Human Growth Hormone?

J.,

Hi, My advice would to do it while the child is awake, only because if you do it while the child is sleeping, if he wakes up he may start to develp fears about going to sleep when he is most vulnerable, and could be quite scary. I would just try to explain it the best that you can.
good luck!

Show him pictues of little people and normal people. Then use them to explain his problem. In our family shots are nothing;I'm diabetic,as is my siser and daughter ,we've been doing shot for over 55yrs plis labs. Your husband and a good friend or neighbor needs to be able to give the shot! You won't always be available And when old enough the child needs tobe able to give his own, or else he can never go on trips or visits without mama

What is the doctor saying is exactly wrong? How old is your child? My daughter was labeled failure to thrive as an infant because of insufficient weight gain. She has healthy then just thin and now she is in the 50%ile at age 4.5. The same doctors mentioned that my son might need growth hormone shots because he went from being in the 75%ile and then dropped completely off their charts by age 1. Now at age 2, he is back at the 75%ile again. My point is, there are other options out there. Do your research.

I don't know any specifics of why you think this is even necessary. I think it is the worst idea I have ever heard. I have heard friends in the past who considered it for a short preteen girl, but decided to wait and were satisfied that her limited growth was not a disability. I know of an adult who takes it to keep young with many unacceptable side effects. A nurse told me it has one side effect of making the nose wider and facial features change. I think you should get your info from the medical community and seriously consider the need and your reasons for using it.

My bests friends son needs growth hormone injections every night and her little girl will be starting them soon as well. He stopped growing at 6 months and after a year of tests, they confirmed he would need it. He grew 7 inches in one year! He gets it in the subcuntaneuos area of his thing, he doesn't like them in his bum. The needle is so small, it doesn't even seem to phase him. We call it his grow big and he knows it's part of his day. He used to fuss, but i think it was more of a over dramatic tanttrum, then actual pain. He now brags about it and likes to get it done in front of his friends to show how brave he is. He started them a little before he turned 3 and is now almost 7. He has grown almost enough to be in the normal range for height. He will get to keep takng it until he is a height that he is comfortable with. When the little one, the girl, starts takig it, I'm sure she will cry a bit at first, but for the most part, if we are matter of fact with her and tell her that we have to do this and we know she doesn't like it. Then offer a reward of sorts, maybe a sticker or favorite TV show time as first. Eventually it will just be part of her bedtime routine. Best of luck, you will both become experts at it and your child will get to grow and be healthy as a result.

Not knowing the details of your situation..
I can only tell you of one other person that I know of that has used them. Their child was VERY small for his age... just wasn't growing. It was so acute that his classmates made fun of the size of his hands. He began injections and within the time span of 3 years (perhaps less - don't see them often any more).. he grew to "normal" size.. he is not super tall (it doesn't make you grow taller than you would due to your genes, just keeps you from being smaller than your genes would cause), but is not small any longer. His younger brother is still taller, but not by much... he HAD been almost a FOOT taller.. when they were around 12 and 13 yrs old.
I don't know the ins and outs, but it can work for some people.

you didnt say how old your son is. His age makes all the difference. If he is old enough to understand, I would teach him why and what you are doing, not just sneak up on him while he is sleeping. My son is on HGH and started when he was 13...he turns 14 today infact! He does his own injections. I'm sure you are working with an Endocrinologist; our doctor hass a specialist in the office who works with the kids and teaches them to do their own shots. She said they do it alone as young as age 4!! Also, the new devices for injection offered by many companies are very user-friendly and they don't even see the needle. If you need the name of this doctor let me know....the nurse who works with the kids is excellent and will answer all your questions and do the necessary teaching.

I hope your insurance will pay for it....mine doesn't and the expense is staggering! But it is worth it...my son, who was at the bottom of the growth charts, grew 1 inch in the past 3 months....it is so helping!!

K. G.

Hi J.,
My grandson is going thru the process of determination. Our next step is the hand scan....He's 4. His doctor told us that there is no hurry...it isn't a matter of life or death. He said we could wait if we wanted. I get a second opinions on things that are life changing.... HGH is serious stuff.
If you want a second opinion, he great!

Dr. David Lopez, Pediatric Endocrinology
11402 NW 41st St # 217
Doral, FL 33178
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Wishing you all the peace in your decisions,
God Bless
DB

Hi J.,
First, to the person who questioned why anyone would use growth hormone, an endocrinologist doesn't prescribe this drug lightly as it is very expensive and they don't like to mess with hormones any more than they have to. If testing shows your child is not developing growth hormone on their own, it can lead to other hormone deficiencies.
My son is/was on growth hormone. I say is/was because he's going off of it shortly. He's 17. I would not recommend giving your son the shot when he's asleep! You don't want to give him sleep problems by associating sleep with negative things like a shot. You didn't say how old he is, but I would recommend that you, in very simple language, tell him you are giving him medicine to help him grow big and strong so he can be a big boy. Make sure the cartridge is not too cold when you inject it, warm it in your hands first because the coldness is often worse than the prick.
After a week or so, he will get used to it. Remember to rotate the injection site between arms and legs and to keep a routine schedule. If you don't make a big scary deal out of it, it will minimize his fears. The hardest part is for you to learn how to make a clean injection and cause the least amount of hurt, so make sure the nurse shows you how to do it before you try on your own.
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