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Weird childhood illness - what does it sound like?

5 replies

towonderwhatthiswas · 15/06/2021 13:56

Every year without fail at the end of term in primary school I used to end up unwell - usually had a fever, tummy ache, shivering and just generally exhausted - I remember struggling to move to do stuff like use the TV remote . I remember lying on the sofa a lot feeling totally listless/fuzzy, and not being able to go to last days of term because of this - was always given lucozade and coconut buns from the baker and magazines . P6/7 was particularly horrendous (so age 10-12) - I remember spending a lot of time on the sofa !!

I’m dyspraxic, also have a lot of anxiety issues . Psychiatrist thought I might also be autistic . Dyspraxia was diagnosed years back at age 7 or so . I got 6 sessions of NHS funded OT at age 12 and nothing else - I’m 29 and still struggle with self regulation, sleeping, socialising, pragmatic language, gross motor (bang into everything and have sprained almost every joint I’ve got) and fine motor (can’t sew, knit, safely use a knife, tie laces; do up bra, etc - have strategies for all but can’t do any of them right way iyswim) . Autism was only mentioned two years ago after years and years of therapy for social anxiety .

Was also facing somewhat adverse circumstances at home - used to have days when I would just sit and cry at school - again; never have figured out why - if it was just tiredness !

When I look back I wonder if it was something to do with ?autism; if I was just exhausted from masking? It didn’t happen so much at secondary school - not in the same way anyway . I do still get the same at the end of uni term (am studying at the moment) - after exams this year I ended up ill for a week - as if I had a horrible virus I couldn’t shift - fever, fuzzy, aching and nausea - wasn’t Covid19!

Some of it GP said years ago she thought might be due to muscle weakness/hypermobility but I can’t see how that could cause exhaustion .

Could autism/dyspraxia cause very physical symptoms like that? It’s a bit frustrating as still find I have to plan for fatigued days even now .

OP posts:
ChairOnToast · 15/06/2021 14:00

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towonderwhatthiswas · 15/06/2021 14:02

June-July usually but also happened most Christmases too . Was always worst at start of summer .

OP posts:
TaraR2020 · 15/06/2021 14:07

Muscle weakness and hypermobility meanboth your body and brain will have to work harder to do physical things so I can see how that would lead to exhaustion.

As I'm sure you know, anxiety can you absolutely floored too. There's a strong link between tummy and brain, so it's possible what you experience is a physical manifestation of mental strain.

The fact that it occurs at the end of the term, could just be your body and mind finally seeing the end in sight and rather than wait a few days to 'collapse' you just go for it...Many people tend to get ill when they go on holiday because their body takes advantage of them having time be ill.

You could take a look at books like The Body Keeps The Score.

Given the difficulties you manage day to day, i really wouldn't be surprised if it all comes down to exhaustion and strain. I'm sorry you suffer so :(

LittleSwede · 15/06/2021 14:13

Sounds like a bit if a burnout at the end of each term. If you are autistic you might have been masking at school until your body became so run down you became ill. My DD has ASD and when she was attending school or nursery she always became ill with something at the end of each term.

StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes · 15/06/2021 15:06

As a child i was always ill towards the end of the year, doctor used to give me iron tablets and said i was anemic

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