Turner Syndrome

So, I do seem to be getting some positive responses to these more relaxed and personal posts. I know they're not about books yet, but I only left school yesterday. Book things are in the pipeline, don't worry!

So, I thought I'd talk about something that affects me, and has affected me my whole life. I want to bring more awareness to it, too, if I possibly can.

It's Turner Syndrome Awareness Day!

When I was ten years old I was diagnosed with Turner Syndrome, which is a genetic disorder that affects one in every 2000 girls. It only affects females.

So, as you may have learned in science class, women have two X chromosomes and men have an X and a Y. So women are XX and men are XY. Turner Syndrome is where a woman is born lacking one X chromosome, or just a part of it. That's why it only affects girls - a male couldn't really survive if they were lacking a full X chromosome.

I lack half of an X chromosome, which means I have 'mosaic' Turner Syndrome, meaning I do not suffer from all symptoms.

You got that? I hope so. Now the sciencey bit is over, lets talk more about the disorder.

Firstly, it's a miracle I'm even alive, since most Turner Syndrome foetuses are miscarried and don't even get born. So yeah, I was a survivor before I left the womb. Beat that.

It makes you grow more slowly, which is why I'm about 4'9" right now and I'm not getting any taller. I've taken growth hormone injections since I was diagnosed and I've stopped now, which means I won't be getting much taller than I am right now.

On a more serious note, it can affect your heart [which may be the cause of my crazy tachycardia back in the summer - link here if you don't know what I'm talking about] and your kidneys. So that's not fun and it means I have to have regular checks on my heart.

It also greatly affects fertility [see this post for more information about this] and this means I am undergoing HRT, or Hormone Replacement Therapy. A lack of oestrogen, which is what I have, means delayed development and infertility, as well as risks of early heart disease. Which is also not fun.

Among other things I also have a rather distinct appearance, such as a low hairline, turned up toes and uniquely shaped fingernails. I also have hearing loss and short-sightedness, so that's another Turner Syndrome thing.

And that's not even getting into things like issues with anxiety [see here for more on that], social awareness, spacial awareness, numeracy and a phase in childhood involving ADHD-like symptoms.

Many people are diagnosed in babyhood, but it took a long time for me to be diagnosed, unfortunately. But at least it means I can be here to raise awareness with you guys about a condition that isn't often spoken about.

I'll add a link to the NHS page on the disorder so you can read up more for yourself. Please do educate yourself on something that affects one in 2000 women.

If you have any questions please do ask and I'll be sure to do a Part 2 of this. Thanks!

Also, I'm so close to 1000 followers on Twitter, so please do follow my Twitter, @Reviewing4Teens. That's it for today. Thank you for reading!