Dr Girl/Dr Dejour Q&A

Dr Girl/Dr Dejour Q&A Dear Dr Dejour,

Help me! I was 5'5" last year and now I am 5'3 1/2! Is it possible to shrink that much? I am really freaked out, and don't want to keep shrinking! Is it possible that I have some kind of weird disease?

Signed Shrinking Violet.

Dear Miss Shrinking Violet,

I know the customer is always rightą, but in this case I must question the accuracy of your measurements. Perhaps you were using different measures, different units (feet/ inches versus centimetres), and measuring at different times of the day. Some situations, like radiotherapy to the spine or chronic illness, will halt growth but neither myself nor paediatric colleagues can think of a shrinking disease. I presume you would have mentioned an accident with lots of vertebral (spine) fractures, but short of being physically crushed, I cannot offer an explanation.

Regards,
Dr Dejour