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Children's health

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Original poster

if this was your 3 year old ds would you take him to the doctors?

58 replies

mad4myboys · 05/10/2009 17:03

ds1 was 3 in june. Has always been very lively, outgoing non stop, the usual typical boy. Over the last 2 months he seems to have slowed down alot. I noticed it about a month ago and he was always tired, tried re introducing naps (against his will) and this made no difference. Has got worse through september and the last 2 weeks he is barely eating anything and has always been a great eater. He is eating sometimes no breakfast, half slice toast, odd bit of tea, wont even eat treats. I asked pre school today (has been going a year) and they observed him today and they said that he def isnt the boy he 'used' to be. Quiet, teary.

He also has been hurting himself a bit, falling over etc but have put that down to being tired. Took him to doc about a month ago who said on paper he was fine, perhaps a viral blah blah.

Anyway he has 11 hours sleep at night and wakes up every morning saying he is so tired....

nothing has happened in his life during these 2 months, all the same....WWYD?

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Original poster

mad4myboys · 05/10/2009 19:41

wow that must of been awful for you. i will ring tomorrow morning to try to get apt. Im sure it'll be 'one of those things' but better safe

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piscesmoon · 05/10/2009 19:45

Even if you seem a fussy mum, it is better to put your mind at rest. I took DS, with DH saying 'you can't take him just with a cough!' I next rang him from hospital telling him to bring in pyjamas etc! I am not saying that there is anything wrong with your DC-just that if you have concerns, don't let it slide.

Original poster

mad4myboys · 05/10/2009 19:48

i do agree with you, ds2 is 10 months and i knew he was ill at birth and was told he was fine. had various tests, general anesthetics etc etc, no hes fine, gp referred to kings in london by specialist and he has just been in there for all sorts of tests, as he says whatever IS wrong has been missed. just hope im not 'looking' for something wrongwith ds1

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reALMediALemming · 05/10/2009 19:50

When you go to your appt tomorrow and doctor still won't do anything. Change surgeries of find another doctor asap. If your not satisfied with their diagnosis and you instinctly know there is something wrong, always go with your gut.

Original poster

mad4myboys · 05/10/2009 19:55

i trust my particular gp (who ill hopefully see tomorrow) she is the one who helped me and believed me with ds2

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reALMediALemming · 05/10/2009 20:00

Well that is one less worry. I hope all goes well for you and your ds morrow. let us know how it goes.

Egg · 05/10/2009 20:02

Is he pooing ok? Last year my ds1 was like this as he was constipated and hated pooing so much he stopped eating properly and had no energy and was just generally not himself. As soon as he got sorted he became the happy lively boy he used to be.

Good luck with your appt.

Original poster

mad4myboys · 06/10/2009 09:18

he isnt pooing alot, i gues because he isnt eating enough?

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Egg · 06/10/2009 18:14

Hmm. My DS1 used to eat ok but ate less and less because of not wanting to need to poo as it hurt and also because he just wasn't as hungry as he always had a tummy ache as he needed to poo but refused to! It sounds like your DS1 is only not pooing so much because he is not eating so much (ie other way round to my DS1) if that makes sense?!?!

overmydeadbody · 06/10/2009 18:18

Definately go back to the GP.

You know your son better than anyone. Insist on further tests until you get them.

ilovemydogandmrobama · 06/10/2009 18:28

How are his ears? if he's falling over, could it mean that his balance is affected? I don't know, but may be worth asking GP to check his ears.

Northernlurker · 06/10/2009 18:35

Did you get seen? I think you should definately go if you haven't already and stress consistent lack of appetite and fatigue.

Original poster

mad4myboys · 06/10/2009 18:42

hi sorry yes got seen. She gave him good checkover and couldnt find anything wrong. The only thing she said was he had a few lymph nodes up but nothing to worry about...

said to monitor him and if he only poos twice a week then she'll have to give some laxatives. I do trust her though....guess time will tell

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Northernlurker · 06/10/2009 18:43

NO blood tests? Did she say why she thought they weren't necessary?

