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Original poster

13 year old shaking hand

87 replies

SunshineBoy · 07/11/2022 20:04

Just to preface that I am planning on calling the GP tomorrow but just wanted to hear if anyone had experienced similar or if it’s an over reaction to call the GP even?

DS is 13. On Sunday we were playing badminton which is a normal activity for us. He complained of a sudden headache about halfway through. Had a drink and sat down for a few minutes then was happy to join in with us again.

An hour later we were eating lunch and I looked over at him and he was pretty pale and his right hand was really shaking. He said his head hurt again and he felt sick. He didn’t feel cold but his hand wouldn’t stop shaking.

I gave him paracetamol and he laid down to rest. He has had a couple of migraines before so I thought it was that. It seemed to pass and a couple of hours later he was eating me out of house and home as normal and said all was fine. This is normal for his migraines. Sudden pain / sickness that he can sleep off and bounce back from.

Today he has come home from school saying his hand keeps going weird and shaking. No headache or sickness. He said his hand was cold and looked blotchy but doesn’t hurt. It’s happened twice since he got home. Passes after about 5 minutes. He doesn’t feel lightheaded or anything else.

Does this just sound like a trapped nerve type thing? Rather then blood sugars or a migraine? Wouldn’t a nerve thing be sore?

I do want to call the GP in the morning but I know it’s a fight to get seen and I wonder if they will think this is a blinkers thing to go to the GP about.

OP posts:
Jaybird43 · 16/11/2022 19:29

@SunshineBoy does the rash blanch when pressed with a glass? If not, straight to A&E. I work in a hospital and a two week wait referral is often due to a suspicion of cancer. Urgent means they are concerned about something but not in a manner which would warrant a “right here, right now” investigation. Glad you have a date though for the MRI x

Original poster
SunshineBoy · 16/11/2022 19:29

Bit of a rubbish picture but it's not a huge area. He's sure he's not bumped it or anything but is it possibly just bruising?

I've been trying very hard not to play the Dr Google game since the tremor started because I've convinced myself he is his usual healthy self but this coupled with him seeming so tired the last few days is concerning me.

13 year old shaking hand
OP posts:
Jaybird43 · 16/11/2022 19:31

@SunshineBoy thats what my son had and, not to worry you, but we always ended up in A&E (there were worries it was something serious but in our case it never was). They are called petechial rashes - basically bleeding under the skin. I would either go to A&E or call 111 for advice x

Original poster
SunshineBoy · 16/11/2022 19:32

Jaybird43 · 16/11/2022 19:29

@SunshineBoy does the rash blanch when pressed with a glass? If not, straight to A&E. I work in a hospital and a two week wait referral is often due to a suspicion of cancer. Urgent means they are concerned about something but not in a manner which would warrant a “right here, right now” investigation. Glad you have a date though for the MRI x

No it doesn’t blanch. I’ve just checked that but he is adamant he feels fine.

OP posts:
Jaybird43 · 16/11/2022 19:33

I would call 111 - when my son had them we always had to go to A&E and they would do a blood test and monitor him. Please call 111 - he may feel fine but always best to get him checked

Original poster
SunshineBoy · 16/11/2022 19:35

A&E is slammed at the moment. I’m going to get him into the GP first thing as they were really responsive in getting us to the Paediatric assessment unit so fast last week it’ll likely be just as quick as sitting in the waiting room when they wouldn’t class this as an accident or emergency.

OP posts:
Original poster
SunshineBoy · 16/11/2022 19:37

jaybird what was causing it for your son if you don’t mind me asking?

OP posts:
Jaybird43 · 16/11/2022 19:44

They never knew what caused it - he would literally have random patches of petechial rashes but was never unwell with them. The first time he had one, I called 111 and they told me to go to A&E and they checked him over and said it was likely to be leukaemia (he has large lymph nodes so they thought, coupled with the rashes) it was that. But the rashes would disappear after a few days. He’s had them all over his body with no obvious cause, but paeds told me that if he ever had a non-blanching rash, we had to go immediately to the hospital. He’s had about 10 blood tests now for them but they couldn’t pinpoint a reason as to why he was getting them. He’s now nearly 9 but we were at the hospital with them at least twice a year with them. In our case, he was always well (no night sweats, tiredness / sickness or nausea which would be a red flag), but we never knew why he would get them. He gets the odd couple now but I just check he’s ok and monitor closely - a petechial rash is caused by bleeding under the skin and it could be something minor like pressure on the skin but, in my experience, we were told to always seek medical attention immediately

historicalnews · 16/11/2022 19:48

Hi OP - I hope your DS is ok.
With the rash I would at very least call 111 for advice this evening.

