14 yo D's having hot flushes and cramps in hands and feet

[Fullnelllie]

As the title says. I know this isn't a chat topic but wanted people to see it. It's been going on for four months. First GP appointment got told it was probably nothing. 2nd GP appointment got a blood test. It's come back as him being slightly anaemic but the dr says this wouldn't be causing the symptoms. Spoke to dr over the phone about iron supplements and he said to book another appointment for the symptoms. None available for three weeks. Should I push for something sooner? The flushes happen randomly, maybe one a week. Not linked to temperature/activity levels he just goes bright red and sweaty with pinprick type of rash on his chest. Hand cramps happen several times a week. It wasn't as often as that in the beginning.

DS not D's

Is there any chance it could be panic attacks OP? They can seem to come out of nowhere and cause all sorts of alarming physical symptoms. Is the pain in his hand like bad pins and needles?

Thanks for the reply. I guess they could be panic attacks but he actually gets these little pinprick spots on his chest and his whole chest area goes bright red. I had scarlet fever as a child. It looks like that. It's like a wave of heat that sweeps over him. When he describes it it sounds like how menopausal women I know describe hot flushes. He doesn't get pins and needles. His hand or his foot goes into a spasm and he can't move it. It kind of locks into position. Eg if he's holding something he'll drop it.

Definitely push for a sooner appointment. He should be prioritised as a youngster . Something definitely not right . Good luck

I'd ask for neurology appointment. To rule out any sort of seizure activity.

Thanks, I will. It's not an emergency I know but it's weird and it's taken so long to even get these results (three weeks for GP appointment each time etc) that I don't want to be waiting more. I was a bit annoyed at the GP on the phone today when he was prescribing the iron who said we needed another appointment ... but didn't book it for us.

Seizures, really?; Oh Christ.

I was kind of hoping people would see the title and come on to say "oh yes my teen had that it was something simple xyz" but I guess not. 😕

I had the hot flush problem, and it was due to having an overactive thyroid (Graves'disease). I'm not sure the spasms would be linked with that though.

Thank you. Would that show up on a blood test? The thyroid part of his blood tests was normal. I have a hazy understanding that it can be more complicated than that though.

Don't panic - I'm not suggesting seizure and it's hard to get an idea of what these episodes look like via text.

But parts of body seizing alongside the other symptoms (which can all been seen in seizures) I'd want them to rule it out.

Especially in a pubescent teen.

Could the red rash be tiny broken blood vessels or alternatively sweat/ heat rash?

I have looked after quite a few people with epilepsy and I think it sounds like partial seizures - including the hot flushes. There are so many types of epilepsy. The good thing is most people respond well to medication and many people who's epilepsy starts in their teens grow out of it (it can be confined entirely to puberty).

I'd be talking to your GP about epilepsy.

Thank you both that's really helpful. And actually yes I think the rash could be a heat rash because he does get very hot. It's all of a sudden. He'll be fine and normal and then he literally has sweat on his forehead and chest so he is genuinely very hot. Actually that makes me think maybe I should take his temperature next time, to tell the GP? And push for an earlier appointment.

And thank you for the reassurance about epilepsy.

Poor ds.

If you can, film an episode. Worked wonders with my daughters epilepsy diagnosis.
Good luck ❤️

My son has been having odd episodes for years! He's also 14 now.

Started with seeing purple spots and room tilting. Then developed this with sudden headache and brief loss of consciousness.
Now he has them, goes as white as a sheet, if I'd just picked him up from a party I'd assume he was drunk! He's conscious but very confused and disoriented and will go to sleep for 3-4 hours.

He's had 2 eeg. It maybe he's having partial awareness seizures and is under neurology being monitored.

That's a good idea, fedupntired, I will. Hope your daughter is doing ok now.

Youarenotkiddingme gosh that sounds unpleasant for your ds. Mine gets tired as well when he has the flush but not to the point where he has to sleep. With the spasm it's like his hand will suddenly go like a claw and then freeze like that, knuckles bent. Same with his feet although that's less of a problem because at least he doesn't drop stuff so it's less noticeable. I never even thought about epilepsy.

Cramps often a sign of low magnesium levels, even if they show on a blood test as normal, they can temporarily drop and the body will take magnesium from muscles as a result, which then cramp. Mine are not improved my magnesium tablets but vastly improved by Nuun effervescent tablets every evening.

How did your DS get on?