4yr Old Health Issues - Ideas Please

This year has not been our year with DD2, it seems she is sick every couple of weeks varying from the odd cold to viral infections but it is getting beyond a joke and other issues are currently arising.

In the last month complaints from DD2 (aside from colds etc) have been:

*strange smell (like infection) coming from her mouth or nose at night when she lays down (atleast 2 nights I slept with her and it was STRONG) but gone when she was up and about in the morning
* random coughing fits
* complaining of a sore head / headache
* sore eyes (at same time as above)
* Random blood nose which took over 20min to stop (and she didn't have her finger up there)
* tired and whingey at the end of the day
* randomly pale
* Hot to touch but 10min later is ok (even while resting)
* Flush cheeks (while resting)
* Her legs are 'sore' - she's recently had a growth spurt so I would be surprised if it was this again.
* Snoring is getting worse
* waking with big dark circles even after a supposed full nights sleep

I know there could be a huge range of things causing these things, the headache & blood nose are most concerning to me at the moment (both of which I suffered as a child & still do)

I have a Dr's apt for her today and am going to ask they do a blood test to check for iron levels, check her sinuses for infection, check her adenoids - is there anything else I should be looking for that could be causing one or all of these issues.
I am really over not having our happy healthy psycho running around like a nuctase :p

I think Some of those could be tonsils and/or adenoids. The coughing, snoring, waking up tired, even the headaches and bad breath. Definitely get your GP to have a look if they are a continuing problem.

I'd also ask about a possible lung infection, you may like to request an xray

It's like banging your head against a brick wall!

I've demanded a blood test, he said her tonsils are huge (not infected but huge)

Everything else he has put down to a cold / flu... Seriously every 2/3 weeks she's like this, she's not herself.
I feel horrible putting her through a blood test but headaches etc worry me. He thinks it's nothing!

I would ask for a referral to an ENT specialist and some routine blood tests such as iron like you mentioned, Hb, platelets, thyroid, liver functions. Basically the standard ones. My daughter had similar symptoms. It turned out she had low platelets which was due to recurrent infection. This would vary from tonsilitis to school sores etc. Her immunity was very low. All her problems the ENT believe is from her tonsils. They are grade 4 even when not infected. They are coming out shortly (couldn't have them out when her platelets were so low).

Referral has been sent to ENT, waiting for the cream to kick in so they can do blood test.

Want to cry, hate doubting my mumma instinct!

When all else fails ask for a referral to a Paed. Our paed always said if mum thinks there's something wrong then there is something wrong.

I''m not a happy mumma at all :(

So we have a referral to the ENT for 'HUGE TONSILS' - he believes this is the cause of her tiredness and the horrible circles under her eyes.
They are not infected but are huge in his words (yet this has never been noticed before)

I had to basically FIGHT him to do a blood test as he believes all her other symptoms are things that can be caused by colds etc (but why is she getting these things so regularly)

We do the blood test, not enough blood (my poor girl :( )

"so what do you want to do now" yes thank Dr very professional, he also threw in a "that's why we don't normally do blood tests on kids this young unless really necessary" .... dig the knife a little deeper.

Talking to the nurse and I mention I'm sick of feeling there is something more to it, a normally healthy child has been sick on and off for about 4 / 5mths now, we live on a property, she gets dirty and plays in mud, has been at kinder for 2yrs and I only now catching everything????
She suggests I follow my gut and just get it checked out, worst outcome is she is healthy and we find out it is really just colds etc.

Dr comes back in "what have you decided" ... REALLY SOME HELP MIGHT BE BLOODY NICE!!!!!

So he organises a referral to a paed, I've tried faxing it and it bounces back, called the number... NO ANSWER!

His referral states I'm worried about low iron due to her being tired & lethargic & having low level fevers, no mention of the headaches, bags under her eyes, blood nose or pale skin.... NOTHING.

So ENT is booked for 4th Sept, I will try again with the Paed tomorrow and I guess we move on from there.... have had a teary today - no onwards and upwards right... figure this s**t out.

