Very worried about my 9 year old

[Ljd401]

My 9 year old is worrying me a lot. Since the beginning of January he’s had 3 fever episodes (mostly every couple of weeks), a cough for weeks that hasn’t gone, a wrenching night sweat and then last night he woke up shivering and was sick (just the once). I can’t sleep with the worry. I took him to the GP last week which said to keep an eye on the night sweats and that his lymph nodes were up. Said they’d do bloods if they continue. I’ll take him back again today. Was tempted to go to A and E.
He is gaining weight.

I used to work in oncology. Go back to the GP ask for bloods, ask for a chest X-ray, ask for a referral to a paediatrician.

I know I am. It’s awful. I am getting help though - currently having CBT.

However my son genuinely has these symptoms.

Thank you. I’ll try and get an appointment today.

GP is doing bloods this afternoon.

I think posting this thread in the Childhood Cancer board rather than AIBU or General Health is taking the piss out of parents who genuinely have to deal with childhood cancer.

Hi all, we're moving this thread to our Children's Health topic.

I didn’t mean to be insensitive at all. Very sorry. :-(

I also am not in any way trying to take the p*. I do wonder why you’d comment on my post when I’m genuinely worried about my son. If you don’t have something nice to say, why say something? You have no idea what people are going through.

If my child has those symptoms I'd think they'd caught a bug. It's your health anxiety that's made the incredibly massive leap to A&E / cancer.

Your anxiety has transferred on to your child.

This has the potential to hurt your child.

You are already suggesting he has tests that are invasive and painful to assauge your anxiety.

You must understand that you have to deal with your problem now.

This has the potential to become a safeguarding situation if you are putting your child through unnecessary trips to the GP, blood tests, investigations.

Your child will start to become anxious themselves if you don't get help.

It is winter. There has been flu, covid, norovirus, hundreds of viruses going round. Children being unwell has been fairly common

Your child is putting on weight, not losing it.

Get help for your anxiety.

I am getting help for it. I am having therapy each week.

Very unkind to say it’s a safe guarding issue :-( I am very careful not to let onto my children that I’m worried but surely if your child had been having recurrent temperatures, drenching night sweats and vomiting you’d be at the GP too. My GP was very thorough and has done bloods. She also said she would refer if needs be.

Yes, I totally agree. I originally did think it was a but as it’s recurring I’m getting worried now. Plus worrying symptoms.

Well the point of your thread is to (presumably) seek reassurance from people about your son's symptoms. However by posting on a board called Childhood Cancer, you are knowingly asking parents whose children already have cancer to reassure you that you don't have to deal with the same thing they are dealing with. It's pretty tactless from any angle.

I see MN have already moved the thread but as many people have said, the best option is to treat the health anxiety first.

It's not unkind to say it's a safeguarding issue - it's a fact.

Someone who is putting their child through unecessary painful tests for the benefit of their anxiety is harming their child.

If it's the first time you've done this - no problem. If you keep doing it then it becomes a problem.

I’m going to leave this forum. I thought it was supportive but some people are clearly keyboard warriors who delight in upsetting others.

Thank you to those who offered support.

Also this is the first time with my 9 year old that he’s had bloods. My 6 year old was referred for a brain MRI due to headaches. There is nothing invasive or painful about an MRI. He thought he was on a space ship. I would NEVER put my children through anything unless I was recommended it by a medical professional.

I know I have issues with health anxiety - I don’t need anybody telling me that. I’m getting help! It’s a lonely, awful place to be in and I hope no one else has to deal with it. Hopefully my therapy will help.

I would like to say I would NEVER want to upset anybody on here so I’m sorry if I have done.

There’s such a big thing about mental health and those of you who have criticised me I hope you’re happy with yourselves.

The way you’ve been treated is appalling! You posted on this board because you are worried about cancer. You did mention red flag symptoms. Presumably the GP recognised these too because they’re doing bloods. Let us know how they go OP and I’m sorry you’ve had to deal with twattish posters x

An update for you all.

Abnormal bloods - liver counts all raised. GP spoke to paediatrics who advised to repeat the bloods in 2-3 weeks. She said they weren’t overly concerned about the night sweats. Was asked if he had any blotches on his skin which he didn’t at the time but this morning I woke him and spotted this (see picture). Going out of my mind with worry. He said it doesn’t hurt and he’s never had strange looking bruises like this. Took him back to the GP who immediately called paediatrics and fully expected them to have him in as he’s been unwell on and off for 7 weeks and his glands are up. But they said to keep an eye to see if any more appear. I couldn’t believe it and GP herself seemed surprised. She said it’s because they’re so overstretched. It just isn’t good enough and I’m upset that he’s not being seen. I have a private paediatrician appointment tomorrow so will see what she says.

I can’t sleep as I’m so worried. Can’t really function. :-(

I can understand why people wanted your post moving to a more appropriate board but I don't think you are wrong to seek a professional opinion on what is happening to your child. That's not health anxiety it's common sense. Good luck with your appointment.

I remember your previous posts with a different child thinking leg pain was cancer as well. It's good you are getting help because this anxiety is taking away your ability to enjoy motherhood. A friend of mine is doing some cbt therapy I think it's called. It sounds insane but when she gets panicked she sucks on a lemon and it I guess the shock of the sour forces your mind to stop. Seems odd to me but she swears by it and it shows.