OK Dis Drs, pull out your Rx pads...

[erincon23]

My DS14 is home AGAIN today. He's a freshman in HS, after a disastrous middle school -- hospitalized for anxiety in 7th, spent most of 8th grade at home with a back injury (a little roller-skating fall that turned into major nightmares, resulting in homeschooling and major physical therapy -- but FINALLY that's feeling good).

He was so happy to be back in school -- and Sunday, he started to come down with a BAD cold --fever, whole box of Kleenex, headache, no sore throat, the whole thing. He can't take decongestants -- they knock him out and he says he feels worse after he's been "drugged to sleep." He stayed home Mon and Tues. Yesterday (Wednesday), he was feeling somewhat better, so he went to school. Toward the end of the day, the nurse called and said he was in the health office -- he felt awful and had thrown up on his way to the nurse, and again in the health office. She thought it was just mucus dripping from the cold. He felt really lousy last night, said he threw up again, and this morning he says he feels too bad to manage school. I have three thermometers and none of them register a temp above 95, so I can't rely on that -- he feels slightly warm, but not boiling. I'm calling the doctor as soon as they open, but with his history of anxiety it really worries me that this is more than a cold gone bad.

Do these symptoms sound consistent with something real? He assures me that there's no anxiety -- he's really happy to be in school. Am I most likely projecting the specter of anxiety on to him? I can't stand seeing him miss this much school AGAIN. But if he's really sick, there's not much else to do.

 

[kellyg403]

Definitely see the dr. I had the same symptoms, I did have a low grade fever but I didn't even realize I had that until I went to the dr! Anyway, after 14 days went to the dr and had pnuemonia. I just posted today asking how long it took for others to feel better because I am still having issues with naesua and tired. I never had a sore throat, my sinus's never bothered me, just tired, throwing up, cough and a lot of mucus and post nasal drip. Food just does not sound good at all and honestly, nothing even tasks good!

I hope he feels better soon. I hate being sick with any type of cold in the summer. The heat just makes it so I can't breathe!

Kelly

 

[Christine]

Boy do I understand your concern. My son has some mild anxiety (it's gotten better as he has gotten older) but you never know when he might use an illness to put off doing something he doesn't want to. I don't mean he's faking it but maybe dragging things out...

My son is doing his first high school "sport"--cross country. He's been extremely nervous about it and he has no confidence in his own abilities. He's very worried about his performance. He's been getting better though and finally is starting to enjoy the running and "team" aspect of it. But, last Thursday, he has apparently gotten an "overuse" injury. He's been trying ot push through it but they've put him on rest now. He has been quitting at 1 mile saying he has pain. For the most part, I believe him, but I do have that tad nagging feeling that maybe he is exaggerating a bit so he can take a bit of backseat. Horrible thought, I know and he assures me that I'm wrong when I brought it up. But I know what you are thinking with your son.

It does sound like he has a horrible cold and since he has missed so many days, it definitely calls for a doctor visit (anxiety or not). I do think that kids with these anxiety problems get a little relieved when they actually do have something that lets them stay home in their safety net. He might be milking it just a little...

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Do these symptoms sound consistent with something real?

Fever, check. Headache, check. Vomiting - check. Yup, they sound real. Time for an eval.

 

[momof5boys]

Uggg, I mentioned last night at work how relieved I was that my DS 14 started HS and hasn't had a school refusal day yet. Today I get home and I just had to look at him! He was "I feel sick" I was like take your medicine and get to school. No call yet from the nurses office. Hopefully he calmed down. Vomiting was a favorite complaint of his, luckly the middle school nurse knew how to calm him down and get back to class. He had to be given a certain number of nurse passes per week and when he used them up he was done it was that bad! He has allergies and has been very stuffy the past 2 weeks, he did end up with a sinus infection last year and carried on enough that I took him to the doctor. Get him checked so you have an answer, if he isn't very sick the doctor will tell you and you can procede from there! Good luck, anxiety is awful especially at that age.

 

[lovesmurfs]

Fever, check. Headache, check. Vomiting - check. Yup, they sound real. Time for an eval.

Take him in -- the possibility of menangitis always scares me.

You're probably in for a long year until he gets his resistance back up. If he's been out of school for a year, he'll probably pick up everything that goes around.

Hang in there.

 

[erincon23]

Thanks all for your quick responses. I do plan on taking him in today -- the doc's office opens in about 5 minutes, I think (or an hour and 5 minutes, I never know lol). Momof5boys and Christine, it's good to know that I'm not the only one with a kid with anxiety -- don't you often feel alone going through this? He's been feeling terrific because his back feels great -- he hadn't been able to bend over and touch his toes or go up and down stairs without excruciating pain for MONTHS -- nearly a year at this point -- and now he can do both and feels normal -- and then this cold/whatever knocks him down. But the anxiety is always in the back of your mind!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I know what you mean, as I have an anxiety kid I took to the doctor yesterday.

However she has a cold and an ear infection. She says to me....MOM I am really sick.

Part of her "symptom" of anxiety is being dizzy.

Tough call on your end. I do think he is sick however what I do is check on what she has for homework or tests. If she is missing stuff then that is my clue that is more anxiety than illness.

She has assured me she is going to stay on top of her stuff and not be late and make up work from her missed day.

So my prescription for you is to do some investigative reporting on the homework, tests, etc as well as a trip to the doctor......