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.

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!

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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 '.

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