Short Stature Support Group

Hi! I am new here & I have questions concerning my 2 year old, maybe some of you have had the same issues? I know it is like a shot in the dark. But I will give it a go...

When I was pregnant with him I had controlled gestational diabetes but he was huge - think 6lbs at 32 weeks - I went into labor then, they stopped it I was on bed rest & then went into labor again at 36 weeks and gave birth to my 8lb 7oz son - he was large, and like I said my diabetes was controlled. His first newborn screen he came back positive for CAH, the second one they did it came back normal, so no CAH.

He stayed large and grew just fine until about the same time he was dx'd with epilepsy (11 months). Then he started to show very slowed growth. It was like he just stopped growing. At first I didn't really notice it, but after awhile it became obvious. I was concerned & thought maybe it was the epilepsy meds as he has a severe case of epilepsy and is on a lot of meds.

His neurologist ordered a bone age scan & it came back delayed & then they got him in with a pediatric endocrinologist. They ran all sorts of tests & everyone came back normal, although he was borderline low on growth hormone.

I thought maybe it could be something with his thyroid (I have a thyroid problem & they run in my family although normally when we are adults) but it wasn't. The only thing I can think of is that we do have people of short stature in our families, I have some under 5 feet, but they are females. I am 5'6

My husband has males that are anywhere from 5'3 to 5'6 - he is abnormally large at 5'11. My husbands mother is naturally 4'9 (they are originally from Bangladesh & this just seems like how most of the family is)

My son does have a genetic abnormality on chromosome 6q12 (it is a duplication - I have no idea what this could have to do with, we originally thought it was one thing, but it could be all sorts of different things) He is also developmentally delayed when they attribute to the epilepsy or the brain injury that occured during birth that caused a lack of oxygen for just a moment.

He has a lack of appetite which is probably from being on such a high dose of his meds. His keppra is high enough for an adult & it does case a lack of appetite.

Of course being a mom I am worried. I want my son to grow & be healthy. Any growth at all would be good. I am not expecting Michael Jordan by any means. He has a lot of other health issues and this just adds to everything.

Do you think he could just be naturally low in growth hormone? Anyone else in here have the same issues with their children or themselves?
Posted on 06/05/09, 05:06 am