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AIBU?

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Original poster

To be worried about daughters mysterious illness

167 replies

Whatisgoingon16 · 22/08/2023 17:31

She has a doctors appointment tomorrow but we are all absolutely stuck. Hoping somebody here recognises what is going on.

My daughter is 16 and physically has always had some problems. Nearly died of an asthma attack as a toddler, also had mono and got sepsis from it as a baby. Very close to death.

Physically she is thriving now, slightly overweight but so am I, think she gets that from me as she loves her veg.
She has been on fluoxetine for three years now.

For the last few weeks she’s been seemingly hit like a truck by this mysterious illness and none of us have any idea what’s going on. Seems to be getting worse, especially in the past few days.

She has been saying she feels lightheaded and tired all the time. Sleeping much more than usual, hours after going out or just from light activity.
She said she gets headaches, light stomachaches around under her ribs and aching legs and arms. She has lost some weight, not a significant amount, I think it’s because of her appetite going down.
She has now started to throw up, especially in the morning when she said she feels worse which made me wonder if she could possibly even be pregnant but I am not sure as she is not in school (starting college) and only ever goes out by herself when she wants to get some clothes/treats. Has no boyfriend and I’m the one who picks her up and she seems fine.

All of this is concerning enough but it’s when I noticed she was constantly eating salt (putting it on everything, eating from the salt shaker) and drinking water I took her to the doctor as diabetes runs in her dad’s family.

Blood test came back fine, no thyroid problems either (my mother and sister have issues) assuming everything else is okay as they haven’t said enough but it did come back as slightly low iron. No anaemia, just slightly low so she is on a small dose of iron tablets.

Now we are thinking perhaps pcos as it runs in the family as well, she did say her hair has been thinning.

Help would be appreciated we are flabbergasted.
She has changed as a person as well, so angry all the time. Said her vision is wavy and she sees patterns. Her depression has become unbearable for her just always in bed.

When I talk to her about her day or what she does she takes about five minutes to even come up with a sentence. I’m worried about my daughter, she said it’s hard to think.

I am going to the doctor as I mentioned with her tomorrow and I want to know some questions/tests to ask about. I’m bloody worried

OP posts:
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8
Nat6999 · 28/08/2023 03:33

Fibromyalgia or ME/CFS have many of the same symptoms, the stomach pains & sickness can be linked, she may have either IBS or IBD which are autoimmune diseases. Has she had anything like a bad throat infection or glandular fever? Are her glands swollen? If she has glandular fever, her spleen may be inflamed which may be the cause of the stomach pain.

Backofthenet20 · 28/08/2023 05:22

Someone else suggested Addison’s disease. This is a rare illness but could be caused by the steroids for the asthma. Please ask for her to be tested / referred to an endocrinologist. If she does has Addison’s disease it can be fatal if not treated. Her symptoms sound like she may have it, particularly the sale craving, tiredness & weight loss. Does she have a tan?

LodiDodi · 28/08/2023 05:58

If the vomiting is ongoing it needs to be properly investigated, full gastro intestinal investigation, especially looking for things like coeliac disease. Pregnancy can be ruled out with a simple.pharmacy test.

oatmilk4breakfast · 28/08/2023 07:03

Could it be covid? It affected me that way

oatmilk4breakfast · 28/08/2023 07:07

Sorry missed a whole paragraph of your post. Doesn’t sound as much like covid with such severe mood changes - hope she feels better soon

sleepytimeplease · 28/08/2023 08:28

oatmilk4breakfast · 28/08/2023 07:03

Could it be covid? It affected me that way

A lot of long Covid symptoms are very similar to low B12 symptoms.

A B12 deficiency is treatable though.

MrJollyLivesNextDoor · 28/08/2023 08:48

My younger brother was diagnosed with addisons disease aged 11 back in the early 1980s.

The GPs scratched their heads for so long he ended up being rushed to hospital unconscious and he very nearly died.

Much more is known about the disease and symptoms now; please push to get this checked out.

Octavia64 · 28/08/2023 08:55

Thyroid issues can be very difficult to diagnose.

My DD had hashimotos.

In the early stages (when she was a teenager), her thyroid hormones varied wildly. As the disease that burnt out her thyroid went in fits and starts, so sometimes her hormones would be normal and sometimes not.

