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Original poster

Three year old complaining of tired legs/being tired all the time

70 replies

Reesewithafork · 26/07/2023 10:42

DS is three and has low iron, but takes a supplement (highest dose possible) and has never complained of feeling tired before, he's usually a bundle of energy.

Recently he's been saying his legs are tired and he wants to be carried up the stairs, and wants to make dens and lie down saying he's tired.

He's still pretty active - yesterday he was on his scooter the whole 30 minute walk to town and back, spent an hour running around soft play, played bike races with a friend then went to another friend's house to play and was still scampering about when he got in. He's not falling asleep during the day but it sleeping really well at night (not unusual, we are lucky and he always has) but I'm wondering if this is just because he's been using his scooter and bike a lot more (we have ditched the pushchair more and more recently) or whether something to keep an eye on.

I wondered if it could be a growth spurt as he's under average height at the moment so due to shoot up again. He's still eating well, playing normally, seems full of energy when at soft play etc...

Today for example after yesterday's busy day he's saying he's tired and wants to lie down - he's my first so I;'m not sure how much activity is reasonable for knackering them out!

OP posts:
cestlavielife · 26/07/2023 22:44

Check coeiac now
Measure and check growth rate
If has slowed could be coeliac

Original poster
Reesewithafork · 26/07/2023 22:50

Thank you
so strange it has literally never been mentioned.

random question can celiac cause lymph nodes in abdomen to react does anyone know?

OP posts:
Drenchend · 26/07/2023 22:55

@OLDERME

Would you mind pm me or put on thread significance of tip toes please.

My dd is hypermobile etc and I'm concerned about what you said.

Interested in this thread?

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3 year olds Families
ThreadExterminator · 26/07/2023 23:02

DD was allergic to dairy and we've crawled painstakingly up the milk ladder over a number of years.
Something I noticed was that if we went up a rung too quickly that she would be affected behaviour wise even if she didn't get the rash/bowel symptoms etc. If something she eats is too challenging (we're also on the egg ladder) she can become tired, anxious, pale and just a bit discombobulated. It's quite a subtle change so sometimes I take a while to twig.

Having said that, if this all persists, I would always see the GP if you feel like something out of character is going on for longer than a few days. A low-level virus can be enough to make us really tired for a few days with no other symptoms but much more than that and I'd always get DD checked by the GP.

OLDERME · 27/07/2023 14:15

@Drenchend It has nothing to do with hyperactivity. I am so sorry if I made anyone anxious. If it ever appears in any child, report it to a doctor. It is VERY UNUSUAL AND UNCOMMON. That's why I mentioned it. Please don't worry. xxx

Drenchend · 27/07/2023 14:18

@OLDERME

In am concerned unless you are talking about possibly autism? I kmow that can be a sign if anything else medical could you pm me it's significant please

OLDERME · 27/07/2023 15:04

I can't work out how to p.m.

MissSmiley · 27/07/2023 17:06

Walking on tip toes can be related to constipation, some coeliacs present with constipation rather than diarrhoea, I'm wondering if that's what she meant

Lemonademoney · 27/07/2023 17:40

ThreadExterminator · 26/07/2023 23:02

DD was allergic to dairy and we've crawled painstakingly up the milk ladder over a number of years.
Something I noticed was that if we went up a rung too quickly that she would be affected behaviour wise even if she didn't get the rash/bowel symptoms etc. If something she eats is too challenging (we're also on the egg ladder) she can become tired, anxious, pale and just a bit discombobulated. It's quite a subtle change so sometimes I take a while to twig.

Having said that, if this all persists, I would always see the GP if you feel like something out of character is going on for longer than a few days. A low-level virus can be enough to make us really tired for a few days with no other symptoms but much more than that and I'd always get DD checked by the GP.

Oh this is really interesting and sounds just like my DS he’s so much better at the moment that I don’t even want to start the milk ladder for fear of his symptoms reoccurring

ToadIsTheBest · 27/07/2023 18:15

Asthma? Any coughing at night?

