Oh Julie -  I am so sorry that you are having such a difficult time. I can sense from your post how upset you are. I honestly don't think I will be of much help as I am now doubting my own sons doctors. Only because, until I found this board I did just what you wrote. Considered them the experts and literally relied on them for my sons care. For 9 years I have just sat back and trusted them. There has not been a particular thing that has happened to make me question them, just a general feeling of realizing that my husband and I have sat back too long and not taken a more forward position. I can tell you that we don't do blood draws on a regular basis, we do 24 hr. urine tests. We do these every 3-4 months.At my sons last appt. on June 28 (?) we once again talked about how my sons "numbers" were fabulous as usual and how lucky we should feel because he is so well controlled. I am actually saddened to say I have no idea what those numbers are. Would you believe I have never asked - I have always taken their word for it. We also went for the bone x-ray that afternoon. However, because he is always doing so "great", the doctor said he would like to do a blood draw to just be on the safe side and to make sure they weren't missing anything because it was almost "miraculous" how well he does. (Doctors words - not mine) He wanted us to go for that the middle of Aug and we made another appt. for Sept. 26th. I know that the urine collection is tested for 17 OHP and renin. What the blood revealed I don't know exactly, I will demand more info at the next appt. He did tell him that his bone age was 9 years and he is 9 yrs. old, BUT at his last x-ray in May 2000, his bone age was 6 and he would have been 7 years 11 months. So my question would be "why did his bones age 3 years in 1 year if he is so well controlled and doing so perfect?" Anyway, I am kind of in the same boat as you right now so I emphathize with you. I know I didn't really give you the answers you were looking for but I will look forward to your other replys as they may be helpful to me for our next appt. I wish you well and please keep me posted.