My child was born with non-classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia, an incurable defect of the endocrine system.
Unlike congenital adrenal hyperplasia, NCCAH manifests during puberty. Only a tiny subset of kids with this condition experience GD.
She hit puberty early, but that didn’t surprise me as my sister and mother both did, too (all at age 9 years old). I didn’t realize it was a warning sign of NCCAH. I figured it was just genetics.
Although she developed breasts, the rest of her body starting developing like a boy. Masculine body hair, jawline flattened out, voice got deeper, masculine musculature, etc. When she shared how she was feeling inside, it blew my world apart.
This was my baby...my loving, kind, ridiculously smart, science oriented, and super serious baby. She was the antithesis of a drama queen. She was talented, accomplished, and lived a normal childhood. What the hell was happening?
Family doctor recommended a special clinic.
We took her to a gender clinic in Dallas. They lied to me about her labs. I had already began doing research on GD and causes, looking for corresponding symptoms that might point to an underlying medical condition. I asked for an ACTH stimulation test. They refused.
I reached out to Dr. Kenneth Zucker, the leading expert in Canada (who, ironically, had been forced out of his own clinic by radical trans activists, only to later prevail in court) and he helped me understand what could be happening and why.
More labs, more tests, therapists, psychologists (most of whom didn’t take insurance) and careful delaying tactics to avoid hormones/surgery - which everyone was pushing!
Over to a different Endocrinologist, with a specific request for ACTH stimulation test. Instead they ran a basic lab and told me the ACTH test wasn’t justified.
Bullshit, it wasn’t.
It wasn’t until my youngest was diagnosed with NCCAH (premature bone maturation) that these assholes actually took me seriously and stopped treating me like I was the hysterical one. ACTH test instantly confirmed NCCAH.
Oh, yeah, at that point it was too late. We needed to start her on a treatment plan at the onset of puberty...when I originally bloody asked for it!
Can you see a pattern here, how the whole damn system is rigged?
Another ugly little side effect of a endocrine disorder is the depression. For example, women with post-partum depression suffer from too few hormones and depleted adrenals. In my child’s case, their system overproduced adrenals. Too much or too little is not good.
What would I have done differently?
1. I would have flown her to Canada, to Dr. Zucker, and have him run the labs and handle her care.
2. I would have fought the doctors more and followed my gut sooner.
3. I would have taken her to a different therapist.
For my child, the cure window had passed.
For a lot of these other kids, they need mental help or deprogramming. They are not trans, and this push for affirmation, hormones, and surgery is insanity.
My child ultimately started transitioning at 19, as an adult, and paid for it herself.
Wow. That’s a tragic story. I’m so sorry y’all experienced that from “medical professionals “.
That’s a terrible ordeal you described. I’m so sorry it happened to your family.
The physical issues manifested itself into mental and emotional problems. Then things got worse.
I’m hoping time and therapy will work.