You should be proud of yourself not feeling like shiat. Your worried about your DD and your seeking help through the right channels ie GP then specialist. Usually the specialist wants results as otherwise they will send them off anyway which is expensive if a specialist orders them as opposed to a GP plus more waiting for answers.

Its not nice to subject your child to blood tests but if there is a problem better to know sooner rather then later. Can you have a pathology place do it as opposed to a GP? They are usually alot more experienced and use a butterfly needle as opposed to something the GP may use.

Damn I typed a reply on Tapatalk a couple of days ago and it didn't load.

Anyway - I managed to get an appointment with the Paed for Monday and the bonus is they bulk bill so I wont be forking out hundreds of dollars in 1 week to try and finally get some answers.

She's still randomly complaining of headaches, some times I know she is faking others she is not herself and I know she's not right.
Today is another instance, she had swimming this morning then we do food shopping, she normally begs to walk around today she asked to sit in the trolley.
She has gymnastics at 12:30 and normally comes home watches telly or plays outside while I unpack shopping then we get ready to head out, today she has gone to put herself to bed and said "I am having a rest because I am super tired and I want to be ok for gymnastics" ... SERIOULSY WHAT THE!!!!!!!

This is a child who can rise at 5am and still has energy to burn at 10pm, who does swimming and gym in the same day, watches her sister at gym at night and still stays awake longer than anyone else!

Bring on next week I say!

ETA: just went to check on her before gym, woke her up she was boiling 38.6 temp and all she wants is mummy to lay with her & sleep in her bed... sooooo not herself.

Got her temp down with nurofen earlier, nurofen has worn off, temp 39.4.. Just given more nurofen, cool cloth on her head, about to do a cool shower with daddy, she's drifting in & out of sleep :(

Tonsillitis? That's how e is when she gets it.

She is sounding just like DS1 before we had his tonsils and adenoids removed. Since having those removed he is a completely different kid and within 2 weeks.

Good luck

Vomited up her nurofen, super lethargic, complained of a headache - left a msg for SIL (a nurse) debating taking her to emergency... Temp is coming down after I forced an icy pole down her throat but with nurofen thrown up I'm worried it's going to sky rocket again before she can have more ;(

Have you got some panadol you can try? (No need to wait)

No Panadol unfortunately and nowhere with a 40min drive would have any (hospital is actually closer) she's back asleep, would have slept on an off for over 6hrs today... Soooo not her, she was 100% herself this morning then dropped like a tonne of bricks :(

Poor possum :(

Try not to use cool/cold water. Warm bath/washer & let the water dry on her skin. Cold/cool can restrict the blood vessels & push the temp higher.
I'd try another at least half dose of nurofen unless you can get the warm washer to work.
Works well for me with DD.

And just remember ANY fluid is better than none. Dd was given red cordial in a syringe last time I took her to er vomiting. Most of it came back up, but the little that stayed in was all she needed. They absorb it through the mouth too, so they still get it when some comes up.

Keep the paed appointment. Even if you have no results. Anything that they think needs doing will be done. Be honest & tell them your concerns. Everything. Dd1 had her tonsils/adenoids etc removed at 5. She'd never had tonsillitis, but she was an open mouth breather, who snored & always had black rings under her eyes. Just from the enlarged tonsils/adenoids.

I would suggest a 2nd opinion, but hopefully between the paed & ENT you'll work it out & won't need to worry.

Dd3 is almost 4 & I'd be shocked if she chose to put herself to bed at any time! Even sick :lol:

You know your dd. I had bloods done on my 8 week old dd2 for recurrent chest infections. My gp decided the paed was the answer. This is how we found her heart murmer, among other things. If it hadn't been for being able to have faith in my gp, we'd have never thought to go further I don't think.

I've got some gastrolyte or similar here, rehydration fluid, icy poles and powder if you need it.

39.2 at 1:30, 38.6 again at 6:45 - nurofen again, will have to go & buy Panadol... I've got the icy poles but she won't touch them, what do you think the chance of her doing the powder/liquid for me?

She won't even sit up herself, only time she's walked was to the toilet :(

calippos? apple juice? lemonade icy poles?

i have panadol here if you want it. i can do a drive by.

