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Children's health

recurrent stomach ache

19 replies

canella · 06/10/2009 19:14

dd (8) is really suffering with recurrent abdo pain - dont mean every day but she's had it 3 times in the last 5 weeks where she goes a really pale colour in her face (so white it looks grey) and she has a temperature (not sure how high since the thermometer is broken but she's hot and sweaty) and she is complaining of abdo pain. She's not constipated, no diarrhoea. Most of the time she's sick with it (but not today). She just wants to lie down - she's slept for an hour today but woke up and its still not better.

Havent taken her to the doctor before cause it's so non-descript but its the other symptoms that make me wonder if i should take her - any ideas?

OP posts:

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itsnotatoy · 06/10/2009 19:20

I don't have any direct experience of this but I'm aware that children can experience migraines like this - in their stomach not head IYSWIM. My SIL's friend has taken about a year to have this diagnosed in her DD

itsnotatoy · 06/10/2009 19:28

sorry posted before I was finished! Headache in Children Overview looks useful. It sounds like she feels like how I feel with a migraine, and I'm beginning to wonder if DS is having these sometimes.

BoysAreLikeDogs · 06/10/2009 19:32

yy google abdominal migraine in children

here for eg

My youngest had them on starting school

anecdotally linked to a stress, say returning to school, illness of a fmaily member, that kind of thing

thumbscrewwitch · 06/10/2009 19:36

do take her to the GP - it could be abdominal migraine, it could be a grumbling appendix, it could even be IBS (it doesn't always come with diarrhoea or constipation). When I had bad IBS I looked the way you describe your daughter, but had normal(ish) stools. Tis the cramping in the gut that causes the pain. You need to get her checked out.

canella · 06/10/2009 19:41

thanks for that - had never heard of an abdominal migraine but the link from itsnotatoy describes dd's symptoms quite well but the one from boysarelikedogs is spot on. Since my last post she's vomited ++ but still has her abdo pain.

Dh suffers with migraines which were worse when he was younger so i imagine there might be a familial link.

Think i might take her to the doctor anyway just to have anything else ruled out.

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alypaly · 06/10/2009 20:28

has she got a grumbling appendix.
Boyys are like dogs is correct, children can suffer from abdo migraine as it does affect that area ,just like in an adult it can make you feel sick.

bluejeans · 06/10/2009 20:47

I don't have any advice but am interested to read this thread as my 9 year old DD also suffers sore tummies. The pain is definitely real, however disappeared for the entire summer holidays. I've taken her to the doctor twice and they've examined her and tested her urine but found nothing. Abdominal migraine wasn't mentioned but I have heard of it before from googling.

canella · 07/10/2009 08:17

not sure whats going on - she slept all night - she always feels better after she's sick and has gone to school this morning right as rain.

so if i took her to the doctor now i'm not sure what he'd do?

Last time she had this tummy ache she had done sport on 2 days running and dh thought she'd maybe been exhausted but nothing like that this time - she's had a right lazy weekend. Just no idea what it is.

But going to phone for an appointment just to get her checked out - would feel like a terrible mother if it was something and i'd just let it pass.

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throckenholt · 07/10/2009 08:29

my ds has mesenteric adenitis - it means whenever he gets a virus the glands in his stomach swell up and he get stomach aches - apparently it is quite common in kids.

Probably worth getting checked with gp - I think a blood test might be needed to rule things in or out.

3littlefrogs · 07/10/2009 08:36

It sounds exactly like abdominal migraine. I would seek medical advice. It depends whether your GP knows about abdominal migraine - GPs vary so much.

Migraine runs in my family - my sister had abdominal migraine and my dd has it. Ds1 had migraine in his teens but seems to have outgrown it. I had migraine very badly from the age of 11 till after I had children.

Regular Neurofen plus 24 hours rest in a quiet place seems to do the trick for dd. You should think carefully about trigger factors such as food or stress. It seems to be more common in children and dd was at her worst between the ages of 8 and 10.

HTH

Elibean · 07/10/2009 08:36

I would go to the GP anyway, to tell him/her your dd's symptoms and the history of them...raised temp can mean infection of some sort (appendix??). Best play safe

GibbonWithAnAppleBobbingBibOn · 07/10/2009 08:51

I suffered with abdominal migraine as a child, does sound like it could be this.

giveloveachance · 07/10/2009 09:04

This is very interesting, never heard of it but it has struck a cord when reading the symptoms on the links posters have added.

the info says it is most common 5 - 9, my dd is only 2 and a half but is complaining often of tummy ache and will be off her food, clingy, and not wanting to do anything not even go to the park - her favourite activity. Sometimes she has diarrhea with it but not always. Dr thinks is an allergy. I'm not so convinced as it seems more random and I think linked to stress. she is often hot with it and has the dark circles under her eyes described in the link. Due back at the docs to get results from poo sample so will ask about this .

Sorry not trying to hijack the thread, hope your dd is feeling beta.

canella · 07/10/2009 11:23

she was stressed yesterday because of a trip to the dentist but no common food link.

spoke to dh - we've decided to keep a record of what happens round about her having an episode then see if there's some kind of link. dh just doesnt think the doctor will be able to do anything especially since she's bright as a button today!

Giveloveachance - hope your dd doesnt get many more attacks!

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Elibean · 07/10/2009 13:35

Sounds like a good plan. Maybe get a new thromometer to check whether she really has a fever, or is just feeling hot, when she next has an attack? Sorry to bang on about this, but my BF at school had a grumbling appendix that had pretty similar symptoms, and it wasn't diagnosed for a long time...her parents/school thought it was stress.

canella · 07/10/2009 18:45

a new thermometer is a definite plan - just want one of those simple forehead strip things - bought an ear one that was a complete waste of money!

just not thinking along the lines of a grumbling appendix - her pain is right in the middle of her belly - i always imagined appendix pain was on one side. Going to keep a really close eye on her attacks over the next few months and see if we can work out what makes them happen - if they get closer together i'll be straight at the doctor.

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alypaly · 07/10/2009 21:41

3littlefrogs gp's should no about the stomach related problems as migaleve has an anti emetic in it and they prescribe it.

3littlefrogs · 07/10/2009 23:19

The pain being right in the middle of her belly also sounds typical of abdominal migraine.

Alypaly - I have come across some GPs who haven't heard of abdominal migraine. It is one of those things that you have to have seen/experienced. It is rare to get sickness with it and an antiemetic wouldn't be much use, although very good for conventional type migraine.

BoysAreLikeDogs · 07/10/2009 23:24

yy - if you ask the child where the pain is they invariably point to their umbilicus

*disclaimer this is anecdotal

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