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1. sadexpunk - Member

   yes i know, dont listen to a load of forumites, seek proper medical advice etc etc

   just after some general advice if theres anyone qualified enough to give it. my 16yr old lads becoming a bit of a nightmare with his health issues. started a few months ago with pains in his side, all the hallmarks of appendicitis, time and time again going to doctors and suggesting appendicitis, and docs fobbing him off. "come back if it gets any worse", "its gastroenteritis" etc etc. until finally he begged us to take him to hospital. burst appendix surgeon said it was the worst hed seen as itd been left so long which has disgusted us.

   anyways, he had a big scar in the usual place, and one of the stitches inside has refused to go and indeed 'turned round' inside him and a big spike started sticking out of his skin. 3 days ago he had another op to open him up again and snip the end off.

   naturally, hes worrying about stuff now. always on about 'is this normal, is that normal' and getting quite anxious about health issues. hes just come into the room tonight and said is this heart rate normal. to me seems about 120bpm which is clearly on the high side. he says he feels anxious, as though the adrenalines rushing round his body, and angry with the world, even though he doesnt want to be.

   hes suggesting taking painkillers to slow heart rate down, which ive told him isnt a good idea. id just like to hear opinions on just how serious this heart rate is. or is that normalish for a 16 yr old? ive told him to lay down and relax, breathe long and slow, but he says he cant shake it.

   feel sorry for the lad, (hes had about 6 or 7 ops altogether so far for various issues) its one thing after another, and hes not having a normal teenhood really. left school started college and had to pack it in cos of his op, and hes just dossing around at home feeling pissed off. hes worrying us :-/

   for the minute tho, its his heartbeat thats the worry.

   any thoughts welcome.

   Posted 3 months ago #
2. project - Member

   Take him to the local NHS, drop in centre, or ring NHS direct.

   Posted 3 months ago #
3. sadexpunk - Member

   was just about to mate, but just checked it again, and its normal now. all points to anxiety attacks i think :-/

   Posted 3 months ago #
4. bobbyg81 - Member

   NHS direct are totally useless. Go to your local A&E. I t doesn't sound like anything to be worried about, but it will give the lad peace of mind.

   Could it be an anxiety attack? After all hes been through it wouldn't be surprising he's getting stressed about his health.

   Posted 3 months ago #
5. bobbyg81 - Member

   Sorry just read your post. If youve not mentioned to him about it being an anxiety attack yet, dont! It will make him dread it happen again, and thats not good. Just say it was abit adrenaline and it's highly unlikely to happen again. Brush it off as nothing!

   Posted 3 months ago #
6. qwerty - Member

   120 bpm is indeed fast for a "resting" heart rate, but if he's anxious and or hyperventilating that could explain it. Try to coach his respirations down by talking very calmly and sympathetically to him and see if his heart rate decreases as he calms down. Without a rhythm strip of his heart its impossible to speculate if its anything more sinister, although hopefully, unlikely. Maybe a spot of councelling could assist him in getting it all into perspective so he realises that he is free to go on and now enjoy a healthy youth. Avoid Google and Wiki. Painkillers will not slow his heart rate.

   Posted 3 months ago #
7. sadexpunk - Member

   already mentioned anxiety attacks, but in a calm and informative way. he responds better to being honest about stuff and trusts us. ive just been reading up on them, and indeed he seems to have a fair few symptoms. hes on a 'puffer' for shortness of breath every now and then which is a symptom. high heart rate obviously, irritability, dizziness, the list goes on.
   unfortunately every little anomoly gets typed into google and then he comes in to us to tell us what hes read, but at the same time, we've also talked about that and how googles the wrong thing to look at. so its all a bit light hearted really

   thanks for your help

   Posted 3 months ago #
8. GJP - Member

   When I suffered anxiety attacks in my teens, my GP put me on Valium for two weeks. Which would have been OK if he had also told me that I shouldn't get pissed out of my head whilst on them. I suspect Docs don't do that so much these days.

   Although I can see the immediate rationale of not worrying your son about the nature of the attack now, if it occurs again then I would seek support from your GP. The problem with Anxiety is it feeds on itself, far better to tackle it head on early before it becomes an established pattern.

   Being bi-polar I am no stranger to extreme and prolonged anxiety attacks. Anxiety is perhaps the most debilitating problem with my illness.

   Posted 3 months ago #
9. meehaja - Member

   Hello, Paramedic here so more practical advice than a dr, but...

   It sounds like an anxiety type attack, which is fairly normal for someone in his situation. Obviosly he's had a lot of "non specific" symptoms that have ended badly, so any twinge or ache he's likely to be worried about. and as if often the way, the more you worry about it the worse it gets. Mix this in with the modern hell that is googling your symptoms any of us would soon be quivering heaps on hte floor!

   The main thing is don't worry. (that goes for both of you.)120bpm is about twice as fast as it should be, but the heart can maintain a rate like that for ages and he's young and (reasonably) heatlhy I assume.

   An increased heart rate without other symptoms is usually anxiety/stress related. In association with other symptoms (pain/D&V/cough etc) it is often a sign of infection (though sometimes there are not specific symptoms). It sounds unlikely to be a cardiac arrythmia as it is not really fast enough to be abnormal.

   Best thing to do, is go and see GP, discuss health anxiety, and see about maybve getting a referal to IAPT, who can help your son manage his anxiety (without drugs and stuff like that) before it develops into something worse.

   If he's worried now and doesn't feel as if it settling then call an ambulance, Normally I would not recommend it but they will be able to check everything the hospital would do (except bloods)and will likely be more friendly and have more time for your son than a busy A&E unit.

   If you get really desperate, bring him to Leeds and call 999 you'll probably get me!

   Posted 3 months ago #
10. jb79 - Member

    3 days post op with a heart rate of 120 is cause for concern (even if it is settling - to what rate BTW?).

    Whilst he might 'just' be having an anxiety attack he could have sepsis (and sepsis itself can make you feel anxious) so I'd get him seen in A+E tonight - needs check of bp, resp rate, temp and preferably a blood test too.

    Edit: I'm a doctor.

    Posted 3 months ago #
11. sadexpunk - Member

    thanks for all your advice. his rate seems normal, certainly a lot slower than it was before. jb79, wouldnt that rule out sepsis? i assume if there were something seriously wrong then it wouldnt die down, but stay the same all the time, or worsen even?
    we'll see how he is overnight and decide what action to take, but gut feeling is its anxiety attacks and we'll get him to GP. to be honest, hes been like this (anxious) for month now, making appointments with the doc over all sorts of things, but we cant really stop him because of the 'what if hes right' factor. hes been let down badly by our GPs who never listened to him, so cant blame him really.

    thanks a lot

    Posted 3 months ago #
12. jb79 - Member

    He's probably haing anxiety attacks but 3 days post op + complicated (re-admitted for 2nd op) + high pulse + anxiety is sepsis until proven otherwise. I certainly wouldn't want to rule it out over the Internet! A settling pulse rate is reassuring though, especially if he feels well and not like he has flu.

    If I was his GP I'd want to make certain he didn't have an abdominal abscess before putting all his symptoms down to anxiety. I hope you get to see someone who at least listens to him!

    Posted 3 months ago #

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