DS feet turning purple, advice needed!

[Rolypops]

Something has been going on with DS's feet all week and I've worked myself into a state about it. I let DH talk me out of taking him to the GP and he is due back at school tomorrow so I just need some advice on how urgent this is/how seriously I should take it as I have severe health anxiety and a panic disorder. I don't want him to miss out on his first day back but I also don't want this to get worse.

Every time DS stands his feet are going very red (almost purple!) and his veins become very prominent. You can see it happen in real time then as he sits back down the colour goes back to normal. Eventually after moving about a while they will also return to a normal colour so it isn't every time he is upright. He also has just told me today he feels dizzy sometimes upon standing.

He is 13 and has had a massive growth spurt this summer alongside puberty setting in, but I have scared myself shitless about blood clots etc as he's been a bit of a shut in this summer. Is this an A&E thing? a GP thing or a wait and see thing? DH thinks it will go away after a week of his regular school activities etc but this could surely mean a circulation problem/problem with his heart? He has no pain whatsoever with it.

Advice would be welcome as I am in a bit of a state!

Look at PoTS

I’m the last person to make a fuss but I would definitely be phoning the GP today and seeing if he can be seen as an urgent case - there may be a very simple explanation but I’d want to know what it is!

Argh my GP is now closed for the day

I’d do 111 I think. Or call asap in the morning.

if you call 111 you could end up waiting hours at OOH but it does sound strange and I’m not sure I’d want to send him off in a busy Secondary school without medical advice tbh

Would OOH be able to rule anything out or would it be better to wait for GP?

He's just walked into my room and I can see his toes going red/purple as he is stood there it's really weird.

Covid toes?

Do you have an out of hours service nearby? I think that's something that needs looking at ASAP.

POTS and the effect of covid is what comes to my mind too.

Definitively, he needs to be seen by a doctor to rule out anything else.

Definitely get your son seen by a doctor. But if it’s reassuring my DS is the same age and his feet have been like this for a couple of years and I’ve had them checked out a couple of times. No explanation but have been reassured he’s ok. Actually noticed that they’ve pinked up again recently so maybe it’s a phase that’s now passed.

Call 111.

PoTS

On hold with 111

111 will be of next to no use, he has POTS or a wider condition of Dysautonomia. Essentially his blood is not pumping back up to his head, its not dangerous but it does make you very dizzy and liable to fainting (I have it.)
up water and salt intake to help with low blood pressure which he will have. Its also exacerbated by heat so when its cooler should be better. No standing still for long periods and before he stands up get him to pump his calves. That will help.
all the best xx

I have diagnosed PoTs - blood pooling in the feet as you describe is very common, as is dizziness, blurred vision, feeling faint on standing. I have it as a result of another related condition whereby the two often go hand-in-hand but my understanding is that it can occur post-virally and is not always a permanent situation. I find I am also much more symptomatic in the heat but that really doesn't mean to say this is what's happening to your DS - just worth knowing about.

I would still probably try to get an appointment or speak to 111 though as it seems like this has come on suddenly, but if you have the means at home you can do a 'poor mans' test to get some indication of whether PoTs might be the case by measuring his HR lying down to standing after set time spans- plenty of details online of exactly how to do this I'm sure, or visit the POTS UK website which is very good if you're after more information.

Been advised to get him checked at A&E/ out of hours mainly due to his vision being blurry and becoming quite breathless just going up the stairs.

Is POTS anything similar to oedema?

@Rolypops that sounds very stressful - hope you don’t have to wait too long to be seen.

Hoping you are seen fast and your son has a speedy recovery

Hope you get seen quickly.

You can use this thread to keep you sane whilst you wait if needed. If there's ever a time MNers are at their best it's hand holding parents in a medical quandary.

I have a factor V Leiden and POTS

My feet and hands do this x

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/erythromelalgia/

Ds1 has had something like this since about age 13 (massive growth spurt). It's mostly his feet, they go bright lobster red. Not painful but like when your feet get too hot on a warm day - annoying. Sometimes his hands join in. It's kind of the opposite of Reynauds.

Ds1 is 18 now, it still happens. He doesn't have very hot showers and has a fan under his desk to blast at his feet!