Size Difference In Siblings

[sugarsue]

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I'm not sure if you will be able to see this picture..... but this is an example of something I worry about. This is a picture of my two girls and a perfect example of what causes me to worry. They are 14 months apart but they are so different in size. My super gluten intolerant dd is the little one. She is doing so well since going gluten free but I still worry so much. I wonder if she will ever catch up. Maybe it doesn't even matter. They are 6 and 7. My 7 yr old is very big for her age and my younger is so small for her age. Maybe it would have been like this even without gluten problems.

I guess I don't even have a question but thanks for looking. Anyone else worry like this?

[curiousgeorge]

My older son was 43 lbs at 2.5 My 5.5 year old is 35 lbs. I see HUGE differences in them and I worry a lot. My oldest is small now as a teenager but was a huge little kid. My little guy, is down right microscopic. I worry about him even making it to 5 feet as an adult.

[jmjsmomma]

Open Original Shared Link

I'm not sure if you will be able to see this picture..... but this is an example of something I worry about. This is a picture of my two girls and a perfect example of what causes me to worry. They are 14 months apart but they are so different in size. My super gluten intolerant dd is the little one. She is doing so well since going gluten free but I still worry so much. I wonder if she will ever catch up. Maybe it doesn't even matter. They are 6 and 7. My 7 yr old is very big for her age and my younger is so small for her age. Maybe it would have been like this even without gluten problems.

I guess I don't even have a question but thanks for looking. Anyone else worry like this?

I worry about it almost every day. My 5 yo son was diagosed in January. I have a 4 yo son that tested negative. At my 4 yo 4 year check up last month, he was in the 25% for height and he is currently 1/2 inch taller than his "big" brother. My poor 5 yo has just caught on to this fact and he is NOT happy. The GI said that now that my son is gluten-free that his body will start to catch up but it will take time. It still breaks my hear though. His 3 yo cousin is catching up to him too and I pray daily for a huge growth spurt. I see so many other signs that he looks so much healthier in 8 short weeks but not in his height.

[bbuster]

My son was diagnosed with Celiac at age 10 and was always the smallest in his class by far (below 1% on the charts).

After going gluten-free and getting his bloodwork negative, he started growing more, but no huge spurt and nowhere near catching up to his peers.

At that point we investigated growth hormones, and he was a good candidate.

He has been on them with great success for the past 18 months, during which time he has grown 6 inches. He is now approaching the 5th percentile.

He will never be tall, but we are just looking for "normal". It has done wonders for his self esteem (especially since he is a boy).

[CMG]

I've read that it can take up to a year gluten free for significant growth to be apparent. I noticed it after about 18 months - my daughter went from 3rd percentile at 4 1/2 to 20th percentile as we approach her 6th birthday.

[jmjsmomma]

My son was diagnosed with Celiac at age 10 and was always the smallest in his class by far (below 1% on the charts).

After going gluten-free and getting his bloodwork negative, he started growing more, but no huge spurt and nowhere near catching up to his peers.

At that point we investigated growth hormones, and he was a good candidate.

He has been on them with great success for the past 18 months, during which time he has grown 6 inches. He is now approaching the 5th percentile.

He will never be tall, but we are just looking for "normal". It has done wonders for his self esteem (especially since he is a boy).

Bev, that is interesting. My 5 yo son is not even on the growth chart, he fell way off it at his 3 year c/u. He has been under the care of an endocrinologist since then, and he tested negative for growth hormone deficiency. Both the endo and the GI feel that he may need to have growth hormone therapy to give him a "boost". We'll discuss it at our appts with both docs next month....my son will have been gluten free for 3 months at that point. He starts kindergarten in the fall and he is SO darn tiny. I feel the same way....since he is a boy I want to help him with this any way I can. How long will your son be on growth hormones? Did your insurance cover any of it?

