when to question autoimmune disease

[peonyprincess]

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/coffee.gif Good Morning to all


The Good Lord has blessed me with four children. He has also blessed me with Lupus among other ailments. My question is, when would anyone have their children checked for an autoimmune disease. Example being..........

My son Jacob has had off and on leg cramps that wake him up in the night or put him down during the day. Normally, we would give him ibuprofen and a warming blanket/heating pad and the pains subside. He is currently 10, almost 11 years of age and this problem has been going on over a period of years. The pains really cannot be attributed to weather change, excessive playing, etc. Initially we took him to the doctor and was told "growing pains". While I can buy into that theory, I can remember back to having the same problems as a child. Jake, is also my "problem child" with having excessive energy and we are in the process of having him treated for ADHD and OCD.

My daughter Madelynne, who is 9 years old is also active. She is very active is soccer and her favorite position is that of "sweeper". In watching her play, it is becoming more evident that she has problems kicking. When she goes to kick the ball, she can only bring her leg up so far, she does not have a very good range of motion. When she runs, she is not very fluid. It almost looks like she is putting in too much effort. I do not know if this is just a "kid thing" or not. She never complains of aches and pains, but then again this child never complains of anything.

I do not want to overreact, however, I do want to be proactive if there is a problem. We all know that these tests are rather expensive, even with insurance. So, with that, I come to this forum to ask for guidance. How do we as parents know when to have things checked out and when to back off? We also know that when there is an autoimmune disease present in the family, there is an increased risk of others in the family developing an autoimmune disease as well. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Nancy

[mamascan1]

Hi Nancy,

After reading your post, and with you having answered soo many of my questions in the past, I thought I'd answer what I could to help you. My daughter who is now 14 y/o, went through a period 2 yrs ago of extreme tiredness and "growing pains", she was also suffering cluster type migraines. Although I'm not an RN I did work for a GP for many years and then a podiatrist for a few years.
From my personal medical background, I tried to deduce the symptoms, imagining all the possibilities, as we all do. After bad reactions to migraine meds our PCP reffered us to a children's Neurologist. After many tests, (yeah they were $$$ but worth it for the answers) we found out my little girl had no links to lupus but had had a bout of mono (EBV) and had cetomegalovirus (CMV). The neuro deduced from all testing that her exposure to EBV was probably why the tiredness, and the CMV she prob came in contact with because of my immuno probs. The migraines subsided after regular mensus began a few months later.
But she will still get mini-cluster migraines around ovulation and period time.

My advice would be if you are concerned, you were trained to be objective so when these things are very noticeable, go ahead and have them checked out. It will ease your mother's mind to know for sure what you are dealing with. You know the numbers as well as I do, this can be hereditary, but our kids may never get what we live each day. Hope this helps.

Love and Hugs,

Michelle aka: Mama

[birdie]

I have lupus and my son is showing all the classic signs as I did when I was his age. He nearly 14, Feb 27th we are going to see the paeditrician and a rheumy at the local hospital as all tests done by the doctor came back neg. I so hope my son doesn't have lupus he wants to join the navy on leaving school and I don't want him to suffer the way I had to until I got my dx 2 year ago. My symptoms started when I was 11 and my mum was fobbed off with its "only growing pains" I am now 42.

[Woofmonster]

Critkalrn,

My eldest Son was having the same problems, and we were told it was growing pains and were told to give him tylenol for the pain. This did not seem to help and the pains continued to get worse. He was growing at the time, at what seemed a phenominal rate 3 inches, in a short space of time, that year. We took him back to the doctors, and they would send us back home, this time offering motrin, which upset his stomich to top things off. We asked for them to refer us to an ortho, as he was quietly crying at night, and it was tearing our hearts out. The Ortho Doctor felt that growing pains were probably right, but decided to do an MRI to ease our fears.

It turned out that he had a large tumor in his thigh bone close to the hip, that had to be removed. Pretty scary for all of us, but lucky it was found before it grew anymore or turned into something other then benign. I don't say that to scare you, but sometimes our instints are screaming at us, and we have to listen. It could of just been growing pains, and had it been, at least we'd of had the comfort of knowing that it would pass in time. Maybe you just need that conformation also. I hope it is nothing serious and wish you well, hugs Wolfie style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/flowers.gif

[rwb200]

RN
When do you have something checked ? For my part I would say as soon as you start to have a question.
The family has a history and the child is showing signs of problems. This may be normal and it may not be normal. If it is all you are out is some money.
I know that sounds flip and I do not mean it to be but money means little when health is at question.

[peonyprincess]

Thanks for everyones replies. As a nurse and a mom, I know it is important to have things checked out and I do have an appointment for said child. Kids have tremendous growth spurts that could indicate problems and then be simply nothing. I hate to run to the doctor for every little thing and essentially "cry wolf" but at the same time, potenially miss something. I also was looking to see how other parents handle a similiar situation.

As for being flip (rwb200), I know you are not. However, money is currently extremely tight for us. Fortunately we not only have private insurance but state coverage as well, so that lessens the concern of paying for a bill as oppsed to paying for food and meds. There are so many people in this world that has that main worry. It is extremely sad that in this day and age we are forced to chose between health care and basic living. Hopefully one day, this will no longer be a problem.

Nancy

[charlett]

HI.

I read your post and there are few thing you an do. Firt I wouuld review you family history with the childrens drs. The next time they need to run blood tests have them run an ANA and sed rate, especially your daughter who is limping. That way your mind is at rest. Because of my sisiter inlaw who had lupus all my children have been tested, and my one daughter has lupus or systemis JRA. I hope that they children are fine. It is blessing that you have four wonderful children. I hope all is well Charlett