I can honestly say I hope I am in the wrong place....that you have no advice and I worry too much about my son.
Background:
My son is four. Smart and talkative. But tired. Excessively so. Mama my energy is gone out of my muscles is a phrase common lately. Playing in the backyard, 'mama my lupus is making me tired'...I have lupus and we have been honest and clear about the science and the symptoms that shape our existence. A recent play date made me realize he couldn't really keep with his friend. Running around in the yard he frequently lays down on his back and 'needs rest and energy...a snack to get my energy back please'.
He is tall and thin...not quite underweight. But his extreme pickiness (very bad reflux) has made very little appealing, and experimentation out of the question. Yogurt, peanut butter, crackers, and fruit make up most of his diet. He chose to be a leaf eater..which is great long term, but right now he is a vegetarian that doesn't eat vegetables. We all eat healthy (I am a vegan) as my health is better when my diet is 'clean'. We keep the junk and processed stuff out of our house. Besides my husband is a kiwi...anything not homemade is offensive to him.
Because of the fatigue and dietary limitations, I suspect anemia. But then.....
On his birthday (end of October), he didn't eat well with his excitement of a party that afternoon, went down for a brief nap, and woke up cold...shivering, shaking HARD, fingers white, lips blue, goosebumps, teeth chattering, and miserable. He had been exposed to chicken pox a week prior so I thought we were seeing a poorly timed manifestation. Alas, no pox..I couldn't check his temperature because his teeth were chattering so hard. After while, and food, he got into his party and we moved on with life.
We had a holiday at a friends house a week ago.
In his playing (very tired) he again ate poorly. Went down for a late, short nap, and woke again miserably icy cold and suffering as before. This time I gave juice and pretzels...he was offered a meal...he rejected, and still klutzy, cranky, and not overly warm, he went to play with the other children. .An argument ensued over a toy...he can usually get worked through these things. This one escalated into a screaming hysteria that lasted 20 minutes. We have never seen that level of rage. It left me helpless. Letting go after he had calmed, Loch sunk to the floor saying, 'my muscles are so tired mama...they just can't hold me anymore...my brain hurts too'. Laying on his back, breathing, scaring me to my soul.
Leaving immediately, he pretty much ate the entire 1hour trip home. And he was fine.
The doctor's appointment the following Monday revealed a blood glucose of 83. He had eaten yogurt and crackers prior. The doctor felt that small meals with carbs and protein would help him get sorted out. They didn't do a full blood draw. Just a finger jab.
Perhaps I could accept this (not really), but over the past few weeks Loch has been complaining of stomach pain. Not normally a complainer but still a four year old at first I thought reflux. But he lays himself over the arm of the sofa, across my legs...something solid...last night falling asleep with a kids medical encyclopedia under his stomach. A couple of times a day.
There is too much 'not right' with Loch. I am so worried I haven't communicated properly to the doctor, that we are missing a very big thing because I didn't see the signs. Does any of this sound familiar to any of you? This pattern, pain, fatigue, Etc. like anything like your experiences?
I dread a blood draw for Loch. He understands, but it won't make it any less ugly. I feel if I had a bit more confidence I could push the doctor into being more active about this...I just need to know if my gut is right.
Thoughts? Advice? Opinions?
By all means please share!
Thank you so much!
Cheers
Awyn
Background:
My son is four. Smart and talkative. But tired. Excessively so. Mama my energy is gone out of my muscles is a phrase common lately. Playing in the backyard, 'mama my lupus is making me tired'...I have lupus and we have been honest and clear about the science and the symptoms that shape our existence. A recent play date made me realize he couldn't really keep with his friend. Running around in the yard he frequently lays down on his back and 'needs rest and energy...a snack to get my energy back please'.
He is tall and thin...not quite underweight. But his extreme pickiness (very bad reflux) has made very little appealing, and experimentation out of the question. Yogurt, peanut butter, crackers, and fruit make up most of his diet. He chose to be a leaf eater..which is great long term, but right now he is a vegetarian that doesn't eat vegetables. We all eat healthy (I am a vegan) as my health is better when my diet is 'clean'. We keep the junk and processed stuff out of our house. Besides my husband is a kiwi...anything not homemade is offensive to him.
Because of the fatigue and dietary limitations, I suspect anemia. But then.....
On his birthday (end of October), he didn't eat well with his excitement of a party that afternoon, went down for a brief nap, and woke up cold...shivering, shaking HARD, fingers white, lips blue, goosebumps, teeth chattering, and miserable. He had been exposed to chicken pox a week prior so I thought we were seeing a poorly timed manifestation. Alas, no pox..I couldn't check his temperature because his teeth were chattering so hard. After while, and food, he got into his party and we moved on with life.
We had a holiday at a friends house a week ago.
In his playing (very tired) he again ate poorly. Went down for a late, short nap, and woke again miserably icy cold and suffering as before. This time I gave juice and pretzels...he was offered a meal...he rejected, and still klutzy, cranky, and not overly warm, he went to play with the other children. .An argument ensued over a toy...he can usually get worked through these things. This one escalated into a screaming hysteria that lasted 20 minutes. We have never seen that level of rage. It left me helpless. Letting go after he had calmed, Loch sunk to the floor saying, 'my muscles are so tired mama...they just can't hold me anymore...my brain hurts too'. Laying on his back, breathing, scaring me to my soul.
Leaving immediately, he pretty much ate the entire 1hour trip home. And he was fine.
The doctor's appointment the following Monday revealed a blood glucose of 83. He had eaten yogurt and crackers prior. The doctor felt that small meals with carbs and protein would help him get sorted out. They didn't do a full blood draw. Just a finger jab.
Perhaps I could accept this (not really), but over the past few weeks Loch has been complaining of stomach pain. Not normally a complainer but still a four year old at first I thought reflux. But he lays himself over the arm of the sofa, across my legs...something solid...last night falling asleep with a kids medical encyclopedia under his stomach. A couple of times a day.
There is too much 'not right' with Loch. I am so worried I haven't communicated properly to the doctor, that we are missing a very big thing because I didn't see the signs. Does any of this sound familiar to any of you? This pattern, pain, fatigue, Etc. like anything like your experiences?
I dread a blood draw for Loch. He understands, but it won't make it any less ugly. I feel if I had a bit more confidence I could push the doctor into being more active about this...I just need to know if my gut is right.
Thoughts? Advice? Opinions?
By all means please share!
Thank you so much!
Cheers
Awyn