Jaybird43 · 16/11/2022 19:58

I didn’t mean to worry you with what I said about my experience, OP. My DD has had a couple of petechial rashes (again, she was well) and we went to A&E and had bloods done but again, all clear - we just chalked it up to possibly something rubbing on her skin (DD had a few in her neck / back and arms). DS was more the severe end of the spectrum as he could have small patches but one time he had one giant petechial rash from under his chin to his groin - again, no idea what caused it! Really hoping it is nothing for your DS - in our case, the doctors were most concerned because he presented with huge lymph nodes (I’m talking groin nodes the size of grapes) - but that’s just how he is!

Alopeciabop · 16/11/2022 20:19

Take him to A&E with the rash and tiredness along with the tremor. Don’t wait. Doctor only going to send you there likely anyway and best to get him in system quickly on the off chance it’s something a little more serious. Kids do get weird things though so try not to worry too much

Lingles · 16/11/2022 21:52

Hi OP.
when my kids were babies they said take action if a rash doesn’t blanch.
tell ds it’s for the rash.
best wishes x

Lingles · 16/11/2022 21:55

Besides, it may be gone tomorrow…

Lingles · 16/11/2022 21:56

And if they don’t see it it’s like it didn’t happen

determinedtomakethiswork · 16/11/2022 21:58

I really hope everything is okay. Thinking of you.

Original poster
SunshineBoy · 17/11/2022 10:02

Not much of an update but the paramedic practitioner saw him and declared it nothing to worry about because he feels absolutely fine.

she didn’t think it was connected to his tremor. She didn’t know what it might be but said sometimes we just get marks.

I said I wasn’t sure I’m comfortable with that being the answer but she took a picture and showed the GP who agreed with her. She said to ring back or go to A&E if he gets feverish or generally unwell. She said she was reassured it wasn’t a meningitis rash but to watch it.

He is home today and if it spreads or he doesn’t seem right I’m just getting him to A&E straight away. I thought they’d at least want bloods.

OP posts:
Jaybird43 · 17/11/2022 10:36

That is good news @SunshineBoy - IME we always had to have bloods done (not sure if it was because my DC were so young - DS was getting these rashes since he was about a year old and he's 9 next month, and DD was about 4ish I think). Hopefully it is just one of those things (DD would get them if her clothes / rucksack rubbed her skin).

Occitane · 17/11/2022 11:48

I have had migraines all my life, and they have changed as I got older. When I was a teenager I went through a phase of my left side going nearly completely numb and feeling really odd at the beginning of each migraine. It would start in my fingers or toes and slowly spread up my left side until it reached the left half of my face. It felt a little like the feeling when the dentist numbs your cheek. No tremor though. Like a PP my migraines got more frequent around the time of my GCSEs.

OP I wonder if your son’s symptoms could be just a part of his migraines? Hopefully nothing more serious. I don’t get that feeling any more when I have a migraine.

I hope you get some answers soon and that it is nothing serious.

Cuppasoupmonster · 17/11/2022 11:56

The rash looks a bit like one I used to get when wearing a heavy rucksack when I was that age. Has he been carrying a heavy bag? Good luck for the scan, hope it puts your minds at rest xx

Mumzoo5070 · 18/11/2022 14:57

SunshineBoy how's it going?

Jaybird43 · 23/11/2022 13:10

@SunshineBoy - Hi OP, hope everything is better for you DS now - has there been any improvement? Thinking of you x

Original poster
SunshineBoy · 24/11/2022 17:57

Thanks for asking everyone.

The rash didn’t spread and has gone now. I’m inclined to think it was his backpack rubbing maybe.

the tremor is still there. Happening between 3-6 times a day. No further migraines or headaches.

I feel like he’s not quite himself. He seems to be tired easily but I guess this could be the dreaded teenage apathy setting in 🤔I have had the odd noise approaching a grunt and he called me bro the other day but we’ve been very lucky so far.

He has his mri booked Saturday. He’s not overly keen about the idea of it after reading the patient leaflet that mentioned cannula access for contrast. The letter didn’t mention that so I think it’s just a normal one though.

OP posts:
ParisHotel · 24/11/2022 21:20

Everything crossed that the scam goes ok and you get the results quickly.

Lingles · 24/11/2022 23:07

My son had a head mri in the spring with the contrast dye. It wasn’t a big deal for him and meant that was a scan they didn’t have to repeat.

historicalnews · 25/11/2022 21:36

Hope all goes well with the scan

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