Am I paranoid? Long post

[Nogodsnomasters]

My lb turned 3 in September and also started nursery, 3rd week into school his leg was buckling and he developed a limp, A&E diagnosed irritable hip (no tests done just physical examination), a week later he got a cold which turned into an ear infection, since that we've had 6 ear infections in 7 months all accompanied by fevers some high some medium. He's also had 3 viral rashes, 3 separate coughs, one of which lasted for 8 weeks from Dec-Feb. He's had a few (maybe 3-4 in the 7 months) night time complaints of leg pain, either massage or calpol resolved these. Last week he got another fever for 3&half days, the morning after it broke on Sunday past he started with another limp (this time a lot milder than September leg wasn't giving way on him at least) back to A&E who again diagnosed irritable hip, this time a urine test was done which was clear. Since this he has had 2 evenings of cold sweats with low body temps of 35.5 or thereabouts, he's not soaked through or anything but hair is wet, skin is cold to touch, pj's at nape of neck are damp. Am I being crazy to think this could be leukemia? My friend has a lb same age also in preschool who has had just as many infections as my lb this autumn/winter (different kinds though chest infection, tonsillitis etc) which makes me think this amount of illness is normal but combined with the leg issues and now some night sweats? My husband thinks I'm totally crazy, he says the leg pain at night is growing pains, and 2 episodes of irritable hip are not unheard of. He's been referred to ENT next month btw for the ear infections and congestion to have adenoids looked into. Any opinions welcome. Should I go to gp (for gazillionth time) and ask for a blood test and outright say I'm worried he has leukemia?!

I would say the fact that you're worried is enough to take a trip to the GP and or your mind at rest.

Sorry, put your mind at rest

Thanks moregin, I'm just worried that I'm being crazy and would be subjecting poor son to unnecessary blood tests (he would most certainly have to be restrained kicking and screaming) especially since dh is adamant there is nothing sinister going on. I think I will take ds to an open childrens clinic my gp surgery has which is next Wednesday.

My DS1 had leg pains etc the GP ordered blood tests to rule out leukaemia. It was just ‘growing pains’ . I would ask the question.

Pastaagain thank u for replying, did ur son have other accompanying symptoms? I'm so glad your sons was just growing pains and nothing else.

YANBU. You can ask for them to explain why cancer is unlikely, if that is their conclusion. No harm in that.

Thank u ragusa, if they say they think its pointless should I force the issue or walk away with no blood test?

I would go to gp fkr a blood test for peace of mind.

FWIW my son had irritable hip twice.

Cottoneye that is actually good to know because when I read online that it was rare for it to occur twice I thought right that's definitely been misdiagnosed then!! But could be jumping to conclusions at this point, I've spent 7 months dealing with illness so it's all got a bit overwhelming.

Anyone else think I'm being reasonable or over the top?

Anybody else think I'm being reasonable or over the top?

I don't think you are being unreasonable at all. Make sure to tell them about the leg pains and the night sweats. I am not a doc, and have no idea if it is anything malign but those things seem significant.

I would definitely take him back and ask out right. You are his mother and you know him best. Even if it's just to put your mind at ease. If it did turn out to be the unimaginable (fingers crossed it's not) then it will have been found sooner rather than later. Best of luck.

I remember being told when my ds had irritable hip (following bouts of fever) that it was highly likely to reoccur within a year and it did - again after cold/fever. At the time we were also seeing consultant re constant bunged up ears. My ds is also permanently damp and clammy at night, particularly around the head.

See the GP - you are not being over the top at all, but thought I'd mention in hope it lessens your worry ... nothing worse than worry....

I don’t think you are being unreasonable at all. Take him to the GP get a blood test put your mind at rest

Pringles - your son sounds similar to mine, was he ever given a blood test to check for the unimaginable? Did his constant illness resolved itself? I really appreciate you letting me know your similar situation.

Thanks everyone, I'm definitely going to take him to the open clinic next Wednesday at my gp with a list in hand and will definitely keep you all posted.

Listen see the GP explain everything here maybe write it down in the order you have and ask for a blood test to put your mind at rest. If all is fine then speak to your GP about some treatment for you as if this is not mothers intuition its health anxiety.

Tootired thank u for you comment, I am already diagnosed with health anxiety and have had counselling twice, which is why I wanted people's opinion on what they would do when presented with these symptoms in their child because I didn't want to put him through a blood test if other people thought these symptoms were normal/not a big deal.

nogods I don't know about the other symptoms but my ds1 suffered from irritable hip a number of times between age 3-4 and age 9-10. We were never told anything about it being rare to get it twice, in fact quite the opposite. We were told some children are just prone to it but usually grow out of it by age 9 or 10, which was true in our case. The first time he developed it we were just told bed rest and ibuprofen. The second time they did an ultrasound just to make sure it was irritable hip, it was. After that we generally didn't even go to the GP with it because we knew the course and treatment, luckily it always seemed to clear up within a week or less. Apparently it's fluid build up in a joint caused by the body's reaction to a virus usually, or that's what we were told anyway. He's 19 now and had no lasting effects.

Sorry tootired but I disagree with you with the health anxiety comment.

A mother here has concerns about her child. That’s all I see. I would be the same and I don’t suffer with health anxiety.

Another one agreeing this is not health anxiety! Any time you are concerned about your child's health get it checked! OP is not inventing symptoms. She has genuine concerns. Much better in the long run to check symptoms early on- either it's nothing or it's something that needs treating. Treating symptoms (of anything) early is best for the patient and the health service.

Tyrion I'm glad to hear someone else has had multiple experiences with irritable hip, the doctor at the hospital did say it was possible but when I googled it there was a study to say that only 4% of children even get a second round with it, obviously 4% is small but not totally impossible! I think if ds had of been offered an ultrasound like yours then maybe I would be happy enough with that answer but because all he's had are physical examinations and a urine test Im not able to put my mind at ease when they're accompanied by the other issues. Of course they could all be totally unrelated.

Worrieddd thank u for ur comment, because I do have health anxiety it is sometimes difficult for me to know if I'm over reacting which is why mumsnet is great to get opinions on what other people would do in this situation.

Nomoregin - thank you I tell my dh the same thing, I'm not imagining the symptoms he witnesses them himself and also the doctors have confirmed the constant ear infections and congestion and referred us to the ENT.

My son has had leukaemia and he started off with leg pain, but I'd have thought after 7 months he would be showing more symptoms of leukaemia, tired, pale, bruising etc. I'm not a doctor though, maybe it's just a bad run of infections with starting school and building his immune system. I'd definitely ask for a blood test tho. Hope he's better soon.

I know nothing about these particular health issues, but I would take my DD to the doctors for a blood test if there was something serious like this preying on my mind. The odds are low that it is anything so serious, but it's worth putting your mind at rest if you are worried.