WolfFoxHare · 27/07/2023 18:30

OLDERME · 27/07/2023 14:15

@Drenchend It has nothing to do with hyperactivity. I am so sorry if I made anyone anxious. If it ever appears in any child, report it to a doctor. It is VERY UNUSUAL AND UNCOMMON. That's why I mentioned it. Please don't worry. xxx

Are you referring to it being a possible early symptom of Duchenne’s? If so, it’s probably better to name it so other posters can stop worrying/being frightened.

user2207 · 27/07/2023 19:00

My 3 year old had something similar, feeling tired, complaining of leg pain/tiredness. At some point he was falling asleep during the day, but managing to run around when doing something interesting. Combined with his generally very visible lymph nodes, we were extremely worried by these symptoms, had a full blood test and it turned out some sort of infection which eventually resolved itself. But we were recommended to delay his pre school booster vaccinations for several months.

OLDERME · 27/07/2023 19:33

@WolfFoxHare Yes, I was referring to Muscular Dystrophy. I tried to be vague so as not to worry people. I am not a medic. My knowledge is that of a family member. The post triggered memories of his early symptoms i.e. tired legs. That was folowed by him walking on tiptoes. I am so sorry if I worried anyone. It is a very rare condition. xxx

WolfFoxHare · 27/07/2023 19:50

OLDERME · 27/07/2023 19:33

@WolfFoxHare Yes, I was referring to Muscular Dystrophy. I tried to be vague so as not to worry people. I am not a medic. My knowledge is that of a family member. The post triggered memories of his early symptoms i.e. tired legs. That was folowed by him walking on tiptoes. I am so sorry if I worried anyone. It is a very rare condition. xxx

Sorry, yes, I understand why you don’t want to worry the OP when it is very rare. I just thought it was scaring some of the other posters when it might be completely irrelevant for them, eg if they have a 9 year old daughter with autism. I didn’t mean to be snippy.

MeinKraft · 27/07/2023 20:34

Reesewithafork · 26/07/2023 22:50

Thank you
so strange it has literally never been mentioned.

random question can celiac cause lymph nodes in abdomen to react does anyone know?

I was convinced my son was coeliac because he was pale, tired and had tummy pains. Turned out he was getting strep A repeatedly and with that, mesenteric adenitis.

I am still not convinced that something isn't up with him, he's pale, complains of being tired a lot and will have maybe a week of stomach pains at a time - but this does always coincide with a virus so it probably is just viral I guess. He gets a lot of viruses though.

itsgettingweird · 27/07/2023 20:51

My ds also started walking on toes at 8. Not MD but another rare neuromuscular condition.

So I would always urge parents to trust their gut instincts if something is amiss but rather than push for diagnosis which isn't always possible just ask lots of questions.

"Why would his legs be feeling tired" "why could he be doing x whilst saying y".

And the important one "what can I do to help my child".

Because to be able to help they need to find out what's best way to help which involves seeing other people who all start to ask questions too!

mnlk · 27/07/2023 21:36

I would ask to see a community paediatrician. They can check for common causes and rarer conditions such as muscular dystrophy.

Original poster
Reesewithafork · 28/07/2023 21:10

So today I’ve established that his legs are tired when it comes to walking because “walking isn’t my favourite” when he immediately flopped about saying he was too tired to walk but then demanded he be allowed his balance bike and using it for twenty five minutes for the journey into town.

he also said his legs are tired because he doesn’t want to walk up the stairs but also because they are a bit tired at the front (his shins) after he’s been using his bike and scooter.

im feeling more reassured by this. I will still keep an eye on it though.

he walks on tiptoes very occasionally but usually when he’s playing spinning or dancing and not for usually every day movement.

id also completely forgotten he was a breech baby and they told me to keep an eye on his hips and legs so I will take him to the GP just to follow up on that.

OP posts:
Drenchend · 28/07/2023 21:16

@OLDERME

We got there!.. Thank you!.
I've now beem able to check that list of symptoms against what my dd does. Thank you.

Drenchend · 28/07/2023 21:27

Op glad you also feel like reassured..

I would personally never have thought anything odd of aching legs.... Mn is enlightening

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