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Too many health issues

8 replies

LizzieB44 · 06/11/2022 15:49

At this point, I think my question belongs to the mental health thread, as doctors can't find a reason for my son's issues (he's 13 years old). If anybody is experiencing the same situation I will be grateful for any insight I get.

My son is a very healthy teenager, or this I thought. A year and a half ago he started having digestive issues (mucus instead of stools, loose stools, constipation, cramps). These issues were temporal, disappeared for a few months then returned for a few weeks for no apparent reason. All the tests done by the gastroenterologist at the hospital were good, with no disease diagnoses, they said he was fine and that those problems might be a light IBS.

Then came a period of time when he needed to pee constantly (no burning feeling, no pain). Urine and blood tests were perfect, and showed my son was very healthy but like with GI issues the frequent peeing comes and goes.

A new problem appeared a month ago: after lunch, if he goes out to walk/exercise he gets stabbing pain in his chest, doubles, and says he can't breathe. He's fine when he exercises in the morning, but when he walks and drinks water, and when he walks and eats while walking the pain shows up. He needs to sit down for a few minutes and then he is fine.

All those issues are very limiting as we are afraid to travel, or go somewhere. We spent last week in Italy and every afternoon we had to sit down for half an hour, every other hour, due to this chest pain. We had a lot of planned visits we had to cancel and of course, he felt awful.

Could this all be a phase? Anxiety? His doctor won't see him, says all tests have been good for the past year and there are no more tests to be done that are not invasive and she doesn't see the need to make him go through that as there is no visible inflammation or infection and his blood couldn't be better.

We try not to worry as he's a happy kid but still, I can't help wondering if something is wrong...

OP posts:
Lingles · 09/11/2022 23:35

His GP won’t see him?
or won’t refer him?

is time of day the key factor, or is eating/drinking at same time key?

greeandorange · 09/11/2022 23:59

Has he had covid?

LizzieB44 · 10/11/2022 15:17

Lingles · 09/11/2022 23:35

His GP won’t see him?
or won’t refer him?

is time of day the key factor, or is eating/drinking at same time key?

She said all tests were fine, the specialist agrees so they think it might be caused by anxiety

OP posts:
LizzieB44 · 10/11/2022 15:17

greeandorange · 09/11/2022 23:59

Has he had covid?

In 2021, actually all issues started then so it might be related, never thought about it

OP posts:
LizzieB44 · 10/11/2022 15:18

LizzieB44 · 10/11/2022 15:17

She said all tests were fine, the specialist agrees so they think it might be caused by anxiety

Mornings when he wakes up - digestive issues, needs a toilet
After lunch - exercise/walks cause stomach and chest pain

OP posts:
Yellowdahlia12 · 10/11/2022 15:28

I would also suspect covid related symptoms (only a guess, I'm not a doctor). It's a very bizarre virus that affects different people in very strange ways.
If he isn't an anxious child then I don't think it can be an anxiety issue, it's more likely to be something physical.
If it doesn't get any better then you should take him back to the GP.

ChildSalad · 10/11/2022 17:38

I also straight away thought long COVID and it's very interesting you have since said symptoms started after his infection with it. There is some interesting reading around microclot formation being suspected as causation, but isn't picked up in routine blood tests. Something to have a research of, perhaps?

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 10/11/2022 17:42

Could you arrange to see a dietician ? It sounds as if these issues are gut related and that can often be down to a food intolerance or allergy. It’s possible that he just needs to have his digestive system rebalanced by a managed programme of diet.

I hope you find an answer.

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