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Is it all in the mind???
by sherry72528, Nov 08, 2008 09:40AM
I am hoping that someone can read this, and hopefully offer some advise for my 15 year old son.
In June this year we arived back from our annual holiday & my son had bad vomiting & diarrhea for 2 days, then was fine. On returning to school in September (new year), he developed a spell of diarrhea with some feeling of sickness, and when it never cleared up itself, I took him to our doctor who gave him some antibiotics. He said that it could have been the virus lay dormant in his body since our holiday, and it had flared up again. He also tested his stools (which came back negative i.e. it wasn't anything like food poisoning). He said it was "viral".
Two weeks after taking the antibiotics, my son still had "loose stools" (they wasn't diarrhea, but they were not as firm as they normally were (before the "virus"). At this point I did explain to the doctor that he would not go to school as he said that he didn't feel in control of the urges (or feelings when he needed to go, and he had a fear of not getting to the toilet on time! My son missed the best part of half term (7 weeks). Every time he gets up through the week for school, he has the "urge" to go - often he doesn't do anything, or just a couple of small "balls
My son was referred to the local hospital where a pediatric doctor went through the full history of occurences. By this time, a few more weeks had passed, and my son had missed a lot of time off school. I had been to school (they were very understanding), and only a couple of teachers new the real reason for my sons absence (he was adament he didn't want everyone to know the real reason he had been off - kids can be very cruel)! At the end of the consultation/examination, the doctor said that in his opinion there was nothing wrong with my son, that he needed to keep a diary for the next 4 weeks, and report back. He asked my son if he was being bullied, had any stress (last year of school - exam pressures) etc, to which my son said no.
Before all this my son was a very well rounded individual. He is a straight grade A student (which is consistant from his early years of school), he has a good circle of friends, we have always shared a very open relationship (also with his dad & younger sister), I just don't understand what is happening to my son, and I am feeling desperate for answers!!!!!
Back at my local doctor, he more or less told me that my son needs to stop being silly, and get back to school - I felt totally unsupported. I explaind that every time I take him to school, they phone me saying he feels too unwell to stay - this usually happened after an hour or so.
This last week I have tried the "tough love" approach, and told him it is "all in his mind" and that the feelings he has are just nerves because of the time he has been off. The mornings are terrible, and I dread waking up! Every night he is so positive, then the next morning he gets in the same state??? I now drop him off outside the school entrance, and he lasts the day there (although he still doesn't go in all the classes, he seems to be managing a few (the rest of the time he spends in the library).
My son also has an Inguinal Hernia (to anyone reading this it is it is when part of the abdominal wall weakens, and part of the intestines pokes through). This is on his left testicle. When he lies down at night the lump goes, then when he gets up in the morning, it returns (growing in size as the day goes on).
Somebody suggested that the hernia and the bowel problem could be connected, and that the "morning problem" may be due to a stool being in the caught up with the hernia, and that could be why the feeling comes & goes. He also says that sudden movement (packing school bag, carrying downstairs, getting ready for school) could contribute?
My son found this problem in June, and although he has had an ultrasound (in July), and they have confirmed that he needs surgery, we are still waiting for the apointment to come through.
I have thought about this situation for weeks now, and the nightmare my son is in, and I have to say that I cannot gree with my doctor that there is nothing wrong physically. If anybody can offer some advice it would be greatly received. I had convinced myself thet it was stress related IBS (brought on by the virus he had), but non of the medics who have seen him have suggested this.
A very upset, frustrated mum :-(
In June this year we arived back from our annual holiday & my son had bad vomiting & diarrhea for 2 days, then was fine. On returning to school in September (new year), he developed a spell of diarrhea with some feeling of sickness, and when it never cleared up itself, I took him to our doctor who gave him some antibiotics. He said that it could have been the virus lay dormant in his body since our holiday, and it had flared up again. He also tested his stools (which came back negative i.e. it wasn't anything like food poisoning). He said it was "viral".