Original poster

mad4myboys · 06/10/2009 19:51

she doesnt think there is anything wrong, ds2 has alot of health issues and cant eat alot of different foods and she thinks all this is playinga part as we are in and out of hosp at the mo..

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thumbscrewwitch · 06/10/2009 20:08

the lymph nodes were up and she didn't order blood tests?
Go back and insist on them.

PLease take this is an example, not any kind of suspicion: there are potentially more serious conditions that could be present - my niece had periods of lassitude, lying down a lot, occasionally sick, started falling over and losing her balance a lot etc. etc. - my sis was told variously that it was:
teething
tonsilitis
a virus
ear infection

2 months later when she actually couldn't walk anymore because her balance was so bad (she was 21mo) they took her to UCL in London, where they have a Paed A&E and she was diagnosed with a brain tumour. I AM NOT SAYING that your DS has any such thing - but your GP SHOULD do the blood tests to check his white blood cell count (and of course his red cell count for iron deficiency). If it is a virus, they will be up. If not, then they should investigate further. Sis's GP was very apologetic after the event.

Original poster

mad4myboys · 06/10/2009 20:14

she said 'just abit' but they would be up if he had a viral/bug anyway...wish i hadnt read your post thumbs, i was happy to accept what others have said and agreed with them..now im not sure u should be more worried.

He doesnt have a balance problem, just more clumzy (how do you sp??)

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evaangel2 · 06/10/2009 20:21

Same with my ds but my ds started having seizures and staring absense spells aswell as the tiredness, they are running tests and have vitually diagnosed him with childhood epilepsy
go back to your doc, you know your child better than anyone else

alypaly · 06/10/2009 20:22

you arent having much luck with your boys...how is little one

Original poster

mad4myboys · 06/10/2009 20:23

you mean your ds started how my ds is now?

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Original poster

mad4myboys · 06/10/2009 20:25

hi aly, i updated my thread about ds2...biopsys have come back fine, going to evalina on monday for the other results....im petrified they are all clear....having a nightmare getting him to sleep. starting to wear me down. thanks for asking

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alypaly · 06/10/2009 20:30

keep me posted

thumbscrewwitch · 06/10/2009 21:09

sorry mad4myboys, I really didn't want to alarm you but I do think it is important to insist on the tests just to be on the safe side. Almost certainly your GP is right (and the lymph nodes are just inflamed because of a virus) but I'd rather see the test results to know that was the case, if it were me in your place.

Sorry to hear about DS2 as well - hope it all goes well.

Northernlurker · 06/10/2009 21:19

I think thumbscrew is right. Yes a virus will cause the white cells be up a bit but something nasty would cause much more deranged levels - enough to clearly see if anything is up. I don't want to worry you either and everything that's going on with you could well make him tired and quiet - but a persistent loss of appetite? That raises a bit of a worry with me. I think you should give it another week. If no improvement particularly with the eating then I think you should go back, ask for a full blood count and then a referral on if nothing is any clearer.

anonandlikeit · 06/10/2009 21:26

Hi mad4boys
Sounds like you are having a rough time with your boys!
The MOST likely answer is EXACTLY as your DR has suggested, yes there are other possibilities but they are very rare.
DS2 had a very similar thing, was very off colour for a few months, glands slightly up, etc.
We watched & waited like the Dr suggested but he didn't seme to improve so he ran blood tests. Turned out that he had a form of anaemia, nothing life threatening , just meant that his body wasn't processing iron, something about the shape of the cells! Anyway he had a long term dose of Iron, plus some other medicines to help balance things out & he is fine now.
He does have other long term unassociated disablities/health probs (so sympathise with you & ds2) but his energy levels are back to where they should be.

What i'm trying to say is, even if there is an underlying cause, its unlikely to eb serious especially if things are not altering or deteriorating.

Don't forget to look after yourself too!

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