Would she do a nurofen syringe with red cordial? They have the syringe to Sum for the novelty, & red cordial because it's moreish (Apple tells me this isn't a word lol). I've even used a plastic shot glass before lol.

Or just ice pieces in a cup?

Hope she feels better soon x

Got a Dr's appt at 11:40 so will go get juice, lemonade & Panafon then.
Going to a different Dr just to make sure they are not getting dehydrated etc... Temp hasn't come below 38 this morning, having lemonade icy poles for breakfast.

ETA: we only have sugar free cordial, she didn't want to suck on ice or a face washer.

Oh goodness you poor thing.

This has been the worst year for viruses. My 3.5 year old has copped it badly especially.

I think you're doing a brilliant job trying to find answers.

Just wanted to say the fever itself doesn't need to be treated.i would be giving panadol for pain but try not to continually look at the temperature. My dd gets big temps of 41 when sick but the dr always said only treat when fever is accompanied by pain because the fever is trying to do something. Even febrile convulsions are not dangerous in themselves, just horrible to see.

How is she ZF? :(

Not well, dr said both have severe viral infections but under strict instructions if either if them vomit, get a rash or have a temp that doesn't drop with an hr of Panadol to head straight to emergency.
DD1 actually had a temp of 39.4 at Dr's but temps aren't dropping below 37.5 even with Panadol & nurofen.

DD2 isn't drinking or having icy poles so I'm just forcing what I can into her.

He wants them back in the morning to check temps to make sure were not having 3 days of 39+

He commented on DD2's tonsils and said they seriously need to be death with, glad I've got that ENT appt.

He took me seriously too which was brilliant!

Glad to hear it!

Hope things settle tonight x

Hoping things settle for you overnight honey.

Paed tomorrow, both girls still unwell but DD2 worries me. Still not eating properly, temps up & down, sleeping soooo much! It's not her. I'm camped in the lounge with her again, had a rough night last night too... I'm buggered.

Let's hope the paed takes me seriously & can see past whatever she has at the moment or if there is a larger cause???? I'm tired, I'm worried & I'm hoping for someone to listen.

Good luck for today.

Hope your appointments are going/gone well and that drs are really listening to you and can work out what's behind your girls not feeling 100%

been thinking of you heaps these last few days :hug: hope that the appointment has been good and insightful xx

Been a very long day, will fill in more tomorrow but her appt went ok, no answers but being taken seriously. I'm buggered

Have been thinking about you too, I'm glad you were taken seriously, and hope all is ok.

Thank you everyone.

Yesterdays apt went well, he took me seriously and said in his professional opinion if mum thinks there is something wrong there is generally something wrong - it may not be serious but there is generally something.
He agrees that the aching joints, blood nose and headaches are of more concern at the moment than the being tired (as this is usually the side affect of other issues) so he's ordered bloods and said it could be any number of things but no point speculating until we know more.

We did bloods yesterday, poor thing jumped the first time as they got the vein then we got the 2nd arm but not quite enough, so they have enough for 1 lot of tests but today we are going locally to get the rest (HOPEFULLY)

So we got home after that and she still wasn't 100% nor was DD1, babysitter was still here when all of a sudden DD1 started coming out in a rash - rushed her to emergency (as per our GP's instructions) and they think viral rash, possibly fourth disease so she's still coughing and unwell so another couple of days off school

I'm getting the cough and sore throat and feel horrid (as a weeks worth of jack sleep would do to you) so to say I'm over it is a little bit of an understatement.

DD2 seems a little perkier today but as soon as she starts coughing she looks like death again... ahhh the joys.

Glad paed is taking you seriously honey

Paed called at 8:15, white blood cells down needed a repeat blood test to make sure it's genuine & wants to see us at 9:00am tomorrow... Also said something about platelettes??

So poor girl got jabbed again this morning, had to try twice & still couldn't get a great deal so hoping it's enough.

Was up all night with DD1 absolutely covered in a rash so back to DD's for her again today too :(

I'm soooo buggered it's not funny!

hugs. x

Got here early, waiting in the car... Fingers crossed it's nothing, it's always nothing, these kids just like to stress me out!

Hope all is ok ZF.