What would you do in my shoes?

Dawn - posted on 02/06/2010

Because you are talking about a girl it is not as bad as if it were a boy. I think I would look at any possible side effects and I would decide from there if the being short would cause enough problems in life to make it worth while to do the shots

Brittany - posted on 02/06/2010

Will her being short affect her health? Unless there was a medical reason ( to me being a little taller is not a medical reason) I would not do it personally. There is a LOT that goes on with growth hormones. So she'll be short. Big deal. I have friends that are slightly shorter than her normal projected height and they are living full and happy lives.

Nicky - posted on 02/06/2010

How tall is your husband? My hubby and me are both just 5'3 and we got told the same thing. Our son is not growing right, bla bla. When he is outgrowen he will be about 5'6 or so. We are fine with that. As long your daughter is otherwise healthy, I would not do it for just a view inches. My mom is 4'4 and lives a perfectly happy life. It is easier for a girl than a boy to be short... Hope I could help.

Teresa - posted on 02/06/2010

I'm not entirely sure, but most likely not. I'm only 4' 10 3/4" (gotta get the 3/4). It's annoying at times, but not so bad. I had a bone x-ray of my hand as a child and 'they' said I would maybe reach 4'9", so doctors don't know everything. Good luck w/ your decision.

Iridescent - posted on 02/06/2010

I would. They don't even recommend the injections unless their bodies aren't making enough (or any) on their own, and it is necessary. Yes, it's a shot every night. But it will make her quality of life as an adult potentially much better. She's not able to make the choice for herself at this age, and while she won't hold being taller than she could have been against you, she will hold being way too short against you if you could have prevented it by giving her the missing hormone.

Lydia - posted on 02/06/2010

I would do some research and talk to a few specialists about the process and what (if any) other options are available. Then before making the final decision talk to your daughter and see how she feels about it all too. Use all that information to make a decision that feels best for you and your daughter.

Jennifer - posted on 02/06/2010

I personally wouldn't want to do it. My youngest almost 2 now is under weight and short, I wouldn't change the way he is supposed to be though. I don't believe in meds that are going to interfere with development at all! And especially for person gain (not in this case). If the only concern is that she will be short, it's not a good enough reason to do it for me, and side effects for short term or long might not weight out on the better side. And weight gain, more protein and maybe pediasure to make sure she's getting what she needs. I'm 5FT even, my Grandmother was 4"11, the shortest in the family, but I was never embarrassed about my height. Sounds like she's just a petite little girl, my opinion would be NO, no drugs. And if you decide to go the other way, just make sure you research until you are absolutely sure you're ready to make that choice. I wish you the best of luck!!

Abbie - posted on 02/06/2010

I come from short people! I have a cousin who is 4"11 and a niece who is 4"7" My grandpa was under 5feet also when he died.I am not tall myself, but I really think that I would consider it. Or at least try it, if it becomes too much of a fight then I would probably give it up. But jobs are hard to do when you are so short on "one end" as my grandpa would say :) Its your choice but I think I would try it.

Rebecca - posted on 02/06/2010

I wouldn't' do it. My son is 2.5yrs old and he is the same height as a little boyu we know that is only 1.5yrs old. A friend of mine, her little boy is 3 months older then my son and is the same size as a 4yr old. If a Dr told me to give hormones to my child for being too short i would ask if they give hormones to kids whoa re too tall for their age. Probably not at this age. Yes when they are older i'm sure and if they keep growing. I know 2 sisters who are over 6ft tall and had to get shots when they were 16 and 22 to stop growing. A child this age can grow at any age in my opinion and if i was you i would see another Dr for another opinion on this. If you and your spouse are short people, your children will be shorter as well. The little boy we know is considered very tall for his age and both of his parents are no taller then 5'11. My husband is 6'1 and i'm 5'5 and our Dr has no concerns for either of our children. They are both on their own growth path and no worries have come up. Maybe do some stretches with her everyday to get her muscles more relaxed, maybe she's just tense. Like i said, my son is 2.5yrs old, my daughter is 7 months old...my son is 34 inches tall and weighs 28lbs and my daughter is 26inches long and weighs 17lbs. Every child is different for sure. My brother in laws little boy is 8.5months old and is 27inches long and weighs 27lbs...he's 1lbs less then my 2.5yr old. No worries mom, i'm sure she'll be fine, but get a second opinion before doing anything like this:)
Good luck!

