A Child's Illness - Chronic Fatigue

About 1-1/2 years ago, our oldest daughter (she is 11 now, was almost 10 then) started falling asleep no matter where she was at or what she was doing. She'd fall asleep in school. She'd fall asleep in the car. She'd fall asleep at home. She even fell asleep with her face in her cereal! Her pediatrician thought it was possibly viral or atypical seizures so an appointment was made with a Neurologist. However before the appointment time came (it takes forever to get into see a Neorologist), the extreme fatigue stopped. It was thought then that it was viral.

Well, this past week, she became real sleepy again. She wants to sleep all the time. In addition to chronic fatigue, she has light sensitivity indoors and outdoors. Light gives her headaches. There is no fever, no cough - no other symptoms other than fatigue and light sensitivity. She had an appointment on Monday at her pediatrician's office with the nurse practitioner. She thought it could be a subclinical virus. They also did a rapid strep test which was negative. She said to bring her back Wednesday if she wasn't better. She wasn't so I made an appointment on Wednesday for her - which her pediatrician's office canceled because the doctor would be out of the office! GRRRRRR!!! No appointments available Thursday! So, we have an appointment tomorrow (Friday) with the pediatrician. I requested an actual pediatrician this time. No offense to nurses, but this is really serious to us and I want a doctor to see our daughter.

I sent her to school today (though I am expecting a phone call by mid-day or so to pick her up as I don't think she'll make it a full day). Yesterday, she had a period of time where she had more energy and stayed awake for several hours so I want her to go back into her normal routine today and see how she does. I also want to see how much is pre-teen drama mode to extend her illness and attention and how much is real. Sometimes, it is hard to tell with her. I don't want to minimize whatever is going on with her but I need to get a good gauge on how bad this still is for the doctor tomorrow. I need to know whether this is viral or something a neurologist or another specialist should be looking at. My neurotic fear is tumor or something along those lines. I've researched online and came up with something called hypersomnia. I don't know if hormones (puberty) can do this to this extent, but who knows. I sure don't. It doesn't seem like the doctors do either.

*sigh*

I guess we wait to see what tomorrow's doctor appointment brings. Probably blood tests for sure and possibly an appointment with a specialist. We shall see.