DS(13) low appetite & 'morning sickness'

[shockedballoon]

Apologies for length, just giving background!

DS had what we assume was a bit of a bug on fri 6th October- was sick in the morning, stayed off school, sick again sat morning but generally seemed to rally over the weekend and back in Monday- so far so normal.

Thing is, he's never really seemed to get his (normally pretty voracious) appetite back and still has bouts of nausea, which mostly happen in the morning.

He was sick again last Saturday, but by teatime was hungry and ate a fairly decent portion of risotto. Was sick again Sunday morning but by teatime ate a beef roast dinner, tho a much smaller portion than normal. Had a v slight viral rash on his face (which went In a day or 2).

As his main nausea is in mornings, he's been avoiding breakfast, but taking a banana for break. He decided to try some cereal for breakfast this morning - which promptly came back up.

In general he's still eating, but less - even left half his pasta last night which is unheard of! Says he feels 'a bit yicky' sometimes, but other times 'fine, but just not hungry'.

At what point do you think it's reasonable to go to gp? He seems otherwise fairly well... do tummy bugs linger like this sometimes? Google isn't being particularly helpful!

He could have slightly low blood sugar in the morning and need to nibble a biscuit like a pregnant lady. My son has ASD and is very poor eater so.he gets this 'hunger sickness ' he calls it. He might also be temporarily lactose intolerant, so ease off the dairy.

Why haven't you taken him to the GP? Surely if this isn't normal for him, you should? I would if it were me for myself, but especially for a child. The mind boggles.

Please take him to the GP, the viral bug may be a red herring.

You can get secondary lactose intolerance after sickness bugs.

I used to get this when my blood sugar was low. Has he been checked for diabetes?

DD had the exact same thing after having an upset tummy from food abroad a few years ago. I genuinely did start to panic a bit after a while as thought it could be diabetes with the morning sickness like symptoms. Eventually after a few weeks, lots of anti-nausea medication to help her get through and some very strong probiotics things settled down on their own.

If you’re worried take him to the GP, definitely do the probiotics though as once she started these she felt the difference and things improved. Apparently GI upset can throw their microbiome off for quite a while so that was likely the cause of things for DD!

Reason I haven't taken him to the gp yet is because he keeps rallying and swearing he's OK. Still going to school, scouts, youth group, football (except last weekend). Still eating, but I've noticed its less. And not feeling actively sick every morning, just not fancying breakfast.
I guess I was posting on here to help consolidate my thoughts and it does look worse all collected together, but it's been lower-key experiencing it spread over the last few weeks.
Low blood sugar could be a thing - particularly the rate he's growing and the fact his food intake went down with the bug.

I would ask for some general blood tests including a morning cortisol test to check for Addisons disease - it’s very rare but the morning nausea and loss of appetite are classic symptoms. Have a google. The doctors won’t do it as a routine blood test, you’ll have to be specific and ask for it.

We had something similar. Did a week of gluten free food and transitioned back to normal after that. It did the trick for us.

My son had very similar and only when he ended up in hospital with suspected appendicitis did we find out it was coeliac disease. I other symptoms but random sickness. Though he did have nosebleeds which have gone since he went GF

Any irritability, tiredness, changes in coordination or ability to complete school work? Does he feel immediately so much better after being sick? If he has any of these or any headache at all, have a look at the headsmart campaign and take him to gp. My DC symptoms started with a stomach bug they never really got over, loss of appetite and the (very mild, very infrequent) headache only came after about six weeks. GP and us were so focused on it being gastro related that we missed everything else.

We also had still going to sport, still going to school and having a few days of seeming well before being sick again. But loss of appetite was throughout - having been a child who would rather eat at a birthday party than play!

@Castlereagh so what did your child have/has? What was the diagnosis please. Friend's child has similar and am encouraging her to get him checked for everything as first round showed nothing.

Oh sorry it's a bit depressing but a brain tumour. Symptoms can be really vague - like I say not even a headache at first. See Headsmart for guidance. Needs an MRI to confirm but high street opticians can sometimes identify optic nerve swelling if it's got to the stage where there is raised intercranial pressure. Rare but not that rare - actually the second most common cancer in children.

Blood tests won't show anything and it's hard for GPs to spot.

Hope your DS is ok OP.

I had something similar took a few weeks to clear nasty bug, probably 8 weeks.

In the days when you could see a go without trial by phone first, he prescribed omeprazole and buscopan but I was already taking them as you can get them over the counter.

Not suggesting your DS should do that but a bland diet would be a good idea. Toast avoid dairy so no butter. Rice pain chicken etc. I remember eating a lot of jam sandwiches. A beef dinner and risotto sounds too rich. Gavison may also help.

How is your son now? Did you get to go to the doctor? Hope he is feeling better x

Would also ask GP about testing for Helicobacter infection

So wee update- we've been doing little, often & a bit blander with food. Also got some kefir. He still not loving breakfast, but says he's feeling much less nauseous and his appetite is definitely more. He was properly hungry this evening at teatime and had seconds of smoked mackerel rice (which is less rich than it sounds!), then a couple of plain hobnobs eith a cup of tea and then a banana - and it is all sitting well.
I do think it's just been a bit of a lingering bug - or rather the initial bug just sort of sensitised his stomach. Possibly the kefir helped? Or just time and blander food? Regardless, he seems to be on the right trajectory.
Thank you all for the responses and suggestions, it helps to focus thoughts and rule things in or out.
@Castlereagh Sending the best thoughts for you and your child xxx

Could his blood sugar be low in the mornings. I'm diabetic and if my sugars drop low I feel really sick and the last thing I want to do is eat but when I do it makes me feel better!

Also the gp could prescribe him prochlorperazine which will help with sickness!