[bbuster]

Bev, that is interesting. My 5 yo son is not even on the growth chart, he fell way off it at his 3 year c/u. He has been under the care of an endocrinologist since then, and he tested negative for growth hormone deficiency. Both the endo and the GI feel that he may need to have growth hormone therapy to give him a "boost". We'll discuss it at our appts with both docs next month....my son will have been gluten free for 3 months at that point. He starts kindergarten in the fall and he is SO darn tiny. I feel the same way....since he is a boy I want to help him with this any way I can. How long will your son be on growth hormones? Did your insurance cover any of it?

We found a great endocrinologist. She did a battery of tests to make sure he was a good candidate. He also tested negative for growth hormone deficiency. Basically he was a candidate because he was so small. The endo helped a ton with the insurance. (This stuff is ungodly expensive). But after a year, our insurance stopped covering it. (I think it was the dr's persistance that talked them into coverage in the first place). Anyway, we appealed, and the company (Lilly, in our case) continued to provide it to us at no charge during the appeal process. We got a final no from the insurance. Then Lilly came through again - they have a special program to provide it for people who can't afford it (most people could not!). So we got approved for that program for a year, and then we can reapply.

So he will be on it until either 1) we are not approved for another year (but we are guaranteed until Dec 2009) or 2) his growth plates are considered fused. A typical time for a boy is a bone age of around 16. They do bone age by looking at a hand Xray, but it is not an exact science - it's a pictoral comparison. Anyway, his bone age is running about 6 months behind his chronological age. So if all goes well, we might be on this until around age 17.

Our son has had no side effects, and we are all very happy to have gone down this path. I have heard horror stories (from strangers) on various chat boards, but I personally know now 4 kids plus my son who are doing this, all with excellent results.

I wish you well with your son.

[bbuster]

I've read that it can take up to a year gluten free for significant growth to be apparent. I noticed it after about 18 months - my daughter went from 3rd percentile at 4 1/2 to 20th percentile as we approach her 6th birthday.

In our case, it took about 6 months gluten-free to get the bloodwork negative. After my son's bloodwork had been negative for a year (so 18 months gluten-free), his growth rate had only improved from about 1 inch per year to 2 inches per year. But he was already so far behind, he would be lucky to reach 5' at that rate.

I'm 5'7 and his dad is 5'10, by the way.

[I hate gluten]

I have twins that both fell to the 25 percential after years of 90th and above. It was not till recently I started the diet with my son and he has complained a few times about growing pains behind his legs. So fingers crossed my other son has a hormome deficiency so i can not really tell until hopfully my celiac son starts growing. I worry about this constantly. Good luck S

[jmjsmomma]

We found a great endocrinologist. She did a battery of tests to make sure he was a good candidate. He also tested negative for growth hormone deficiency. Basically he was a candidate because he was so small. The endo helped a ton with the insurance. (This stuff is ungodly expensive). But after a year, our insurance stopped covering it. (I think it was the dr's persistance that talked them into coverage in the first place). Anyway, we appealed, and the company (Lilly, in our case) continued to provide it to us at no charge during the appeal process. We got a final no from the insurance. Then Lilly came through again - they have a special program to provide it for people who can't afford it (most people could not!). So we got approved for that program for a year, and then we can reapply.

So he will be on it until either 1) we are not approved for another year (but we are guaranteed until Dec 2009) or 2) his growth plates are considered fused. A typical time for a boy is a bone age of around 16. They do bone age by looking at a hand Xray, but it is not an exact science - it's a pictoral comparison. Anyway, his bone age is running about 6 months behind his chronological age. So if all goes well, we might be on this until around age 17.

Our son has had no side effects, and we are all very happy to have gone down this path. I have heard horror stories (from strangers) on various chat boards, but I personally know now 4 kids plus my son who are doing this, all with excellent results.

I wish you well with your son.

Thank you for your response. Jackson had a repeat bone age xray in December, he was 5.4 and it read 4.2 months. His first bone age xray was done at 3.3 and read at 2.2. The endocrinologist was the one who suggested the celiac panel after I told her that he had started complaining of bellyaches. She called after she got the GI's report and said that we would need to talk about GH therapy in April. I think she'll be a good advocate for my son. We have Humana PPO so I hope that we get some help after we meet our deductible. I am only 5"3' and my husband is only 5"9' so I don't expect a 6 foot child, but I surely want him to reach his potential if we didn't have Celiac in the picture.

