I asked my 16 year old to take a day off college tomorrow i dont know if im doing the right thimg or not

[aufolandedonmyface]

my 16 year old started college in september was fine at first but rhe last few weeks has been extremely tired , lost weight not sure if its related or not but it has been a quick loss - she went fr size 14 trousers to size 10 in around 4-6 weeks. She has been just lying down when she gets home , too tired to go to clubs she normally goes to. She struggled to walk around shops even and that was on a saturday so no college. She sleeps well.

i took her to the gp a few days ago
and he made me feel like i was over reacting and kept asking her things like “do you have an eating disorder” . She has had a folic acid deficiency in the past and i really had to push for just a test for that an anemia. she has the blood test next week. She recently had a 5 day heart monitor on after fainting iver a year ago ( it took that long to get it) but tbh she has no symptoms of anything like that.

She is only at college three days a week today is her second day this week and she looks awful. Shes just lying on her bed and has been since 5 when she got home. She was not feeling strong enough to go to an group she normally loves tonight.

I am really concerned about her and ive told her i think she should really take tomorrow off (shes not in friday anyway) and rest. She has the blood test next wednesday.

am i just over reacting here to normal teenage things because the gp made me feel like a crazy old woman!

That does sound very worrying and wtf from the GP?!

What is her eating like?

Ex GP here. Please take her back and see someone different

She has been eating normally that i know of certianly at home and i know shes been getting gregs for lunch! So not really reducing her food. The last week she has been worse again and she is now off her food a little but she will eat just more fussily if that males any sense at all. And its only been the last week thats been an issue

Can i do that if he ordered the blood tests? Should i wait for those - i think he said it was to check for anemia and folic acid .

That's pretty extreme weightloss in a short period time, especially if she is eating. That coupled with the tiredness would have me seeing a different GP ASAP. Pay and go private if you have to.

Sorry I missed that you had bloods booked for Wednesday. Probably no benefit in going back then, but you are right to be concerned. In fact, and I NEVER say this, with that story I would consider taking her to A&E

Yes you can still take her back, tell the truth, you’re very worried, something is really wrong. Did the GP examine her including feeling her neck and tummy? If you weren’t taken seriously and she wasn’t examined then I would be right back down the surgery honestly. Blood tests are only part of the picture. Please don’t doubt yourself, you know your child.

Has she been checked for diabetes?

Did she have a urine test at the doctor at the least?

He did feel her tummy but she has no pain there or in fact anywhere. He just seemed to think it was normal tiredness from going to college and that she was eating less becausw she was worried about her weight. Tbh he has me doubting myself now!

No he did her blood pressure but nothing else.

No nothing like that.

That’s a lot of weight loss for someone who is eating normally. I think eating disorder should be something that is considered only when all the physical things have been ruled out. I hope you get some answers soon.

Absolutely echo what others have said. Especially if thirsty and weeing more.

She needs diabetes ruling out urgently. Undiagnosed type 1 diabetes kills.

Go back tomorrow, doesn’t matter if he thinks you are OTT, better than than missing something serious. When were the bloods done?

Would that be something that comes on over a few weeks or would it be more quickly? She doesnt have any etxra thirst or weeing more often. I did mention this to the gp as my mother had type 1 but he said she would be drinking more etc which she isnt

They havent been done yet the earliest appointment was next wednesday.

I would take her back before the blood test as there maybe other things they can add to the test before she has it done. I'd be very concerned with that amount of weight loss and her lack of interest in her normal activities.

Is he at least requesting a full blood count and checking her thyroid as well? If not I'd go back and ask for those to be added to the bloods.

Yes and i was trying to say to the doctor that she is normally confident with how she looks she likes going out in nice clothes etc she certainly doesnt hide her body away - i just dont think she losing weight on purpose. I have 5 daughters i know they can vary in weight but not this quickly from what ive seen.

Please google diabetic ketoacidosis.
our family type 1 skipped a generation.

Is there nowhere else you can go for them? Many places have walk in clinics so it’s worth checking. A colleagues 14 year old almost died due to undiagnosed diabetes last year, she’d lost loads of weight and was exhausted but they hadn’t particularly noticed increased thirst. Deff go back and push for them to rule stuff out rather than just blaming her

I'd go to a&e tbh op 🥺

I always think its best to go at 6am xx

I’d go a&e too. Why risk it? Bloods and urine test need to be done asap. Good luck