Daughter feels light headed frequently but doctors just dismiss as puberty. Who can I go to for a second opinion?

[DidYouKnowThatToo]

My DD is 14 and has such a low attendance at school as she is often feeling too light headed. She’s been to the doctors/hospital countless times but they always run the same ecg and blood tests and find nothing wrong, then dismiss as it’s just part of growing up. It does not seem so normal to me!

I am now thinking that I should take her somewhere private for a second opinion who will hopefully run other tests. A few members of my family have auto-immune diseases so maybe they can test for that sort of thing. How do I even start this process though?

What her weight and sitting and standing BP like?

I know more and more very slender teens are being diagnosed with PoTS these days. Low weight can contribute to PoTS. A cardiologist would diagnose.
Even if her weight is okay it would be worth sitting then standing BP to see if it drops, I think by 20mmHG, so postural hypotension.
Flight socks/class 1 compression stockings can help in both cases.

Is there an issue at school?

Is the only issue that she 'feels' light headed as this is a very subjective thing that is entirely based on her self-report.

It might be helpful for her to keep a diary to record when this happens and any events before it.

You do need to consider that given she has been to the doctor and hospital 'countless times' and nothing showed up on tests whether there is a stress or anxiety aspect to it.

Just on the POTs as well, that can be a feature with Ehlers-danlos syndrome, which is a connective tissue disorder. Is she hypermobile/bendy? Look into it, as it comes with various other things, including but not alway guaranteed to include, stomach problems.

Why don't you believe qualified medical professionals, OP? She has had numerous tests, and there is nothing wrong.
It sounds pretty standard for a teenager girl - used to happen to me, and I was fine.
She can still go to school if she feels lightheaded - maybe she is playing it up with you so she can skip school?

thank you for your reply.

She is one of the thinnest in her yeargroup. I’ll weigh her in the morning though.

I’ll check the difference between her standing and sitting BP in the morning too. I checked yesterday her sitting BP and it was in the normal range but on the lower side of it. I didn’t think to check when standing.

Wow. Yes she is quite bendy. I will look into this, thanks

Could it not be panic disorder? She feels faint then Believes she will faint so she gets more anxious about fainting which causes more anxiety and in turn the anxiety causes Adrenalin to be released which then causes the light headed feeling as it's a normal reaction to adrenaline/anxiety and then it's a vicious cycle and starts over again ?

Feeling light headed isn't a reason to stay off school. It sounds like she's not eating enough, and needs to have a good breakfast every day and go to school.