So worried about dd - tired and grumpy all the time

[Dancergirl]

My middle dd is 7.5. She's a v sensitive, emotional and highly-strung child and loses the plot very easily. So not the easiest to deal with. She is a very poor/picky eater and we've had battles over the years all to no avail. A couple of years ago I decided to lay off completely with the food and getting her to try more things/eat more as it was becoming an issue and I firmly believe that children should enjoy eating and mealtimes shouldn't be a battleground.

A couple of years on and she's no better; in fact probably worse. For example, there are foods now that she will only just tolerate (not enjoy but eats because I persuade her) - such as cheese and chicken. She used to eat pasta with cheese and olive oil; now she complains that it's too cheesy so I give her plain pasta with olive oil (lacking in protein I know). I do a roast once a week, usually chicken - she doesn't eat pototoes of any description or any fruit or veg, so that only leaves the chicken. So her meal consists of a bit of chicken and some bread (sometimes I do a small portion of pasta or rice for her).

I know children don't starve themselves but I'm back to nagging her to eat again. She just doesn't seem to get really hungry. Up to recently I wasn't that worried and my main comfort was the fact that she's never ill - hardly ever gets a cough or cold or bug. However she does get v tired and most days now she comes out of school tired, cross and grumpy. I don't know if this is due to lack of food or maybe she would be like this anyway.

I suppose I'm mainly worried about lack of protein - I give her full-fat milk to drink so that's something, and she will eat plain grilled salmon, fish fingers (reluctantly), plain meat such as beef or lamb.

She seems to be growing normally and isn't skinny but I am concerned about the tiredness. Is it worth a trip to the GP? BTW, she gets a lot of tummy aches but these were investigated by a paed a couple of years ago and there was nothing physical wrong.

[belledechocolatefluffybunny]

I'd be worried about anaemia to be honest. Her diet is lacking iron in a big way. You really should pop her to the GP and ask for a referal to a dietitician.

[Dancergirl]

Yes I did think about iron. She does eat a lot of (wholegrain) cereal - isn't that high in iron?

[girliefriend]

What about fruit? What does she eat at school? I was an extremely fussy child and it was def about control and winding up my poor parents!!! I somehow survived and now eat a healthy balanced diet (well most of the time!) She does sound anaemic, worth talking to the gp. Do you give her vit supplements?

[belledechocolatefluffybunny]

Not really Dancer. Red meat/spinach/brocolli. Even vitamin suppliments won't have the right amount of iron she needs to increase her levels, she needs prescription levels so she really does need to see the GP. Anaemia can cause alot of heath problems if it's not treated so she should see the GP.

[Dancergirl]

She won't touch any fruit but she does drink cartons of Innocent smoothies. Not as good as the real thing I know but better than nothing.

[4nomore]

There's actually quite a bit of protein just in the pasta itself. My son has ASD and will only eat porridge, toast, marmite sandwich, pasta with cheese (but only at granny's house so only once a month), chips from the chipshop, certain crisps, certain biscuits. He's very borderline for getting enough protein from that but I've added it up and, basically from the wheat and the dairy he's scraping by! He's actually very healthy (I do give some supplements) and taller than average.
I agree that anaemia is more likely to be an issue with your daughter, my other son who is near your daughter's age was anaemic earlier in the summer (he was vegetarian until fairly recently) but we sorted that out with a liquid iron and B-vitamin supplement.

[Dancergirl]

Oh God, anaemia - I'm really worried now. Come to think of it, she is quite pale.

Will the doctor do a blood test? Think she'll go mad.

[4nomore]

When I took my son they did the physical exam and agreed it seemed likely that he was anaemic. I was very keen for them to do a blood test they were very very reluctant. They said they don't like to do it for a child with mild anaemia that's likely dietary but prefer you to adjust the diet and/or try supplements first. They gave me the name of an online supplier of vitamins etc but said that any old (child suitable) iron supplement should be ok. Said they'd see him in a couple of months or so if I was still concerned. He is now fine :) Dunno if this is the attitude everywhere.

[Booner]

Hi Dancergirl,

What tests were done for her tummy aches previously?

A few things stood out from your post for me. The poor appetite, her being emotional, sentitive, highly strung, being pale and the tummy aches.

My son had all these symptoms and was diagnosed with coeliac disease. He was als skinny, with frequent acrid smelling runny stools and wind. My other son was also diagnosed with coeliac disease and was growing well with a good appetite and now bowel issues so the symptoms can be varied

I would really recommend you get her blood tested for anaemia and coeliac disease to definitely rule these out.

My son now he is on a gluten free diet is full of energy, very sociable, very easy going and will eat virtually anything and in large quantities!

They can do a blood test initially (they use cream to numb the area or a freezing spray).

Please ask if you have any other questions.

Hope you can find an answer

[BlueBumedFly]

Dancergirl - my DD (3 y/o) was just tested for anemia as she showed lots of signs and I was only 9 (hb?) when I had her and 7.2 afterwards which is regarded as pretty critical apparently.

DD has never eaten well, always picky and drank gallons of cows milk which apparently can predispose them to anemia. She also had a very sore smooth tongue and was irritable and tired at odd times. DD eats protein only so I was very confused. She eats no carbs to speak of, no pasta or potatoes and very little bread or such.

So, we went for bloods, they give you elma cream for kids so the arm is totally numb. Its not the pain of the needle that freaks them out I think its the being restrained. However, at 7 your dd may be able to see that her arm is numb then she maybe old enough to understand its not going to hurt. The nursing team were amazing with dd, they distracted her wonderfully and it only took a few mins.

Anyhow, she is not anemic but she is allergic to eggs which I knew was on the cards and we were testing for as well. I have completely cut out eggs and I a hoping her stomach aches start to go and she might start eating a bit more.

I just did the BMI test that another MNer posted on another thread and DD is on the 7th percentile. Hmmmm.

[windowsandwalls]

Hi

Sorry to hear about your dd. My son was very anaemic from birth and one way they could tell without tests was to pull down his skin under the eye. If it's red then ok, but pale and it indicates anaemia. You could do that as a check perhaps?

[auntevil]

Agree with Booner. tiredness is not the only symptom. They can check sooo much with a blood test screening all at the same time.
she's now of an age that although it will be painful, you can explain why it needs to be done, and what they are going to look for. if she's anything like my son, they will act like their arm has been amputated for the afternoon, but forget about it soon after. bribery works on that as well!