Help

[Tammyk83]

I am a mother to a girl (15) and a boy (11). My son started secondary school September and everything was going well, however for the past 4 weeks he has been making this noise, kind of like a throat clearing, grunting sound he said he feels like there’s something stuck at the back of his throat. It is a constant noise. I took him to see a out of hours GP last week who said he is suffering from Globus pharyngeus. This was Wednesday then over the weekend he seemed to of calmed right down and hardly made the noise so I thought it was getting better. Sent him to school as normal on Monday I can back from work and as soon as I walked through the door I noticed the noise was back and seemed a lot worse than before. I had already booked an appointment with our usual GP so back to the docs we went. He was yet again checked over nothing was found and we was told to give it another 2 weeks to see it if it clears up. I am starting to wonder if it is something like stress or anxiety caused by secondary school. He had always struggled with school work and he isn’t the brightest of children. I’m wondering if maybe he is struggling with the extra amount of work they do at secondary compared to primary and maybe this is causing him to panic. Any suggestions? I’ve googled all sorts which is prob not a good idea at best. As anyone else experienced anything like this?

[Jackshouse]

Is your school giving much more work? I ask because he 7 has a reputation of being easier than he 6 but it’s the transitions, different expectations and changing friendships that often cause stress.

Have you talked to him about how it’s going? Offered ways to relieve stress? Discussed how to make and maintain friendships? Made sure he is with hmk, packing bag and timetable. The book how to talk so teenagers listen and how to listen so teachers talk is supposevery good and it’s on sale with the book people.

[RageAgainstTheVendingMachine]

No, but he and you have my utmost and deepest sympathy.
It sounds horrendous.
Does he already have a learning plan/senco involvement?
What I would do in your shoes....

1. Lots of fluids
2. Antacids
3. Snack food like cubes of cheese
4. Breathing exercises as for COPD (breathing in 4 seconds breathing out while pursing lips like blowing bubbles)
5. One to one sit-down to discuss any anxieties with pressures, homework, bullying etc
6. A word with Head of year/tutor and senco as to whether they have noticed anything.
7. Monitoring in a diary as to frequency/pattern when you are in the same room with him
8. Lots of sympathy - even if the causes are psychological, it does not mean that he is faking, has any control over it or is not suffering.

[RageAgainstTheVendingMachine]

Also it needs flagging with the school anyway as a health issue especially if it is happening in class (You don't want it to cause a bullying issue if others become annoyed by it and it would be helpful for him to have access to water at all times. A panic attack/feeling you cannot breathe or your gullet is narrow is just the worst...I might even consider asking GP whether an inhaler might help).

[JellySlice]

How to Talk So Children Listen and Listen So Children Talk (or a very similar title) is excellent.

I would also talk to the school. In my dc's school I would start by emailing his tutor and cc the Head of Transition. From experience I know that they respond swiftly and positively to concerns about anxiety.

[Tammyk83]

I have spoken to the school about this as one of the teachers told him to stop it last week and when he explained he couldn’t she just kept saying shush. At this point I got angry and called the school who said they would monitor him but this was towards the end of last week. It is frustrating and the noise is annoying I understand that but it’s more annoying and frustrating for him. I have got to wait another 2 weeks to see if it goes before doc will see him again and make any referrals so it’s just a matter of waiting and monitoring him for now. I just want answers quicker than I can get them I guess and prob cause I’m more scared of it drawing attention to the bullies.