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Post by eversograceful1 on Sept 19, 2017 19:44:59 GMT
DD (9) has a fainting disorder. She hasn't actually fainted in a very long time but she has regular "wobbly" episodes. That means she's feeling wobbly and her vision is starting to tunnel. That's her indication to take a break and get some water. These episodes are brought on by dehydration, overheating, or pain (or a combination). We made the choice to do indoor sports to reduce these episodes although she still has them. Right now, it's basketball.
Well, I just found out that their first game will be away and played on an outdoor basketball court close to the beach. We live in FL where it's pretty hot and humid right now. I'm just not sure what to do. I want her to play b/c she's part of a team but I don't want her to have an episode and absolutely hate basketball (you know, or have to call 911). The coach is aware of these issues. So, WWYD?
ETA - sorry, it's my first Poll
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Post by burningfeather on Sept 19, 2017 19:48:56 GMT
I think as a member of the team, it's important that even if she's going to sit out that she attend the game. Depending on the weather that day, I would either ask that she sit out or ask that she be put in for limited amounts of time if it doesn't disrupt the rest of the game plan. Have you discussed it with her at all? Will she feel bad sitting out or knowing that she's being limited?
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cycworker
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Post by cycworker on Sept 19, 2017 19:50:12 GMT
Because she's only 9, I went with have the coach manage her time. Ideally, as she gets older/more experienced, she'll manage it in partnership with the coach.
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Post by happiest.raincloud on Sept 19, 2017 19:51:21 GMT
I voted to let her play but she can come out anytime. I think it's also really important to involve her in the decision. Is this something that will affect her for the rest of her life? Good time to get started deciding how to handle herself and empower her to make the choices.
It's also good to encourage her to understand her body and read the signals and react. If she doesn't feel comfortable with that yet, then maybe best to sit out on the bench. Then she's still part of the team.
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JustTricia
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Post by JustTricia on Sept 19, 2017 19:52:56 GMT
Absolutely make sure the coach knows. And emphasize it's a fainting disorder, not that she just doesn't feel well.
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RosieKat
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Post by RosieKat on Sept 19, 2017 19:56:25 GMT
What does her doctor recommend for things like this? My gut instinct is to have her play only a little bit at a time, but also that she can come out whenever she needs to. However, that's a lot for a coach to have to manage while in the middle of a game. I guess that would be my other question - how much responsibility is the coach willing to take on here? If I were the coach, I might be rather nervous about taking that role, and would worry that I was having to make what amounted to medical calls beyond my expertise. I know that isn't what you're trying to do here, but I'm just looking at the flip side. And for that matter, are you willing to allow the coach that authority?
ETA - even if she doesn't play, I would still have her go. That's part of being a team in general.
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Post by bc2ca on Sept 19, 2017 19:59:50 GMT
Is it a recreational or competitive team? This only matters because with a competitive team, the starters are getting the majority of the playing time anyway. Our experience with recreational bball was that the playing time was more evenly distributed.
Either way, a combination of talking to the coach and letting your DD know she can ask to sub out at any time and, if necessary, pull herself out of the game.
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Post by eversograceful1 on Sept 19, 2017 22:49:29 GMT
Thanks for the answers. It's a rec team so the pressure should be low. I'll mention it to the coach and I'll be there to support if needed. I hate to ask him to take on the extra "work" but I imagine he'd rather do that than have her faint.
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azredhead
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Post by azredhead on Sept 19, 2017 23:01:18 GMT
Let her play and she how she does based on Dr's and coachs say. It will help her build her confidence but also teach her to listen to her body. I was very limited on what I could do growing up being a cardiac patient, but I'm avid sports fan. I did play volleyball and softball. Many times if I couldn't participate in the actual games, I became sort of an assitant. Keeping track of equipment, game times, schedules etc.. I finally ended being the sports editor in HS paper. It has carried me through HS. and I'm still an avid sports fan but just watch now. lol! There's lots of options for her if she is not feeling good and still wants to be a part of it. Hope she can enjoy it and find a good solution so you feel better and so does she.
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Post by Really Red on Sept 20, 2017 0:04:38 GMT
I have had kids plays sports for years. This is not something new or different. She's 9yo and still a little kid, but she needs to start listening to her body carefully. Let her play as normal and make sure she pays attention to her body. If her coach knows then he can switch her out if she needs.
This is good practice for her to make her own decisions and be strong about it. You'll be there, I imagine, so you can help her feel empowered to do what her body tells her to do.
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MDscrapaholic
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Jun 25, 2014 20:49:07 GMT
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Post by MDscrapaholic on Sept 20, 2017 0:12:39 GMT
I would let her play if she's up to it. Also have a lot of Gatorade on hand to stave off dehydration.
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zella
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Post by zella on Sept 20, 2017 4:29:29 GMT
OP, I have to ask, does your daughter have a diagnosis? I'm asking because I've recently found that MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome) causes fainting and near-fainting episodes. Many people with MCAS also have POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) or other forms of dysautonomia. Just thought it was worth mentioning. Getting overheated or even mildly dehydrated is one of my triggers (I have a diagnosis of MCAS). I don't faint because I have an unusual variant of the disorder, but reading your description made bells go off for me.
