7 yo dd unable to follow instructions/fatigue/feeling out of sorts

[Alexandra84]

Hello,
I’d welcome any ideas here for and pursue.Dd is 7 yo, always been confident, academically capable, lots of friends, never hesitant in joining social clubs etc-very much always been a good all rounder.
Currently she just cannot follow instructions or remember anything she’s asked. She’s being clumsy, reverting back to silly baby voices and will argue about anything.
Is this a ‘phase’!
To add to the confusion, back around Feb ‘24 she was looking very ill, endless doctors trips, suggested a previous glandular fever and at the time, we were seeing a chronic fatigue type effect.
She will take an eternity to get to sleep (no screens past 6.30pm, lights out 7.30pm), rolls around in bed singing and chatting for hours, so grumpy and tired the next day before we’ve even left the house.
Upset coming home from school saying she didn’t feel herself.
If all logically links-tiredness, grumpiness, feeling out of sorts, can’t remember anything, silly mistakes. Then manic like behaviour…obsessive over food and bedding to have her own way.
But why? Exhaustion from school? Hormones? Chronic fatigue related (my mum has CFS year ago-I read recently that there can be a relational link), and if so, has anyone sought help? GP wasn’t much use, muttered something about other people waiting for their appt.
It sounds really simplistic, but it is draining, she’s being unkind to siblings, and is just not the upbeat girl she used to be. Have cancelled extra curricular activities to try to reduce output.
Any other idea or avenues to pursue would be appreciated, I’m worried I’m missing something and not helping her as I should.

Hello, didn’t want to read and run. What time is she usually falling asleep in the end? My only thought is that maybe you could move her bedtime a bit later? Our DD7 was also taking ages to go to sleep and I wondered if she just wasn’t tired when we were putting her to bed, meaning she missed the sleepy point, if you see what I mean. We moved her lights out time to 830pm and she’s always asleep by 9.15 which is a vast improvement on where we were before. IME tiredness can be at the root of so much other stuff that if you can fix that the other stuff may well just follow.

I think it's worth ruling out anything medical. Personally I'd want blood tests, especially for diabetes.

Thanks. She’ll be asleep by 9/9.30, but lights go out at 7.30. I did wonder if we moved to lights out at 8/8.30 it would be a quicker route to actually sleep. She reads before bed, doodles etc.
We’ll give this is a go. I try so hard to let her get more sleep in the mornings, jumping out of bed to take you younger siblings downstairs to avoid waking her.
Thanks for taking the time to reply.

We had blood glucose test back in Feb, all ruled out. All poorly done, she was traumatised by it all and kicked the doctor in the process.
I think we will probably head back and explain my fears and even if it is ‘just’ a CFS type issue (as was said to us), we’ve had no help and am just trying to piece it together.
Thanks for taking time to reply.

My 2 year old doesn't have lights out until 8 so I think 7.30 is a bit early, especially if they're clearly not ready for sleep. Just switch it up by half an hour for a week and see if that helps

I personally think 7.30 is too early to put them to bed at 7 (unless constant early risers 5/6!) if she’s lying there for 2 hours waiting for sleep. My nearly 7 year old has never been able to sleep early, 8.30 is a good night, usually nearer 9. I also think mood swings, irritability, food complaints etc are all normal for us and I’ve never thought it’s something medical but you know your child (mine has always been a rollercoaster emotions-wise)

I have an ND Dd.

This sounds like ADHD or ASD.

Fatigue, bad sleep, obsessiveness, upset after school. Kicking the doctor sounds like anxiety driven behaviour.

Glad that's been ruled out as it can make them very ratty/tired/fluctuating. So sorry they made a hash of it 😢

My first thought was an iron deficiency, it can make you feel quite out of it.

Sounds similar to my ds who’s just turned 8 a few weeks ago. Hes either really tired and lethargic or he’s moving and talking non stop. He also struggles to follow simple direction and he forgets and loses everything.

I also put him to bed at 7:30. Sometimes he’s out like a light (normally after his activities after school) but normal days he can’t sleep until about 9:30. He does wake up at 6 but likes to lay in bed on his iPad or reading in the morning. He doesn’t have it at night.

i have adhd and im half wondering if he does too ( there are many other signs he has aswell)

What other blood tests were done OP?
FBC ? Thyroid function Test?
I wouldn't say kicking the doctor taking blood, was a symptom of neurodivergence tbh ; that's a regular job hazard for most HCPs who work with children.

I'd have a look into PANS/PANDAS

Going to sleep late is classic ADHD according to out pysch.

My dd was like that from day1

Have to suggest worms. Have you wormed her recently?