DS 17 - is something wrong or is this normal?

[Sottosopra]

This is long but I want to give a full picture: DS is 17 and since last December has had episodes lasting a few weeks at a time where he is just completely physically exhausted. We initially thought he had had a virus over winter that was taking a while to get over but this is still happening.

He has been to the GP surgery 3 times but keeps being told that it is most likely down to 'an emotional issue'. DS is adamant that he doesn't feel down or sad and has completed one of the GP's forms that assesses mood and scored in the lowest band - ie not depressed. GP still only suggests counselling though.

He has had blood tests done for full blood count, thyroid, glucose & glandular fever plus few other things I can't remember right now & everything is normal.

Even school noticed the change in him & he saw a counsellor in school before the exams in May/June but didn't want to go back as he felt they were assuming he was depressed & found the questions a bit intrusive.

He has attended two of the GP appointments on his own & DH went along to one for a bit of moral support but we still don't know what is causing this or what to do next. DS doesn't want to go back to GP as thinks he'll just be told it's an emotional issue again.

His appetite is good & he hasn't lost any weight. He takes a multivitamin every day & an extra Vit D tablet. I asked him about alcohol/drugs & he told me that he has alcohol at parties but no drugs (I realise this may not be the full truth but I've never seen him drunk or stoned when he comes home from a party)

From my conversations with him he says he feels physically achy & just wants to sleep. He doesn't feel sad & has interests & hobbies but feels frustrated that he doesn't always have the energy to do them. He has also cancelled out of some social events with friends because he doesn't have the energy. If he does have a busy/energetic day it seems to wipe him out for the next couple of days.

So, does this all sound familiar to other parents of 17yr old sons? Is this just normal teenage tiredness? If so, how long does it last? I've run out of ideas on how to help him. It was a struggle for him to get through his exams so I don't know how he'll cope with Yr13 if this isn't sorted out.

[mawbroon]

I just wanted to add that I had Glandular Fever years ago but I never once had a positive test result for it. Four different docs were all sure I had it but every time, the test came back negative.

Years later, I had loads of blood tests done because I was exhausted, but with no GF symptoms, and lo and behold it came back positive!

I just want to mention this so you don't rule out GF on the strength of a blood test.

Hope you get to the bottom of it soon x

[Claybury]

I have a 17 year old son and while he can be idle and 'tired' sometimes ( which I out down to late nights and lethargy/boredom ) I think you need to return to the doctor if something isn't right.
If he has hobbies but doesn't feel he has the energy for them then that sounds like he wants to be more energetic. Unlike my DS who can't be bothered with hobbies. So I would say what you describe is not 'normal '.

[Sottosopra]

Thank you for your replies cariadlet & BareGrylls. I had a good chat with him last night & he wants to see how the next two weeks go. If things don't improve he'll go back to the GP surgery with either myself or DH & talk about the possibility that it is ME/CFS.

All of these responses have been so helpful in confirming in my mind that what he is dealing with is not the usual teenage tiredness.

[BareGrylls]

I have 17 and 19 year old DSs and don't recognise what you describe as normal. DS2 gets tired but he has had a huge growth spurt and it's not the sort of fatigue you describe. I also don't believe your DS sounds depressed.

I know from experience how hard it is to get a 17 year old to the doctors and I can fully understand him not wanting to go back. I had this with DS1 who got a very bad response from a GP (fortunately I went with him and although I sat back and didn't speak I could discuss it with DS afterwards).

The problem now is you want a proper medical opinion not a diagnosis from the internet. I wonder whether you could"pave the way" by going to the GP on your own? They won't divulge anything to you but they will listen. In fact I have seen a GP post that suggestion on this teenage board before.

[cariadlet]

A friend's daughter has ME which started when she was at secondary school. The symptoms sound very similar. I'd read up on ME/CFS, keep going back to the GP and push for support.

[Sottosopra]

Haha - Zoella does internet tutorials on hair & make-up Rivercam. I've just done a fab plait type thing on DDs hair.

[Sottosopra]

Thankyou AmyLouKin. I think CFS is a strong possibility.

I'm so disappointed that the 3 different GPs he saw were so quick to suggest emotional problems & didn't listen to him saying he didn't feel sad, stressed or depressed. He only had the blood tests done after DH went with him to suggest they looked further into his symptoms. I can understand his reluctance to go back as being told by 3 GPs & a school counsellor that he was stressed &/or depressed really had him questioning himself at one point earlier in the year.