Poor kiddo; that sucks!
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Post by elaine on Sept 20, 2017 4:39:43 GMT
I guess that at 9 years old, I would rely on what her physician recommends- not her coach, not what she thinks she can do. She is 9. Her health is exponentially more important than basketball at this age.
If this is going to be a lifelong condition (don’t know because you haven’t mentioned the cause), I would use her free time to get her involved in things like First Robotics that won’t cause fainting and may lead to a lucrative career. There are many clubs/hobbies that won’t tax her enough to cause unconsciousness, but may be very rewarding.
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Post by Amelia Bedelia on Sept 20, 2017 4:52:24 GMT
I have the same issue. I don't know if it's the same cause but we have some similar triggers. I don't get tunnel vision but my hearing becomes muffled. Sometimes I get wobbly and sometimes I faint.
I'd do a combo of having the coach limit the length of time she plays to avoid overheating, and allowing her to have input. Show her you trust her judgment. If she's going to have to deal with this forever, she needs to learn the signs and symptoms and how to react. A good idea would be to create a hand signal for her to alert people that she feels faint and then she can sit down as quickly as possible. Sometimes I can talk and sometimes I can't, so I just wave at DH to let him know if I'm about to faint because it's way too hard for me to try to make words and safely sit or lie down at the same time.
I know when the hearing loss starts, I have about 30-60 seconds to get down before I fall down, and I don't want another concussion. If DD tries to push the limits too much, you can always remind her of the restrictions that come with concussions if she doesn't recognize when she's going to faint and she hits her head.
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PaperAngel
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Jun 27, 2014 23:04:06 GMT
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Post by PaperAngel on Sept 20, 2017 6:05:03 GMT
Please consult your child's pediatrician &/or specialist for medical advice.
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Post by Patter on Sept 20, 2017 10:16:41 GMT
Having two daughters with fainting disorders (one due to heart issues and one due to POTS), I would definitely have her only play a bit, and if she had a trigger, I wouldn't let her go back in. I know the university where my "heart" girl is, didn't even like her in classes when she had episodes because they were afraid she would hit her head and they would be liable. Ugh!!! It was a big mess. I say that only because of the liability issue. We would never have sued the school or done anything but they were funny about it. So, how does the coach/organization feel about it liability wise? Just wondering or something you might look into. My daughters can manage their issues too BUT there are occasional times they faint. That's when people freak out. It's amazing how people will act sometimes. Hugs!
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Post by auroraborealis on Sept 20, 2017 15:08:00 GMT
Hmm, it is REALLY hot and humid on the beach in FL right now, yes? Because it's a rec league, their first game (so you want her to have a good start to the season), terribly hot, an away game, I might be inclined to sitting this one out and stay home. I would hate to start the season with her having some degree of an episode when it is really the setting that is terrible for her. Do they have plenty of subs, and I am guessing some kids miss every game? If it isn't really inconvenient for the team for her to miss, I might pass on it. You did sign up for an indoor sport, and this game is the opposite of indoors.
Otherwise, I would see if she can only play just a little. Hard to find that balance though, on what "a little" is, and how often they can sub and such. Do they have unlimited subbing? Just to start out the season right I am inclined to pass on this still.
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Post by mom2samlibby on Sept 20, 2017 15:37:39 GMT
If my child had a fainting disorder, I would not have them playing sports. There are too many issues with that -- liability for the organization, liability for the coach, chance of a major injury for her or the other players. At that age, she may not recognize the signs that she is going to faint before it happens or the signs may change. This just doesn't sound like a good idea to me.
I'd look for other activities and find another form of exercise.
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The Birdhouse Lady
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Jun 30, 2014 17:15:19 GMT
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Post by The Birdhouse Lady on Sept 20, 2017 17:17:06 GMT
I think the person you should be asking is her doctor. (that wasn't meant to sound snarky) Is her doctor aware of these "episodes" and what is the doctors recommendation going forward.
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cycworker
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Post by cycworker on Sept 20, 2017 17:50:27 GMT
I want to follow up my comments both due to thinking about it more & reading some other comments here. elaine makes a good point about making sure you're connecting with her doctor. It's important to try to figure out the cause of the problem. And the doctor can assist in helping her figure out how to recognize the signs that she needs to take it easy, too. While I certainly agree that it's important for children to experience a range of activities & not be caught up in only sports, and even worse, only one sport, I also wouldn't preemptively close the door on participation, either. The key is balance, imo. Not meaning to pick on you, Elaine; it's just that my first reaction to your post was that you were suggesting that sports aren't for the OP's dd, and I wouldn't want to go there too quickly. RosieKat - have to disagree with you. It absolutely is partly the coach's responsibility. That's part of the job, especially when you're coaching children. That's why we always had a second adult on the bench. One was managing things on the bench, one was watching the game to see if kids were doing ok. So my modified answer is to say that yes, have her play & have the coach keep and eye on her/play her less, and try to have a conversation with her to talk about signs to recognize if she needs to come off. I had a player in our rec floor hockey league that was just coming back from an illness & mom was concerned along the lines you are. I talked with the kid about how we'd manage it. As the game was going on, he signaled he was ready for a switch up just as I was about to pull him...like maybe 30 seconds ahead of me. |
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Post by Basket1lady on Sept 20, 2017 18:22:05 GMT
I would hesitate to say that this child shouldn't be playing sports. In pursuit of our adaptive, inclusive world, I see more individuals with different disabilities as a good thing. But in this case, I think you absolutely have to have her coach(es) on board. And, assuming she has been cleared by her physician, the physical activity is good for her.
