Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Children's health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

Original poster

10yr old tired all the time and 'not with it'

16 replies

farmermummy · 26/01/2017 21:43

Never posted here before but desperate for some help or advice as seen paediatrician and Dr who say we're worrying about nothing...

Since she was 6 or 7 our daughter gets easily tired - one late night or in latter years, a sleepover, can finish her off for a week or more and she just can't cope with the tiredness that follows. She was on iron supplements for ages but Dr said there was no need as blood tests came back fine without them. Her peers are streets ahead of her in terms of awareness and independence and social activities purely because of her tiredness and 'switching off'. She is on the verge of losing friends as a result and I have to say no to so many activities for her because she's just wiped out half the time. She doesn't drink enough in the day and I appreciate this could be a big issue but I'm not there with her in school to force it down her! She has also started developing a little and I'm aware internal changes could be wearing her out but this has been going on for 4 years now and we're scared for her wellbeing especially with secondary school on the horizon in September...

Any help advice or similar experiences much appreciated. Thanks very much.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

NuffSaidSam · 27/01/2017 13:48

What time does she go to bed? And what time does she wake up? Does she sleep well?

NuffSaidSam · 27/01/2017 13:49

And does she eat well?

Original poster

farmermummy · 27/01/2017 16:12

Hi thanks for responding to my post - she is normally asleep by 8.45 but is wide awake by 7am if not earlier. She is a very light sleeper and does grind her teeth but not enough to warrant a night guard. I thought of trying a sleep app but if I find she's not sleeping great how do I fix it?!?

OP posts:

LimeySnickett · 27/01/2017 22:03

What other tests has she had (besides iron). Take her to see another paediatrician who takes you seriously - insist on testing until you get to the bottom of it. If the next paediatrician doesn't get it, take her to another.
It's very upsetting when you feel you have to hound doctors for answers, but that's just what you have to do.

booox · 27/01/2017 22:09

What blood tests has she had?

Any other symptoms? What are her stools like?

joystir59 · 27/01/2017 22:13

LimeySnickett This. It sounds as if there is clearly something more going on and I would definitely seek a second opinion. I would also suggest you need to be a detective and connect to your own hunches about your child- do you sense she is under any kind of emotional social or psychological stress? Does she actually sleep when she goes to bed? Does she eat a good diet? Does she actually complain of tiredness? Are there any other symptoms or signs?

booox · 27/01/2017 22:14

Some initial thoughts are thyroid or another autoimmune issue? I developed hypothyroidism relatively early at 20; it's usually something that happens much later post children or menopause but not without the realms of possibility at this age. I always tired easily and was very constipated growing up so often wonder if it started earlier. It often delays puberty though.

joystir59 · 27/01/2017 22:16

Is she sad or depressed? Just wondering why she is switched off all of the time- is she escaping into her own head from some inner turmoil?

sopsmum · 27/01/2017 22:17

Agree with limey. You need to trust your instinct. Has she has her thyroid tested?

joystir59 · 27/01/2017 22:17

Did she experience some kind of trauma when she was 6/7?

sopsmum · 27/01/2017 22:18

Cross post.

NowtAbout · 27/01/2017 22:23

Can she describe the tiredness is a sort of 'heaviness' or draining, can she not cope with lots of stimulation i.e. noise/lights et cetera. Did it follow a virus? Has she been tested for thyroid problems? Get her back to the GP kick up a massive fuss. It might be me, or is she in pain it might be fibromyalgia. Or another whole swathes of autoimmune conditions. It's not normal And needs more investigation. Have you tried removing food out of her diet, wheat is a classic food that can cause fatigue. Try cutting it out for six weeks not even having a single crumb then reintroduce it. Hope you find some answers must be horrible for all of you

SunnySomer · 27/01/2017 22:31

Don't mean to sound scary, but if she's sometimes not "with it", do you mean she's potentially having absences, and could have some kind of epilepsy? I do have epilepsy and could be a bit vacant after an episode when I was a child. Tiredness exacerbates the problem, and even if an episode is not what you would normally recognise as a seizure it could knock you for 6.
I really would try and see someone else and follow this up. It's not normal.

Hedgehog80 · 27/01/2017 22:35

Tiredness can be a symptom of type 1 diabetes-please go to the GP and get her checked.

Toilet
Thirsty
Tired
Thinner

One or any combination of the above can be an indication of type 1 diabetes

MrsMozart · 27/01/2017 22:45

I'd suggest bloods - Vitamin D, Calcium, and parathyroid.

T1mum3 · 27/01/2017 22:47

Hedgehog posted what I was thinking.

How do you know she isn't drinking enough in the day? Is it because she comes home thirsty or because her water bottle is still full?

Flip