Scared of the unknown...

[OneTwoOrThree]

4yr old DD, just about to start school. Has symptoms that scare me a bit - nothing immediately scary, but I do think there's an underlying issue...

Symptoms - complaining of being tired, lethargic, keep finding her sitting on my knee or lying motionless on sofa / floor (even at her friends houses and also at a party). Looks pale. However, sometime she is fine.

It's been going on a while (months) but symptoms are vague and a bit on / off.

Behaviour has deteriorated - doesn't do as she's told etc, but that could just be her age

Previous constipation issue, but well under control for 12+ months with one movicol per day.

Appetite is huge (always has been) and diet pretty good. She gets good exercise - bike, scooter, park, walks, ballet etc.

Something instinctive tells me there is a problem though... Off to GP later this week. What should I ask for? Blood tests? If so, what ones? (And how do you get blood from a 4 year old?!?)

Thanks for listening to my ramble...

Test for coeliac.

Thanks. Hadn't considered that... I've been thinking anaemia, diabetes, thyroid although symptoms aren't a perfect match. Also been thinking "really scary" things, but trying to put that to the back of my mind.

It might be worth taking a urine sample so they can test for an infection or diabetes.
It might be that she's just active and needs some downtime but trust your instincts.

Does she take any vitamin supplements? I went to my HV about a similar thing with DD(3.5) and she suggested that a) I do too much with her (we have nursery in the morning then always take her out in the afternoon) and b) they now recommend all under 5s take vitamins. I was initially a bit affronted as she has a good balanced diet but thought I'd try it anyway - I have honestly seen a marked improvement. She's sleeping better and her behaviour is better and she is much less exhausted. I stopped the supplements for a couple of weeks and saw a change back to the previous exhaustion.
Just an idea but probably best to see your GP anyway as I always believe you should trust mothers instinct!

Thanks again folks. We do vitamins, but sporadically rather than regularly. Seeing the GP tomorrow and hoping I can convince him / her to take me seriously and do some tests rather than fob me off....