Thanks again so much for your response to the original post and to my question. It has helped me immensely.

[sugarsue]

Sweet celiac/gluten intolerant Parents.... thank you for your responses. I know that I am so happy we have found gluten free, that she is doing so much better, that she feels good, has more energy,, all the wonderful things that are changing. I know if she does not catch up in growth, it will be OK, but it is really great to hear that I am not the only one who worries about her size and that we are still in the early stages and it could still greatly change.

She had grown 1 inch since December, so I do have hopes for her and will continue to discuss with her doctor.

[sugarsue]

Sweet celiac/gluten intolerant Parents.... thank you for your responses. I know that I am so happy we have found gluten free, that she is doing so much better, that she feels good, has more energy,, all the wonderful things that are changing. I know if she does not catch up in growth, it will be OK, but it is really great to hear that I am not the only one who worries about her size and that we are still in the early stages and it could still greatly change.

She had grown 1 inch since December, so I do have hopes for her and will continue to discuss with her doctor.

[taweavmo3]

My daughter is still tiny....we've been gluten free for four years now. She put on a dress this morning, and it still fit even though it was from last summer

I think we will be headed to an endocrinologist soon too, but one thing I've done recently is to add a Vit D supplement. I read that a Vit D deficiency can casue a lag in growth. I found a liquid calcium supp. that has Vit D, mag and calcium...so I'm hoping that will help. You definately aren't alone with having a little one! I'm small too, but I think much of my small stature (I'm 4'10") is due to years of undiagnosed celiac. My husband is average at 5'10", so I'm not expecting basketball stars, but I would like to see them outgrow clothes from the previous year, lol.

[bbuster]

She had grown 1 inch since December, so I do have hopes for her and will continue to discuss with her doctor.

That's great!

[Quasior]

my son is dropping even lower on percentiles too.. this is what prompted doctor to say he needs to go see the ped at the hospital.

now I finally get diagnosed myself with coeliacs (I was diagnosed with IBS over a decade ago and told the doctor after one positive and one negative blood screen I'm going gluten free after being lactose i

free (and by god did I get worse fast). He decided after fantastic results of me being gluten-free to diagnose me with celiac disease.

NOW he's looking at Young Man in a totally different light. He's great. He's expecting him to be diagnosed but wants me to keep him glutened until they test him later this month at the hospital and emphasise

that I have celiac disease. I want all my kids tested.

My 9 yo looks bloody 6/7 yo. She was diagnosed with small head syndrome a few years ago but I totally rejected that. I think she does, looking at the emotional/behavioural issues that celiac disease kids have, that

is so her.

So were on the same journey. GO with your gut make sure they hear you. If all else fails and you have a supportive partner go gluten-free anyway.

[The Kids Folks]

Gosh, you all sound like you're talking about my kiddos. My DS (age 7) hadn't grown in a year. Each year gaining less and less on the growth chart, until well you guessed it - he fell off the chart. I had been pushing the peds, but she kept saying that so long as he is growing a tiny bit he was still growing, blah blah blah. Some how she never connected the chronic C, gas and bloating with his slow/no growth. Final I met someone at the fair who gave me a brochure about celiacs. I read it and OMG it was my kiddos!! We've been gluten-free since Oct 08. DS has now reached the 5% in height. His weight still measures at the 10 percentile, but did gain pounds- if that makes sense.

So my advice to you is follow your gut, us moms may not have medical degrees... but we certainly know our kids and know when something is going on!

Best of Luck!

[Quasior]

Gosh, you all sound like you're talking about my kiddos. My DS (age 7) hadn't grown in a year. Each year gaining less and less on the growth chart, until well you guessed it - he fell off the chart. I had been pushing the peds, but she kept saying that so long as he is growing a tiny bit he was still growing, blah blah blah. Some how she never connected the chronic C, gas and bloating with his slow/no growth. Final I met someone at the fair who gave me a brochure about celiacs. I read it and OMG it was my kiddos!! We've been gluten-free since Oct 08. DS has now reached the 5% in height. His weight still measures at the 10 percentile, but did gain pounds- if that makes sense.

