Dd feeling unwell for a few months, what could it be??

[MrsStevenPatrickMorrissey]

Hi Folks,

I'm really at the end of my wits with dd2. I've had her to the drs at least 6 times in the last few weeks, feel like I'm going mad.

She has been complaining of the following for over a month or more now; stomach pains on/off, dizziness, constant tiredness, constant trips to the toilet, constantly feeling hungry but not eating much when she is given something to eat, and very pale looking with dark rings around her eyes, very teary and emotional a lot of the time too.

I've had her checked for diabetes, and had full bloods done to check for anything serious, all came back clear. She does have quiet a bad chest and is on ventolin syrup & singular tablet at night. At the last visit the dr gave me an antibiotic to cover all basses in case there was something they couldn't find. She's also on Galfer iron tonic. But she's still complaining of tiredness and feeling dizzy & sick. It's not all the time but every so often, and I feel like I'm going mad, dh thinks she's attention seeking, but I don't think it is (she can be attention seeking at times, middle child syndrome??) I'm really at a loss to know what to do next. Any advice??? Thanks

MrsM

Is singular tablet the Montelukask tablet?

If so has she been like this since taking it. DS is on 4mg dose and had similar to what your DD has, I've stopped giving it to him and will speak to paediatrician at his appointment. (I don't recommend stopping meds without speaking to GP first though) its just DS is having varies tests and he's had all kinds of medicine given at moment.

Hi ignore,

Yeah it is actually the Montelukask form she's taking too. These symptoms started before she started taking it, they gave it to me to see if it made a difference as her chest had just started to get wheezy and they thought it might have been making her feel unwell, but she has been on the Montelukask in the past, so it could be affecting her, I think she has problems with her sinus too which might be making her feel unwell, but I thought the tablet would help with this....feel like crying I have my head wrecked with worry about her

Just a thought has she had her eyes checked?

I can totally relate to the worry and I have cried some days its felt like I was forever at Drs. In end I asked GP to do a referral to Peditrician as I felt enough was enough with them constantly giving him antibiotics. It was originally a 6month wait list but Dr was able to push for emergency appointment after DS had another crackle on his chest having just finished another course of antibiotics.

So do ask for a referral if you feel your DD is not getting better.

I would also push for allergy testing in the hospital.
She's obviously reacting to some thing.

Hope her health improves and this phase is a distant memory soon.

Not much help but have you had her checked for coeliac?

Are the constant trips to the toilet wee or poo?

If the latter, have you checked for any sign of mucus or blood. Some of her symptoms are similar to those I get (stomach pain, nausea, feeling hungry but not inclined to eat a lot, trips to loo, extreme tiredness) when my colitis is flaring.

Hmm, having written that I'm now not sure whether to post. I'm worried that if you get lots of suggestions from different posters, the only result might be anxiety that she could have one of many many conditions!

I would ask the doctor to check her for coeliac. Her symptoms sound very similar to DD1's before her diagnosis. (How old is she?)

My first thought was coeliac too, but stress am not a medical professional.

Thanks folks, I've posted this in chat as well, and a lot of replies are saying the same thing, to have her checked for coeliac, so I have an appointment for Tuesday, I know it's such a minefield there are so many allergies/intolerances that it could be anything, I would just love to get an answer so we can start putting it right, I hate seeing her so miserable, bless her she I'd trying to act like she's better but I can see it is hard as she seems to just have no energy at all. Tkband she's 6 yrs old, how old was your dd when she was diagnosed?? Yeah Delphine there are a lot of trips to the loo, she wavers between constipated or diarrhoea....thanks Venus, yeah referral to Peditrician and hospital will probably give me a better answer, that's what I'll try for on Tuesday, just feels like a up hill battle to get an answer to these things

My DD was 2.5 when she was diagnosed, but she'd had problems since she first ate gluten - despite constant trips to the doctor/health visitor I was always dismissed as a neurotic first time mum. It took moving house and changing GP to finally get noticed and have her diagnosed. I think things are a little better now, but there's still a lot of ignorance amongst GPs about coeliac disease.

DD1 varied between chronic constipation and awful diarrhoea too. By the time she was diagnosed she was vomiting every two or three days as well and had no energy at all. She hadn't gained any weight in a year, yet often had a huge belly, which I later found out was due to malnutrition as the damage caused to her gut by the coeliac was preventing her from absorbing any nutrients from the little she did eat. Typing that makes me feel awful as I always think I should have pushed harder and sooner for some action, but I had DTs when she was 20 months old, which kept me rather busy!

Have a look at the Coeliac UK website for more info on symptoms and on the latest protocol for diagnosis in children.

