[Doctor.]

Well for a few years now I've had quite poor growth. I'm not the smallest of people but compared to pretty much everyone, I'm tiny :/

Because of being small, I get the odd sly comment and feel really self conscious about it. Is there anything like growth pills available on the NHS? I have an appointment with my GP so I will talk to him about it but thought I'd get a heads up from TSR

Ps I'm like 5'1 and 19yo


Thanks, will +rep the help!!



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[Annie72]

I'm shorter than you by 1 inch.I dont think that you will be able to get any help from the NHS as you are not *that* short.Besides which at your age its very likely that you have stopped growing now anyway.

BTW people will always mock others for something, whether that be their height, weight ,hair colour...it's not right but that's life.

[lightburns]

I thought that you'd have to have had the treatment when you were younger. Something about bones solidifying or fusing or something and being unable to grow any more after that.

I'm 20, male, and just hitting 5'5. Did you know that us shorties will live longer? Less body = less body that has the potential to go haywire. Read it on Cracked a few days ago.

[tufc]

(Original post by Doctor.)
Well for a few years now I've had quite poor growth. I'm not the smallest of people but compared to pretty much everyone, I'm tiny :/

Because of being small, I get the odd sly comment and feel really self conscious about it. Is there anything like growth pills available on the NHS? I have an appointment with my GP so I will talk to him about it but thought I'd get a heads up from TSR

Ps I'm like 5'1 and 19yo


Thanks, will +rep the help!!



This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

I was born with growth hormone deficiency. I was very short for most of my childhood, but it's been treated since the age of 6, and I shot up after I was 16. For the treatment, I have to take an injection every night, of a drug called Genotropin.

The only problem is your age. Unless it's caught and treatment begins before your main pubertal growth spurt, growth hormone replacement treatment generally won't work.

[Doctor.]

(Original post by Annie72)
I'm shorter than you by 1 inch.I dont think that you will be able to get any help from the NHS as you are not *that* short.Besides which at your age its very likely that you have stopped growing now anyway.

BTW people will always mock others for something, whether that be their height, weight ,hair colour...it's not right but that's life.

Fair enough, but quite a few other girls in my year used to be way smaller than me and took some prescription pill and now they're huge haha.

Just isn't being fun being picked on for being a bit short :/// I'm like the smallest in my year


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[Doctor.]

(Original post by tufc)
I was born with growth hormone deficiency. I was very short for most of my childhood, but it's been treated since the age of 6 - I have to take an injection every night, of a drug called Genotropin.

The only problem is your age. Unless it's caught and treatment begins before your main pubertal growth spurt, growth hormone replacement treatment generally won't work.

Oh right didn't know about that. Think I'll do some research before I go to the doctors tomorrow! Going I try find out about the pills the other girls have been taken lol, seem to work really well. One girl took them last year and jumped from 5ft to 6ft lol in about a year




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[Doctor.]

(Original post by lightburns)
I thought that you'd have to have had the treatment when you were younger. Something about bones solidifying or fusing or something and being unable to grow any more after that.

I'm 20, male, and just hitting 5'5. Did you know that us shorties will live longer? Less body = less body that has the potential to go haywire. Read it on Cracked a few days ago.

Oh aye I know we live longer lol Biology teacher told me haha


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[tufc]

(Original post by Doctor.)
Oh right didn't know about that. Think I'll do some research before I go to the doctors tomorrow! Going I try find out about the pills the other girls have been taken lol, seem to work really well. One girl took them last year and jumped from 5ft to 6ft lol in about a year




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I'm very doubtful that they were specifically growth pills, as the hormone involved can't be taken orally, as it gets broken down in the stomach - hence why I had to take injections.

Although, I think it's quite unlikely that at 5'1", you have any specific medical problem.

[Doctor.]

(Original post by tufc)
I'm very doubtful that they were specifically growth pills, as the hormone involved can't be taken orally, as it gets broken down in the stomach - hence why I had to take injections.

Although, I think it's quite unlikely that at 5'1", you have any specific medical problem.

Ah fair enough, thank you for the rapid response will +rep you all when I'm on the laptop!!


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[Stray]

I had growth hormone deficiency. The doctors predicted that I would end up about 4'7". We were offered GH injections - when they were really new (I was born in 76 so this was the early - mid 80s). At the last minute my parents got cold feet and withdrew me from the trial.

Most of the other kids who had the injections developed prion-disease - in those early days the GH was taken from calf brains, these days it's synthetic so much safer. Still, it has consequences (which I'm sure tufc has been through with the doctors and they monitor for). It's not just a case of popping a pill!

Also - if you had a problem it would have been recognised by the docs by now. They measured me all the time when I was a kid!

In the end I carried on growing very slowly right into my 20s, gaining an extra half inch between 21 and 30. I'm 4'11", and it turns out that I'm perfectly happy to be little. It's way more comfortable on long flights, and I can get a full stretch out to have a nap in the back of a car.

