I know this is a touchy subject. Those who want to crucify me as a parent for making my kid fat need not respond, I need help and encouragement for this one, I punish myself enough already. I am afraid for my child and she has been in for regular check-ups constantly with her doc, and we just switched her from a pedi to a family practice (where I go and my grandma too).
You see, my daughter is 16 and has a very serious weight problem. All her workups and tests come back normal despite cushings like symptoms. Adrenal probs run in my family as do thyroid probs, bust still nothing on the results has ever been remarkable. This started when she was young very slowly and it seems like the last year she has just balloned out of control. She is going in Friday for a new lab workup and diabetes is suspected now.
She is at about a BMI of 47 and if 18 would be a good candidate for bypass surgery. Doc won't try meds even though we have worked on a diet for some time now to no avail.
Her vitals are very normal on the low side for BP, and cholesterols were fine too.
We are waiting for an appointment from a nutritionist (I hope they call tomorrow). Hoping for a referral to a counselor to help her deal with some of the emotional aspects of being heavy as well as a possible reason for this.
How have others dealt with this with both patients and family? Any great successes or failures?
I am tempted to look into a "fat camp" but the prices are WAY out of my league being a student with two other kids in college, and she is refusing to go. Stigma I guess.
Thanks, and mods, please don't delete, this is not asking for medical advice, but information on a serious condition affecting millions of kids and becoming epidemic- this is an attempt to educate myself and maybe a few others in the process.
Has she seen a Endocrine/metabololism specialist? Maybe ask to have her checked to pituatary problems. I have a friend who has a pituatary tumor and she gained all kinds of weight. I have a cousin who had one and once the tumor was gone she lost a lot of weight. I think she lost over 100 pounds. I agree with the other suggestions like exercising with her and a food diary and portion limitation. I hope you see the nutritionist soon, and maybe she will give you some good ideas. Keep us posted on how she is doing.
:yeahthat: i was thinking about taking her to an endocrinologist, as well. prob will be a bit before you could get in....the exc. and food diary would be a good idea to have the info from for a visit to one......good luck
Specializes in Peds Urology,primary care, hem/onc.
To the OP... you are doing a wonderful thing addressing your daughter's weight/health issues and you are to be commended. I see so many children in the same place and their families are not willing to work on the problem. You have already taken some good steps and received some excellent advice. I have a few things to add....
First, if you have a children's hospital near you... check to see if they have a weight management program. Your daughter seems like an ideal candidate for it and I have worked at several pediatric hospitals and they all have a program. Often they work in conjunction with a nutritionist and a therapist in addition to a physician.
Second, you and your daughter can check out Kidshealth.org. They have a lot of good information on nutrition, exercise etc for parents and a site for teens.
Good Luck! Your daughter is lucky to have you as a parent.
Just want you to know that I would bet money there IS some kind of medical issue here, and not just 'she's eating too much', if her BMI is 47. Maybe an endocrinologist could be very helpful for her.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
I feel for you both. I would recommend counseling as well as weight loss planning. It's not always what a person is eating, as the saying goes, but what is "eating" her. And yes, a good point has been made about seeing specialists. She may have medical issues that need attention, not just a diet.
I am so sorry you are facing this. Just make sure your daughter knows she is not alone.
I agree with getting her to an endocrinologist, especially if she is showing signs of Cushing's. She is also at the prime age to develop PCOS, and, in my experience, most family docs don't know which tests to order to detect these disorders. Don't blame your daughter, don't point out her weight, just love her, and keep after her doc. Good luck to all of you.
I just want to HUG you all! I am sittting here all teary eyed at all the tips and information and support!! This has been so very hard! I hope this thread helps others as well (I am sure it will!). I am so open for anything that is not harmful and love the suggestion about working at a camp- awesome idea!!
There is so much great information on here I will be following so much! I did join WW but they wanted to charge the both of us and it is more than I can afford while in school, which makes me feel like a bad mom putting myself first. BUT I bought the cookbooks used as well as the Body for Life ones that have great recipes, and Dr. Oz's You on a Diet. I leave them around the house but she hesitates to read them.
The doc needs to order more labs if you ask me- he only ordered a lipid panel, glucose screen, THS and pre diabetes- not even a CBC. We go back on April 9 so I will drill him. My daughter was not so comfy with him, so I may have to shop around some for a more appropriate doc.
My older daughter just moved out so it is just me & her and I do plan on doing the pantry clean out but need some help with that. I have to admit, my knowledge is not so good on dietary. I have also gained a ton of weight since school began and think it would be great to diet together. When I started to gain, I let myself go a bit and thought we could do this together. I felt she was intimidated by having a mom with no weight issues and she thought I did not identify, but I was so chunky as a kid and never noticed by the boys unless it was to pick on me!
The approach is hard as she too takes things the wrong way. I was heavy as a child but nothing even close to this. I think the endocrine specialist is a great idea and will ask for a referral. I saw the same reports about the surgery with teens. I may check into it more at the facility that does it. You never know, they may give me a different answer. I asked about meridia and even adderal which has been used with some success but doc won't do it.
Please keep the ideas coming- I will definately keep you posted on her progress (and mine too as I know I am an important part of this!).
Take care and kisses to you all!
PS- I even got another dog so she would have to walk him all the time as we live in a townhouse!! The dog we had is strictly indoor so she would run out do her biz and run back in but this guy LOVES and needs to be outside.
Take care everyone and thanks again for being there and being such a wealth of knowledge!
RE: PCOS- my sister has that!! Never even considered it. Evidently infertility runs in my family ladies for many generations and this may be the cause of it....... She was late to ovulate- 15.5
My great 3 aunts and my aunt could not have kids and same with my sister.
RE: PCOS- my sister has that!! Never even considered it. Evidently infertility runs in my family ladies for many generations and this may be the cause of it....... She was late to ovulate- 15.5
My great 3 aunts and my aunt could not have kids and same with my sister.
Time for me to do some research!
didnt notice any lab work that would have been to look for Cushings.....or PCOS.....does she have a "moustache"?, hair growing up her abd (a line between her pubic hair and belly button)? if/when they do cortisol levels, make sure they are drawn at approptiate times of the day......good luck
I saw a program on tv about a woman who had a terrible time losing weight, so she thought outside the box. She now gets up early morning and prepares her supper. Having the largest meal of the day at breakfast-time helped her reset her metabolism. Medium sized lunch, very light supper before bed. This way your body burns all those calories throughout the day. The entire family switched and all are healthier now, after about one year.
nrsang97, BSN, RN
2,602 Posts
Has she seen a Endocrine/metabololism specialist? Maybe ask to have her checked to pituatary problems. I have a friend who has a pituatary tumor and she gained all kinds of weight. I have a cousin who had one and once the tumor was gone she lost a lot of weight. I think she lost over 100 pounds. I agree with the other suggestions like exercising with her and a food diary and portion limitation. I hope you see the nutritionist soon, and maybe she will give you some good ideas. Keep us posted on how she is doing.