"Precocious Puberty"

[momoftriplets]

Does anyone have a daughter or know of someone who has experienced this condition?

My friend's daughter is 8.5 yo. She has just been diagnosed with this condition & we are doing research on the subject. Doctors are anticipating she will go through puberty & start getting her periods within a year.

Doctors are recommending monthly injections of Lupron Depot (?). Don't know a thing about that.

Any help/suggestions/ideas are greatly appreciated.

TIA!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I don't know much about it but I work in xray, now in mammography, but previously in pediatric xray for many years, and we would sometimes do what's called a "bone age" exam. It's an xray of the non-dominant hand and the radiologist would compare the maturity of the bones (specifically the carpal bones) and see how "off" it is from the child's chronological age.

They would then be referred to a pediatric endocrinologist if necessary. I hope this isn't a reg. pediatrician or gyno making these recommendations for your friend.
Def. see a specialist, or 2, before starting any kind of hormone therapy.
Better safe than sorry. That's why insurance covers 2nd opinions.
I would also stick to large teaching hospitals or a children's hospital. They are usually up on the latest info.

Best wishes for your friend and her daughter.
eta:
fwiw, I first got my period when I was 9, in 4th grade but in those days they'd say I was an "early bloomer." I wasn't taken to a dr and certainly not given hormones to "correct" it. right or wrong, I turned out normal. I think. Well except for those things that annoy dh.
And my addiction to the Disboards. and WDW.

 

[momoftriplets]

Thanks for responding.

She had the bone scan. It shows age 10-12, instead of 8.5 yo. It's the endocronologist who has diagnosed her. She is being seen at Children's Hospital in Minneapolis, so I'm confident she's where she should be seen.

We just know NOTHING about this condition and are looking for some information. Websites can be overwhelming as well as all "doom & gloom". We are looking for some "real life" information.

Thanks again for the info.

 

[princesspiglet]

My cousin's daughter Leah has this and gets hormone shots daily. She was diagnosed at the age of 5. At that time she was showing a bone scan age of 11, so she was way ahead of her time! She is now 10 and looks to be about 12, which isn't too bad. She just got her period last summer, shortly after turning 10.

My cousin is a nurse and she administers the shots herself. From what she has said, Leah has had not side effects from it and they are quite happy with her progress. She is starting to get a little peach fuzz under her armpits, but if she wasn't getting the shots, she would be in full-blown puberty by now. She may still be a year or two ahead of others, but that is better than being 6 years ahead!

Not much info for you, but from what I can see and from what my cousin has told me, Leah is doing just fine with the shots and no one is the wiser about her condition except her family.

 

[la79al]

A little girl in my stepdaughters class has started her period already (2nd grade) and DSD is getting body hair already. I also vote for a second opinion because early puberty seems to be a trend, not necessarily a disorder.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Thanks for responding.

She had the bone scan. It shows age 10-12, instead of 8.5 yo. It's the endocronologist who has diagnosed her. She is being seen at Children's Hospital in Minneapolis, so I'm confident she's where she should be seen.

We just know NOTHING about this condition and are looking for some information. Websites can be overwhelming as well as all "doom & gloom". We are looking for some "real life" information.

Thanks again for the info.

Sounds like she's in good place. Best wishes

 

[momoftriplets]

Sounds like she's in good place. Best wishes

Thanks.

I enjoyed your edit.

 

[NotUrsula]

8.5 is actually barely within the range of normal onset of puberty in the U.S., according the American Academy of Pediatrics:

In the United States, normal puberty occurs between 8 to 13 years in girls and 9 to 14 years in boys.

http://pedsinreview.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/14/9/336

If you want reliable information, go to www.pubmed.gov and do a search for "precocious puberty" PubMed is the National Library of Medicine's scholarly search engine; it will return links to articles in peer-reviewed medical journals only.

NOTE: These are very expensive journals, and access to the full articles will NOT normally be free. The only way to get full-text access to them is to pay a pay-per-view online access charge of about $50 per article, or go in person to a medical school library and pull them up on the computers there. Bring a USB "thumb" drive with you so that you can save the articles electronically without having to pay to make copies.

 

[newddmommie]

i was nine when i started my period, my cousin was 6 (she went on therapy) and I didn't. I didn't even know there was any name for it. Learn something new everyday i guess. On the plus side, i'm now 26 and completely normal. So keep your hopes up. Just read on article on the subject, this might explain why i'm so short too (i'm only 5ft and stopped growing in the five grade).

 

[Alesia]

A little girl in my stepdaughters class has started her period already (2nd grade) and DSD is getting body hair already. I also vote for a second opinion because early puberty seems to be a trend, not necessarily a disorder.

That is not true. Precocious puberty is not the same as being an early bloomer.

It is becoming more common because of the over use of soy in our diets. The increased use of soy infant formula, especially.

Girls who suffer from precocious puberty are much more likely to develop certain cancers and also have major hormonal problems. It needs to be treated.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

i was nine when i started my period, my cousin was 6 (she went on therapy) and I didn't. I didn't even know there was any name for it. Learn something new everyday i guess. On the plus side, i'm now 26 and completely normal. So keep your hopes up. Just read on article on the subject, this might explain why i'm so short too (i'm only 5ft and stopped growing in the five grade).