Sandi - posted on 02/06/2010

I would say yes. If you are weighing a few years of her life against a lifetime of challenges then yes go ahead with it. People will tell you that looks aren't everything. We sorry in todays society they are. Think of her teenage years, buying kiddy clothes instead of wearing what her friends are wearing. Also her adult life, being able to reach the cupboards without a chair or ladder, seeing over the top of the steering wheel without a cushion, people talking to you like an adult instead of a child. Also if you have a job where you are in a position of authority, you need a certain persona just so people listen to you. It doesn't help if you're half their size. These things shouldn't impact a persons life but unfortuately they do :(

I hope your daughters' condition improves.

xx

Gwendolyn - posted on 02/06/2010

Get some more information before making this commitment. Yes your child will go through body image issues if she is shorter than most of the people in her life. However, most women go through some self esteem and body issues at some point in our life. My bigger concern would be her long and short term health. If not having the growth hormone could progress to other medical problems then I would definitely do it. If she is eating well and nothing in her blood work suggests that she will never produce the growth hormone then I would wait a little while longer. I used to work for a company that sold growth hormone therapy products. Before I read all the literature I was a bit scared about that type of therapy too. After reading the studies and seeing the difference it made for many patients… if it were my child – after researching and getting some more opinions—I would pray and proceed. Consider researching non-traditional medicine solutions too so that you can make a fully informed decision.

Jessica - posted on 02/06/2010

I would get a second opinion!!!! I wouldn't just jump to doing that.. If the second opinion said the same as the first I would get a third.

Rosie - posted on 02/06/2010

i've had this dicussion with my doctor about my children. my children made growth hormone, but they are all very little-less than the 5th percentile for height and weight. does your child make the growth hormone? i chose not to since my sons actually did make the hormone and i chose to wait. they are all still small for their age, but they are growing some-just not what people called normal. now if they were not making the growth hormone then i would've done it.i just couldn't see injecting my kids with something everynight. i'm curious, how did they come to the conclusion that she would only be 4ft 6? my docs gave me no opinion on what size my sons would grow up to be, it would've been nice to know something like that.

Medic - posted on 02/05/2010

I am currently about to start them for our three year old son, and there are many advantages to doing them earlier ie: training the body to make the hormones needed, shorter amount of time needed to do the shots, and not forcing her to go through school being so small. I think there is an element of mental stress caused by being so small and knowing it, our son can't stand to be called small he is 3.5 and has only grown an inch since 18 months. He went from being in the 95th percentile to the 10-15th percentile. I am 5'10 and my husband is 6'2 and they are estimating him about 5'6 without the hormone and I am the shortest person in my family so for us it was an easy decision.

Lesa - posted on 02/05/2010

Sometimes those injections dont even work. I would do research on what percentage chance the injections will work. I probably would not do it any how. Its really painful and thats not that short any how.

Sapphire - posted on 02/05/2010

Yes, a tough dilemma. I am wondering if you could hold off any injections until later on in life, maybe closer to puberty. See what growth spurts her body will naturally develop and then gain her insight as a teenager. Good luck in your decision!

Sharon - posted on 02/05/2010

Yes I would.



When is the last time you saw a 4ft tall bank manager? CEO of a corporation? Teacher?



Its difficult to be in charge of people you have to look up to.



What ever you decide - good luck.

Lindie - posted on 02/05/2010

Oh honey what a toughie, I couldn't possibly say. You are the onlyone who can make this decision as you are the only one responsible for the consequences. try to look 15yrs ahead and picture what she might say to you either way and try to go with that. Good luck!

Amber - posted on 02/05/2010

i would do it, she probably wont want to be 4 ft 6 when shes an adult, but 4 ft 10 isnt bad. ou just have to think of what she would want later in life.

Krista - posted on 02/05/2010

It's one thing to be short, but 4 foot 6 is getting to the point where it would really prevent you from doing a lot of things -- technically, it would be considered dwarfism. There are certain jobs that have a height requirement, not to mention just things like driving, reaching countertops, and all of the day-to-day stuff that would wind up being very difficult for her. An injection every night isn't fun, but nor is spending your entire adult life asking people to reach stuff for you. If her height already bothers her, then I would seriously consider it.

Rebecca - posted on 02/05/2010

I wouldnt. Not for a few inches. Im less than 5 feet myself and there is certain challenges in being shorter. Im sure that you know that. One of my younger sisters is almost a foot taller than me and the other one is even more than that. I think that you should just encourage her about the good things about being smaller. That she is a wonderful unique person. If your are religious tell her that god made her this way and no matter how big her siblings are, that He loves her the way she is. If you are not just encourage her. It was a bit of a challenge growing up shorter than everybody else but now it is apart of who I am, part of my identity. I dont know, it would be a very hard decision but personally I wouldnt do it. I hope it all works out for you and your family.