exhausted- both of us!

[negligentmummy]

DD1 (verbal dyspraxia/ GDD/ SPD) seems to be permanently tired. She is 4 1/2 and sleeps 11-12 hours a night, but is still totally fatigued all day every day. She whinges and whines, sucking her thumb all day and the slightest slight will have her in floods of tears. She massive dark bags under her eyes too. I wonder about iron deficiency or something else, because she does sleep well and does not drop off in the car no matter how tired I think she is...
any one else have this? I'm really loosing patience!

It could be anaemia. But I think you need a visit to the GP.

I think a trip to the gp would be a good idea, it wouldn't be unreasonable for her to be more tired than a nt child the same age with the extra effort she will be putting into the extra processing etc that she has to do but it won't hurt to get her checked over. My 5yo still has an afternoon nap most days even if it's just 15/20 minutes but she's generally full of beans for the rest of the day.

Thanks- any idea how invasive tests for anemia are??

afaik it's a blood test, you'd get the numbing cream at that age. Have you thought about trying something like spatone or floradix for her to see if that would help?

Its a blood test - they can numb the area with cram first so it shouldnt hurt her.

Def get some tests done, it could be anaemia, glandular fever, of some underlying viral issue.

Also, get her on some multi vits/tonic every day.

HTH

Agree that its a blood test - we used to get the cream and the plasticy covering stuff prescribed so we could apply it at home which cut down waiting time at the blood clinic

Dd3 was like this when she wasn't coping at school. She was permenantly tired, she used to be flopped on the settee for hours.

Since she moved schools she has gradually come back to life and seems to have much more energy.

It could be that your Dd is just finding the world exhausting at the moment.

Don't rule out anaemia though, it would stil be worth a trip to the Docs.

thanks for your posts guys. The glandular fever/ viral issue a bit of a worry as she also permanently has a cough or runny nose.
I give her that vitamin tonic every day- the orange one in a brown bottle... no idea what it's called.

will book an appointment tomorrow- might be something fun to do in the rain!!