Maybe that's why I'm short too. 5'2"
I always figured it was b/c I started smoking when I was 11 and my mom smoked when she was pg with us. (I did quit in my 20's.)
She said back then everyone did and the nurses in the hospital, where you stayed for 7 days for a vag. birth, would say, "Ladies, put out your cigarettes! It's feeding time!" UGH!!

Between that and running behind the mosquito spraying trucks as a kid, I'm sure gonna get something!!

 

[SharkyGoddess]

At the age of 8.5 I'd say she's fine and would avoid any un-necessary hormone treatments. My DD began puberty at age 9 and according to her pediatrician (and many other mother's I've spoken to) it's pretty much the norm now.

 

[momoftriplets]

Maybe that's why I'm short too. 5'2"
I always figured it was b/c I started smoking when I was 11 and my mom smoked when she was pg with us. (I did quit in my 20's.)
She said back then everyone did and the nurses in the hospital, where you stayed for 7 days for a vag. birth, would say, "Ladies, put out your cigarettes! It's feeding time!" UGH!!

Between that and running behind the mosquito spraying trucks as a kid, I'm sure gonna get something!!

She's a short girl, too.

Although, I don't think she's chased many mosquito trucks lately!!

Congrats on quitting smoking.

As far as what's "normal", I REALLY think 8 is too young. My girls just got their periods last summer, when they were 11.5. Who knows what "normal" is any more?

Thanks for the responses, everyone!

 

[krismom]

Between that and running behind the mosquito spraying trucks as a kid, I'm sure gonna get something!![/QUOTE]

That about sums up our childhoods doesn't it?! I still think we have been better off then though.... I read alot about this disorder and also found theories supporting cows milk and the hormones that they give the cows (RBHT?) in order to keep them producing. They also cite plastics and the fact that there are so many preservatives in our food nowadays... my daughter is 9 and in 4th grade- many of the girls in her class have begun "developing" and it kills me that she may in that group soon If I thought she was high maintenance already, I have no idea what a hormone surge will do to our home!

I hope everything works out well for your friends daughter-

 

[lovebugsmom]

My 9yo old DD has precocious puberty . Yes get a second opinion! Lupron is NOT the only option for treatment. My DD started getting hair and breast buds at 6mos , It took 5yrs and 2 second opinions to get the right answer. She started Lupron at 6 yrs and I did the shot every 28 days for 2.5 yrs. Lupron seemed to cause my DD to gain alot of weight but she also grew and her hair started to get thicker and longer. Last June she got the Suprellin (sp?) implant and hopefully will get another every year until she is 11 or 12. Her DRs want her to be 5'5" but she is already 58". I have been told that the younger a girl starts her period the shorter she will be, some cancers are a concern along with bone loss. Tell your friend to listen to her gut feeling she will know what is right for her child. Had I not pushed the DRs my child would have started menstrating (sp?) at around 6.5 or 7 yrs. How at 7-10 yrs old would a child understand what is happening to her body? I was 12, and still very confused. If you have any questions please PM me.

Heidi

 

[2Kds2K9]

I got mine a week before my 9th birthday! Thought I had some dreaded disease and had mentally given away my Barbies.

My DD got her's at 11. She started "developing" when she was 8/9 and we had the talk. Didn't want her running out of the bathroom screaming.

I've heard the theories about the hormones in the cows milk. I've also heard theories about hormones in chickens. I've also heard therories that, in general, we all just eat a more nutritious diet. Who knows.

I've been told that since I started so young, I will go longer. ARGH!

I hope your friend gets another opinion. Anything that involves that type of treatment deserves a lot of research on the parents part.

Good luck.

 

[Debbie7452]

My girls were both 14 when they got theirs, just like me...so there is a very strong genetic link. I think they were lucky, but they felt really weird about being different.

I realize there are all kinds of internet based theories about kids getting hormones from milk, but please know that cows are not routinely given hormones. In fact, the Dairy Farmers of America have outlawed the use of hormones at its members' dairies. Everyone had to sign a contract. Although, the use of hormones was not commonplace anyway.

My niece has developed very early...however, she is adopted so we don't know her family history. She is 10 and more developed than my 14 y.o.

 

[daisyduck123]

I've been told that since I started so young, I will go longer. ARGH!

That could totally be true!
Although the opposite has happened to me.
I started late (I was exactly 14.5 years old) & at 42 years old, have already gone thru menopause (had my last period 15 months ago ).

 

[Leajess99]

Does anyone have a daughter or know of someone who has experienced this condition?

My friend's daughter is 8.5 yo. She has just been diagnosed with this condition & we are doing research on the subject. Doctors are anticipating she will go through puberty & start getting her periods within a year.

Doctors are recommending monthly injections of Lupron Depot (?). Don't know a thing about that.

Any help/suggestions/ideas are greatly appreciated.

TIA!

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE tell your friend NOT to let them give her child Lupron. Too many people are suffering horrible long term effects from Lupron. So bad that some have become disabled. The link is just one source but please do some serious research on the effects that many have suffered. I have a very good friend who now suffers from numerous kidney stones as well as other painful effects from this and she can no longer work thanks to the effects and pain.

http://www.lupronexposed.com/lpexp/services.htm

 

[rparmfamily]

This is all very interesting to me. What is "normal" development for an 8 or 8.5yr old?