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Child Behavior  (Expert Forum)
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11 year old with 'lump in throat'
Answered by
Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D. - Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Family Therapy, Crisis Intervention
Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates
This forum is for questions and support regarding child behavior issues such: Child Discipline (behavior management), Normal Child Development, Parent-Child Communications, Social Development
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MedHelp Member's Question

11 year old with 'lump in throat'

by harrassedmother, Jan 17, 2007 12:00AM
please help! last year my daughter had a problem with her bladder, feeling that she wanted to go all the time(but not going)this resulted in attending school part time, and a bizarre walk, (legs half crossed,walking very fast) It was decided that it was psycological and not physical.As a result we took her out of school to be home schooled until next year when she is due to move to secondary school.Her problem went within a couple of weeks.there was a period of 2-3 weeks when all was well. Now she complains of nausea all the time, a lump in the throat sensation. She eats 1-2 meals a day and has lost 7lbs (she was already very slim) she cant eat after 2pm and won't swallow saliva but does sip water. she has cold extremeties and hiccups a lot. She is due to see the psychiatrist next week. my question is can this really be stress/anxiety causing this? if so what is the outlook for her short and long term? She is so unhappy, she cant/wont go out and doesn't even sleep in her bed now,(she sleeps on the couch) and in impacts on us all hugely.she has had a few upsets in life but nothing awful like some kids have to cope with, so how has this happened?

thanks for your time.
Doctor's Answer

by Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D., Jan 17, 2007 12:00AM
The condition your daughter displayed last year is called pollakiuria and tends to resolve spontaneously. It can be excaerbated by stress, but often appears suddenly and resolves itself without any particular intervention.



Regarding her current presentation, you are doing the prudent thing by having her evaluated by the psychiatrist. She may be displaying a type of somatoform disorder, an anxiety disorder, an eating disorder or mood disorder (possibly depression); it's not clear. But her behavior certainly invites, even demands, additional evaluation. I'm assuming she's been cleared medically; if not, that should happen asap.
Member Comments (9)

by jdtm, Jan 17, 2007 12:00AM
What you have described can certainly be anxiety - eating issues, nausea, fear of school, "lump" in throat, etc.  Anxiety is a disorder which is very treatable (treament includes intervention, therapy and possibly medication); but, I assure you, it will not "go away" nor will your daughter "outgrow" it.  Please seek further assistance.

by english bulldog, Jan 18, 2007 12:00AM
To: harrasedmother
Hi

I am not a doctor, but i have had a similar experience with my daughter lately. She is 8 years old and last july she complained of feeling sick when she ate or drank, she missed alot of school because i had her back and forth to the doctors, they said she had constipation!! and gave her a mild laxative. I was told to monitor her when she went to the toilet and to keep a diary of what she had eaten and drank and what consistancy her stools were. Her condition did not improve, she continually felt sick and picked at her food and would only sleep sitting up on about 6 pillows, she did not want to go out for fear that she might be sick and refused to eat or drink anything if we did eventually manage to go out (sometimes she would go all day without drinking!!)

We were virtual prisoners in our own home and it had started to affect our daily lives. I was referred on to the hospital and they x-rayed her chest and stomach, they too said they thought it may be constipation and reflux and gave me stronger medicine (i was not told how long i should have been giving this to her) however as i had monitored her toileting and knew she was having at least 2 soft stools a day i decided to stop the medicine as i was worried that the laxatives would make her lose more weight and as she wasnt drinking i was worried she would become dehydrayted!! I was completely desperate and rang the doctor to ask for a physcologist to see my daugher (he refused and asked if i would be prepared to give my daughter an enemina (spelling?) I point blank refused and went to my school for help. I saw her headmaster and he was fantastic, he monitored my daughter and sent her to special classes once a week he then told me he had noticed a change in her personality and wrote a letter for me to hand to the hospital (I was immediately given an appointment for a peadiatrician to see her) She had bloods done and was given a tummy scan (all appeared to be ok) and she said she hadn't believed my daughter had constipation afterall and that i was right to stop medication, i was then referred to a physcologist and my daughter has had 4 sessions already and things are slowly improving, its amazing the things you find out at the sessions!! my daughter is always going to be a worrier and suffers from anxiety but these sessions are helping her control her fears.

try and get your daughter some counselling, you might find out what has been bothering her. I found out that when i hurt my foot and couldn't get to the school to pick her up and sent a friend instead, she thought i had died (this is just 1 of many things that bothered her!!)

