A parent with a lot of questions

[Guest guest]

Hello All,

I've been a member for about a week and I think it is

about time that I introduce myself. My name is Donna

and my son has a preliminary diagnosis of " short

staturedness " He's 4ft 0in right at age 11. We had

taken him to see a pediatric endocrinologist about 3

years ago for short stature and he said that Ian (my

son) was going to be short but short average

(estimated a rough height of 5'6 " ). He ran a bunch of

tests for Celiac's disease and some others (I can't

remember what right now) which all came back as

normal. So fast forward to two weeks ago. The

pediatrician calls me to say that a routine review of

Ian's medical records (We are a military family and

the kids' pediatrician is an intern so the records are

checked over frequently to make sure nothing is

missed) has revealed that Ian hasn't grown at all in

the past year. We went through more lab work (not back

yet because it had to be sent to DC-we are in San

) and another growth scan which is showing some

hardening in the growth plates.

We have an appointment with the pediatrician later

this week. What sort of questions should I be asking?

Does hardening of the growth plates mean he has

essentially stopped growing? Should we even bother

with trying to get an appointment with the pediatric

endocrinologist since A)we've already been down that

route, and it takes forever and a day to get that

appointment (I think he has an 8 month waiting list

for issues like this-if Ian was diabetic then I could

get him an appt tomorrow). Should I have my younger

kids tested as well for things like this? We have 5

kids (Good ole fashioned Irish Catholic family here),

Hannah and Kate who are both taller than me, Ian, and

then he has a little sister Piper age 3(almost) and

n (3 months).

I think what has gotten me angry is that I allowed

myself to be led down the primrose path of " Oh,

everything is okay, you are just a nervous mom " when I

knew something was wrong in my heart--with that being

said, I don't see this as " wrong " , it is who he is.

But like any issue that is outside the " norm " ,

considerations have to be made. I want to go into

these appointments informed rather than have

everything spoon fed to me. Clear as mud?

It also doesn't help that my husband is deployed to

Iraq right now. Although with that being said, I do

have a wonderful support system with my Brother in Law

who lives on the same street as us and my brother

lives with us. If someone could give me some

advice/direction I'd appreciate it!

" The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious

to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are 20 gods, or

no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg. . . " Jefferson

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