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3yo DS always exhausted.

22 replies

LadybirdSpots · 30/09/2013 21:33

My 3yo DS is constantly shattered. He wakes up, and he'll sit on the sofa for a few hours, exhausted.

He plays lots outside, and goes to pre school 2 and half days a week, and also a 30 minute swimming lesson once a week. We do also spend lots of time at home, as i'm conscious about him doing too much.

He quite often looks grey when he's tired, with big rings under his eyes. He hasn't napped during the day for about a year, and he goes to bed between 6:30 and 7:30 every evening. He sleeps all night but wakes up between 5:30 and 6:30 when he's at my house, (his dad and I aren't together) but when he's at his dad's every other weekend, he'll sometimes sleep until 11am, and never wakes earlier that 8!

Even after a lot of sleep at his dads he's still absolutely exhausted.

Development wise he's just where he should be, so i'm not concerned about that.

I spoke to the GP about it a few months ago, and he said he doesn't look anemic, but that his veins are really a bad, and a blood test would be really traumatic for him. He said that some children are just always tired, and he seems to be one of them!

His Dad and I aren't sure whether there's anything to be concerned about, which is why i'm asking the MN opinion! Could he just be a tired child, and does anyone else have a child like this? Or should I push for a blood test? I really don't want to do one if it's not absolutely necessary!

Sorry for the very long post, i don't want to drip feed!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
MousyMouse · 30/09/2013 21:39

how is his diet? is he ill often?

back to gp. don't be fobbed off, it does sound unusual.
they could refer to a phlebotomist (=expert blood taker) who should have lots of experience taking blood from unwilling and difficult patients.

LadybirdSpots · 30/09/2013 21:52

Thanks for the reply, his diet isn't fantastic, he always been a fussy eater, but what he does eat is healthy, and quite balanced. He eats a fair bit of fruit and veg. We used to give him vitamins in his bottle, when he had milk, and it really didn't make that much difference.
I think i will take him back to a different GP, I just wasn't sure if i was over reacting, it's good to hear another opinion Smile

OP posts:
sittinginthesun · 30/09/2013 21:55

Does he cough a lot, particularly in the evenings?

FavoriteThings · 30/09/2013 21:56

I would take him back to a different gp as well.

LadybirdSpots · 30/09/2013 22:02

No not a lot sitting. He'll cough in the night sometimes, but not all the time.

OP posts:
sittinginthesun · 30/09/2013 22:03

Just a thought - my youngest was just like that (tired, grey/pale with rings under his eyes) until the GP diagnosed mild asthma.

Agree you should go back to the GP.

MousyMouse · 30/09/2013 22:04

good point sitting
op night time cough could be a sign of asthma. raise that with the go as well.

headlesshorseman · 30/09/2013 22:04

get the gp to take blood, it will answer lots of questions.
excessive tiredness can be a symptom of diabetes, does he drink and wee a lot?

LadybirdSpots · 30/09/2013 22:18

He doesn't drink masses headless and doesn't wee loads either, he seems to be able to hold it for ages.

Thanks everyone, will definitely be ringing the GP in the morning.

OP posts:
sittinginthesun · 30/09/2013 22:22

Hope you get to the bottom of it.

headlesshorseman · 30/09/2013 22:26

thats good to know Smile
speak to the gp again and don't worry about asking for a second opinion if you feel your not being taken seriously enough

cestlavielife · 30/09/2013 23:21

Push for blood tests anaemia coeliac screen etc etc .
Local children's ward will have good experience of taking blood from children and it will be over in few seconds .

Bertiebutterfly · 01/10/2013 21:54

DD1 was very similar to this. She had a blood test done at the local hospital's children's ward - they were brilliant with her. Turned out she was borderline anaemic. She didn't require tablets but we upped the amount of red meat with vit C and over a few months it made a huge difference.

Push for tests OP you need to put your mind at rest.

Nodney · 01/10/2013 22:01

Just wanted to add my experience, if it helps. My DS had blood taken when he was 4. It was from the back of his hand via a cannula which they put in especially and removed once the blood was taken. They gave me special cream to put in an hour before the appointment and my DS sat on my knee with his arm around me. Then they gave him an iPad to use and took the blood from the hand of the arm which was around my back. They had trouble getting the vein but my DS was completely unaware of the whole procedure. The NHS nurses were fab - really professional and very kind. HTH x

ShoeWhore · 01/10/2013 22:12

We had similar with ds2 when he was 4. He was getting up at normal time and then taking himself back to bed for a sleep at around 9am (really NOT normal behaviour for him!); when we went out he would become very lethargic and have to get in his little brother's buggy. I was worried sick about him tbh.

He got referred for blood tests - there are specialist paediatric phlebotomists at our local hospital and they were brilliant. Like Nodney said they put cream on him (in 2 places in case the first one didn't work) and they distracted him with a book - it was quick and painless (ds was actually quite fascinated by it Grin )

In the end the blood tests didn't really show anything and the conclusion was it was post-viral (he had frequent throat infections at that age - might be worth checking your ds's throat?) It took a few months but he did slowly get back to normal and there has not been a repeat (touch wood).

LadybirdSpots · 04/10/2013 10:29

Thanks so much for all your advice. I took DS to the doctor this morning
and she did an examination and there wasn't anything obviously wrong, so that's good.

I've got to take him to the health visited a few times over the next few weeks to get weighed/measured, so make sure he's where he should be on his charts, and then I've got to take him back to the dr. I think I will push for a blood test when I go back, just to put my mind at rest more than anything!

Thanks again

OP posts:
gordonpym · 04/10/2013 13:13

The anesthetic cream us called emla.
Good GP has taken you seriously.
Meanwhile, why don't you write down a small diary with not only his food, but how many times/day he feels exhausted, how much activities he does. 5.30 - 6.30 am is quite early.
Because he could be exhausted because he moves a lot. Children don't dose the energy, they don't spare any.
Did his dad notice it as well?

gordonpym · 04/10/2013 13:16

is called

LadybirdSpots · 13/10/2013 12:53

A diary is a great idea, thank you I'll definitely do that.
His dad does notice it too yes, he's concerned like I am.
I got him weighed and he's bang on where he should on his charts, so that's a relief Smile

OP posts:
notapizzaeater · 13/10/2013 14:05

Tiredness is also one of the flags of coeliac. I'd be pushing or the blood test. Keep a full diary, everything he ate, slept, hi much activity etc .

mercibucket · 13/10/2013 15:25

health visitors can do (or used to!) a fingerprick ferritin test for iron levels but why not start by adding an iron supplement to his diet anyway - suitable for his age of course. try floradix or spatone as toddler friendly ones - but of course read the label to check suitability first

Willdoitinaminute · 13/10/2013 22:27

Did your GP check for heart murmur? My Dniece has murmur that wasn't audible at birth but was picked up at 2yrs.

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