Quite concerned about DD, what would you do?

[ElfOnTheTopShelf]

DD recently has been getting really difficult to wake up in the morning. She is five years old and her bedtime is seven. Mostly she is asleep by 7:15. I wake her up approx 6:45/7:00 in the morning so we can get ready to leave the house, so nearly 12 hours sleep a night.
For a few weeks she was complaining every now and again of a tummy ache, took her to the docs who said UTI and she had a course of antibiotics.
This week she has become extremely clingy, difficult to wake up in the morning, very emotional, and has been going to bed sooner and sooner each night, and getting more difficult to wake in the morning. She's also a bit off her food, one day this week she had a slice of toast for breakfast, at lunch she ate half a sandwich, and tea she had half a toastie, and she didn't want anything else.
Yesterday she had spent nearly 45 minutes crying at the childminders house before I picked her up, she alternates between saying nothing is wrong / she's just tired / she's worried the new baby will be smelly (I am 35 weeks pg, but up til now, she's seemed fine at the idea of having a sibling). I took her home last night, she was in bed and asleep at 5:45, she slept until 7:10 this morning. I have picked her up, and apparently she has been asleep "several times" today in class, slept for an hour at the childminders, and is currently lying in bed now.
I did try to get her in our docs, but they cannot see her until next thursday.
In these cirumstances, WWYD? DH says to ring nhs direct, but I'm not sure if we're just being paranoid. Any advice would be appreciated. Some people have suggested that she may be naturally worried about the new arrival, and this is what is making her a bit emotional, but surely wouldn't put her off her food and make her sleep excessively?

[MummyBerryJuice]

Don't want to cause you undue worry but I would have them done as a matter of urgency. But easy bruising and excessive sleepiness (particularly withthe sore neck) can be quite sinister signs. I would want at least an FBC (full blood count) done ASAP.

[BlameItOnTheBogey]

I second MummyBerryJuice. The sore neck bit combined with the bruising would have me insisting on full blood tests. Remember, she needs you to advocate for her; it doesn't matter if the doctor thinks you are a pain - you don't need him/her to like you. But you do need to get a proper diagnosis. Sending you lots of best wishes.

[Magna]

Only just read this thread and I must admit I am with mummyberry the bruising and neck is my worry.

A full blood count would be what I would ask for as a matter of urgency

[ednurse]

Yes I'd get a FBC done as soon as poss.
Take her to A+E again. It's a long ongoing problem with worsening symptoms (bruising)

[indifferent]

You are going to have a newborn baby to cope with very soon. You need to get your darling daughter diagnosed and well in good time. I agree with the other posters that you have to be your DD's advocate. Some of the symptoms sound quite worrying (I have no medical expertise though) and you can't continue to wait. Do you have family health insurance? If so, then insist your GP refers you to a paediatrician urgently for a proper check up before the end of this week. If she suddenly worsens, then you should not hesitate to go to A and E.

Good luck. I hope it all proves to be nothing.

[MummyBerryJuice]

I'd go to A&E in the morning. No need to go tonight but wouldn't wait for a GP referral to a Paed. Unless you are able to see your GP tomorrow and get a same day referral to see the Paed at the hospital

[TheOriginalFAB]

The bruising is worrying and I think you need her seen asap.

[blinks]

has she had a complete blood test?

if not she needs one to rule out poss cancer, with the bruising and other symptoms. if they refuse, go to another doctor.

[moosemama]

I wouldn't wait another week to ask for bloods to be taken if she's still not right. It takes a couple of minutes and costs very little, yet can tell them such a lot. The results are usually back within 48 hours and will either provide you with a degree of peace of mind or point to where the problem lies.

I would also be asking for a paed referral at this point and wouldn't take no for an answer to either the bloods or a referral.

Is she still sleeping lots? If so, is she just sleeping longer hours and being more difficult to wake in the morning, or is she falling asleep during the day as well?

[ElfOnTheTopShelf]

She hasn't fallen asleep in the day for a while, though in the afternoons / an hour or so before bedtime, she has been saying she is tired. We were at a party on Saturday though and she stayed up later than usual, so I think it can be mood dependant with her too.
She's come home today (been out with my mum) and she has two wobbly teeth now - poor thing is going through the mill!

[ElfOnTheTopShelf]

Am starting to freak myself out now :(

[Tgger]

Does she eat baked beans or eggs? Think getting more iron in her diet would be a good start if there isn't any other medical thing.

My son is a bit younger (4.5). He is extra tired sometimes, will still fall asleep in the car in the afternoon and often sleeps/stays in bed for 12/13 hours at night. He had chickenpox a couple of weeks ago and I think he's still getting over it to some degree. He often goes tired before he gets ill as well. Do you have to wake her in the morning when it's not school, can you let her sleep as much as she wants? DS has been in bed at 7 and not up till 8am the passed few days.

[ElfOnTheTopShelf]

She's been off school and off the childminders for a few days and we have just let her get up when she's ready rather than waking her up. She's been getting up about eight / half eight.

[ElfOnTheTopShelf]

She does eat baked beans (loves them) and eggs.

[stripeywoollenhat]

don't freak out - she is probably a little iron deficient, or post-viral or something equally unworrying. but she does have a wide range of symptoms, so it would probably be wise to get it thoroughly investigated: if your gp is not being helpful, i would take everyone's adivce and go to a and e. but do not worry too much in advance of having something to worry about, iykwim.
i hope she feels better soon.

[moosemama]

Don't freak out. You're handling it fine, she does sound a little better than when you first posted. I would almost put money on it being anaemia, but its best to get these things properly checked - the best GP in the world can't possibly rule out other things without getting the facts via a blood test.

I have been adding spatone and a little apple juice to my boys' drink every morning to top up their iron - its practically flavourless, so they don't even notice it. Spatone My ds is back up to full strength and bouncing about like a spring lamb again now and he already had a good diet before I started him on the extra supplements, so it might be worth a try for your dd as well.

[MummyBerryJuice]

How is your DD today Elf?

[JellyBeansOnToast]

Don't know if this has been said but insist on a Ferritin count, as this will show you if she's absorbing iron properly. Sometimes children have quite enough in their diets but are unable to absorb it efficiently. Hope everything's going well :)

[ElfOnTheTopShelf]

Just an update for people, she seems to be doing okay. Still very emotional in the evenings because she is overtired at bedtime (still going to bed at seven). We've been letting her get up when she's ready (half seven/eight) when we can rather than waking her (though if we do wake her, I leave her until the last minute possible, so abour seven anyway).

[CarGirl]

I hope she continues to improve.

[lisad123isasnuttyasaboxoffrogs]

please tak eher back to GP and insist on blood counts and a full work up. This isnt normal, and there is clearly something going on.

[MummyBerryJuice]

Is she still bruising easily, Elf?

[TheOriginalFAB]

How is she now?

[mummyplum]

Hope she is ok by now, but I would agree with other posts.
If the doctor hasn't done any blood tests yet, insist upon it or head to A&E again and show them the bruising.
My DD had unexplained bruising after a UTI and they suspected a number of things two of which were ITP or HSP which are both problems with the blood, with bruising & fatigue as a symptom. Get yourself some peace of mind..35 wks preg with a poorly little one cannot be easy!

[lisad123isasnuttyasaboxoffrogs]

any news?