(14yr old male) – I need help with everything really, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, I can be tired one-day ok the next. Only found out a week ago of the diagnosis of CFS.

Mums comments – Ever since he was about 5/6 has suffered with ear infections, tonsil problems, and sore throats. Every year in winter he would get them. Would take antibiotics and they would clear them up.

Last October they started again, ear infections, but this time they came back after the antibiotics. They continued through Nov, Dec. In January went away on holiday, lots of late nights, C. looked like death warmed up, and then C. returned to school. I then got phone call from school, C. feeling faint and pains in ears. From that moment onwards he went downhill. Took 4 lots of antibiotics, no use. Then chronic stomach pains and shooting pains in ears. Got the doctor to come through the night Doctor gave painkiller, then paracetomol.

He then began losing weight (I think it was due to his throat being so painful that it made it difficult for him to eat). He was taken to hospital, and given painkillers. Diagnosed as Glandular Fever (end of Jan, Feb 00). Then off from school for 5/6 weeks.

Decided to go for private healthcare. Mesenteric adenitis diagnosed. Then one weekend C. really ill, took him to hospital, they said his ear was a real mess, could lose his hearing.

March 00 - was suggested that C. has tonsils and adenoids removed. C. breathes through his mouth, has very narrow air passageways in his nose.

C. suffers from hayfever very badly like mum.


July 21st 00. We decided to go for the operations, removing adenoids and tonsils, also shaving of the bones inside his nose (to widen the passageways).

After two days he had a throat infection, that cleared up. Then had three weeks of earache, but in himself a lot better.

Started September at school, got phonecall from school, C. looks faint, gone green colour, stomach pains. Doctor examined and said v tender in abdomen area, next day C. completely different, ok. Then following week off school for three days, ear pains and abdominal pains. Went back to school for two days. This week has been off all week with an upset stomach along with ear pain, and headaches. Not much energy. Looks v pale.

Recent allergy test indicated that he is allergic to wheat, and peanuts. However has not been advised to avoid either wheat or peanuts. Still waiting for blood test reference liver, kidney, etc.

He is not the lad he was a year ago. Antibiotics would always clear his infections up.

How are you feeling at the moment? – order of priority.

1)No energy
2)Abdominal pains
3)Earache
4) Headache

1) “No energy”
Do not feel like doing much, I tend to go outside walk around, or sit inside watching tv, sometimes curl up and watch tv. Sometimes, but not often, there will be shooting pains up either side of the ribs. Can feel light-headed. This and all my symptoms are worse when getting up in the morning. Do not feel like doing anything.
Can feel drained and tired all day, will feel like this 3 weeks out of 4. The difference now is that if I exert myself, then it takes me a long time to recover.

2) “Stomach pains”
– mesenteric adenitis.- inflammation of the stomach glands. Pain around umbilical area, pulsating, always there, can come and go in intensity, can be dull can be sharp. Can be better being still or walking around. The pain can make him wince. Pressure makes it worse, pulls clothes away from stomach. Pain directed inwards. Pain is located about 2” radius around belly button. Stomach feels empty. Sensation that there is trapped wind > burping. Sometimes pulls knees up to stomach, but does no really help.

3) “Ear ache”
Pains there not all the time, nagging pulsating pains, starts on left, moves to the right then appears in both ears. Can be sharp pains.

When had GF the glands in my neck would swell, they would be tender also.

In the last 3 weeks only a few shooting pains in the ears, the ear pain comes and goes, pains not there now. Used to put pillows around my ears, more for comfort as it does not help really.

4) “Headache”
Left, upper side, towards occiput, small-localised area of pain, two-inch diameter. Gets this along with tingling pains behind the eyes. For past two weeks headaches come and go, lasting 1 – 3 days at a time. Pains are sharp, stay localised. Then do not want to make quick movements, usually sit down, lie down, draw curtains. I usually press the eyelids, but no amel.

General

The patient answered questions slowly, very vague in replies,very pale, played with his fingers. Seemed very unresponsive to me, very steady, very reliable, trustworthy, serious, grown up for his age. Resigned to his ailments. Does not appear to be too passionate about anything.Before this last yr C. was v sporty.

Family Medical history
Hayfever - mother
Grandmother– arthritis, angina, back probs.
Grandfather – ulcer, cancer.

Personal Medical History
Projectile vomiting when a baby.
Other stuff as discussed.

Foods Desires/ Aversions
Most veg do not like, picky about foods, averse to cheese, fruit, beans. Love meat.

Thirst – drinks 6 mugs per day, no coffee.

Likes fresh air, sport. Likes running around, just kicking a ball, like doing exercise, keeping fit. Do not like slobbing around.
Likes to go to town with friends, cinema, KFC. C. only child, seems to be a sociable guy.

Dislike getting up on the morning. Emotional when watching football, otherwise seems to be quite a placid guy. Mum says wicked sense of humour. Never gets detention at school, generally conforms to rules. Used to be quite reserved when meeting people, but seems more outgoing this last yr. If C. likes someone then they are usually friends for life. He does not take things on lightly, thinks about it and decides, and then sticks with it. If things trouble him he will tell parents, then go and be on his own. He is the most responsible in the group of friends, you can trust him. Very good with money.

Ambitions are to have some money, so I am not begging, nice job, nice house, .

His room is clean, I do not like living in a mess.

I sleep ok

I do not have dreams.


Telephone call from mother - Update Oct 23rd

Visited GP who felt abdomen and has said that there is not anything there, and that there is not anything they can do with him.

Noticed that ailments tend to appear on waking and then will be there for the rest of the day.

Tummy upset seems to have gone. Main problems are the pain in abdomen and the lack of energy

She said that his energy had not been too bad this last week , playing football and recovered ok.

Mother states that he has never recovered from GF.

Mum thinks that he could cope with the energy problem more if the pains were not there. These abdominal pains come and go. His abdominal pains are there 4 days per week, v painful.

I am finding this quite a complicated case, struggling a little bit,have got a few remedies in mind but unsure, any thoughts from all you knowledgeable people would help re assure me - thanks.



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