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Post by michellefoxx94 on Jun 27, 2005 21:40:22 GMT -5
Hi! My son has always been small for his age. His father's family tends to the small side, so I have never really worried. Friday I took my son for a check-up and the doctor wants to send him to an endocrynologist because he is under height and under weight. He has also discontinued his Adderall.
What can I expect from the endo doc? Is there really anything that can be done about his size?
If the Adderall is part of the problem, will Straterra be better, or will my son have to learn to cope with his ADHD without medication?
he was just inducted into the National Junior Honor Society and has a schedule of advanced 8th grade classes planned in order to be prepared for advanced high school courses to get him into vet school. I don't want his dream of being a vet to be crushed because of this disease. He has come so far and worked so hard.
Thank you in advance!
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Post by catseye on Jun 28, 2005 8:23:26 GMT -5
 My sd is also extremely small, at 9 years old she is the size of most kindergarteners or smaller then them!!! My husbands mother is only 4'10" (or was before she started the old age shrinking), and now we have my son who at 4 years old is only wearing a 2 T and has been for over a year...  My son has never been on any medication, (hopefully wont need it) so I really do think in our case sd's not growing much has more to do with genetics then medication.... I havent heard about adderall xr being connected to physical growth delays, but that doesnt mean it isnt possible either... How old is your son? I dont really know anything about endo dr's, but I know alot about short kids.... Saves me a bundle on clothes!! ;D cat
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Post by michellefoxx94 on Jun 28, 2005 8:58:03 GMT -5
My son who is undersized is 13, but looks more like an 8 year old...not good for someone about to start the 8th grade.
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Post by catseye on Jun 28, 2005 9:03:48 GMT -5
Do you have other children that are at or around target height to their age? If so that may be why the dr is concerned in your case, and doesnt appear concerned in our case since 1/2 sibling is also short...
cat
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Post by vickilyn32 on Jun 28, 2005 9:09:05 GMT -5
Well, I dont know much about Adderall stopping growth, my DS just turned 15 and is now 5'8". He wears size 11 1/2 shoes, and the doc told us from bone scans they did several years ago when he broke his knee that he will be over 6' tall when he stops growing. He has been on Adderall then adderall XR since he was 8. DD is 12 and the shortest one in her class. She is not adhd and has never been on any kind of med her entire life.
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Post by michellefoxx94 on Jun 30, 2005 10:48:38 GMT -5
My other son is above height for his age, but he has a different daddy too. My current husband is 6'1", while my first husband is only 5'9"...and he is the tallest person is his family.
The doctor has all this information and still says Cameron should be taller at this point. Life is VERY confusing now as we are just starting the process of finding the right medicine for my toddler, my DH has never been officially diagnosed by so help me he has it, and now my 13 year old has been taken off his meds.
We were in the car a few days ago and all three of them were trying to tell me different things, each one oblivious to the fact that the other two were trying to talk to me.
I should be bald by now.
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Post by Linda on Jun 30, 2005 11:08:12 GMT -5
Or insane ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D How do you handle all of this....I am really good at tuning out one kid...but more than that....LEAVE ME ALONE ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Post by finnmom on Jun 30, 2005 15:15:29 GMT -5
Michelle...I hear earplug´s are good  I´am afraid I cant help you with your problem, I havent heard that adderal could stop growing...  |
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Post by michellefoxx94 on Jul 1, 2005 8:15:18 GMT -5
Ah, earplugs. I think I could go through the rest of my life with them.
Actually, I have a professional conference I attend once a year. I am gone for five or six nights and I actually consider it a vacation. After the sessions all day long, I have my nights to sit in a hotel room and enjoy the silence.
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Post by vickilyn32 on Jul 1, 2005 9:23:48 GMT -5
well my "vacation" was spent tearing up carpet from my house and cleaning out closets. However, both kids and DH have been warned on pain of death not to bother me on July 16. I will be unavailable to all untill I have finished the new Harry Potter. I will lock my self in my room and if anyone dares to come in, I will let them have it. I consider this to be my vacation from the world. (very much needed right about now)
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Post by milesofsmiles on Jul 1, 2005 9:33:11 GMT -5
We were concerned about growth, but Nate has always been a small strappy dude. All of the sudden he put on 10 pounds in a couple of months, and grew 3-inches. Some people are just born to be small with or without medication (see Tom Cruise Post). Miles  |
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Post by michellefoxx94 on Jul 16, 2005 20:48:06 GMT -5
Well, cameron has now been put on Stratera as it doesn't mess with appetite. he is also been given a prescription to increase appetite. We have been told to up his calories and his variety of foods.
Easier said than done. Cameron has always been an extremely picky eater, but now it seems like it goes to ridiculous levels.
We took him to try doughnuts, just to see if we could gt him to eat a new food. You would think he was on Fear Factor eating pureed goat lungs or something.
He goes on the 27th to an endocrinologist. If he continues to resist our attempts to add variety, I am at the point where I may suggest admitting him and having him fed through an IV for a few days, just to show him the few alternatives I have left.
I can't blame the Adderall as he has always been picky, but I did notice when we tried my little one on Adderall, he wouldn't eat anything, not even his favorites. He just wasn't hungry.
We are now on the third round of attempted medication for the little guy. This one isn't working either, se we call the doc again Monday.
Looks like a long weekend.
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Post by Linda on Jul 17, 2005 6:36:27 GMT -5
michelle...sometimes it seems like it is never ending...but you will get there. Keep us updated. |
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Post by catseye on Jul 18, 2005 21:19:49 GMT -5
I am sorry to hear all this... A few suggestions that the psychologist gave us for adding calories, was Ovaltine for her chocolate milk.... Adding prosure (or is it ensure?) to food... Milk shakes are good too, though kinda empty calories unless you put in prosure (ensure?)... Best of luck ! I know it stinks, my sd's psychologist is getting a bit BEYOND worried that sd cant put on weight...
cat
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Post by funcat on Jul 21, 2005 8:18:55 GMT -5
My ds (8yo, inattentive only) was on adderall xr for the last half of this past school year. It really did decrease his appetite. He didn't take it on weekends, and does not take it during the summer. He is average to tall for his age, and very thin. Actually, all of my boys are thin, so it's normal for them. I do try to make sure he gets a good snack at night when on meds (the effects seem to wear off by then). He really likes smoothies, so I try add carnation instant breakfast to it.
He has gained weight this summer. At first he was shocked by his weight gain, and actually upset. He thought it wasn't "healthy" to gain weight. I attribute this to all of the "weight loss" commercials on tv! GGrrrrrrrrr! That really ticks me off! As if our kids don't have enough image issues! Anyway, I had to explain to him that I was excited about him gaining weight, and that it is normal, healthy and necessary at his age. We even talked about the medication side effects, and how he needs to work at eating well, in spite the mixed signals his body may give him when on medication.
Your son is old enough that maybe you can talk to him about what is healthy for him. Maybe he could even come up with some suggestions about what he would make an effort to eat.
As far as the endocrine doc, I would go to see what he says, but I agree that it is probably genetics playing a big role in his size.
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