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!

This poster is right. Early morning is the best time to go. She needs bloods ASAP

I would too. Good luck OP, none of this sounds right at all.

Good grief. Next week for a blood test? In two different parts of the country I’ve had same day blood tests just from phoning the surgery feeling vaguely unwell. (First time was serious anaemia and emergency blood transfusion. Second time was low folate and a prescription.)

I concur with everyone else - your poor daughter needs to be seen and tested with some urgency. She’s had an extremely disappointing service from your GP practice.

She should have seen the GP on her own, unless she specifically wanted you to go in with her. It sounds as though your presence distracted from the GP's focus on your DD.

Don’t be silly. Perfectly formal for a 16 year old to take a parent in to see a GP, and a GP should be intelligent enough to be able to not get ‘distracted’ by a parents presence and still be able to do their job. OP hasn’t done anything wrong.

I would agree with an and e. Diabetes sounds a possibility

This is fucking bollocks. OP you haven’t done anything wrong

Can pharmacies not now test for diabetes? That would be my first thought too.

This is a bold statement to make without even a negative urine glucose or ketones to rely on. Not sure about that. Not everyone has all the symptoms.

I think that’s aimed at type 2 diabetes for adults.

Please take her to GP first thing tomorrow and insist on urgent blood tests. Friend kept trying with son but knew something was wrong and did the A&E visit despite GP and own DH said she was over reacting. He did in fact have Type 1.

So glad you posted this.

@aufolandedonmyface OP your gp is a twat. formal complaint needs to go in. Completely inappropriate reaction from them

Keep advocating for your daughter, ring 111 and ask to see another GP if you don’t/can’t see another 1 at your practice or if you feel you aren’t getting anywhere.

other option if you are getting nowhere just find an urgent care centre and see if at least you can get someone somewhere to give her a really good top to toe check over

She would not have wanted to go in on her own at all

Oh and check what bloods they are taking. She needs a FBC (including wbc) not just a folate

Ok probably a really stupid question but my dh has private health insurace through his worm - the whole family is covered . We have never used it. Would this be the kind of thing it could help with - i mean will it be any speedier that waiting for blood tests etc?

Unless they can fit you in tomorrow, probably not

Poor girl. I would also be going back to GP first thing. The symptoms actually sound very similar to my friend who has Crohn's Disease. I really hope you can start to get an answer soon.

Of course, definitely use it. This is really concerning.

Yes it is.

I'm a type 1 diabetic and caught mine very quickly.

That amount of size reduction when eating normally and the exhaustion suggest diabetes, but they could be something else.

Hope the next GP is more on it.

Maybe, it’s worth a try. Mine covered private GP (video apts only) but that would be helpful if nothing else. One time I used it and was told to go to A&E so you could use is as a second opinion. Re. Bloods I think the quickest I’ve had blood arranged privately was 48 hours after the GP consultation. But can usually get the telephone GP same day, so could still be quicker than next Wednesday.

@aufolandedonmyface See another GP- insist on the rapid weight loss, tiredness etc. Iron deficiency can explain tiredness but not the weightloss which is very concerning. If she's not secretly throwing up after every meal and losing weight like this I would say that it's a medical emergency OP. They have to get to the bottom of this. Take the prescription with you so GP can see what tests have been asked for and complement.

If it's like my DH insurance you can get a GP appointment through it. Book it now online and you'll probably be speaking to someone before 10am tomorrow. I've used it so many times and it's been a godsend. They will be able to refer or say A&E or whatever but at least you'll have a second opinion.

Oh and yes, do use your private health insurance. I actually used mine this week and had a same day video appointment which was incredibly helpful and we've arranged a face to face from there.

In addition to things flagged above she should be tested for glandular fever and have her kidney and liver function checked.

I would go back to the gp rather than have a catastrophic wait in A and E - early doors doesn’t always save this. You should be able to get the extra tests added on - it is possible that the hp ordered more but didn’t mention it.

Ask for blood tests and start ruling out medical concerns.