It was only the fact that we got them tested twice (we went to a private doctor for a second opinion which my ExDH's insurance paid for and told him to test everything the hospital did tests for) and one of the values came back very low.

The GP said oh, it'll be a mistake in the testing procedure and she was diagnosed with CFS and fibromyalgia and referred to the CFS service (who in fairness were bloody amazing).

When we said ok, let's just check it again and make sure the low value is the lab error it came back low again and then she got the hashimotos diagnosis and started thyroid treatment.

So.... in the early stages of thyroid issues, at least hashimotos, it's worth doing thyroid tests a few months apart as the hormones can fluctuate substantially.

Octavia64 · 28/08/2023 09:01

While you are waiting for blood tests:

Antihistamines help with nausea (they are used in sea sickness tablets)

If she can manage to take a multivitamin it will help with any deficiencies that she might be experiencing (thyroid can lead to b12 deficiency which leads to neuro symptoms)

Can you get painkillers from the doctor for the pain? Doctor might also be prepared to refer to CFS service who can be very useful.

Original poster
Whatisgoingon16 · 30/08/2023 23:03

Hi everyone

Just an update now that I have time in case anybody is wondering.

Dd woke up at about eight and threw up three times.
Started crying and then passed out on the bathroom floor.
She hasn’t fainted since she was a toddler ☹️.
Said her vision turned blue and she was seeing patterns before it. That everything felt in slow motion and she was extremely dizzy.

Phoned 111 immediately as I couldn’t get her to a+e, but tests are being done at 8am tomorrow.

We aren’t sure if it’s related to her period (she started today, it’s been irregular) or not as she’s hasn’t been well for a while now long before but it was terrifying this morning.

She’s okay now in bed had a hug and watched a film ☺️. But keeping a very very close eye on her
any advice would be welcome as well

OP posts:
Original poster
Whatisgoingon16 · 30/08/2023 23:04

Still extremely fatigued as well sleeping all day ☹️

OP posts:
Workingmumchaos · 30/08/2023 23:10

She’s taking a lot of pills for a 16yo. I would be questioning whether it’s those. Iron makes me sick and feel like shit. Get the oral spray instead. I had no issues with that. Also don’t react particularly well to mind drugs. The list you describe the remainder if you take out the iron pill symptoms are quite common symptoms of ssris.

Workingmumchaos · 30/08/2023 23:13

Oh bless you didn’t see your update when I was typing. That sounds awful! Fainting isn’t really an ssri symptom as far as I am aware. Dizziness and vision issues can be but this sounds more. Goodluck

justasking111 · 30/08/2023 23:15

Poor girl. I hope that you get a diagnosis and treatment soon

fastingworks · 30/08/2023 23:20

Addisons disease???

kizziee · 30/08/2023 23:52

When did she start reducing the Prozac. Anti depressant withdrawal can cause some of those symptoms.

Un7breakable · 30/08/2023 23:52

OP I don't want to alarm you but please Google Addisonian crisis / adrenal crisis, and do check she's rousable overnight. Without being too outing I knew someone who died of this after vomiting.

Reetnice · 31/08/2023 00:14

❤️❤️

Friarclose · 31/08/2023 00:51

I would definitely want them to scan her head. Vomiting accompanied with neurological symptoms can be symptoms of brain tumour in young people. I do hope she's OK.

darkestnights · 31/08/2023 01:32

Do get her checked as quickly as you can for Addisons. My daughter has it so this all sounds familiar and in an adrenal crisis they need urgent cortisol. They can deteriorate incredibly quickly.

Hope it all gets very sorted soon and she's back to being well xx

PeopleAreWeird · 31/08/2023 01:40

Why couldnt you get her to A&E?

Zanatdy · 31/08/2023 06:24

Did they test ferritin level too?

Leasa241 · 31/08/2023 08:37

As others have said check for pots you can do a sit stand test at home to get an idea. Also stomach migraines my daughter has both and they are similar symptoms to what you describe. Pots can be brought on my viral infection such as covid.

Leasa241 · 31/08/2023 08:40

Pots isn’t a heart condition so the GP is wrong to imply that because her heart is fine it’s unlikely. Also you don’t need a tilt table to diagnose these days as to be honest you’ll be lucky to find a Dr to do one unless you are in a big city. Check out potsuk for more info