AIBU to ask if anyone's primary kids suffer from extreme tiredness

[Allthewaves]

I'm taking a pot in the dark as not sure what to do.

Eldest child has adhd, pretty classic case controlled by medication.

Middle ds is nearly 6 he is also under the process of diagnosis for adhd but without the hyperactivity, they are pretty sure it's not asd - this has come about as he is having major meltdowns at school, throws things and is then inconsolable over what he has done (and with his brothers history they were keen to start the process on the nhs side) .

This is the query ds(5) is always been tired. He sleeps 12 hours a night (bedtimes 7.30, he falls straight to sleep, barley able to keep his eyes open during his story) but yawns through the day. He told me today that he was so tired and it made him so cross at school today that he drew all over himself. He's never hyperactive if anything he's a little lethargic.

He regularly fell asleep in the afternoon in his reception year. He eats well but has started complaining of stomach ache this last week and won't eat breakfast. I queried perhaps sleep apnea with gp but he said his adenoids and tonsils weren't large enough and it's unusual in children. ds often looks a bit pale and washed out.

So i'm at a loss, surely someone shouldnt be tired all the time. I'm sure if ds wasn't so tired his behaviour would be so much better at school.

Anyone any ideas.

how is he physically? My son has hypermobility and he tires very easily.

It sounds like iron deficiency?

It was sleep apnea in our case but she was also snoring and waking lots. They couldn't tell by looking at her only by sleep study. When they came out they said th e adenoids were ginormous, but you can't see that externally.

I think its normal for young children to find school exhausting. how is he in the school holidays ? also what time does he get up?

My friends little boy was the same and he was iron deficient. GP took bloods and prescribed iron and the change was massive.

Dd has ehler danlos and until recently (16yrs old) would essentially go to bed for a sleep straight from school and would then spend her evening in bed bar eating and bathing. Dd was like this from nursery age. ED really makes the body physically tired that even sitting on the sofa did not offer enough respite.

I would push for blood test to check hb as that is a very common cause also.

Take him to the gp and ask for blood tests. How is your ds at weekends?

Sorry drop feed but your questions reminded me

had full blood work and they are normal

He seems fine physically

Hes tired during holidays too but can nap.

He gets up at 7ish

He was under ent for his hearing with glue ear when younger but that cleared up. They did say he has large adenoids but said they shold shrink with age - hes never had any infections. He mouth breaths but they reckon this may be habit. He has nasal speech and bad breath.

Could be a number of things but I would be looking at:

Gluten intolerance
Sugar intake

You could make some changes quite easily on this and see what happens, wouldn't do any harm.

Thank you for replys. It's really helping me brain storm

Coeliac disease?

You are describing my DD! Esp with the mouth breathing, glue ear and nasal voice. Does he snore? We are under ENT and have a referral for a sleep study in June (ENT waiting lists are ridiculous in my area)

Her behaviour deteriorates when tired too.

OP I would would go back to GP and ask for a referal back to ENT for adenoids .

Assuming he doesnt have a very high sugar diet etc it could be from his adenoids.

My son had exactly what you describe mouth breathing, bad breath, snoring, sleep apnea , nasal speech.

He never had an infection however thankfully we saw a brilliant GP who refered us right away due to symptoms and size of his tonsils , he would often choke on food and cough all the time.

After the surgery the consultant said he had one of the largest tonsils seen before and the largest adeniods he had seen so they absolutely needed to come out.

They are not keep to take them out now however if its affecting your son that badly I would keep going back until they do something

I'd push for a sleep study. We just had a little oxygen meter on her toe overnight that recirded what was going on. They were more interested in her after that.

I've honestly got a completely different child. From floppy sleepy child to hyperactive crazy child!

Thank you all again.

I'm bit annoyed with gp about the way I was dismissed. Id printed off sheet with sleep apnea symptoms and ds fitted quite a few, he didn't even look at it and just said his tonsils were normal size

I would push for a sleep study. I have one with narcolepsy, it's worth getting it checked.

Your Middle ds, is that the same as what they used to call Quiet ADHD?

There are plenty of possibilities but I do think CFS is a possibility here. The symptoms are not the same in children as in teenagers and adults. They can just seem like a tired kid.

"The cognitive symptoms (of CFS) from age 3 to age 12 are indistinguishable from attention deficit disorder"

You say he often looks pale, do you ever see the colour just drain from his face?

My brother has narcolepsy-like Damndonna, I'd want a sleep study.

Does he have bad dreams? Have you ever heard of cataplexy? (Because it can be concurrent with narcolepsy.)

Hopefully it's nothing serious, but you are your child's best advocate, so just keep going back to the GP. Best of luck

I can totally relate with your DS's constant tiredness. I used to come home from school (primary and secondary) and go straight to my bedroom for a sleep. I needed it, and most times I was far too exhausted to even eat. My dad figured there was something wrong, but because he was working long hours, he asked mum to take me to the GP. She never did and I still don't know what is wrong with me. I've been like this for over 25 years.

I've tried extra vitamins and minerals, and nothing worked. I had FBC done and everything came back within normal range, but the results were indicative that they weren't my body's normal, or that something else was wrong. I never did find out what was up with me, as I gave up trying after 25+yrs of complaining to my GP, and resigned myself to having to deal with permanent tiredness.

Your DS's results may have come back within normal range, but it doesn't mean it's normal for him or his body IYSWIM. One person may be totally OK with the same results, but your DS is constantly knackered, so obviously, those results are indicating that they're not his norm.

Anyway, if I was you, I'd push the GP to work at trying to find out what is up with your DS. Going by your posts, it sounds like there may be intolerances/sensitivities/allergies to certain things. It may take another few years of going back constantly to the GP, but if it helps your DS eventually lead a better and happier life, with a bit more energy, then I'd push for it.

My KS2 aged children also are always tired. However, they do have v full-on school days, and do a lot of extra-curricular activities. They're not as physical as other people's children (read a lot!) and I think some of it is about them not having developed as much stamina.
They sleep about 10.5 hours every night (Y3 and Y6), still had 12 hours in KS1. They're on half term at present- last night they went to bed at 8:30, and I had to wake the 8yo at 9am for breakfast. (Though 11yo had been reading for about an hour).
I think they're developing more stamina as they get bigger. I do give them a multivitamin with vitamin d and iron, as if anyone is low on those they'll be exhausted.
Eldest tested negative for coeliac.
EDS is a concern though, as it runs in my family.
I wonder about sleep apnoea with the youngest, as he has permanent cold ATM.

Sorry- youngest has had full bloods recently too (for something else) and all were 'normal'.