Disclamer: I have had DD to the doctor on Friday, blood tests were done, all was normal, and I am keeping a log of her incidents in case we need to go back again. I guess I'm looking for encouragement (for her and for me) and if any of you have "been there/done that", that would be helpful too.
I have discussed this with a few of you privately, but finally decided to open it up to a larger audience as my frustration grows.
On and off for the past few weeks, DD (will be 12 in Feb) has had general stomach upset. Not cramps. Not nausea. Just "bleh." Sometimes accompanied by dizziness, especially when upside-down. A couple of times (like today) it's been bad enough that she's called to be picked up from either school or practice. Yesterday she made it through till the last hour of practice (which was floor, her favorite and her strongest event, so I don't think it was a sickness of convenience) but that was probably the most practicing she's done since the week before last. Lots of stretching and resting when she does stay at practice. Today she started feeling sick around lunch time and came home immediately after school.
Doctor's theory: Puberty hormones making her feel yucky, the same way a woman who starts taking "the pill" might feel yucky at first. Nothing to do (since iron and thyroid tests came back normal) except wait it out.
Coach's theory: She needs to eat more. Just the act of growing is using up all of her energy with nothing left over. Have started having her pack a lunch AND buy a lunch! The school she is at allows her to eat as needed throughout the day. The food I send is nutritious, mix of protein and carbs (usually a sandwich on whole wheat bread and some fruit, maybe some nuts).
My theory: Some combination of the two, plus maybe some sort of bug that has messed with her inner ear in some way, thus leading to the dizziness.
Concussion has been discussed, but DD swears she hasn't hit her head recently, nor has she complained of headaches at all. I looked at symptoms for lactose intollerance (since cheese and milk are such easy "go to" snacks... in fact, I've been having her buy 2 milks with her school lunch), but none of those seem to fit either.
I have asked her if there is anything that is stressing her out... at school, at the gym... she swears that, other than being stressed out about not being able to practice with her first meet in less than 2 weeks (if she is even able to compete in it, which is looking doubtful), nothing is bothering her.
What is frustrating is that this doesn't seem to be following any pattern (getting progressively better or progressively worse). Yesterday I could have sworn she was on the mend, and was SO relieved. She says she even had a really good practice (on the 3 events she practiced before she started feeling sick again... and even then she said she felt better after resting for a little while... seemed in good spirits when I picked her up) in spite of her not practicing much recently, and then today - another bad day.
Anyone else experience anything similar when your daughter was going through the beginning stages of puberty? Or at any other time? If this continues and we end up back at the doctor, is there something else I should insist on him checking, since he already tested for anemia and thyroid issues and did a general "check up"?
Many thanks!
I have discussed this with a few of you privately, but finally decided to open it up to a larger audience as my frustration grows.
On and off for the past few weeks, DD (will be 12 in Feb) has had general stomach upset. Not cramps. Not nausea. Just "bleh." Sometimes accompanied by dizziness, especially when upside-down. A couple of times (like today) it's been bad enough that she's called to be picked up from either school or practice. Yesterday she made it through till the last hour of practice (which was floor, her favorite and her strongest event, so I don't think it was a sickness of convenience) but that was probably the most practicing she's done since the week before last. Lots of stretching and resting when she does stay at practice. Today she started feeling sick around lunch time and came home immediately after school.
Doctor's theory: Puberty hormones making her feel yucky, the same way a woman who starts taking "the pill" might feel yucky at first. Nothing to do (since iron and thyroid tests came back normal) except wait it out.
Coach's theory: She needs to eat more. Just the act of growing is using up all of her energy with nothing left over. Have started having her pack a lunch AND buy a lunch! The school she is at allows her to eat as needed throughout the day. The food I send is nutritious, mix of protein and carbs (usually a sandwich on whole wheat bread and some fruit, maybe some nuts).
My theory: Some combination of the two, plus maybe some sort of bug that has messed with her inner ear in some way, thus leading to the dizziness.
Concussion has been discussed, but DD swears she hasn't hit her head recently, nor has she complained of headaches at all. I looked at symptoms for lactose intollerance (since cheese and milk are such easy "go to" snacks... in fact, I've been having her buy 2 milks with her school lunch), but none of those seem to fit either.
I have asked her if there is anything that is stressing her out... at school, at the gym... she swears that, other than being stressed out about not being able to practice with her first meet in less than 2 weeks (if she is even able to compete in it, which is looking doubtful), nothing is bothering her.
What is frustrating is that this doesn't seem to be following any pattern (getting progressively better or progressively worse). Yesterday I could have sworn she was on the mend, and was SO relieved. She says she even had a really good practice (on the 3 events she practiced before she started feeling sick again... and even then she said she felt better after resting for a little while... seemed in good spirits when I picked her up) in spite of her not practicing much recently, and then today - another bad day.
Anyone else experience anything similar when your daughter was going through the beginning stages of puberty? Or at any other time? If this continues and we end up back at the doctor, is there something else I should insist on him checking, since he already tested for anemia and thyroid issues and did a general "check up"?
Many thanks!