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Original poster

Teen DD always tired

27 replies

EmmaStone · 23/05/2022 10:35

My teen DD(16) constantly complains about being tired. I'm hesitant to take her to see a doctor however, because, she doesn't go to sleep before midnight (we have to be up at 6:30am), doesn't always eat and drink well, does no exercise, and likes to give herself labels.

I love my DD to bits, but if she won't do any self help as above, what's the point of taking her to the doctor? Should I just start giving her some spatone sachets as she's likely to have low iron anyway? And if that doesn't help, then maybe see a doctor?

OP posts:
Viviennemary · 23/05/2022 10:42

I think it would be a good thing if your dd went to the doctors and had a few tests to rule out any physical causes for her tiredness. Like iron deficiency, thyroid problems etc. At least you would know then and the doctor would make sure the correct dose was given and then more tests to see if levels had improved.

SheWoreYellow · 23/05/2022 10:44

My first thought would be to wonder about an iron deficiency. Especially if she’s not eating brilliantly. Do you know how heavy her periods are?

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 23/05/2022 10:44

6hrs sleep and no exercise, I wouldn’t waste the drs time tbh

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Original poster
EmmaStone · 23/05/2022 11:06

Haha, quite the range of responses there!

I think I'll start on the spatone, see if it does anything. She's likely to claim it does nothing even if she did feel better (oh and BTW - guess what, when she gets a normal amount of sleep, some fresh air and a walk, she miraculously feels good. Go figure).

OP posts:
Seeline · 23/05/2022 11:09

I would take her to the GP. Sounds like some blood tests would be useful.
If she is feeling tired due to low iron, then she won't feel like exercising.
If she really has low iron (or ferratin) then spatone is unlikely to be strong enough to make a difference.

How is her MH? Could it be depression?

axolotlfloof · 23/05/2022 11:11

Can she catch up on sleep at weekends?
DS is similar in terms of weekday sleep and tiredness (but he gets lots of exercise and eats OK).
He sleeps all morning on Saturday and Sunday and that seems to help him push through.

Original poster
EmmaStone · 23/05/2022 11:18

She does sleep longer on weekends yes, but then complains when she's had too much sleep that she's tired (I get like this too - too much sleep can make me feel constantly drowsy).

Her MH is good, although she is currently speaking to a therapist weekly. I don't know why, she doesn't appear to have any needs, but does have a lot of friends with therapists and I think she thought it was something she too should have. Thank goodness for PMI.

I don't want to dismiss her (hence the therapist sessions), but equally, it's hard to hear a privileged teen constantly try to find issues in everything in her life.

OP posts:
ChiefWiggumsBoy · 23/05/2022 11:29

I wouldn’t even consider a doctor under these circumstances. Of course she’s tired. And of course she’s moaning about it - she’s 16! I bet she’s ok when she’s with friends.

Sometimes posts on here baffle me. Does no one remember what it was like to be a teen?

the80sweregreat · 23/05/2022 11:39

She might be lacking iron.

MrOllivander · 23/05/2022 11:58

Vitamin d would stand out to me

Fizzyfish · 23/05/2022 11:59

Sounds normal to me, I was the same at 16. My mum made me take a vitamin tonic in the mornings.

hellswelshy · 23/05/2022 12:00

Could be low iron, my dd was like this for a month or two till I realised it could be that. She was also very pale.

Viviennemary · 23/05/2022 12:02

The point is tests from the GP should rule out medical cause for tiredness. That is the only sensible option IMHO rather than guess work and trying this and that.

Heresafe · 23/05/2022 12:04

Low iron isn’t the only thing that can make you tired, other deficiencies are worth ruling out I think like vitamin d and magnesium as these are really common ones . I’d probably see a naturopath to rule out deficiencies and GP later if needed.

axolotlfloof · 23/05/2022 12:12

I don't think it is dismissive to say to her that you're worried that her diet and exercise level are affecting her health and you would like to work together on improving it.
Perhaps she will be keen to come up with her own plan.

andtheycalledthewindmoriah · 23/05/2022 12:21

That's not enough sleep. Teenagers need more sleep, not less.

They need to get more, good quality sleep.

I would also get an iron and B12 supplement and pop those every few days just to be on the safe side.

Also ensure diet includes lots of raw fresh fruit and vegetables and ensure Vitamin C is taken daily as we cannot produce our own vitamin C like other kinds of animal.

I was like this as a teen. My diet was the main culprit. It was processed junk food.

AffIt · 23/05/2022 12:27

Oh, I have one of these in my family too, OP, to the extent that her mother (not me, btw) got so sick of the moaning that she took her for a private health MOT at great expense (and of course, she had 'needle phobias' around the blood tests).

The net result? All fine, just improve diet, sleep and exercise. Still, at least it didn't cost the NHS anything.

EVERYTHING on MN is that there must be some health / SEN / fucking anxiety issue, but sometimes, teenagers are just drama llama dicks. Fortunately, most grow out of it.

Original poster
EmmaStone · 23/05/2022 12:37

Thanks All, I think I can spot those who have teens...

I'm going to talk about it with her tonight (today's drama - she's pulled a muscle in her chest, she doesn't know how (I could take a stab - she was carrying a heavy bag at the weekend, when she doesn't normally carry anything...), and a friend has Covid, maybe she has Covid too. Maybe she does, or maybe she just needed to go to sleep before midnight last night...).

OP posts:
Onionpatch · 23/05/2022 12:44

Took my teen to the doctors and they said he needed to eat better - in particular eat more carbs as he is growing rapidly, and sleep more, but hearing it from someone other than mum made it sink in more.

Thehawki · 23/05/2022 12:51

Have her take a multivitamin that has iron and vitamins D and see how’s she’s doing in three months. If she gets better then she needed the vitamins. If she stays the same or gets worse take her in. I would also make sure she’s eating enough for the amount of activity and growing she’s doing.

CorneliaMarie · 23/05/2022 12:57

I think before you starting seeing a GP she needs a week of sleeping properly, eating properly and doing some exercise. We all don’t feel our best if we haven’t done those things.

the other thing that struck me about your post is she has a therapist but reads like you’re not sure why. Not saying this is bad but the whole, “I have that too” and illnesses could be attention seeking as you describe it as drama.

Putting the tiredness to one side, I bet you have a theory on all this already. How would you describe the dynamic of her telling you she is ill and your reaction to it?

Stellamar · 23/05/2022 13:29

You shouldn't take iron tablets unless you have been diagnosed with a deficiency. It's a simple process to take her to the GP and get a blood test for iron and all the common vitamins. I'd do that.

Innocenta · 23/05/2022 13:42

Definitely keep a close, wary eye on seeking out medical or MH labels. This is scarily popular among some groups of young people and on Tiktok etc. I can understand why you're cautious about going to the GP.

starray · 23/05/2022 13:51

6 hours is too little sleep for a teenager. She's sleep deprived.

starray · 23/05/2022 13:52

And you can't 'catch up' on sleep. Her sleep cycles are totally off. All the vitamins in the world and exercise aren't going to help.