 18 and not a single pimple nor hair on his face/chest. After graduation he decided to see a specialist who put him on growth hormone treatments. My brother reached 5'5 and finally got all the signs of puberty. It seems that he was able to make that decision on his own and at the end...he was able to accomplish what he wanted. It is my opinion that you can leave it up to her to do when she reached 15-16 years of age if its needed. Her health is doing fine...why put it in jeopardy?

PS-I'm 5'0 my mother & sister are shorter than I am and we've never had weight issues. We eat healthy and have always exercised. So long as you make it part of your daily life it should become something of a norm for your daughter and I wouldn't see how height = weight issues.