Brady & GH, pharmac. companies, meds, and on an on

[Guest guest]

- Congratulations for surviving the first couple of nights.

The only side effect (negative) that I have recorded that has been

listed by any parents reporting to MAGIC is the sudden onset

hypoglycemia. This is a direct result of the fact that the one

negative thing that growth hormone can do for our kids is raise

their insulin levels (which go back to normal within 6 months of

being discontinued off GH). You don't have to actually pinprick him

for blood sugar. Just monitor him. All the normal nutritional

stuff is even more important now -- avoid simple sugars; especially

in athletic activities such as soccer, etc. when a child is running

around and in the heat, DO give gatorade and complex carbos

frequently.

Your doctor will monitor his IGF-1 and IGF-BP3 levels to ensure that

they stay in the normal, and low-normal, range while he is on GH.

The whole " cancer " fear is when the " free IGF " (meaning the

combination of those 2 levels) is out of whack. So if you have a

really high IGF-1 and a very low IGF-BP3. This doesn't often

happen, and the endos watch it carefully. But for a child to be at

a heightened risk, studies have shown that those IGF-1 levels have

to be astronimically high for a very long time, years.

I didn't notice that y's appetite improved with GH -- in fact,

it was harder for us. She began growing at double her prior height

velocity, which meant she needed double the weight just to stay at

the same curve. She couldn't do that without the periactin. In

fact, I can honestly say that without the periactin, would

have a g-tube now.

I read the email about the pharmaceutical companies with such a

smile and grimace at the same time. There are absolutely problems

with the system as it exists today. And I pray constantly that these

problems can be fixed. But I hope to live optimistically enough to

believe that not all drugs are bad; and not all drug companies are

evil. And I take responsibility for my children seriously, doing a

great deal of research before beginning any medication.

We all make such personal decisions for our children; and so many of

the decisions are a " if not this, then that " type of thing. I would

absolutely LOVE to not have on Zantac and Prevacid.

However, her reflux is so severe she would destroy her esophagus;

and she wouldn't eat enough, and we would end up having a g-tube put

in; and then she would need the nissan, which could blow and we

could end up with repeat nissans. I would love for her not to need

Periactin -- but again, if she didn't have it, she would have the g-

tube -- and we would be dealing with that entire arena. And with

her delayed gastric emptying, if we had the nissan and the g-tube,

she would also have to have the pyloroplasty done.... hmmm. So,

for our child, Zantac, Prevacid and Periactin seem to be the lesser

of the difficult decisions.

, please know that we are here for you. The decision to use

GH is not an easy one -- and often times, the kids " kick back " after

the newness wears off around week 2. Good luck!!!

Salem

>

> Hello everyone how is everything going with you and your

families.

> Every thing is going good for us. Christmas shopping isn't done

yet

> but that is the least of my worries right now.

>

> Brady started GH yesterday it was really hard giving him that

first

> shot. I think maybe it was because I had someone watching me and

> that made me a little nervous. Tonite I gave him his second dose

> and I was fine. He didn't even know that I poked him. He was

more

> worried about being held down.

>

> What was the most common side effects that your children showed

and

> how long was it before the side effects were noticable? How long

> did it take before you noticed any change in his growth, and was

> there one part of the body that grew before you noticed any change

> in your child height? Did the GH seem to increase your childs

> appetite? Please answer my questions. I will really appreciate

> it. Thank you Happy Holidays!!!!

>

>

> mom to Brady 27 months 16 lbs 6 ounces 28 inches GH Zantac

> Reglan Periactin Fundoplication G-tube Neocate Jr. with polycose