[Rivercam]

Zoella? Only have boys so have no idea what this is.

[Sottosopra]

I just need to nip off & do a Zoella style hairdo for DD but will be back to respond to any other replies

[AmyLouKin]

I'm no GP but it also sounds like CFS to me. I've known several people with it and you really have to push doctors, to get diagnosed! I remember working with one poor girl and our employers were very unsympathetic about it! She really struggled to drag herself in to work and some days she coped and others she just couldn't, bless her. I hope you get it sorted but he really needs to bite the bullet and go back to his GP, even if that means switching to a different one! It's also worth mentioning, that just as CFS can suddenly appear, it can also get better in later life! Good luck!

[Sottosopra]

Thanks Rivercam, I'll check out some sites.

Thank you for the link Tinfoiled. I'll take a look at that.

The positive side of this is that he is motivated to sort this out & apart from feeling exhausted is happy with life & in himself.

[Sottosopra]

He tried a gluten free week a few months ago ancientbuchanan but struggled with the restrictions (Subway is the meeting point for teens around here). He said a few weeks ago that he would try again - a sure sign to me of how fed up he is with feeling so bad. I'll have a chat to him about trying again. I can't tolerate gluten and these things can run in families can't they.

[Tinfoiled]

Another one www.bacme.info/document_uploads/POD_Docs/PatManGradingActivity.pdf.

[GailTheFish]

Possibly a bit off track, but have you ruled out any sleep disorders, such as sleep apnoea? Would explain why it's not showing up in any blood tests, though I realise it might not explain the sporadic nature of his tiredness.

[Tinfoiled]

www.actionforme.org.uk/Resources/Action%20for%20ME/Documents/get-informed/pacing-booklet.pdf

[Rivercam]

My first thought was diabetes, followed by ME/chronic fatigue syndrome. It's defiantly worth more investigation.

ME internet sites can be scary, so be warned.

[Sottosopra]

I wondered if it was a growing/hormone thing switchitoff as he does have gaps between the episodes of tiredness where he seems to be ok for a couple of weeks & we think he's getting better & then he seems to back to exhaustion again.

He had seemed better since school broke up but last week was very busy & he seems to have crashed again.

[ancientbuchanan]

coeliac?

[SewButtons]

My immediate thought would be CFS as well. I have fibromyalgia and a lot of the symptoms overlap, I'd see about getting a second opinion (or even a third- I saw 3 rheumatologists before I was finally given a diagnosis).
In my experience if you go in saying I think I have xyz then the Dr will decide you definitely dont.
As for tests I had many many blood tests,3 MRI's , and two rounds of physio along with multiple doctors visits and a lot of filling out that depression questionnaire.

[Sottosopra]

Hmmm, you've got me thinking Seriouslyffs. We moved into this house late last year so there could be something in what you suggest.

[switchitoff]

My teens do get physically exhausted for days at a time (I put it down to the growing, combined with raging hormones) but not for months like you say your DS has had.

Lyme disease? It can lay dormant in your system for years, so if he has ever been bitten by ticks you'll need a specific blood test to rule it out.

[Sottosopra]

That sounds interesting Tinfoiled. I've never heard of it before but I just googled it & got a joinery company, an engineering firm and some university websites

Do you know of a particular website that would be useful?

[Seriouslyffs]

This sounds completely left field but can you change where he sleeps?!
DS15 was desperate to move to his sister's room which can be completely dark and has a bigger bed, but when he did so it completely sapped him. Can you change his bedroom, make it airier and dark, but not too dark, experiment with pillows etc.
It's also possible that even if he had something viral which now doesn't show, he's still below par because the less you do, the less you do!

[bestguess23]

Sorry, missed your last post. CFS is an exclusion diagnosis so they rule everything else out. There are few doctors or even consultants who are well informed about CFS. Dr Amolak Bansal at Sutton Hospital and St Helier is incredible so keep an eye out for the patient publications he has released. There is a checklist that they use at the final stage to diagnose CFS, you can find it online if you want to see the criteria.

[BettyCatKitten]

Yes, second opinion. The poor lad must be very frustrated.