Please help! DD missing GCSEs due to nausea - Stemetil not working - what else can we do?

[Fretfulagain]

Did post earlier but didn't put GCSEs in the title and the fact she is missing her exams is what makes this urgent. we are at wits end.
started Monday pm, quite suddenly.
nausea - tiredness - lightheaded - some stomach pain but doesn't seem severe
Period arrived Tuesday - it is irregular
GP prescribed Stemetil (2nd appointment of week) but not doing much and she's flat, feeling sick and exhausted this morning.
Missed a week of GCSEs.

we are trying to get liquid into her but even that is an effort and she is taking tiny sips. yesterday she had some ritz crackers, a few bites of ham sandwich (after Stemetil seemed to be working) and half an avocado all day. Nothing so far today.

My worry is that there is no sign of improvement and looking at previous threads there are a lot of examples of unexplained nausea in teens lasting weeks or even months.

what else can/should/shouldn't we do?

She's missing gcses due to nausea?

she's unwell. feels sick. was sick at start of week but not really eaten much since. school asked her to go in on Wed. she had water in the car and brought it up in the street. she feels very nauseous, hasn't eaten properly since Monday morning, is extremely low energy and tired (as you'd expect) and obviously very flat as she has spent a long time working towards these exams. Today was Eng Lan which is her fave/strongest subject.

school looked at her and sent her home to get better.

Sounds like nerves, I'd be sending her in regardless.

Sounds like it could be anxiety trusted? Any history of migraine (can occur without head pain)

This sounds like nerves or anxiety. I know you know this but these GCSES are super important if she can manage an hour or two any marks are better than none.

Low blood sugar? Plus nerves? Making a vicious circle of nausea and lack of appetite?

Is she using the toilet as normal - no diarrhea or constipation?

If she was actually sick then try rehydration sachets.

Poor thing :( It's very difficult but in the absence of pain, fever or active vomiting she needs to be in.

Could it be exam stress? Anxiety?

Are you sure it’s not anxiety?

Anxiety / nerves by the sounds of it. Does she suffer from anxiety in general.

I'd be sending her in I think.

Dyhydration jelly - soup - differnt liquids - wetter foods fruit, cucumber, melon etc.

Nausea - ginger sweets, drinks, cookies or pepermint tea- flat coke.

It could well be nerves - I involuntary feel sick when over tired or stressed - few cases have been sick and often feel much better as if body having done something is okay again.

Walking freah air - checking with local pharmacist .

I can see why the school isn't keen on a sick child being in room with an exam year but I would be on at them about how to proceed.

Sounds like anxiety coupled with hormones. DD sat a couple of GCSE's in that state, plus she wasn't sleeping properly for several weeks. She felt awful, nauseous, dizzy, fainted several times. They just have to get on with it. She had a bucket by the side of her table just in case. It's really hard on some DC's, but I think you have to push through it. Have you tried any anti-anxiety herbal remedies?

If it is anxiety - try Rescue remedy

If it's can't sleep - try cold baths/showers bed time - no screens and the herbal tablets based on I think cabbages or lettice.

If she's really poorly, be it from anxiety or illness then it's just one of those things unfortunately and her getting into a state isn't going to change anything or improve her performance. School / exam board should be able to advise on whether there are options for grading without the final exam or whether she will need to do resits later... either way it's really not the end of the world, even if it might feel like a disaster now! People do get sick and miss important stuff but there's always going to be another opportunity in long term, albeit it might mean things don't quite work out as planned. Take the pressure off this weekend, tell her to stop worrying and see how she feels on Monday?

Wow. I can't believe the lack of empathy from some of the posters on here.

Have they never felt so sick and unwell that all they can do is lie down?

@Fretfulagain I hope your DD feels better soon.

Thank you for all the input. She really isn't in a state to be sent in. That is clearly what the school wanted to check, and as I said, she brought up the water she'd had in the car and had to sit down in the street on the very short walk between car and school.
We've got and tried pretty much everything suggested from rescue remedy to flat coke to probiotics (which were eye-wateringly expensive so I ended up drinking it myself when she couldn't this morning to avoid wasting it). She is sleeping ok.
I have no idea what it is if I'm honest - hormones, anxiety, bug, or a myriad of other things. What I do know is both she and we desperately want her to do these exams. She's done the work but she genuinely isn't in a fit state. Otherwise, believe me, we'd be taking her in. For those who seem to think it's a case of 'stress' and she should pull herself together and get on with it, how I wish that would work, believe me, if that would deliver a good outcome, that is what we'd be doing. Both school and GP have seen/talked to her and both are satisfied she is too unwell to sit the exams (and the school's starting point on Wednesday, was 'she's got to come in and sit it').
I am at my wits end - hence post.

I am wondering if a private GP appointment to get blood tests done same day might shed some light - or might be a waste of time, money and effort. I honestly have no idea what to try next.

There are some really nasty stomach bugs around at moment... Try to get some dioralyte in her in little sips for now, don't worry about exams, and if you can afford it take her to private GP or at least get a consultation about bloods... It will at minimum help you get to bottom of why she is feeling so awful... Everything else can be sorted out when she feels better ❤️

would The gp prescribe Ondansetron?

She really needs to attempt some papers 25% minimum, otherwise Special consideration has nothing to base a grade on. Even if she has a separate room, water available etc.

Thanks - I'm not sure of protocol and if it would irritate our GP if we did private to secure same day blood tests and results. I can see that missing exams isn't the end of the world in grand scheme of things but it sure does feel like it when you are 16 and she's done the work and was looking forward to prom and a holiday with friends as her 'reward' (i mean she'll still do these assuming she's well enough but she may not feel she has 'earned' them so the psychological impact of failing to attend her exams will be significant I fear).
I don't know what Ondansetron is but will google now!

I’d ask the Gp to try a better anti sickness tablet, aprepitant was brilliant when I was having chemo or ondansetron. There are a wide range and she might need to trial a few or a combination to get relief.

LIZS she has done two weeks of papers and has another two weeks to go (please God we can turn a corner by Monday) so may have hit 25% - I haven't checked each subject. Too focussed on getting her better and in for the rest.

Your can buy other anti sickness pills OTC in a pharmacy. Try some alternatives. Kwells and Buccastem are different drugs from Stemetil.

The GP can prescribe other meds as well. I use Scopoderm patches (which is the same meds as in Kwells) when I can't keep medication down.

Stick acupressure bands on her wrists. Ginger biscuits and tablets.

Keep to bland food. Toast, white bread, bananas, apple sauce is a good idea. Avoid high fat foods like avocado, I can imagine that would churn her stomach.

Ice lollies (not ice cream) to get liquid and sugar in her.

Thanks - yes have been trying her on the BRAT diet but without success. Yesterday's avocado half was ambitious but she was briefly feeling a bit better. we have anti sickness bands and have talked to pharmacist a few times but will go back and get some Kwells.