Assuming that her doctor has cleared her to play and the coaches are willing, I would prehydrate her the day before the game.
DS was a fainter in his tweens--due to rapid growth--and his cardiologist (for a different condition) recommended that DS consume something salty before being active and drinking a glass of orange juice. For several years, DS would have OJ and potato chips for breakfast before altar serving--church seemed to be his preferred place to faint. The priests were great with it. They would just let DS sit down when he needed to and he had water by his chair. DS went on to be the head altar server his junior and senior years of HS, thanks to those priests who were supportive of him. He also played football, but it was less of an issue for him in the afternoon, as he'd been drinking all day.
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Post by elaine on Sept 20, 2017 21:35:27 GMT
I want to follow up my comments both due to thinking about it more & reading some other comments here. elaine makes a good point about making sure you're connecting with her doctor. It's important to try to figure out the cause of the problem. And the doctor can assist in helping her figure out how to recognize the signs that she needs to take it easy, too. While I certainly agree that it's important for children to experience a range of activities & not be caught up in only sports, and even worse, only one sport, I also wouldn't preemptively close the door on participation, either. The key is balance, imo. Not meaning to pick on you, Elaine; it's just that my first reaction to your post was that you were suggesting that sports aren't for the OP's dd, and I wouldn't want to go there too quickly. RosieKat - have to disagree with you. It absolutely is partly the coach's responsibility. That's part of the job, especially when you're coaching children. That's why we always had a second adult on the bench. One was managing things on the bench, one was watching the game to see if kids were doing ok. So my modified answer is to say that yes, have her play & have the coach keep and eye on her/play her less, and try to have a conversation with her to talk about signs to recognize if she needs to come off. I had a player in our rec floor hockey league that was just coming back from an illness & mom was concerned along the lines you are. I talked with the kid about how we'd manage it. As the game was going on, he signaled he was ready for a switch up just as I was about to pull him...like maybe 30 seconds ahead of me. I don’t feel picked on - no worries! I also didn’t say “no participation in sports.” There are many ways to participate in sports and they don’t all involve competitive leagues in 3rd grade. This is a 3rd grade child, years before puberty and growth spurt, who faints - which means that for some reason not enough oxygen is getting into her bloodstream and up to her brain to sustain consciousness. This isn’t about inclusiveness of people with non-life-threatening disabilities. If you’re comfortable with recommending participating in something that could kill the child without strict physician oversight, more power to you all. I read, each year, about too many kids who die during participating in sports due to overheating or a congenital defect. I simply don’t think that participation in competitive league sports is more important than protecting the health, safety and potentially life of the OP’s child. Especially in 3rd grade. There are many ways to be physically active - competitive sports aren’t the end-all and not worth jeopardizing the health of a child. |
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cycworker
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Post by cycworker on Sept 20, 2017 21:58:38 GMT
elaine - on your last point we definitely agree. In fact I had a kid with a heart issue who was allowed to play (with doctor's signature) in our junior league as long as certain precautions were taken. He did great. Doctor wouldn't let him play in our senior league because of the higher level of competition & intensity. He tried to convince us to let him, but in a situation like that you go with what the doctor says.
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Post by trixiecat on Sept 20, 2017 22:04:07 GMT
Make sure you understand dehydration if that is a trigger. Having water/Gatorade available during the game is not nearly enough. She will need to hydrate days before a game with the heat, especially the day of. Drinking water during the game will not make a difference to ward it off. My daughter plays basketball and during the outdoor season, as well as the times she has traveled to FL during the summer to play, this is always the advice they give.
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Post by txdancermom on Sept 21, 2017 2:10:16 GMT
I would remind the coach, and make sure that she has access to plenty of fluids and drinks as much as she can and ask to sit out if she needs to
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Post by mcscrapper on Sept 21, 2017 6:41:47 GMT
OP, I have to ask, does your daughter have a diagnosis? I'm asking because I've recently found that MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome) causes fainting and near-fainting episodes. Many people with MCAS also have POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) or other forms of dysautonomia. Just thought it was worth mentioning. I was actually going to post something along these lines. I know of a young girl that struggled with this for several years before getting this diagnosis. She even had a teacher accuse her of using drugs / alcohol which was really sad and embarrassing for her at age 11-12. If she were my child, I would encourage her to at least go to the game and maybe play a few minutes at a time to see how she does. I would probably avoid games in the heat of the day but she should at least go and be part of the team. SaveSave |
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