Exhausted 11 year old girl - normal?

[TheSconeOfStone]

My DD has been extremely tired for a few months now. She isn't a great sleeper (has ASD and needs medication to get to sleep). We are used to her being tired due to her anxiety and sleeping problems but for the last few days she has been excessively sleepy and we are a bit worried. She has been difficult to wake, more than the normal grumpiness we always get. She fell asleep in the bath in the morning which is dangerous, nodded off at a relative's house and fell into a deep sleep for hours on the sofa and was almost impossible to wake her. She has been up since 12.30 today and was ready for bed by 7.30. No temperature or illness symptoms. Totally out of character as she usually can't sleep anywhere except a bed at night time.

She has just started her periods and is growing into a real womenly shape, over 5 foot tall but slim. She is very pale and off her food a bit. Usually eats well and a varied diet but not big portions. She has a multivit everyday to be on the safe side.

Is this the result of puberty onset plus ASD anxiety and the struggles of year 6 at school, or does she need to see a GP?

If she’s still the same tomorrow, I’d call 111.

Unless she deteriorates to the point that she needs medical attention immediately, please don't call 111 tomorrow.

Call the GP and make a routine appointment.

I don’t think that’s normal OP. I would take her to see a Dr.

We were wondering about GP but the day she was really sleepy she sort of snapped out of it by 3.30 pm and had a 15 minute run round the park and hot choc and cake at a cafe. Another day since we had people round for drinks and she was rampaging round the house with 6 other kids for 3 hours and was fine. I keep thinking she will flake out with a cold (she is the healthiest of all of us and rarely gets ill) no sign so far.

Could she be anaemic or something?

Why wouldn’t you call 111 tinesl?

Why wouldn’t you call 111

I think the question is why WOULD you?

I’d book a gp appt and get a blood test to see if she is anaemic etc.

Could be anaemia - low in iron or b12. Could be something more serious like diabetes if she is losing weight and very thirsty. I would take her to GP Monday

How heavy are her periods? Also, do you check how many times she changes pads / tampons? More than 1 an hour or two could be a sign of endo or pcos or anemia. Less than once a day could be a sign of poor hygiene and associated toxic shock syndromes. She needs to see a doctor ASAP.

She needs her bloods done to rule out anaemia and thyroid disease. Thyroid disease in children often starts at puberty. I would take her to the GP and ask for both these things to be tested.

Has her diet changed much during the holidays? If I eat a lot of bread, rich fatty food or heavily sugary food then I get very tired for a short while after eating them.
Could be the change in routine during the holidays too?