Best of luck - hope you get it sorted soon.

Tkband thanks so much for that, jeez that is ringing bells with me, dd has a very prominent belly. I'm afraid the gp will think I'm a basket case as well, this is why I feel so much at a loss, but I am going to have to push a bit to get her seen, a referral to the hospital would be good, I'll see how I get on with this different gp on Tuesday, better look like a neurotic mum than have a very ill dd.

Well done you, DT's & a dd, your hands are full. Thanks again for the advice, I may be back to you if anything comes of it, for more info, if that's ok.

Don't worry about GP thinks if your a basket case, I regret not being more persistent for referral sooner as paediatrician got x-ray done on my DS straight away and what showed up no antibiotics or steroids would of fixed, we are just waiting for his blood test results now checking his immune system & testing to rule out cystic fibrosis.

Really hope you get to the bottom of whats making your DD so poorly

I agree about ignoring dismissive GPs. Been there and done that. Trust maternal instinct!

I have found an enlightened GP at our local practice who has been great. DD has wheat intolerance and one obvious sign was a prominent tummy. Tested negative for coeliac though.

reindeer (great name BTW) hope you get to the root of the problems soon x

Print this page off to take to your GP MrsMorrissey - if they don't agree that your DD fits many of these symptoms and refer you, then ask to see another GP. Persistence is key!!

Feel free to PM me if you need any more info - happy to help.

How is the Galfer syrup managed overall? Too much iron can cause dizziness and some very serious problems and so it shouldnt be administered by a child, and the dose should be regulated by blood tests.

Ive had to go through this with my own health (think I've got the only answers i can) as well as SD's (still don't know the overall cause for her and the not knowing is horrible.)

How old is your DD?

I totally understand the 'better to look like a neurotic mum than have a very ill dd.' DD was having trouble breathing on and off on Monday morning. I had to keep as calm and un-neurotic as I could so the GP wouldn't fixate on it being anxiety (once he'd ruled out asthma). I wanted him to run a test they should have done ages ago, so had to keep cool but it was so tempting to say I know 'I'm not the doctor, so why am I having to do your job for you?'

Really hope the paediatrician lifts the right stone and discovers the solution for your DD. It's a nerve wracking time, but hope you can all have a good Christmas too.

Hi cat & Tkband, thanks so much for that tk, I will print it off and take it to the appointment with me. I have actually stopped the Galfer cats, she has become so constipated and was in agony trying to go to the toilet, and I have actually seen an improvement in her, I found it even difficult to take it when I was pregnant. She is still very pale, the dark rings around the eyes and pains in her tummy on/off. That's exactly how I feel going into the gp, that they wil focus more on me and whether it's my anxiety when all they have to do is refer her to the hospital, it's awful I have to go in even with this sheet to point out to them what really they should be considering testing her for themselves.

I don't know if I'm doing right or wrong I've also stopped the singulair tablet at night too, just to see if it makes a difference. Her cough isn't as bad as it was. It's all I can think about at the minute, poor dd1 & 3, feel like they're not getting a look in.

Hi folks, just wanted to give you an update on how we got on at the docs. I seen a different gp and she was very nice, was able to be open with her about all the symptoms Dd has been having, and that I really didn't think I was being over anxious, she said every mother knows instintifly when their children are 'off' form, so she agreed it could be an intolerance of some kind, and has referred her to be seen at the hospital for testing. She said she would like her tested for cystic fibrosis as well as she has had a lot of recurrent chest infections/bronchitis in the last year and it is in Dhs family. She said to keep her off the singulair and Galfer, she had a look at her blood results and said her iron levels were fantastic so no need to be on it. Dd is definitely in better form, no complaints in the last few days, still looking a bit pale though, we're giving lots of attention, lots of one to one time doing things with her, I'm still wondering if it could be an attention thing?? But at least we have our referral now, fingers crossed it will come soon. Thanks so much for all the advice, I'm so glad I could go back to the drs armed with some good information.

Thanks again, hope everyone else's dc are keeping well & have a good Xmas.
MrsMoz

Really glad you have made some good progress. That GP sounds like a good 'un. :)

Happy Christmas!

Keep us posted.

Really glad you saw a decent GP.

When you say an attention thing, do you mean in relation to her stomach pain?

I would also mention dairy to the hospital when you are referred given the chest infections etc.

Hope you all have a lovely Christmas x

Main thing to rule out is inflammatory bowel disease.

Glad you saw an understanding GP. Hope the referral comes through soon. And if it does turn out to be coeliac disease, don't hesitate to PM me if you'd like any info .

Glad you've seen a better GP

I would strongly recommend doing some research into the side effects of montelukast.