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Worried about my 5 year old

12 replies

FlyingFancy · 03/08/2021 14:10

Before anyone tells me to speak to a doctor, I have an appointment booked later this week but my mind is absolutely running all over the place at the moment and I could do with some reassurance/calm.

I'm feeling really worried about my 5 year old DS. A few weeks ago (think it was about 10th July) he had a weird vomiting episode where he threw up out of nowhere when he was having a bath mid-morning and then was completely 100% fine for the entire rest of the day - two days later he suddenly had stomach ache as we were about to leave the house to meet friends and started dry heaving like he was going to throw up again but nothing came out. Again immediately after he was totally fine - I don't think it was a bug because neither DH nor I got it. He's been fine ever since vomiting wise, no more episodes like that. However, on Thursday last week I took him to see my mum and I felt that he wasn't really his usual self - he was quite lethargic and sensitive. Then that night he woke boiling hot (didn't measure his temp but I'm sure it was one). I assumed he was coming down with something so gave him calpol and the next day he was fine - no temp, no other symptoms like a cough or anything like that. We tested him for covid on account of the temp and he was negative. However, since then he's been complaining of headaches (specifically in his forehead, that's where he points) and he's been more low energy and lethargic than usual. This morning we had to run a bit to cross the road and when we crossed he said "mummy I can't run because it makes my head hurt because all my energy is in my head".

I should point out that we are moving in a few weeks and it was quite short notice (we are moving fairly far away) so I did wonder if some of this was anxiety related (when you ask him about it he says he's fine though and excited). On the other hand when he had his vomit episode that was before we knew we were moving and I'm fairly sure you can't get an anxiety induced temperature. He has a pretty low pain threshold and I feel that if his headaches were really painful he would be a lot more upset - he's quite nonchalant about them at the moment - but on the other hand he's never complained of a headache before.

Anyone had anything similar in their DC? When I was very young one of my sister's friends died of a brain tumour and her first symptoms were headaches and vomiting episodes so I am in freefall panic mode right now, and I know when I see the doctor they will just tell me to wait and see how he goes.

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FlyingFancy · 03/08/2021 14:35

Should have said, I'm getting his eyes tested tomorrow in case that's related to the headaches.

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CitrusIceCream · 03/08/2021 14:42

The chances of him having a brain tumour are vanishingly small - that really is the very least likely explanation.

Kids will vomit for no particular reason from time to time - I know I used to do it and so did my son.

The temperature thing does sound like a bug and the lethargy & sore head could be the after effects.

It’s good fo see the doctor so he can be checked but I think it’s very, very, very unlikely to be a brain tumour 🙂

FlyingFancy · 03/08/2021 14:44

Thank you. I know I've just jumped to the worst possible thing.

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murmuration · 03/08/2021 14:53

If the vomitting and headache are connected, it could be migraines - we've come to the conclusion DD likely has migraines, which we really need to confirm with a GP so we don't have to keep her off school for 2 days everytime she vomits at night due to one...

DH has migraines like this and it took until his 30s to be diagnosed as the headache portion was considerably less bothersome than the gastro upsets, and it wasn't until a clued-up nurse asked the right questions that it was figured out.

And I echo, brain tumour is definitely extremely unlikely.

CitrusIceCream · 03/08/2021 14:58

Yes...I should have mentioned (murmuration reminded me)....

My son had migraines from the age of 5 onwards...always expressed as vomiting.

He would go white as a sheet, throw up then fall asleep for an hour. So it could be that.

But I’ve never had a migraine in my life & clearly remember puking regularly as a kid for no good reason!

Hopefully the doc will reassure you.

FlyingFancy · 03/08/2021 15:01

The vomiting was over 3 weeks ago now and was nothing to do with a headache so I'm wondering if I've just joined the two together for no reason really. He's had no nausea since he started complaining of the headaches. And I get migraines myself so I'd be surprised if that was the cause as mine are agony so I doubt he'd be able to cope with them without neurofen or calpol!

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Rangoon · 03/08/2021 15:12

Do you have a family history of migraines? Children's symptoms present differently - the headache is sometimes not as bad and children can vomit from it. Or it could be just a bug?

I remember reading Lance Armstrong's book while on holiday and finding a lump on my neck. I rushed to the doctor on my return who said a lymph node was up and I was probably fighting some mild infection. He said it would go away in couple of days and it did. I mean as a female I was pretty sure I didn't have testicular cancer but it is easy to catastrophise.

I hope you get great news.

FlyingFancy · 03/08/2021 15:14

Yes, I've had them my entire life. They started when I was 10.

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clareykb · 03/08/2021 15:23

One of my twins had a period of about 6 months of random vomiting aged 5. It was different as was usually in the middle of the night but she was fine the next day. Turns out the first bout had been a bug and given her temporary lactose intolerance. She was also treated for reflux which she had has as a baby and that calmed it a bit as well. Eventually she grew out of it. I was very worried at the time and took her to the doctors who were going to refer her to paeds of it didn't get better so it was worth going and I didn't get fobbed off. I would just give them a call.

FlyingFancy · 03/08/2021 15:24

The vomiting hasn't been for ages now so I'm more concerned about the headaches really (sods law now I've said that he'll start puking again though!!!)

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HSHorror · 03/08/2021 15:33

My now 6yo seems to vomit a lot. She did about 3w ago. She hadbeen a covid contact but had no other symptoms. However she hadbeen swimming in our pool so possibly chlorine. She vomited every 6w for about 4 -5 months at 4. So maybe teething molars or it's abdominal migraines- as her dad gets migraines. None of us catch it ever and unlike d&v she seems fine eating the next day.

FlyingFancy · 03/08/2021 16:32

Oh do you know what I hadn't considered molars! He's 5.5 so that could be possible and might also explain the headaches- he said the side of his face/jaw hurt the other day.

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