Questions about advancing bone age & first Dr. H visits

January 7, 2005

Hi,

I haven't been reading the messages in ages because I've been too

busy, but now need some help from all of you. Colin is 4 years and 1

month. He had his annual endocrinologist visit today. The good news

is that his height is between 40-50%ile without GHT. His weight for

height is around 15% and weight 25%. The bad news is that his bone

age is starting to advance. Some markers were around 4-1/2 years and

others as high as 6 years. In the past he hasn't had a bone age

delay, but he has been on the growth curve since age 2.

SO, the dr. throroughly checked him for signs of puberty and found

none - testicles normal, no odor, no hairs, no signs of IR. She is

ordering some blood work - DHEA, glucose and insulin to be drawn and

then wants to talk.

This is all making me very nervous. Though she said it is normal for

a child at 4 to go into early adrenarche. But the advance in bone

age scares me. He is doing so well and I hate to see us lose all his

height by going into puberty early. Does it sound like she is doing

everything she should be doing? If he were a Dr. H patient what

would she be doing right now? Is this where he would possibly start

Armidex?

We have seen Dr. H in Chicago the past 2 years and I was thinking of

visiting her in NY this year instead, but I want to make sure we

will get our money's worth, so to speak, since we are traveling from

Oregon. How long are new patient visits? Would she put together a

short term plan for us? I talked to Salem and she said that

now a good portion of the visit is spent watching her type in the

computer. I would hate to travel that far and not get much benefit

out of the visit. Any thoughts are appreciated. I would love to hear

from others who have had recent new Dr. H visits at her new

hospital. How long in advance do you need to book the appt.?

Thank you,

Colin (RSS, g-tube) and Hayden - 4 year old twins

Grant - 1

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