school coming out to check up on ds tmw morn

[Sarah510]

so, ds has been off school for 2 weeks tomorrow. I've taken him to the doc twice, last time was Friday, and they said he has a cough, but don't think he needs antibiotics. He's been basically in bed for 2 weeks, he cant move, he is so tired all the time. I dragged him out for a walk the last 3 days but he can only walk a few hundred yards and then we have to go back, and he goes straight to bed. I don't think it's psychological. He cant play his playstation cos it hurts his eyes. He just lays in bed. I'm worried, but also worried about the head of year coming to the house tomorrow. I'm thinking should I try and get him into school tomorrow. They want to set him up in 'student support' where he has a room to 'study'. I don't think he would be able for it though. Well I'll see what he's like tonight. Anyone else any experience of this kind of illness. He doesn't have temp so doc ruled out glandular fever.

I'm going to echo all the other GF posts. I was extremely unwell with it at 14. I didn't have a temperature either and it started when I collapsed in a corridor at school.
It took me over 6 months to get right.

He needs bloods with some urgency and your surgery seem a bit negligent in this.

I'd want blood test. That level tiredness could be anything - anaemia, start of diabetes, etc

Let the school visit and see what they can do to support.

it could be post viral fatigue, which can become chronic fatigue syndrome (m.e.). It's diagnosed through ruling out other causes (eg through blood tests as there is no blood test for cfs/m.e.) and a check list of symptoms. It's important to rest in the early stages and pace activities. So yes, I agree with others, I would want blood tests to rule out other possible causes, and if nothing is found and his symptoms match those of cfs/m.e. a referral to a specialist service to help him understand and start to manage it. Good luck.

Demand a blood test. Could be GF. But could also be something like leukaemia ( probably not before you panic). Just get bloods!

I'd be terrified of myocarditis. But again, I was another one who didnt have a fever with glandular fever (with symptoms just like your sons). Hope he is on the mend soon.

It will be good for him to keep up with some school work so he wont worry about going back to school. also are you sure is he isn't being bullied, or stressed/anxious about school - that can also make him unwell physically to an extent. keep him engaged in school stuff so he doesnt get to far behind, again not to much - as much as he can do - good luck

I didn't have a cough with glandural fever though. Bit he should be tested!

Has he got corona virus

I had glandular fever at 13 and had no temp. Dr's, and don't leave until they book a blood test.

My first thoughts are coronavirus.

My GF started with extreme fatigue and what I thought was a sprained ankle - except I'd not done anything to the ankle! It just swelled up horrifically one day! And I went literally overnight from someone who was annoyingly tigger like in energy levels to someone who could barely sit up in bed I was that knackered! I was in my 20's but it's very common in high school age.

Dd has it around age 12, she has Eds so the joint issues weren't so obvious an anomaly but the fatigue that hit her like a brick was, she was also tigger like beforehand.

Sounds like glandular fever to me too but that’s a year long illness and can turn into ME. You need to get him moving my child had it and didn’t miss a days school. No pe though and needed extra iron

One of my children had GF at 7 years old and was falling asleep all the time. Also had intermittent spiking fevers which your son doesn't have. People think it is a student illness, but anyone can get it.

I was diagnosed with M.E after 6 months of being so sick I couldn't walk up my stairs or to the bathroom in one go without sitting down. The doctors still did a blood test after just two weeks of sickness that showed up nothing but a bad liver and high white blood cell count, no glandular fever confirmed. This was about 4 or so years ago now, so much the same in terms of NHS guidelines.

They really ought to do a blood test, but please know that if nothing comes back he's not faking it! Post viral fatigue is very real and it doesn't always show up in your blood results. It is unlikely that he'll get diagnosed with anything after just two weeks of sickness, but as it's showing no signs of leaving after two weeks blood tests do need to be pushed for! Please make sure he's drinking as much as possible too to help with his liver as well.

Agree with others. Don't send your child back to school as he may be a public health risk to other students. You should go back to GP and insist on liver function test, blood count etc. If this carries on long term, insist on a referral to paediatric care as they will be able to spot serious issues.

The school should make provision to send work home, and if your child remains sick long term then other arrangements can be made for education like a tutor. The local authority have a duty of educational care, and have to make reasonable adjustments. Don't let the head teacher fob you off with bullying tactics to get attendance figures up. With all the corona panic about at the moment, a sick student in school could cause outrage in other parents.

School are probably just coming because they’re worried about him, it must be their procedure. I wouldn’t necessarily see it as a negative.

Don’t make your son go to school, he sounds very ill. I too would push for blood tests.

As others have said school won’t be coming out to drag him to school but to check his welfare (checking he is home sick and not suffering abuse) you’re doing nothing wrong and quite rightly are putting your sons health first. Do push for further tests and ask for a second opinion if need be

School will be panicking because absence measured as % only few months in since sept % for absesnce will be high for poor attendance.

They are chasing offsted figures not your sons welfare.

I would allow them in but tell then 5 mins max my friend had this reduced her to tears and threaten court because his attendance was 50% (due to the fact 2 weeks in to 1st term and he had noro virus ) they wanted him back at school with noro virus .

I had glandular fever at 14 and was very much like you describe.
Genuinely felt like I was dying for best part of a month - it was the worst illness I’ve ever experienced!

Push for blood tests and paediatric review. See if the school could be able to support your request for medical review. The clinic I work in we've found that school and health visitors can help to push through referrals. For such a drastic change in a child they should be making more of an effort. My son was unwell for an extended period of time, my GP was great but the school did offer to provide support for an onward referral. For my son it was related to migraine due to hormonal changes. Hope he's better soon.

YANBU to keep him off school. I think it's great the teacher is coming to visit. I hope you can get some answers from the GP soon but I hope more than anything that your DS gets better soon. This must be so tough but you're doing the right thing.

Does he have a lower than normal temperature?

If school do play hard ball and become awkward re attendance. Which is as likely as not.
Unenrol him and home school. He is not in prison despite what they think.

You can always re enrol at later date.

Maybe secondary isn't for him. Secondaries are awful places. Especially for 11yos.
Could be MH?

Another one who was fobbed off with GF till I collapsed in front of the doc and ended up in hospital for a few days as so unwell. If you can afford it, go private and if you can't, take him back to GP rather than wait.

Let school see him and tell them categorically that this isn't some made up illness or school avoidance.