At 19 you should just do the simple things that can help if you don't have GHD - eat right, exercise, get plenty of sleep, don't smoke, don't take drugs and keep alcohol to a minimum.

[Soft Cat]

(Original post by Doctor.)
Well for a few years now I've had quite poor growth. I'm not the smallest of people but compared to pretty much everyone, I'm tiny :/

Because of being small, I get the odd sly comment and feel really self conscious about it. Is there anything like growth pills available on the NHS? I have an appointment with my GP so I will talk to him about it but thought I'd get a heads up from TSR

Ps I'm like 5'1 and 19yo


Thanks, will +rep the help!!



This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

There's no such think as growth pills as TUFC pointed out, hormones can't be taken orally as they'll simply be digested. There are Human Growth Hormone injections which need to be taken as an intramuscular injection.

However the problem is:

- You're now 19 years old and female so chances are you have or will pretty much stop growing pretty soon.

- How tall are your parents? If they're both short then in all likelihood your height is as a result of pure genetics simply put it.

- Human growth hormone injections are only given to patients with pituitary dwarfism (i.e. where the pituatary gland secretes a signifcantly lower than average amount of growth hormone compared to the norm). It is unlikely that you suffer from this condition given that at 5'1 you aren't really that short for a girl (given the UK average for a woman is about 5'4). If your height was say below 4'7 then perhaps so.

-There are "growth pills" available online but 200% of the time these are scams with the pills being nothing more than glorified vitamin supplements or potentially harmful chemicals which may cause more damage than benefit.

- Human growth hormone injections can be purchased online. People for some reason use these as a "beauty supplement" to look younger which is absolutely bonkers. As your growth plates are almost completely fused you run the risk of giving yourself acromegaly if you inject yourself with growth hormones i.e. your bones will grow in width rather than height leading to deformed features like "spade-like hands and feet" wide forehead etc. You also run a very risk of induced organ damage (especially kidneys and liver) and potentially a high risk of cancer.


I know how you feel but you have two ways of looking at this. Firstly you could accpet that you are short and be happy with that. Secondly if it bothers you that much there are private clinics around the world that perform limb-lengthening operations which as legit and do work and get the results required. However they are not cheap, time consuming and extremely physically demanding so if you go down this route be warned it's not like a "tummy tuck" or a botox injection. This is a serious surgical procedure with potential for complications which however are unlikely if you have the operation done by an experienced clinician.

I'm not going to say some fluffy comment about how we should all be proud of who and what we are as that really goes without saying. However if it is something that bothers you so much and there is a legit way of addressing the problem (allowing for time and money) then I don't see any reason why you shouldn't go down that route as long as you've considered all the options available to you in depth and make an informed decision.

Hope that helps.

[Soft Cat]

(Original post by tufc)
I'm very doubtful that they were specifically growth pills, as the hormone involved can't be taken orally, as it gets broken down in the stomach - hence why I had to take injections.

Although, I think it's quite unlikely that at 5'1", you have any specific medical problem.

Much as I disagree totally with your political views, you do make some very reasoned and logical posts on other subjects which is good to see!

[Solid.Snake]

At 19 it's quite likely that you've stopped growing by now
I've heard that once your growth plates fuse it is not possible to grow any further regardless of exercises, diet or hormones. Unless of course you have the scary surgery of where they break and lengthen your legs! Which i've heard is incredibly painful and has many complications and problems so i would stay far far away from that!
You might be able to ask your GP to get an X ray done on like your wrist for example to see whether your growth plates have fused together or whether you still have some more time left for growing.

Hope that helps

[Doctor.]

(Original post by Stray)
I had growth hormone deficiency. The doctors predicted that I would end up about 4'7". We were offered GH injections - when they were really new (I was born in 76 so this was the early - mid 80s). At the last minute my parents got cold feet and withdrew me from the trial.

Most of the other kids who had the injections developed prion-disease - in those early days the GH was taken from calf brains, these days it's synthetic so much safer. Still, it has consequences (which I'm sure tufc has been through with the doctors and they monitor for). It's not just a case of popping a pill!

Also - if you had a problem it would have been recognised by the docs by now. They measured me all the time when I was a kid!

In the end I carried on growing very slowly right into my 20s, gaining an extra half inch between 21 and 30. I'm 4'11", and it turns out that I'm perfectly happy to be little. It's way more comfortable on long flights, and I can get a full stretch out to have a nap in the back of a car.

At 19 you should just do the simple things that can help if you don't have GHD - eat right, exercise, get plenty of sleep, don't smoke, don't take drugs and keep alcohol to a minimum.

I hardly ever go to the doctors lol. So they would probably never know, plus it doesn't help that I've had so many different doctors .

I have hardly grown since I was 12 :/ I think I grew 1 or 2 inches during puberty . I was the tallest in my primary school if that helps lol. But yeah, I've hardly grown since then!

I've never smoked and been healthy as always never been underweight nor overweight idk I'm just a strange one :/


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[Doctor.]

