Hello everyone, I am new to Moms View and posted under the New category. It was suggessted that I post under the General so I would get more advice. Sorry I didn't feel like re-typing my post as it is pretty long. If you would be so kind as to go there and read it, it's under the same heading as this, and reply to either one, I sure would appreciate it. Thanks!!!!!!!

By Melanie on Friday, April 22, 2005 - 10:56 am:

Welcome to the board, Mary! I hope you like it here! I am going to paste your message here to make it easier on people who may wish to respond. I hope you find some good suggestions!

Hello!!! I was browsing the web yesterday and came a cross this message board and saw how helpful everyone is so I decided to join and ask for some advice on something my son is going through right now. He is 7 yrs. old and has been complaining the last few months that his stomach and head (right on top) ache. I've had him to the doctor and he really couldn't find anything wrong other than some slight congestion in his nose, so he gave a prescription for amoxicillin, which I only gave him a few days because it didn't seem to help. He is also very large for his age, being 4'7" and 140 lbs., we have done evrything, cutting carbs, sugar, and fat. NO POP, only snacks with less than 10 grams of fat and sugar, he was on a swim team this winter and is playing soccer now. He does not spend hours in front of the TV and is not a video game player. He likes to be outside and busy, getting into everything ALL the time. His only downfall is his genetics, I was this way as a child and still am, his dad is a big guy but never overweight as a child. Because he is gaining wait rapidly and the doc couln't feel his thyroid he is referring us to a pediatric endocrinologist, which I can't get him into until July. Does anyone know if these head & stomach aches go along with thyroid?? I know nothing about it. This week so far I have gotten 2 calls from school. Since I am an hour away from his school he lays down for awhile and then is OK. I would go get him if I thought he needed to come home. I give him tylenol or advil, suggested by the doc but only when he really complains, but he says it always hurts. Sometimes I feel he may be trying to avoid certain situtations by saying his head aches but how can I be sure. I also have a 14 yr. old son, whose emotions run hot and cold, one minute a loving and caring individual and the next mean and obnoxious, which I'm sure is normal but sometimes I could scream!!! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

By Bemerry84 on Friday, April 22, 2005 - 11:21 am:

Hi Melanie, WOW how did you do that? I guess it will take me awhile to learn the tricks of the trade. This is my first time ever in a message board. After reading alot of the discussions, everyone seems so nice and helpful.

By Lauram on Friday, April 22, 2005 - 11:34 am:

How is your 7 year old doing in school? Do you suspect learning is hard for him? Sometimes headaches and stomach aches can go along with that at this age. I have no idea about the thyroid, though.

By Emily7 on Friday, April 22, 2005 - 12:15 pm:

http://www.synthroid.com/patientinfo/menu0.jsp?page=menu0&x=undefined&submenu=undefined

This is a site for synthroid which is the medicine I take for my hypothyroid.
Here is a list of symptoms:
Common Signs and Symptoms of Hypothyroidism
Fatigue
Unexplained weight gain
Dry skin, hair and nails
Difficulty concentrating and learning
Forgetfulness
Increased cholesterol
Depression
Cold intolerance
Constipation
Vague aches and pains
Irregular or heavy menstrual flow
Hoarse Voice

Good luck, it took me 3 different thyroid tests to finally get my diagnosed.

By Melanie on Friday, April 22, 2005 - 12:23 pm:

Hi Mary! This was easy to do. I just copied and pasted (I highlighted your original message and hit "Control C" and then came to this message and hit "Control V"). I wanted to change the text color so that it was easy to differentiate what I wrote verses what you wrote. I did that by typing \ red { Inside these brackets is where I held down Control and V at the same time }, without any spaces. Over on the left you can click on "Formatting" which will teach you how to do all these neat tricks.

Have you had his eyesight checked? I wonder if he is straining his eyes at school causing the headaches.

I do have a friend with both her and one son with thyroid issues. I am going to see her later today and can ask her about the headaches and stomachaches being associated with that. I know that she has said when she needs to get him to the doctor regarding his medication because he is so different when something needs to be tweaked. Recently she had him at her doctor appointment and the doctor took one look at him and said something wasn't working and to get him back in.

By Melanie on Friday, April 22, 2005 - 11:26 pm:

I talked to my friend tonight and she was not aware of any connection between the two. She quickly added that anything was possible, of course, but that it isn't something she is aware of.

Good luck...I hope you find answers soon!

By Tklinreston on Sunday, April 24, 2005 - 10:20 am:

Mary, I have hypothyroidism and headaches and stomaches were not symptoms that I had, so I doubt it's related to a thyroid issue, but definitely go see an endocrinologist to make sure his thyroid level is normal. Even if is not related to his current symptoms, he should have it checked out. As it's been suggested already, his symptoms can be a result of anything. My concern is that your current doctor didn't know what was wrong with your ds and subscribed Amoxicillin when it doesn't appear warranted based on his complaints. Amoxicillin is a antibiotic to treat bacterial infection. It is also very important that one completes the medication as prescribed by a doctor once you start even when the child gets better. However, again, it worries me that he prescribed that medication in the first place as I have been told that you're body will grow resistant to it if taken too often or when it's not necessary. My point it, if I were you, I would take him to a different doctor for a second.. perhaps a third opinion. If he is complaining of a constant headache, I would find a doctor who would be willing to take a picture or scan of his head... MRI or something similar to it. Best of luck to you.