DS, aged 7, seems unfit despite doing lots of sport

[DreamingofTuscany]

Just that really. DH has been playing football with him and noticed that ds gets very out of breath before he does (and he's not terribly fit!)

Ds swims, plays football, does athletics, plays on his trampoline whenever he can (never stops), so how can that be?

DH has suggested I take ds to the Drs as he doesn't think this can be right. Should I or is there something I can do. I should add that his diet is good - lots of fruit and veg and I cook most things from scratch.

Any advice gratefully received!

[drinkyourmilk]

I'd take him to a gp. No point taking risks.

[SavoyCabbage]

Could it be asthma do you think?

Mine both do athletics. Can he run a 200m or an 800m?

[MrsPnut]

My dd2 has asthma and plays a number of sports, the one that brings on her asthma most is swimming.
She can play rugby for an hour and half, do judo for an hour at a time and never even cough but get in the pool and start swimming, she usually needs her inhaler after 4-6 lengths.

[DreamingofTuscany]

Thanks all for your replies. I'm
not sure how far he can run as he does it at school. He doesn't get wheezy (as I'd expect with asthma) but just seems unfit. But I don't have asthma, so have no idea really.

I'll make an appointment for him. I just didn't want to waste the Gps time as I have to take him re some other things too.

Thanks again!

[BombadierFritz]

If not asthma could be low iron? Just a guess

[DreamingofTuscany]

Bombadier - is there a way of checking?

[dancemom]

Does athletics as in takes turns to run about at school gym class? Or actually does athletics as in a club?

Swims as in plays about in the pool with family / friends? Or actually swims in lessons / a club?

[MrsPnut]

My daughter doesn't wheeze, she has a nighttime cough and she feels breathless when swimming that the ventolin inhaler relieves.

[stillstandingatthebusstop]

I know it's not the point of the thread, but if your husband is concerned why doesn't he take him to the Dr's? Your DH would be better able to talk about what he's observed.

I have a child with a heart condition (who's doing well) - I would make sure your DS sees a Dr.

[DreamingofTuscany]

Stillstanding - that's a valid point but my husband works long hours, frequently abroad, so it's just easier for me to take him. I don't think he's noticed anything in particular, just that a 7 year old very active boy shouldn't be so puffed out running across a football pitch.

I see that there could be a number of reasons and I should definitely take him to the Drs.

Thanks everyone!

[stillstandingatthebusstop]

Fair enough. It seemed like something my DH would say and he doesn't have such valid excuses.

[hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman]

My daughter has severe asthma, never wheezes and she is extremely fit (she is about to compete in the European Masters swimming champs). Not all asthmatics wheeze but they can seem breathless, I would speak to a GP they will probably send him away with a peak flow monitor to do readings with for a week or so to rule asthma out. A peak flow monitor is a tube you blow into as hard as you can, this will then give you a value, you then plot these readings on a chart several times a day ie. on waking, before and after exercise and at bedtime to see if the readings are fairly stable or, if as in my daughter's case, resemble a mountain range.

[Lollylovesbones]

Low vitamin D?

Blood tests showed that both DS and I had low vitamin D levels despite spending a lot of time outside. DS was doing 4+ hours of sport (boxing, rugby etc) but lacked energy and often felt unwell in an unspecific way. We have both feel so much better with more energy since we've been taking supplements.

[DreamingofTuscany]

OK, thanks. It seems it could be a lot of things so I should just take him!

So much for worrying about wasting a Drs time!

Stillstanding - I think if my dh didn't work away so much I'd still be the one to have to take him.... (He just has a valid excuse for not doing so now!)