Hi, mamas, I am new to this and need some advice. my daughter is 11 and has started puberty about 6 months ago. she has told me that she has very bad cramps and lots of goopy discharge her stomach is usually also bloated. She has begun to develop breasts and they are very sore.
Recently she was in the shower and found some skin that is brown and a hint of purple she was freaking out and thought she had a disease I was thinking it could just be the color but I don't want her to be worried about this what should I do?
She feels very uncomfortable going to the pediatrician and said they she does not want to go there, should I take her to the gynecologist if she has not started her period yet she is probably going to start soon but I would like to check in with you guys to see what ya'll think what should I do she is very uncomfortable. I would just like to mention that she did not get her first period yet?
Thank you, A.
So thank you, everyone, for your answers I did another post and asked if 11 was too young to see a gyn and that got lots of answers as well I will take her somewhere to get checked out.
If she is uncomfortable with her pediatrician then get her a new one. Isn't that what YOU would do if you didn't like your doctor?
She should see a doctor and it should be an ob/gyn.
That she's bloated and has cramps but no period yet makes me think maybe she has a blockage that might be giving her some problems.
Maybe she's having her period and it can't drain.
She should be checked out asap.
So the skin concern - where is it? Have you checked it out? Typically skin concerns you would show to your child's pediatrician then see a dermatologist if they feel it's necessary (next step). It sounds like a bruise to me from what you've written here.
As for the cramps and bloating .. to me that sounds like digestive. She might be constipated. 'Goopy discharge' can be related to constipation too, and not coming from her vagina. It could be coming from a blockage/constipation. That would be my guess. It can be clear and thick, like mucus. We've had questions like that on here before. You can still be going to the bathroom (having BM's) and have a blockage further up, and the mucus can pass down periodically and alarm people.
Fiber .. and go see her pediatrician. If she doesn't like her pediatrician find another.
* Can you see the mucous yourself? I check things out for my kids still - otherwise you're relying on a child to tell the doctor their symptoms and that's not always the best.
Why in the world would you take a pre-pubscent child to a gynecologist?
Start with your regular pediatrician and go from there.
By the by, you have no idea if her period is going to start soon unless you are clairvoyant.
Yes. Take her to an OBGYN
I wouldn't take a non-menstruating 11 year old to a gynecologist based on the info you've given.
Back up. Why is she uncomfortable going to the pediatrician? Does she not like this doctor's personality? Is the doctor a man and she'd prefer a woman? The other way around? You cannot enable a family member who is uncomfortable going to a doctor. You find one she can connect with, or you have her work with a counselor to overcome her fears. And that counselor should work with you to calm you down and make you a more effective advocate for your daughter. You've posted 3 questions showing great anxiety about your child - I'm sure some of that is being transferred to her.
What's your thought about what will happen at the gynecologist - do you think a pelvic exam is a good first move for a kid who is uncomfortable? Why do you think she's going to start her period soon? She has some hormonal stuff going on and breast tenderness, but that could either fade or go on for a year or more before she gets her period. She has cramps, but who's to say those are premenstrual rather than intestinal? A pediatrician, that's who.
What and where is this brown and purple skin? What makes you think a gynecologist is the answer for this? Again, you start with a pediatrician (her primary care doctor) and figure out from there if more diagnosis needs to be done, such as from a dermatologist.
Pediatricians do gynecological exams, as needed and as appropriate, and many kids stay with their pediatricians through high school and even college. This is the doctor who has the most info and medical history for your child, so if there's a personality conflict or other issue with a particular practitioner, then you switch doctors and transfer all the records. Surely a child who is confident enough to tell you that she has sore breasts, goopy discharge, a skin condition, and cramps can be helped to present these symptoms to a doctor. If she cannot, she needs professional support to get past this anxiety, or she is destined for a life with insufficient health care.
Unless you have medical training, we can only guess at reasons for symptoms. As others have suggested feeling bloated, having pain could have a different cause than entering puberty. I suggest it's possible something else is also going on.
Why is your daughter uncomfortable seeing the pediatrician? Is she embarrased or does she not like her pediatrician? Has she gone often enough that she knows the pediatrician or has gone just a couple of times.
I suggest that if she knows the pediatrician and as generally accepted him/her previously stay with the pediatrician. If she gets anxious about medical issues or seeing a doctor, now is not the time to start over.
My granddaughter still went to her pediatrician until she needed birth control. Even now she gets her birth control from a nurse at the Ob/gyn clinic and sees the pediatrician for illness. My daughter saw the pediatrician until she was sexually active.
I suggest that seeing the pediatrician, who knows her and her medical history would be the way to go. I recognize it's difficult to squeeze in medical appointments. However, it's important to get a medical opinoon anytime there is concern about our health. It's important that a parent makes the decisions about medical concerns. Of course both of you are anxious. Still who your daughter sees and when is a parental responsibility. I'm glad you asked this question. I think a lot of parents are confused about when to go to a different specialty.
An irritable bowel (IBS) causes pain as does blockage in the intestines. Discharge can be caused by a vaginal infection as well as hormones. Yes even as a child. A discharge can be normal, unrelated to puberty. My granddaughters sometimes have a noticeable, but not heavy discharge, and they're 5 and 7.
I suggest you call her pediatrician to talk with a nurse about the appropriate doctor to see.
My thoughts - she should be comfortable with her pediatrician so switch to a new pediatrician...one that she likes. Don't let her call the shots...you get her in to a doctor if you think something is wrong, but do find a doctor that she will feel comfortable with. I think the pediatrician would refer you to a ob/gyn if needed and then call around to find one that is friendly to children and speak in private over the phone with them to ask what the visit will entail. When I started puberty I had EXTREMELY sore breasts...yes, even before my period. I also had discharge. And all my life since then I have had overly sensitive breasts...some women are like this. It's rare but it's normal. Ask around to find a pediatrician that other girls seem to like (Ask your friends where their daughters go). Call the doctor and ask them their advice on if you should see an ob/gyn or not...and then make an appointment. It might all be totally normal.
Hello!
I am unclear on where the purple skin is. That is something that struck me as odd. Discharge can happen for a while before a period. What color is it? If it’s normal and not dark or smelly, it’s probably fine.
I would see a pediatrician she likes first. It sounds like most likely she will be uncomfortable with these topics with any doctor. Puberty is a tough time! The pediatricians deal with this stuff often and should help relieve concerns.
I have an 11 year who does have her period. She has discharge for a good year first. She also has digestive issues that cause bloating and has pain. We found out she is lactose intolerant and it has made a big difference for her. So the two could be related or unrelated. But only a doctor can tell you for sure.
okay, two almost identical questions.
why is she uncomfortable going to her pediatrician?
why would she be more comfortable at a gynecologist's office?
if it's puberty-related (or you believe it might be) why are you so stuck on whether or not she's started her period? medically trained gynecologists are able to practice their profession on pre-menstruating humans, especially since you state your daughter has started puberty.
i'd stop asking my freaked-out tween where she *wants* to go and hustle her butt into the gyn's office, or her pediatrician to see what she thinks.
being 'uncomfortable' doesn't trump getting a professional diagnosis or referral.
khairete
S.
Welcome to mamapedia, Mommyof1tween
Where did your daughter find this "skin"?
Has her breasts developed faster than normal? Does she have stretch marks from too development?
She needs an OB/GYN - find one that is child friendly. doesn't matter that she hasn't started her period's yet. Breasts shouldn't be sore, discharge shouldn't be "goopy" and she shouldn't be bloated,.
