To be worried about daughters mysterious illness

[Whatisgoingon16]

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

I hope she’s in hospital now.
I know someone with Addisons - they were diagnosed aged 16 - one symptom was that they were always cold (was a warm summer and they were in hoodies) - does that apply? Their mum/GP were on the ball and they were diagnosed fairly quickly. They’re on life saving medication now. I do remember them going for the early morning bloods at our local hospital and how worried my friend (the mum) was.

I very much hope that's where the OP is right now, @Swanswam .

I've seen over the years posters advised by wise experienced heads on here saying please ask for tests for x,y,z so the OP stood their ground at A&E saying please test for X, Y, Z. Lo and behold posters on here had hit the nail on the head .

I'd never ignore advice on here especially as so many on this thread have emphatically suggested checking for Addison's.

Your DD is very lucky to have you, OP. Sending love, hugs to you both and best wishes. Hopefully a diagnosis with a manageable treatment plan will come imminently 💐

@Whatisgoingon16 someone passing out and headache in the morning I really think you need to be going to A&E now. Was it just Gp practice nurse doing the bloods? She really needs seeing by a doctor and I can’t believe a Gp or out of hours Gp wouldn’t see her or send her to hospital

I have a feeling the OP will not return.

I couldn't work out to report this thread on the App.

Back, sorry, it’s been a long day and I have an update.
Reporting this thread is disgusting wow, it has been so helpful.
Bear with me while I just type

Reporting it was really not helpful, unclear what that poster wanted to achieve.

The update -

Other blood results came in.

It says, from what I can decipher:

Low white blood cell count
High reactive protein
Slight high calcium
Sodium is fine , so is potassium, electrolytes fine
Thank God

Those were the first set of tests waiting on the second results.

Went to see her psychiatrist today and they think it could be anxiety her depression
She threw up again yesterday on her bed tooo☹️
She has become quite aggressive with me and sent my husband a nasty message of how nobody cares about her and she doesn’t feel well
I’m human too she doesn’t seem to see this
in good hands

@Whatisgoingon16 who gave you the blood results?
I think the agressions is related.

So sorry someone reported yoir thread, WTAF would they do that? Even if you came back and didn’t give an update you don’t owe anyone anything.

She's clearly feeling very unwell. I'd be pretty grumpy by now. I can't agree with the psychiatrist on this occasion either .

yep. Results provided by her nhs account , I told her to get the app.
I don’t think I will post much longer while I sort out my daughter with emergency services etc, if she gets a diagnosis or any big news I will update but for now she is my first priority xx

You must be so worried and frustrated at not getting any answers. Please don’t take anything your daughter says to heart, she’s just been told it’s basically all in her head and must feel like no one believes her. I don’t believe this is anxiety or depression. Don’t give up on finding the answers 💐

Sodium is fine , so is potassium, electrolytes fine
Thank God

Yes, phew!

Still incredibly worrying. Pleased you're making some sort of progress, @Whatisgoingon16, and sorry that DD's illness is making her stroppy.

I know psychiatric illness can cause physical symptoms, but all this and her test results? Bit of a stretch, surely.

Fully understand you've got more on your plate than arguing on MN! Please do let us know of any significant developments, though, we're all with you in spirit.

What I meant is that she’s had bloods taken by the nurse and the results are available but has she spoken to an actual doctors in the last week? Not just you looked up the app? Have you told a doctor in the last few days about her passing out and the vomiting and changes in vision?

Shes not angry at you, she’s really ill and that text isn’t something to be angry about, but to listen that she needs seeing this weekend.

Was an early morning cortisol blood test done? It sounds very much like adrenal insufficiency with the low blood pressure, low mood etc.

@Whatisgoingon16

OP, i genuinely don't want to worry you, but has your daughter had blood tests for Addison's disease? The symptoms you describe are typical, espaecially the craving for salt. I hope she's tested asap and if it is AD she can manage symptoms with treatment. Best wishes

Yes you’re right. In the UK your TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) blood test result needs to be 4 or above, to get a hypothyroidism diagnosis.

In many other countries TSH is at 2.5 to get a diagnosis and to be medicated.

Many people (myself included) feel very unwell with a TSH above 2.

To give some context as to how important having a healthy TSH result is - women trying to conceive need their TSH to be under 2 - to keep the pregnancy safe
from miscarriage / prevent baby having developmental issues - baby doesn’t have a thyroid until 13 weeks so the mothers must be working perfectly in the first trimester.

I did immediately think thyroid when reading your description OP, I hope it can be resolved. A GP could see your daughter has a TSH of 3.5 and still be telling you she’s fine.

Cutting gluten, sugar, caffeine and alcohol has helped me tremendously. Tough but worth it.

Hope you get some answers soon.

OP I see so many people suggesting Addisons Disease - I hope you have asked them to check for that.

Best of luck op

different parts of the country view b12 as being normal at different levels (my folate level was viewed as normal - before nice updated the guidelines.. and suddenly it was not!!)

I highly recommend printing the 'real' figures - as people may well be able to help you :)

It's scary x

@Whatisgoingon16 You didn’t mention results for B12 and folate - did she get those tests done?

It sounds really minor, but low B12 can have wide-ranging effects, including anxiety, irritability and depression. It’s entirely possible that the way she’s kicking off at you has a physical cause - a vitamin imbalance. I was both shocked at how my mental health declined with no prior history and how it then improved after physical treatment (B12 injections).

Doctors in the UK are really bad at identifying and understanding low B12. Just because they’ve sent your DD for tests doesn’t mean they’ve checked for everything.

Low B12 can present with any number of other conditions (making it tricky to spot due to overlapping symptoms) so I’d also note the other posters’ comments on checking for Addisons.

You don’t owe anyone an update, but I strongly suggest you advocate for additional blood tests if your DD hasn’t had all the ones we’ve recommended in this thread.

I would insist on a brain MRI if you have private insurance find a route to one of these - her vision disturbances and her throwing up concerns me.