Teenage chronic tiredness

[guineapiglet]

Hi I wonder whether any of you have experience of permanently tired teenagers. My lovely daughter is 14, under weight ( despite eating non stop, always been a good eater) and low BMI. She had a virus akin to Glandular Fever in May which knocked her sideways and she has spend nearly 3 months recovering, chronically tired all the time. Blood tests reveal nothing too sinister, may be bit anaemic during period time. She is such a wonderful girl, and it is heartbreaking to see her so constantly lacking in energy. Just about to embark on Year 10 so needs all the energy she can get. SHe has had vitamins, supplements, extra iron etc and she has grown over 3 cm in a few months - growing upwards, not outwards. Any experience/help or offerings would be appreciated....!

Guineapiglet, I had glandular fever when I was a teenager and it took me a good year to get over it.

It's really important that she listens to her body and doesn't overdo it - I have never felt tiredness like it since - thankfully!

No real advice other than to carry on with what you are doing and to ensure that when she does feel better she doesn't do too much - I had quite a few relapses over the year, where I was too keen to get back to burning the candle at both ends and then falling ill again.

I would also have a chat with her school and would suggest that she does a staggered return - maybe just doing a few mornings to start off with and build up from there.

Hope she feels better soon.

DS2 also had glandular fever in his teens, and took many months to get back to normality; his actually led to him leaving school (though he later went to college.) He's absolutely fine now, but it does take time.