2 years and no answers

[leechas]

I have a 14 year old son who for the past 2 years have been having what he explains to be a burning sensation under the skin from head to toe. He also gets dizzy and feels like his eyes are spinning. These two symptoms occur several times a day on a daily basis. He also gets headaches sometimes. And more recently started having stomach pain and pediatrician put him on stomach medicine which has help that part. We have seen 3 specialist at Vanderbilt Children's Hopital in Nashville, TN, endocrinoligist, neurologist, and cardiologist and all test they have done have come back normal. Now for his history, he had acute asthma as a toddler. Then in Kindergarten he had to be put on growth hormones because he was not producing any. He took them for 4 years and then when my husband changed jobs and we was in between ins. he wanted to see if he could grow without growth hormones so we tried it and he has grown as much or more than he was while taking them. He is now 14 years old and 5' 7" tall. Taller than me and his dad. He was put on thyroid medicine a little over 2 years ago and since we have had that under control for 2 years drs don't think that is causing these problems. His symptoms are getting worse. The lights and sun make the burning sensation worse so he started having trouble at school because he would feel burning all over and dizzy and could not concentrate. His grades started dropping alot and so our pediatrician has put him on home bound and suggests us to start home schooling him next school year. I have a request in for him to go to the Mayo Clinic and they have agreed to see him but we are on waiting list that could take up to a year. We are so fustrated and just want answers. A friend told me about this site and I am up for any suggestions we can look into. Thanks for any help anyone can give us. This has been going on too long for us not to get answers soon.

[leechas]

Thanks everyone. I talked to allergy specialist nurse today and gave her list of things going on with my son. She is going to talk to dr and see what he thinks and call and let me know what we should do.

[margypops]

All the best keep us updated ..be good to get to the bottom of it so he can get help .

[specialmom]

I hope that goes well and you get some answers.  All the best to you and your son!

[leechas]

We went to a local walk in clinic dr. today for some drainage and sinus symptoms. As I was talking to this dr. about his symptoms from the hot flashes and dizzy spells as I call them, he also suggest seeing an allergist. I told him he had been tested before. He asked how old he was when he was tested and I said about 2 or 3. This dr. told me that since he is now 14 and went through some stages of puberty that his body could have changed in what he is allergic to and not. So he recommeded I have him retested just to make sure. So I am planning on getting an appointment and check into that. Thank you so much for your suggestions. I will keep everyone posted as we find out more.

[specialmom]

Oh, by the way, the part of the sensory system to look into is the tactile system.  good luck!

[margypops]

I would suggest to you that you also have his meds checked out some of the symptoms can be side effects what meds is he taking ?

[specialmom]

Hi,  well, with that information------  I'm wondering if something isn't going on with your son's nervous system as it was with my son.  Your post rang some bells and had a familiar feel to it as to what my own son has experienced.  An occupational therapist is the one that works with my son and diagnoses sensory,  For the other, a psychologist is a good one to talk to.  Anxiety is real and can have nonstop symptoms rather than just an episode as we think of (how we feel before speaking in front of many people . . . that rushing, burning sensation in our chest-----  only it is nonstop).  

When at the mayo clinic, ask them about sensory and the itching under the skin.  We do a 'brushing' technique for my son that does help some.  His nervous system is sending misinformation and hence the sensations under the skin.  

I do wish you luck and let me know what you think.

[leechas]

He has been allergy tested. Also he has symptoms all day everyday. He has symptoms even when he sitting just watching tv, or drawing, or just relaxing in general.

[margypops]

I would like to suggest it could be allergies,possibly environmental, if by any chance he has been exposed to any toxins you could ask for a heavy metal test which should show toxins in his blood and it can be treated . Other allergies like a food allergy may also be worth looking into to.Are there any specific times when he has the symptoms and is he outside a lot doing sports ?

[specialmom]

This is just something I'm throwing out there--------  two things come to mind with your post.  One, could your son have anxiety?  Anxiety can create physical symptoms and perhaps the burning, spinning, dizzy, etc. are part of a panic response.  Second, my son has sensory integration disorder which is a neurological disorder.  Everyone knows about the 5 senses but there are actually two more, the vestibular and proprioceptive.  Those last two involve many things with the vestibular being related to balance.  Kids with this issue either get excessivly dizzy or never get dizzy at all. He also has some things that go on with his skin.  His hands in particular bother him at times----  he says it itches under the skin.  Water used to cause him to react badly, like it hurt as his nervous system was sending a wrong message to his brain.  So, when you talk about the burning under the skin, that came to mind as well.  

I realize these are just ideas that may have little to do with your son but just wanted to give you some more to think about.  It must be very scary to try to figure this out and I hope you get some answers.  I have great respect for the Mayo Clinic and hope they can help you.  Peace