My 15 year old son is VERY anxious

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-05-2006
My 15 year old son is VERY anxious
8
Sun, 11-05-2006 - 11:07pm
About his health. It all started a few months ago when he complained of mild testicle pain. He then said that he had a bit of groin pain/discomfort on occasion. We got into the doctor on Friday and he was examined by two different doctors (poor kid!). After an examination of his privates, tons of questions, and a urinalysis, the doctor believes that it is caused by some type of inflammation. He seemed relieved, but now he's CERTAIN that he's dying of prostate cancer. No, I'm not kidding. I don't want to diminish his "pain", but I'm starting to wonder if it's really something to worry about or just puberty anxiety. He's gone from a worry free kid to a complete nut! Any advice for a tired mom? I feel so helpless because nothing I say is giving him any comfort.
Peace,
Susan
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-13-2004
Mon, 11-06-2006 - 12:23am

Oh no....
15 yrs. old and the examination...twice.
The poor kid.
It seems from your description the doctors were not very conclusive in their diagnosis.
In other words, a hundred questions and two seperate examinations later, they still can't pinpoint a specific problem so, for lack of a better term, it's an unspecified inflammation?
In the early puberty years, boys typically have more than enough anxiety about their equipment. Self diagnosing prostate cancer seems to indicate his anxiety is off the chart and the imagination has gone wild.

Just a guess, but he may have concerns he's not willing to share with mom. Is dad able to help? Or perhaps his doctor can talk to him in more depth than clinical testing and plumbing issues?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-1999
Mon, 11-06-2006 - 7:38am

Maybe give your doc a call, tell him about your DS's worries, set up an apt for a consultation (without an exam) and send your DS to talk to the doc alone?

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-05-2006
Mon, 11-06-2006 - 7:44am
Thanks, ladies. I suppose I should have mentioned something else about my kiddo. He's VERY open with me. About things that no normal child would ever share with their Mom! For example, masturbation. He told me that he had groin discomfort after he masturbated. Lord, help me! I did leave the room when the second doctor (male) came in, but he didn't change any of his answers and I already knew them. I suppose I'm blessed to have such open communication with my child, but sometimes it's a curse!
Peace,
Susan
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 11-06-2006 - 10:27am

One of mine had a urinary tract infection at around age 9. They are far less common in boys than girls but they do still happen

Of course, he would have received antibiotics and it sounds like he didnt?

I would give him a 'plan' as in we are going to give it 2 weeks and if it isnt better, we will go back to a doctor

Is it possible he had sex, is worried about a STD, and doesnt want to admit it(as open as he may appear to be)? Surely they checked for that!

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-05-2006
Mon, 11-06-2006 - 3:25pm
Nope, no sex yet. We should have the results of the urine culture by tomorrow, but I'm really thinking that most of this is in his head. Poor kid. I just feel so sorry for him. He's doing a bit better today, so I'm hoping for the best. I guess anxiety is really prevalent at this age.
Peace,
Susan
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-31-2003
Mon, 11-06-2006 - 4:11pm

My DD13 is a very anxious girl - always worries about everything. A month ago she came home from soccer with a wicked headache followed by nausea and throwing up - was convinced she had a brain tumor. Migraine headaches run in the family with the females and this was about the time I started getting mine. She worries all the time that she has cancer if she's the least bit sick. A good friend of mine works in a cancer hospital and always makes light of her worries - reassures her that her aches/pains etc. are NOT cancer. At one point last year I had to take her to counselling because of her constant worries and anxiety. Her counselor suggested at one point to see a psychiatrist about putting her on meds. I am a firm believer in NO meds for kids so I went one day to a herbal store and found this product called Rescue Remedy. It's been a godsend for us. Whether it actually is doing any good medicinally i dont know, but psychologically its done wonders for her. Any time she feels worried or anxious, she takes a bit of it and is fine. I also have always tried to counteract her worries with something more plausible like her headaches being generic, she's too young for certain types of cancer, eat healthy etc. etc. Seems to have done her good so far. The link for the Rescue Remedy is below. Just for the record, I dont sell the stuff or know who does - all I know is that its worked miracles for us.

http://www.directlyfromnature.com/BachEssences.htm

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-05-2006
Tue, 11-07-2006 - 7:46am
That is SOOOO strange! I JUST bought this stuff last night! Do you mix it in water and just put the drops on her tongue? Isn't it a horrible feeling when you feel like you can't comfort your child? He is slowly improving, but I'm definitely giving him this stuff today. How much do you give your daughter? Do you give it to her more than once a day? Thanks! BTW...I'm also VERY much against drugging my son. I've been giving him supplements (Fish oil, great vitamin, and a magnesium supplement that you mix in water) which I think is also helping with the anxiety. I'm still tweaking his diet, but working on getting him totally off of sugar. NOT easy!
Peace,
Susan
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-31-2003
Tue, 11-07-2006 - 9:45am
My daughter doesnt like the taste of it straight so I give it to her in a tiny bit of water or juice - usually 4 or 5 drops. She usually takes it when she feel most anxious such as before a soccer game to help her breathe (she was having panic attacks on the field) and right before bed as thats when she worries most (her down time). We've pretty much graduated now to soccer only and the occasional bedtime. You can't overdose on the stuff either so I would say whenever he feels really anxious or stressed, give him a few drops. He could probably even keep a bottle in his backpack and take it at school when he feels anxious (my daughter did this - just let the school know what's going on). Even if it doesnt help in a physical sense, I think psychologically it works (a placebo effect) at least it did for my daughter. It was the best 15 bucks I ever spent!