Worried my little boy is starting to show symptoms

[polly13]

Hi all most of you know my story at this stage my little girl Lucy was diagnosed with crohns almost 3 years ago at 2 . Over the past couple of months I have started to get concerned about my little boy Luke (4). He had had a couple of episodes of bleeding after bm which I put down to him being constipated (this is not a regular occurance maybe 3 times in 4 months. He goes off his food sporadically and has started to look a little miserable - but he was sick two weeks ago so he could just be on the way back again. He looks thin but I haven't been monitoring his height and weight so I don't know for sure that he has lost weight - I guess I just have a feeling that something isnt quite right. I am seeing the gp next week but I am concerned that it will dismissed as was Lucy or they will insist on doing loads of unnecessary tests that he just doesn't need. I thinking of insisting they do the basic bloodwork and take it from there - do you think I should insist on a GI referral. I guess I am worried that I on high alert because of Lucy but the last thing I want to do is subject my little man to unnecessary tests .

 

[Sascot]

I can understand the worry. Why don't you ask your GP to run a faecal calprotectin test first. That way all you have to do is collect some poo, no pain involved for your son. That would show any inflammation present.

 

[CrohnsKidMom]

Totally understand your watchfulness and concern. Moms know best. I think some nonintrusive tests is a good place to start, then see where that leads. I hope you get some good results, and this turns out to be nothing serious. Take care!

 

[polly13]

I can understand the worry. Why don't you ask your GP to run a faecal calprotectin test first. That way all you have to do is collect some poo, no pain involved for your son. That would show any inflammation present.

That's a good idea but as we don't have a lab that runs the test (something is telling me GI centre sends them to Scotland), I don't think the gp will be able to but it's worth suggesting.

 

[kimmidwife]

Polly,
I second the fecal calprotectin if you can get one done. Our old GI reccomended doing it on all my kids to get a baseline and for reassurance for me.

 

[Tesscorm]

I can understand your worry... always sets me on edge when my daughter mentions any pains! I'd try for the FC too, if you can... otherwise, as you said, labwork and maybe bloodwork that would indicate malabsorption??? Not sure which tests but maybe vitamin/mineral levels to see if he's showing an deficiencies (which may have been caused by malabsorption)??? But, I'm not sure about testing for malabsorption... just 'thinking out loud'...

 

[Farmwife]

HUGS, I'm still there with my 6 year old boy. I don't think he has IBD but he has something and it's so hard to know when to push and when to ride it out. I'm going to ask for a FC test next GI appointment. At least that will be some peace of mind.....I hope.

 

[DustyKat]

{HUGS} to you mum.

Although my two are much older I well know the feeling. I think when you have that uneasy feeling you need to act on it. If it is at all possible to get a faecal calprotectin done but failing that go to baseline bloods with inflammatory markers and perhaps some nutritional levels.

Keep in mind that tests may return normal results even if there is something brewing. I would start a diary and commence tracking his symptoms if you aren’t already doing so. I found doing this helped to clarify things in my own mind, not forget the little things that over time can become the new normal and so seem inconsequential and was a far more accurate record than my memory ever could be. Doctors and hospital staff also seemed more receptive to seeing things in black and white.

FWIW when I told the GP that I was probably over reacting and asked him to run bloods on Matt, after his one week of very, very mild symptoms, he was incredibly supportive and understanding due to Sarah’s history. I hope you get the same response hun. :heart:

Dusty. xxx

 

[DanceMom]

I just made a symptom chart for my daughter. The GI requested something visual to help him see the severity of A's daily symptoms. We can make tallies for number of BMs and times she vomited, and check-marks to indicate things like joint pain, bloody stool, headaches, fatigue, etc. A quick glance at the chart will help us rate her overall health, and a more detailed look may expose a pattern of some sort.

I'd keep a chart of your son's symptoms for a few weeks to present to the Pedi. If it seems that there is an issue then asking for basic labs to be done shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Mehita]

If you run labs, don't forget to run a Celiac panel. So many similar symptoms between IBD and Celiac I think it often gets overlooked.

Good luck!

 

[polly13]

Thanks everybody bloodwork came back fine, he's a little underweight but height wise he is 95th percentile - doc not concerned back in three months unless something worries in the meantime. No sign of any fissures so hopefully I'm just on high alert because of Lucy