Panicking DD has a brain tumour

[LostittoBostik]

Yes I’m prone to health anxiety, but I’ve just googled myself into a state of despair. Please talk me down.

My DD who is 8 has occasional mornings where nausea wakes her and she retches and vomits, gets sweaty and wobbly and then it disappears within 15 mins. She’s not overall unwell, it’s not a bug - it’s just a flash of morning nausea.

She has had it about once every six weeks or so for six months or so. The first 2 times I thought it was a mild bug, then when I noticed a very occasional pattern I assumed low blood sugar and gave her a banana.

Now it’s happened twice in the last week (after about an 8 week gap, so I’d forgotten about it) and I’ve Googled (I know!) and seen it’s a symptom of a brain tumour and I feel so anxious.

She doesn’t have any other symptoms on the list but has had a squint since she was 14 months (wears glasses to correct) and also is dyspraxic so tbh she’s always slightly uncoordinated but I’ve not noticed any change. She hasn’t reported any headaches and is otherwise well and has lots of energy.

It doesn’t help that I’m finding it so hard to get a GP appt for her to discuss it in the first place. I feel so worried…

What could it be if not the worst thing? When it happens it’s really strong nausea that wakes her up about 6am, makes her vomit, then she’s 100 per cent fine.

Has your dc had a recent eye test? That would be my first check.

Also, are they slightly dehydrated after sleeping? Is the room too warm? I used to feel sick if I woke in a too warm room. Solved by leaving my window open an inch.

Any high street optician can do all the basic, important tests. Book her an appointment asap.

When my dd eats certain things, she pukes. Could it be her breakfast? It could be an intolerance that is causing her body to reject it , which explains the sweating and reaction.

My son does this too so I leave something for him to eat in his bedroom for when he wakes up and it seems to work. Occasionally he has done it in the day when he hasn't eaten enough breakfast so I make sure he eats well in the morning. Everything you Google health-wise leads to scary results and the fact she hasn't got worse is a very good sign.

Thanks, that’s a really good point - I’ll book her in with her usual optician as well as the GP. Thanks.

This happens immediately on waking, before she’s eaten - she does have food allergies but we’ve known about them for years and they’re well under control (plus they are IGE, they don’t present in this way). But I’ll keep a food diary too to see if there’s a pattern in the previous day’s food.

Is she stressed about anything? Could it be a stress physical reaction?

Maybe pre teen hormones could have something to do with it? She does have a tiny bit of early nipple development on one side.

There is such a thing a hunger pukes, basically bringing up bile first thing in the morning, try given a snack before bed, banana or dried biscuits.

This is what I initially thought and am hoping. I’ll try giving something with carbs and protein like nut butter in toast every night. She needs the extra calories anyway as she’s very slim.

Thanks everyone, this has actually really helped me calm down until Monday when I’m going to insist that we see the GP during the next week.

My thoughts is vestibular migraine.Im neurodivergent and late 50 s but can feel sick and dizzy on occasion.I think it's hormones but understand the vestibular system is more sensitive in autistic ADHDers.

@LostittoBostik “””What could it be if not the worst thing? When it happens it’s really strong nausea that wakes her up about 6am, makes her vomit, then she’s 100 per cent fine.”””” Neck problems! My daughter has exactly the same ,it is incredibly frustrating as its an irregular issue but totally down to how she sleeps and if she gets into a weird position - so try checking your daughters sleeping posture. The nerves that arise between the upper cervical vertebra are responsible for the gut area eg.the vagus nerve so disruption in this area can lead to nausea. It is extremely interesting your dd has dyspraxia - have you ever had her physical functioning assessed as neck posture is really crucial in balance , proprioception and spatial awareness?

I think after 6 months from the onset of this thing, if it were a brain tumour, she would be a lot more unwell than she is. Also, I suspect the vomiting would not have periods of remission as it were - you can't have cancer just some of the time.

I'm not a doctor but I imagine that a brain tumour that was significant enough to cause such intense pressure inside the skull that a child was vomiting upon waking would not present with only vomiting as a symptom, and no headache to speak of.

I totally get it though, as I have health anxiety about my children too, and worry they might have a brain tumour EVERY time they vomit. After many years of this, the above is the kind of way I try to talk myself down. Obviously it's much easier to be rational when it isn't your own child, though.

How about reflux as a more likely possibility? I don't generally suffer with this but a couple of nights recently I've woken up with sick in my throat and awful burning. One time I was actually physically sick. Don't know if it's relevant, but I have two daughters and I've noticed they both complain of acid tummy/throat when they're having or have had a growth spurt. Just a thought.

https://www.thebraintumourcharity.org/brain-tumour-signs-symptoms/

This is so interesting! How did you find out that’s what it was? And what position is best for sleeping?

Thanks. She is being queried for ASD, we’re waiting on a school referral but they’re being slow because she’s coping fine in school. I sought the dyspraxia screening privately via an OT service as she struggles with balance and coordinatio eg swimming, can’t ride a bike yet

Could be that she's waking with really low blood pressure which makes her dizzy when she sits up which is causing the nausea.

Thank you, yes you’re right, surely if this was pressure inside the skull due to a tumour it would happen every morning not just randomly once every four weeks when she’s otherwise happy and full of beans

Health anxiety is such a bitch.

You're not wrong, it's vile!!!

If she's otherwise well though, I think you can put that one to bed if possible.🤞🏼 I'm certain 6 months of a growing tumour would look very different to what you are seeing. Best of luck.

My daughter used to be a morning puker. Was low blood sugar. She has something to eat before bed now and it seems to help. I also used to puke in the mornings as a child if I was worried about something. Still get your DD checked but there’s a lot else it is more likely to be

She could be epileptic, some seizures come in the early morning. My DD is now 17 and was diagnosed with epilepsy at 8 years after having two full TC seizures, I do remember her being sick a lot and sweating before she was diagnosed. I would definitely speak to your GP, write down the dates and times it happens.

Heakth anxiety is horrific. But honestly if it were a brain tumor it would have escalated a lot in six months, especially in a child. Lots of kids suffer from periods of morning puking. Could be stress, low blood sugar or acid.

Get a GP appointment so they can give you some advice.

the only that has ever worked for my health anxiety btw is regular exercise e.g gym most days. I would recommend it

So my child had headaches in the morning, woke in the night with them a couple of times, and after vomiting in the morning we got it checked it out, and for her it was a brain tumour (she's on the mend now). So please get it checked out and push for a scan because it's better to be safe with these things.

But in hindsight there were other red flags as well. She was 2, and she'd become much more clumsy, clingy, reluctant to walk, an increase in meltdowns (though she was 2 so who knows), issues with growth, looking sickly etc.

With her though the headaches were pretty much daily, and things were escalating in that time, including a thunderclap headache. Once a month doesn't ring the same alarm bells for me.

Not a doctor, but it sounds there are many harmless explanations. When I had sickness early mornings it was acid reflux. Definitely get it checked but try not to worry too much in the meantime.