RE: Experts on growth? Patty

[Guest guest]

> However, I believe, Prednisone (and maybe other meds) can affect

one's

> growth. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

Hi Patty,

I have the same impression. Only Juho's not on prednisone so this

canät be the reason in his case.

(not sure who else on this

> list) would be an excellent person to talk to. I believe Rob's

growth issues

> are from the meds.

Ok it was , thanks for correcting me, I'm sometimes confused

with Val and since they both have a son name Rob/Robbie...??

Val knows a lot of everything as well, so it would be good to hear

from both of them.

> Have you spoke to his pediatrician and/or rheumatologist? Do you

have an

> endocrinologist on board? Maybe an appointment to an endo would be

the right

> direction to take.

This was under discussion last fall (sending him to see an endo), but

the rheumy decided to wait. This would be in another hospital, since

Juho's treated in RA specialized place with no endocrinologist

available. This university hospital with ped.endo is very full and

waiting lists are long. I'm thinking of seeing a pediatrist

privately, to get his opinion (a doc and a friend I'd trust my kids'

life with). It seems, though, that Juho's growth hormon levels are

ok.

Thanks for answering.

Soili

[Guest guest]

Hey Soili. Yes. Prednisone is the growth culprit in many of our children.

However, JRA in itself can cause growth problems also.

Alia and Caroline, age 2, poly and uveitis

Re: Experts on growth? Patty

> However, I believe, Prednisone (and maybe other meds) can affect

one's

> growth. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

Hi Patty,

I have the same impression. Only Juho's not on prednisone so this

canät be the reason in his case.

(not sure who else on this

> list) would be an excellent person to talk to. I believe Rob's

growth issues

> are from the meds.

Ok it was , thanks for correcting me, I'm sometimes confused

with Val and since they both have a son name Rob/Robbie...??

Val knows a lot of everything as well, so it would be good to hear

from both of them.

> Have you spoke to his pediatrician and/or rheumatologist? Do you

have an

> endocrinologist on board? Maybe an appointment to an endo would be

the right

> direction to take.

This was under discussion last fall (sending him to see an endo), but

the rheumy decided to wait. This would be in another hospital, since

Juho's treated in RA specialized place with no endocrinologist

available. This university hospital with ped.endo is very full and

waiting lists are long. I'm thinking of seeing a pediatrist

privately, to get his opinion (a doc and a friend I'd trust my kids'

life with). It seems, though, that Juho's growth hormon levels are

ok.

Thanks for answering.

Soili

[Guest guest]

Hello Soili!

I don't know if I know a lot of everything - but thank you for the compliment -

I think maybe I just " talk " a lot about the little I do know! lol.

I think that Robbie's growth issues are due to the long term pred use (off and

on from 2 - 3, then constant - though fluctuating doses since age 3) - as well

as cyclosporine since age 3 (I only found out in the last year that cyclosporine

can also inhibit growth in children) The growth he has achieved since diagnosed

has been when the pred dose was really low. One pediatrician's article I read

for children in the age group Robbie fits in since the diagnosis, said that boys

that age generally grown 1.5 inches a year. (I don't remember if Juho's age was

included in this group) - but at the time I read this, I did a search for growth

charts - found them at the CDC's (U.S. Center for Disease Control) website

(http://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/) and printed them out, plotted Robbies growth

since diagnosis - and he'd grown 1.5 total (average .5/year) - for the nearly 3

years since he first became ill. JRA itself can slow growth, as well as

accelerate growth in an affected limb - as I am sure you already know. I have

talked alot about growth issues - as it is a concern of mine for Robbie -

and Georgina, I think both are more knowledgeable in this area - and both Josh

and " Big " Rob are taking growth hormones currently. I did look at the growth

chart - I think your email said that Juho is 9.5 years old? (The chart is also

in metric - so I used the measurements you provided.) According to the chart

Juho is right at the 3rd percentile for both height and weight for his age.

That is pretty low. I think an Endo consult is in order. There are further

tests besides the initial labwork to test the what is going on with the body's

growth hormone. 's big Rob has had more extensive testing than my Robbie.

I think that the Pediatrician as well as an Endocrinologist will be more

concerned about Juho's progress on the growth chart - and if this is a big

change in his growth curve (which it kind of sounds like) kids have time periods

when they grow slower than others - but I don't think many kids at Juho's age

can wear the same size clothes for 3 years in a row. (I have a friend with a 9

yo - girl, and they grow at different rates as well, but the school clothes she

bought before school started are already too short - and it's only the end of

Sept!). Has he had a bone age study done? This will also give more insight on

where Juho is in his growth stage. I can't really think of anything more to

offer - though I would certainly attempt to get an Endocrinology consultation.

Good luck!

Val

Rob's Mom (6,systemic)

In a message dated 9/24/2004 10:56:04 AM Eastern Daylight Time, " soilimar2000 "

<soili.leino@...> writes:

>

>> However, I believe, Prednisone (and maybe other meds) can affect

>one's

>> growth.   Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

>

>Hi Patty,

>I have the same impression. Only Juho's not on prednisone so this

>canät be the reason in his case.

>

> (not sure who else on this

>> list) would be an excellent person to talk to.  I believe Rob's

>growth issues

>> are from the meds.

>

>Ok it was , thanks for correcting me, I'm sometimes confused

>with Val and since they both have a son name Rob/Robbie...??

>Val knows a lot of everything as well, so it would be good to hear

>from both of them.

>

>> Have you spoke to his pediatrician and/or rheumatologist?  Do you

>have an

>> endocrinologist on board?  Maybe an appointment to an endo would be

>the right

>> direction to take.

>

>This was under discussion last fall (sending him to see an endo), but

>the rheumy decided to wait. This would be in another hospital, since

>Juho's treated in RA specialized place with no endocrinologist

>available. This university hospital with ped.endo is very full and

>waiting lists are long. I'm thinking of seeing a pediatrist

>privately, to get his opinion (a doc and a friend I'd trust my kids'

>life with). It seems, though, that Juho's growth hormon levels are

>ok.

>Thanks for answering.

>Soili

>

>

>

>

>

>