Two weeks after taking the antibiotics, my son still had "loose stools" (they wasn't diarrhea, but they were not as firm as they normally were (before the "virus"). At this point I did explain to the doctor that he would not go to school as he said that he didn't feel in control of the urges (or feelings when he needed to go, and he had a fear of not getting to the toilet on time! My son missed the best part of half term (7 weeks). Every time he gets up through the week for school, he has the "urge" to go - often he doesn't do anything, or just a couple of small "balls
My son was referred to the local hospital where a pediatric doctor went through the full history of occurences. By this time, a few more weeks had passed, and my son had missed a lot of time off school. I had been to school (they were very understanding), and only a couple of teachers new the real reason for my sons absence (he was adament he didn't want everyone to know the real reason he had been off - kids can be very cruel)! At the end of the consultation/examination, the doctor said that in his opinion there was nothing wrong with my son, that he needed to keep a diary for the next 4 weeks, and report back. He asked my son if he was being bullied, had any stress (last year of school - exam pressures) etc, to which my son said no.
Before all this my son was a very well rounded individual. He is a straight grade A student (which is consistant from his early years of school), he has a good circle of friends, we have always shared a very open relationship (also with his dad & younger sister), I just don't understand what is happening to my son, and I am feeling desperate for answers!!!!!
Back at my local doctor, he more or less told me that my son needs to stop being silly, and get back to school - I felt totally unsupported. I explaind that every time I take him to school, they phone me saying he feels too unwell to stay - this usually happened after an hour or so.
This last week I have tried the "tough love" approach, and told him it is "all in his mind" and that the feelings he has are just nerves because of the time he has been off. The mornings are terrible, and I dread waking up! Every night he is so positive, then the next morning he gets in the same state??? I now drop him off outside the school entrance, and he lasts the day there (although he still doesn't go in all the classes, he seems to be managing a few (the rest of the time he spends in the library).
My son also has an Inguinal Hernia (to anyone reading this it is it is when part of the abdominal wall weakens, and part of the intestines pokes through). This is on his left testicle. When he lies down at night the lump goes, then when he gets up in the morning, it returns (growing in size as the day goes on).
Somebody suggested that the hernia and the bowel problem could be connected, and that the "morning problem" may be due to a stool being in the caught up with the hernia, and that could be why the feeling comes & goes. He also says that sudden movement (packing school bag, carrying downstairs, getting ready for school) could contribute?
My son found this problem in June, and although he has had an ultrasound (in July), and they have confirmed that he needs surgery, we are still waiting for the apointment to come through.
I have thought about this situation for weeks now, and the nightmare my son is in, and I have to say that I cannot gree with my doctor that there is nothing wrong physically. If anybody can offer some advice it would be greatly received. I had convinced myself thet it was stress related IBS (brought on by the virus he had), but non of the medics who have seen him have suggested this.
A very upset, frustrated mum :-(
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I am not an expert but suffer from IBS myself . IBS can start after an infection . Try to take care of the hernia asap and give your son transfer factor advanced plus capsules . It is supposed to educate the immune system and correct any abnormality . I hope somebody gives you some answer . School is very important , my prayers will be with him ...
There is a term called post infectious IBS or IBS that developed after an illness. Also if the doctor suspected virus he should not have given him antibiotics. Antibiotics are only effective aginst microorfganisms(bacteria,Fungi,Protazoa, etc) they are not effective against viruses. It may have made the situation worse. Antibiotics can distrupt the delicate balance of microbes in the gut. There are cases of people who take antibiotics for other non gut related issues developing IBS.
If you take antibiotics I recomend taking a good full spectrum probiotic. Even GI docs are now considering the probiotic option (running out of options).
Check this article:
http://archives.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/12/13/bc.health.irritablebowel.reut/index.html
If after trying to fix the hernia the situation doesn't improve you can try the pill cam or capsule endoscopy. Also in the meantime you should do the food log and elimination diet. You could try the usual suspects like gluten and lactose.