(Original post by Soft Cat)
There's no such think as growth pills as TUFC pointed out, hormones can't be taken orally as they'll simply be digested. There are Human Growth Hormone injections which need to be taken as an intramuscular injection.

However the problem is:

- You're now 19 years old and female so chances are you have or will pretty much stop growing pretty soon.

- How tall are your parents? If they're both short then in all likelihood your height is as a result of pure genetics simply put it.

- Human growth hormone injections are only given to patients with pituitary dwarfism (i.e. where the pituatary gland secretes a signifcantly lower than average amount of growth hormone compared to the norm). It is unlikely that you suffer from this condition given that at 5'1 you aren't really that short for a girl (given the UK average for a woman is about 5'4). If your height was say below 4'7 then perhaps so.

-There are "growth pills" available online but 200% of the time these are scams with the pills being nothing more than glorified vitamin supplements or potentially harmful chemicals which may cause more damage than benefit.

- Human growth hormone injections can be purchased online. People for some reason use these as a "beauty supplement" to look younger which is absolutely bonkers. As your growth plates are almost completely fused you run the risk of giving yourself acromegaly if you inject yourself with growth hormones i.e. your bones will grow in width rather than height leading to deformed features like "spade-like hands and feet" wide forehead etc. You also run a very risk of induced organ damage (especially kidneys and liver) and potentially a high risk of cancer.


I know how you feel but you have two ways of looking at this. Firstly you could accpet that you are short and be happy with that. Secondly if it bothers you that much there are private clinics around the world that perform limb-lengthening operations which as legit and do work and get the results required. However they are not cheap, time consuming and extremely physically demanding so if you go down this route be warned it's not like a "tummy tuck" or a botox injection. This is a serious surgical procedure with potential for complications which however are unlikely if you have the operation done by an experienced clinician.

I'm not going to say some fluffy comment about how we should all be proud of who and what we are as that really goes without saying. However if it is something that bothers you so much and there is a legit way of addressing the problem (allowing for time and money) then I don't see any reason why you shouldn't go down that route as long as you've considered all the options available to you in depth and make an informed decision.

Hope that helps.

Parents are 6ft so i doubt it's genetic

There's no chance I would buy stuff from online, VIAGRA PILLS LOOL. Got a full spam box of that

Oh right that's pretty bad, I guess I will have a talk with my GP on that! (Really appreciate the info btw)

Thank you so much I was really looking for options and problems associated!



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[Doctor.]

(Original post by Solid.Snake)
At 19 it's quite likely that you've stopped growing by now
I've heard that once your growth plates fuse it is not possible to grow any further regardless of exercises, diet or hormones. Unless of course you have the scary surgery of where they break and lengthen your legs! Which i've heard is incredibly painful and has many complications and problems so i would stay far far away from that!
You might be able to ask your GP to get an X ray done on like your wrist for example to see whether your growth plates have fused together or whether you still have some more time left for growing.

Hope that helps

Ah yeah I will defiantly have a word with him about this. I don't want to do something very risky, so hopefully my GP will help me know


Seriously appreciate the responses people!!!!


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[ilovefashion90]

(Original post by Doctor.)
Well for a few years now I've had quite poor growth. I'm not the smallest of people but compared to pretty much everyone, I'm tiny :/

Because of being small, I get the odd sly comment and feel really self conscious about it. Is there anything like growth pills available on the NHS? I have an appointment with my GP so I will talk to him about it but thought I'd get a heads up from TSR

Ps I'm like 5'1 and 19yo


Thanks, will +rep the help!!



This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

I doubt you can but 5'1 is not that short. Its pretty common imo. But then I get confused because on tsr girls who are 5'4 complain about being so petite and short when I thought that was average. I'm around 5'3 or 5'4 and I'm either the same height as most of my friends or taller and when I go out anywhere I never feel short.

[Doctor.]

(Original post by ilovefashion90)
I doubt you can but 5'1 is not that short. Its pretty common imo. But then I get confused because on tsr girls who are 5'4 complain about being so petite and short when I thought that was average. I'm around 5'3 or 5'4 and I'm either the same height as most of my friends or taller and when I go out anywhere I never feel short.

I know, I don't understand girls who are 5'5 complain??? To be honest, I'd be happy if I were that I always get picked on by people when on a night out.... Especially when they're actually being nice but don't realise I'm quite self conscious about my height haha


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[Pen Island]

Be proud of who you are, you don't need stupid growth pills. 5'1 isn't so bad for a girl, in fact a lot of my friends are around that height - one is 4'11 and she doesn't care. I also have a guy friend who's 5'2 and he's proud of it.
Be confident with yourself...

[Doctor.]

(Original post by Pen Island)
Be proud of who you are, you don't need stupid growth pills. 5'1 isn't so bad for a girl, in fact a lot of my friends are around that height - one is 4'11 and she doesn't care. I also have a guy friend who's 5'2 and he's proud of it.
Be confident with yourself...

Thanks I know I'm being a little bit petty but I don't know, I can't help it tbh. I guess I'm just being a little bit over self conscious :/.


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