Would you take your child to the doctors for this?

[AltinkumATEalltheTurkey]

Ds is 6, (7 next month) and has a extremely fast metabolism (he gets treated on a diabeties type diet)

He is 3st 2oz and wears 5-6 year old clothes.

We call him tin ribs as you can see every rib in his body, including his back bones.

When he eats, he needs to use the loo on average 5 to 30 mins after every meal and sometimes even snacks.

He is pale and over the past few weeks has started getting dark circles under his eyes.

He's fit and healthy otherwise, plays football twice a week, does karate, and runs around like a normal 6 year old.

I'm just worried about his weight and metabolism, he eats well and has a good varied diet.

Is this normal or would you get your child checkout if it was them. Just seems he's not growing (been in the same shoe size for 20 months now and showing no signs of sprouting. (Shoes size size 10.5)

[BlackholesAndRevelations]

That's true catpuss- when I took my DD to be tested, they sent us away and told us to feed her gluten three times a day for three months, as she had been eating a mixture of gluten free and gluten as she eats the same as me. Only cut out gluten if you get the diagnosis. Good luck, will be interested to know the outcome

[Loveweekends10]

I've got a skinny 7 year old. I'm constantly fretting over her weight. I wrote a letter to school recently saying I would be putting higher fat content food in her packed lunch.
She burns off calories but when you spend a day with her you realise why she is constantly on the go. Never sits down.
Anyway over Xmas I have stuffed her with cake etc. she has put on a little bit of weight but I can't do this when she is at school unfortunately.

[Montybojangles]

You need to insist on a referral in to see a specialist. Don't let your gp bugger about, he is there to treat general, common ailments and refer on for more unusual problems such as your son.
Sorry if that's been said already a thousand times haven't time to read through all replies, but feel I needed to urge you to seek specialist input.

[EugenesAxe]

I would take him; it can't hurt. Although that list of food you provided is high on things that make you shit a lot (pease pud, lentil soup, cereal).

Does he eat hunky carbs and more protein based meals other days? Bread and butter, shepherd's pie etc, or is your menu fairly typical? It's great, don't get me wrong, but for a nice, new and healthy bowel that sees a lot of exercise, I'm not that surprised now at the pooing information.

[EugenesAxe]

Sorry I stopped reading after a while... sigh. I knew someone with CF; I'd be surprised at him getting to nearly seven without it being diagnosed, as she had to have loads of lung massage to clear her mucus. Anyway I thought it was one of the heel prick test conditions they check for?

[AltinkumATEalltheTurkey]

Normally he has alot of bulky foods, however yesterday its been travelling and constantly being busy, hence the lentil soup, which did have tatties, ham parsnips, was more a scots broth.

I try and give him loads of carbs for slow realsing energy, like pasta, jacket tatties, rice, etc... on average id say twice a day.

This morning hes asked for bacon and egg toastie

[Bumply]

Another one thinking coeliac rings a bell or two.
Also agree keep up gluten content of diet until diagnosed which is blood test in first instance.

[festivelyfocussed]

My advice would be to take him to your GP? It sounds as though e needs a referral for assesssment in hospital. This would involve paediatrician and dietician for assessment.

[festivelyfocussed]

Of course, we could all continue to speculate based on personal exigences but only a clinical assessment will move things forward for your DS.
Good luck.

[festivelyfocussed]

SP!?.

[AltinkumATEalltheTurkey]

Gggrr to even get a appointement, i have to speak to the receptionist, who said in order to get a app, I need to have a telephone appointement, to see if a app is needed, and then if it is, il be given one in the next 3 days

Mmmmm

[festivelyfocussed]

Gggrrrrr indeed.
Don't let that put you off though. It's been going on for a while and the sooner you call the sooner he'll be seen.

[Bugsylugs]

Hope the telephone consultation goes ok.
Lentils are protein rich food so slow release of energy so great. Soup high in protein has been shown to keep you full for longer ie roast meal versus in liquidised form you stay more full with liquidised form. Potatoes and pasta are fast release as high glycemic index.
Don't go in demanding will only get GP back up same as in any walk in life. Say what you said on here in op and that you are very worried

[2madboys]

Just to add, if you are waiting for a blood test for coeliac disease, don't remove gluten from his diet as that will give you a false negative result. Don't let a gp tell you to just do this and presume coeliac as he will get prescription gf foods and other referals, but only if there is a proper diagnosis. My dh is coeliac and he felt better within a couple of days of diet change, so honestly don't worry if that's the diagnosis.

[AltinkumATEalltheTurkey]

Dr took it very serious, she wanted him in today at 1pm but I couldn't as I'm at work, so their tommorrow at 12.40 for blood tests, and examination, got to collect the cream numb thingy today.

[festivelyfocussed]

Well done. Hope all goes well.

[festivelyfocussed]

Not such a a crappy appt. system after all. I take it back!

[rogersmellyonthetelly]

Well I wouldnt worry about him being a tin ribs, my ds is 8 and you can park a bike between his ribs! He is just skin muscle and bone, I think that's how healthy active kids are supposed to look! I was at a new years eve party the other night and there were 4 other boys of the same age there, they all took their tops off as they were running around and it was hot, and there wasn't an ounce of spare flesh between them! Seen more meat on a butchers pencil tbh.
Anyhow, whilst I wouldn't worry about his weight so much as long as he is growing and has plenty of energy, but paleness/dark circles under the eyes I would probably take him to be checked out, given that you know he has this issue with his metabolism. If he were mine, I would dose him up with multivitamins and see how he went for a few weeks, but with other health issues it's best to get it checked.

[peaceandlovebunny]

take him to the doctors today please.

[notapizzaeater]

Before my ds was diagonosed he just could not put weight on no matter h much I put in the top !!! He never ever complained of tummy ache only told me after he was confirmed (by biopsy as doctors didn't think it cold be as he was tall and skinny and other than dark eyes looked healthy) that it was great now his tummy ache had gone. I suppose if you've always had tummy ache you don't realise you actually have it

[grumblinalong]

Hmm. Interesting thread. I have a 9 year old who is 2 lb heavier than your DS OP and he has odd toilet habits. Can you update when you've been to GP so I can compare to my string bean please?

[grumblinalong]

Also (sorry!) have your DC been growing height wise? I know you mentioned his shoe size hasn't increased. My ds has shot up but is still a size 13.5.

[DorisIsWaiting]

Just checking in really glad to see the dr took your concerns seriously.

Just to say I think looking for more obvious problems with malabsorption coeliac allergy/ intolerance to other food etc first is definitely the way to go.

However just to clarify so questions raised about CF. It can present in many forms and at a variety of ages ( DD had a bowel obstruction at birth). Not so much for babies born now as screening is part of the routine blood tests at birth (introduced nationally about 3-4 years ago). There are people being diagnosed in teens and early 20's (not in huge numbers but some!) largely as CF has different genetic mutations which can affect each indiviual differently. It can impact more on bowels for some and lungs for others. I don't think the OP should be worried about CF for the moment but it is something that could be considered down the line if everything else is coming up clear.

Good Luck OP I hope the blood test goes ok tomorrow.

[HappyJazzy]

I would start a food diary until your appointment and put down how many poos he has too, try and remember the past few days as well so you have as much info as possible.

[eragon]

ibs? if so, thats a LOT of fibre in one day.
its also fits in your symtoms discription.

dark rings under eyes is linked to allergy, but as your child is asthmatic, that counts as well! can be caused by environmental allergies.