Hi everyone,

Just came from the endo and I found out a bunch of things about Chelsea. First off, she is missing the 21 enzyme NOT the 17 that the pediatrician told me....so that gives her the potential to be salt wasting doesnt’ it? At this point she is only taking Cortef. He cautioned about stomach viruses and high fevers and said to be sure she drinks plenty of fluids and recommended Gatorade ( I suppose for the electrolytes?) He also recommended she take Viactiv for calcium support.

NOW, the biggie for me. He insists that she go on Lupron as she is in stage 3 puberty (she is 8) and fears that she will menstruate within the next few months and that will shut her growth plates down completely leaving her less than 5 feet tall. Her projected best at this point is only 5’2".  She is currentyl 4’8 1/4".  So ok everyone out there that has been through this: What are the long term side effects of taking Lupron? Short term? How do I convince an 8 year old that getting stuck in the muscle every 28 days is in her best interest?

The other thing going on is weight gain....I had been blaming the Cortef and the puberty, but he says no, that it is food related. I don’t think she eats too much, and we don’t have junk in the house (as a matter of fact we do mostly organic foods and I am very careful about sugary drinks etc. Gatorade freaked me out with the amount of sugar in it! I would never have bought it if he hadn’t recommended it) Is this something anyone else has dealt with? We have to keep a food diary for 3 weeks and see a nutritionist.  UGGGH.

And ALSO! we have to keep a blood pressure diary for 2 weeks to see if she actually has high blood pressure....it was high at the pediatricians a week ag0 and slightly high today at the endo’s. So what are they going to do if it is high? Put her on MORE meds? Or change her meds? All this hurts my head.  From someone who has used homeopathic remedies and tried to steer clear of antibiotics and overmedicating this is all going against every grain in my body. I ’m having a very tough time accepting all this!

I know there are a lot of you on this board with wee little ones who have been very ill and need surgery even and I know I should be grateful I have not been through that, but this is all still very upsetting. She is my only child and very precious to me and I want to get this right and I feel like I am stumbling in the dark.  I am trying to educate myself as much as possible and you are all helping immensly. I truly appreciate having this board to post all my distress and questions on.

All responses would be welcome!