Good luck in your search to find out what is wrong with your daughter (I hope i have helped a little!!)

by Marla13, Jan 18, 2007 12:00AM
BE SURE TO HAVE THYROID LEVELS CHECKED. THYROID HAS SIMILAR SYMPTOMS.

by harrassedmother, Jan 20, 2007 12:00AM
thanks for all comments, very helpful.she has been checked medically to some extent. The paedtrician we saw was confident it was not physical, based on the information we gave him, blood tests and general checking over. She has not had any invasive procedure.I will be questioning her thyroid function.

Particular thanks to "english bulldog" its always good to hear of smeone in a similar situation! thanks for your long and constructive reply. I'm assuming  you're english by the name,

anywhere near the west country? if by chance you are, would like to know who you see.

glad things are getting better for you, long may it continue.

Hopefully we will have a clearer picture after her psychiatric visit on wednesday.

by english bulldog, Jan 21, 2007 12:00AM
To: harrassedmother
Glad i have helped a little!

I know what a worrying time this is for you and your family.

Try to remain calm with your daughter, I know you must really want to shout (I know i did!!!)

Try going to the health shop and getting some bach remedies for you and your daughter (believe it or not it did help a little)

My daughter continues to feel nauseous on and off and seems to catch every bug going around and it is very fustrating. I wish i could turn back the clock 7 months and have my happy, healthy daughter back.

A friend of my sister in law had a similar problem with her daughter. She saw a child phsycologist after numerous years of hell and it turned out that she had seen a news report about the murders of the 2 little girls Holly and Jessica and she was terrified it was going to happen to her!!! If you have a sensitive child any little thing can set them off!!!

Unfortunately i am not from the West Country, i am from outer London and my daughter is seeing someone from Hillingdon Hospital. The lady she is seeing is lovely, it is her first posting so she is doubly eager!!! She is actually an american and is from Chicago and has an excellent calming nature about her. I am due to see a doctor on the 1st Feb (follow up appt) and i will be asking if they tested her for thyroid as i am having probs myself at the moment, however she will continue to see the phsycologist because it does help!!!

I am thinking of you and your daughter and wish you all the best. Please let me know if you managed to see someone. x

by mamabear72, Jan 29, 2007 12:00AM
Your daughter's symptoms sound a lot like something I went through as a child. At age 8 the feeling like I had to pee all the time started. It was at it's worst at night. In fact I remember praying I'd wake up and there would be a toilet in my bedroom so I wouldn't have to walk to the bathroom so much in the middle of the night.
My mom took me to the doctor to rule out a bladder infection. Everything was fine but my symptoms continued. After months of me complaining the doctors decided I may have a narrow urithera and though it would be a good idea to stretch/widen it. Not a very pleasant experience even though I was put out for the procedure. Looking back I honestly think it was ALL nerves. Back then they didnt' automatically assume it may be something mental. Now that I'm an adult I know that I've suffered from anxiety since age four. I've never had anything tramatic happen in my life it's all in our family genes unfortunately.
I also at around age 7 felt like there was something in my throat. I would dream I was swallowing buttons. I also would constantly make a "clear your throat sound". Once again after becoming an adult I've discovered that I suffered from "heartburn" or Reflux which causes the lump in the throat feeling. The acids inflame my esophogus at night causing me to feel like there something in there.

I'm not suggestion your daughter has an anxiety problem, that was just my case. Your email really hit home at how I felt as a young child. I remember how scared I was.
Good luck with everything
Kristen ***@****

by harrassedmother, Jan 30, 2007 12:00AM
Thank-you for all your comments. I really do appreciate the time people take to help a complete stranger! to update anyone following this, things have moved on somewhat. She saw a psychiatrist and psycotherapist last week for assessment. They were immediately concerned with her weight loss, and referred her back to a paedatrician(different one this time)He gave her a very thorough examination and took more blood, to test for all the "usual" things eg.. full blood count,thyroid levels. Also to test for other things, coeliac,immune system h.pyloric and some other ones that i cant remember. Also suggested a barium meal and swallow. While she's waiting for this and the results she will be starting therapy sessions. The paedatrician wants her in hospital on an IV drip if her weight loss continues, she really is skeletal. Being told that, really makes it difficult for us as parents to believe its not physical! but now we just want answers, whatever the cause. She is an anxious person,and things are generally more difficult for her than her siblings.will update if there's any news.

by harrassedmother, Feb 15, 2007 12:00AM
Hi all,
dont know if anyones still following our story, but here's an update anyway!all tests including barium swallow have come back as normal. The (fantastic) paedaritician felt it would be helpful to try medication