Upon noticing that Joshua's growth curve is petering out a bit Dr. Rivera discussed possibly putting Josh on growth hormones. Josh is quite small for his age. Now of course being on the small end is good for a well worn heart, however, Josh is no longer following his curve the way he previously had. Dr. Rivera spoke with an Endocrinologist and it looks like we'll discuss growth hormone in further detail at our next appointment. I take him back in two months and do the typical full-day appointment; echo, EKG, Pacemaker clinic, etc.
In the mean time I'll be doing as much research as I can on growth hormones and HLHS so we can make the right decision for Josh.
Anyway, that's where we stand. Hoping for another good report in 2 months. :)
1 comment:
I would try to supplement his diet and be sure he gets extra sleep first before messing with these powerful drugs on a little boy...
Robert N. Butler, M.D., the noted gerontologist has also weighed in on this matter. According to Dr. Butler, “Although hormone-replacement trials have yielded some positive results (at least in the short term), it is clear that negative side effects can also occur in the form of increased risk for cancer, cardiovascular disease, and behavior changes.”
One of the main dangers of human growth hormone injections is the unregulated effect it can have on the overproduction of IGF-1 concentrations. This can lead to some very serious side effects like:
Swelling in the arms and legs
Carpal tunnel and arthritis-like symptoms
Headaches and general muscle pain
Diabetes
Abnormal growth of the bones and internal organs
High blood pressure
General bloating
Hardening of the arteries
Post a Comment