Child is tired all the time. What to check?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is she an introvert? I didn’t know I was one until HS. I did after school activities and then wanted to take a nap. The doctor ran all kinds of tests but I was fine. After I found out what was “wrong” with me, I stopped doing all of that after school stuff and was totally fine.

I was going to suggest this too. Introverts need alone time to recharge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD is tired all the time. Consistent sleep is something we are trying to fix but even on stretches where she sleeps well she's exhausted. Where would you start in terms of trying to figure out what's going on? She did go to the pediatrician and get basic labs which were fine.

No more starting movies after 10pm!!

[Anonymous]

Vitamin d or b12 low?

[Anonymous]

Sneaking electronics/phone in her room at night?

You’d be surprised how common that is

[Anonymous]

Energy drinks

[Anonymous]

We had this same problem. It turned out to be celiac disease.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:POTS

+1

[Anonymous]

Sleep apnea (both my kids have it)
Mono
Thyroid
Iron levels

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Iron (Ferritin - it's a separate test but super important. For 45 years, no one tested me for it. One Dr here did and it was life changing - my ferritin was 11. It should be much higher. I used to get dizzy going up the stairs even though I was a runner.) Also, she should take magnesium.

Are there any other symptoms?

My ferritin got down to 6. I complained to countless family physicians, OBs, etc about heavy periods and it was a psychiatrist who tested it. She also tested B12, D, TSH.

My husband was recently diagnosed with celiac disease

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just to mention the obvious: If she sleeps with her phone nearby, she's on the phone at all hours, and not sleeping. Ask me how I know.

Not even staying up all night. The color if the phone's light delays falling into a deep sleep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have one kid who is tired due to ADHD and sleep apnea; and another kid who is tired due to an autoimmune disease.

Maybe more extended labs should be done, OP. The ped could check for some known general markers of inflammation.

A naturopath would probably be more helpful than a doctor here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just to mention the obvious: If she sleeps with her phone nearby, she's on the phone at all hours, and not sleeping. Ask me how I know.

Not even staying up all night. The color if the phone's light delays falling into a deep sleep.

And not even just the light problems, but just the phone being close at hand is showing to be psychologically disruptive. No phones in bedrooms for anyone, adults included, is a protective rule.

[Anonymous]

How old is she? All of these are good suggestions and obviously, follow up with a doctor if you are concerned.

Both of mine went through massive sleep changes when puberty hit, at different ages for my son or daughter. It was so dramatic for one kid that we did do many of the tests and labs suggested here. And then puberty and a massive growth spurt happened in one year. The sleeping was extreme for that year.

Our other kid started sleeping a lot more around the year after her period started and is still sleeping more than before.

[Anonymous]

Vit D

[Anonymous]

Are they using a wearable to capture sleep patterns? Apple Watch has that functionality but a lot of other devices can do this. That data may be helpful.