Olivia's Medical Update!

This week we spent quite a bit of time at the hospital or the doctors office. A while back we were referred to a pediatric endocrinologist (children's doctors who examine failure to thrive) it was a three month wait to see this lady, and we finally got in. The doctor met with Olivia and I for about an hour and then ordered some tests at the hospital to see if we can figure out why Olivia is so small. Especially in relation to her other two siblings (both in the 75th percentile of growth).

• We did chromosome testing--so looking at Olivia's DNA to see if there is something genetically programming her to be small (like if you are meant to be a dwarf etc..). It came back fine.
• We did an allergy test to see if her failure to thrive was the result of some kind of food or pollen or whatever...she came back clean.
• We did her third Celiac test (one positive and one negative so far....got a second negative, so we are putting that hypothesis to rest).
• We did a lumbar scan (on her back spine) to see if there was something off contributing her her constipation...still can't figure out the "cause" of Olivia's constipation/ inability to correctly digest food. Which is probably contributing to her overall growth. Her lumbar scan came back fine.
• Last of all we did a bone density scan- to figure out what age her body has developed too and then compare it to what age she actually is. She came back with a bone density scan of a 6 year old (and she just turned 8) so she is two years behind in growth....which I knew because I HAVE a 6 year old and they are the same size :-)

Next we talked about options. Now that Olivia has made it onto the growth charts (3rd percentile) she no longer qualifies for growth hormone shots. Usually you give these before a child has her period because once she has her period her bones will fuse together and she will no longer continue to grow.

The other option we discussed was giving her a hormone to delay her period so she has more time to grow. They said because Olivia is at the bone age of a 6 year old, she should experience menses two years after her peers. They said it would probably be around 15-16 year old. IF she makes it that long, the maximum height she will be is 5'3"....which is what I reached at 11 years old (when I had my period). This sounds good to me except menses is somewhat hereditary, and since I had my period at 11 years old, if Olivia were to do that she would be under 5 feet tall.

The plan would be to take Olivia's blood every 6 months, and once she is about to have her period introduce this hormone to postpone it so she has longer to grow. It sounded fine to me, until I met someone who had it done and once their period was postponed it just never started....which for my friend means she can't have kids....this girl had stuff done in the 80's when they were still experimenting with it. BUT I am wondering which option is worse

(1) Possibly be under 5' your whole life--If your parents choose to let nature take its course.

(2) Be shorter than your peers your whole adolescence and then have your period delayed for a few years.....So you can reach 5'3" ....Your still in a training bra when your learning to drive... and might not ever get your period...or be able to have kids.

(3) Try to find a doctor who will give you a hormone shot NOW so you can catch up to everyone, and develop normally with everyone else.

We do have one question about growth hormone shots; When they said we don't qualify we are wondering if this means we can still pay for them as this country has socialized medicine and a lot of medical help is around qualifying. If we pay out of pocket (insurance wont cover it if you don't qualify) it would be about $1,000/ shot and the shots are needed once a week :) In addition, we hardly know anything about the risks or side effects of growth hormone shots so it is hard to make a decision when we can't get info about etc...

Anyway, what are your thoughts?