So my advice to you is follow your gut, us moms may not have medical degrees... but we certainly know our kids and know when something is going on!

Best of Luck!

Unfortunately it took extensive internet research and countless medical oppostion and screw ups to get this far... yep, gotta keep plugging away

Good luck to you too...

[sugarsue]

my son is dropping even lower on percentiles too.. this is what prompted doctor to say he needs to go see the ped at the hospital.

now I finally get diagnosed myself with coeliacs (I was diagnosed with IBS over a decade ago and told the doctor after one positive and one negative blood screen I'm going gluten free after being lactose i

free (and by god did I get worse fast). He decided after fantastic results of me being gluten-free to diagnose me with celiac disease.

NOW he's looking at Young Man in a totally different light. He's great. He's expecting him to be diagnosed but wants me to keep him glutened until they test him later this month at the hospital and emphasise

that I have celiac disease. I want all my kids tested.

My 9 yo looks bloody 6/7 yo. She was diagnosed with small head syndrome a few years ago but I totally rejected that. I think she does, looking at the emotional/behavioural issues that celiac disease kids have, that

is so her.

So were on the same journey. GO with your gut make sure they hear you. If all else fails and you have a supportive partner go gluten-free anyway.

Thank you! I wish you well too. Good luck with your diagoisis and diet. My dd is still so small. But her feet are looking so big all of a sudden and she's growing out of her shoes. This has got to be a great sign!

[cyberprof]

My son will kill me for talking about this so if any of you know me IRL, don't mention it to him...

He was 15 and had not entered puberty. We decided to go gluten-free (see my sig below) and after four months gluten-free/CF he went into puberty at 15.3 years. It could be a coincidence but I don't think so. His bone age at 15 was 12.5, so that means he has some time. He is growing slowly but steadily. He is now 5'8", which is good. His almost-18 yo sister is also 5'8". His dad is over 6'1" and he has four uncles over 6'. My dad is 6'4" and my mom and I are 5'2" so the docs said that my son might just be destined to be short but, seriously, I'm the one with celiac so I think maybe I was small because of it and may have been meant to be taller.

My son still is rail-skinny at 102 pounds. He was 92 pounds at age 12 so he's only gained 10 pounds in 4 years. That is just impossible. He eats so much but it just goes right through him.

The other thing that we did when we went gluten-free/CF is to supplement with Vitamin A and Vitamin D, Vit B6 and extra big multivitamin. My son takes a few Carlson's Cod Liver Oil capsules every day - they are readily available sources of Vit A and D. I highly recommend it. Open Original Shared Link

Good luck to everyone.

[weluvgators]

Hugs, mama! I wonder often if things will get "better" or even just more "normal". But then life in our home is very normal, and we are learning so much about our health and well-being. I am sorry not to have words of wisdom, and I have those feelings of worry for my kids too.

[sugarsue]

He was 15 and had not entered puberty. We decided to go gluten-free (see my sig below) and after four months gluten-free/CF he went into puberty at 15.3 years. It could be a coincidence but I don't think so. His bone age at 15 was 12.5, so that means he has some time. He is growing slowly but steadily. He is now 5'8", which is good. His almost-18 yo sister is also 5'8". His dad is over 6'1" and he has four uncles over 6'. My dad is 6'4" and my mom and I are 5'2" so the docs said that my son might just be destined to be short but, seriously, I'm the one with celiac so I think maybe I was small because of it and may have been meant to be taller.

Very helpful information, thank you! My dd, after going gluten free for 6 months now has 4-6 loose teeth. Coincidence, maybe, but I think probably not. I hope your son continues to soar as much as he can during this time!!

[cyberprof]

Very helpful information, thank you! My dd, after going gluten free for 6 months now has 4-6 loose teeth. Coincidence, maybe, but I think probably not. I hope your son continues to soar as much as he can during this time!!

Glad to find people to talk to about this...best to you and your kids.