Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Views please

14 replies

Wimms33 · 20/06/2019 22:48

My 14 year old daughter has been diagnosed with hypothyroidism. It is classed as a serious chronic illness and has to be treated with medication, daily, for life. She is very positive and cheerful and I am very proud of her.
My issue is with school. Most of her teachers have no idea of how serious this condition can be, and sadly, my daughter has got used to the rolling of eyes when she complains of feeling cold, tired, unable to concentrate, feels hyper, etc etc, the symptoms are endless.
She has to take her medication when she wakes up on an empty stomach, and should eat between 30 - 60 minutes later, which often means that she has to eat in form time.
She has been told today, that she will have to leave the form room to eat alone, as her peers would wonder why they can't eat too!!!!!
Is it just me, or should teenagers see that rules can be broken when necessary, and that they can learn to understand that although someone can look OK, they are suffering on a daily basis.
I would love to know what you think,
Thank you for reading

OP posts:
PickAChew · 20/06/2019 22:51

can't she just wake up earlier? Surely it's more than 30 minutes from waking up to form time.

Wimms33 · 20/06/2019 22:55

No, unfortunately she can't, she is overwhelmed with tiredness and struggles to get out of bed in the morning, ww are luchy to get her to school on time as she can't function first thing!

OP posts:
moreismore · 20/06/2019 22:55

Can your healthcare team suggest any training staff could access to better support her? Or are there any charities that could maybe? I would perhaps approach from that point of view and maybe see if you can do a cheat sheet of ways to help that her friends are aware of.
I agree teenagers should be able to cope with accepting rules sometimes get bent but I don’t know the culture of the school or what over behaviours the teacher is dealing with. I agree getting up earlier would be simpler.

Wimms33 · 20/06/2019 22:57

It really would be, but she can't, it is a huge problem for her in the mornings, she is overwhelmed with tiredness.

OP posts:
Tingface · 20/06/2019 22:57

Mm, to be honest I’d think you had a point if she had to eat every couple of hours throughout the school day; but I do think her eating 30 mins after waking AND that being before form time should be possible to be honest.

MrsMoastyToasty · 20/06/2019 22:58

Can she go to bed earlier for an early start in the morning?

PepsiLola · 20/06/2019 22:59

I don't think getting up 30min earlier or later will change tiredness.

Hopefully when the meds are working she will feel better

Wimms33 · 20/06/2019 23:02

It doesn't work like that, to get her to school on time, we literally have to drag her from her bed, fatigue is a horrendous symptom of this awful illness, what should we do, be late for school everyday, or get there just in time, and eat quickly during form time

OP posts:
Wimms33 · 20/06/2019 23:04

Thank you

OP posts:
LadyGAgain · 20/06/2019 23:07

OP, no one can understand this condition who doesn't have it. It sounds like they haven't yet got her on the right dose of thyroxine. Once she is, the lethargy should dissipate. I totally get it. But this moment should be short lived. Demand more bloods until she's on optimal dose. And if she doesn't shift, demand T3 readings. Been there. Done that. Got the badge. When it's good it's fine. When it's bad it sucks (and I was 13 at diagnosis with hyper, total thyroidectomy and then severely hypo by the time I was 17).
Good luck ThanksThanks

Grumpymug · 20/06/2019 23:07

Can you compromise and wake her up, give her the tablet and then let her sleep again for the 30-60 mins, then get up 10/15 mins earlier than usual so she can quickly eat before she goes to school? You can have something ready for her as soon as she's ready for school?

Wimms33 · 20/06/2019 23:24

I wish..... as I've said, I struggle to wake her to get to school on time, to try and wake her an hour earlier would be too cruel, and just for the sake of eating in form, pointless. To put this in perspective, it's a quick snack, that's all she needs to eat.

OP posts:
Tingface · 21/06/2019 00:12

Well could she eat it on the way then if it’s just a quick snack?

RobinHumphries · 21/06/2019 17:21

According to the BNFC levothyroxine should be taken at the same time every day, preferably 30 minutes before meals, caffeinated drinks or other medicines, this could be before breakfast or another more convenient time

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread