Aibu to just want my daughter not to be in pain?

[Feelingsolost1]

Hi, im looking for some help, my daughter is 7, and has been in a lot of pain in her lower left side of her abdomen. It came on out the blue last Sunday night and has got worse. We have visited the hospital twice and the doctor twice. They have taken bloods but couldn't see an issue. Her tummy hurts when being pressed, urine seems clear. No heavy lifting, not muscle pull or anything. I'm honestly at a loss, pain medication doesn't do much, doctor is going to check which bloods were taken and call me after lunchtime. She's passing poo and wind. This pain leaves her crying, doubled over. Any ideas?? Thanks

[Mulledwineinajug]

Presumably appendix has been ruled out? I think the test is that if you press it, it hurts when it’s released.

Mesenteric adenitis is another possibility.

[hotstepper4]

Ovary pain maybe? Has she had any scans? Worrying for you, it's dreadful when they're in pain.

[ittakes2]

Sounds like she might need an ultrasound on her stomach.

[Mulledwineinajug]

I’ve just realised you said it’s on the left and appendix is more likely to be on the right although you can get referred pain.

Being on the left suggests it’s digestive. Is her poo normal? How often does she go? Could she be constipated?

[eosmum]

This might sound crazy but my DD was similar, prepped for theatre for appendix and it turned out to be an ear infection? Glands in tummy were very swollen. was only discovered when pus started pouring from her ear when getting her gown on.

[Feelingsolost1]

No ultrasound, I just keep getting passed round, being told to come back if it's still sore in a few days.. Which it is. How could I go around getting an ultrasound for her?
Appendix issue seem to be ruled out as no pain on her right side. X

[Feelingsolost1]

@Mulledwineinajug she passes poo every 2 days ish, she won't let me look at it, but she says it's normal. Maybe I should just tell her I'm looking next time. X

[Feelingsolost1]

@eosmum goodness, ouch! Dd doesn't seem to have any signs of infection, obs are all OK, bloods were OK. Hope your Dd is well now x

[Mulledwineinajug]

Every two days is within the realms of normal but for some children could mean constipation. Is that her usual pattern?

I would want to look in your shoes! Have a look at the Bristol stool chart online. You want it to be a 4-ish!

[chugmonkey]

If it is constipation, which can get very serious, you need to know what consistency the poo that is being passed is. Try looking at the Bristol Stool Chart together if she doesn't want you to see the toilet.
It's entirely possible to be passing loose poo around a blockage. My son had a blockage for years, had bouts of vomiting and migraine and several doctors missed it. In the end the blockage was right down in the rectal passage but the previous ultrasounds had only looked at the intestines.
Don't let busy doctors put you off, trust that you know your daughter better than them. All the best.

[yatapina]

My sister has suffered the same issues since she was about that age - they eventually diagnosed and treat her for abdominal migraines.

[Feelingsolost1]

That's a brillaint idea, I'll have a look at the stool chart with her and see what she says.
What was done for your son once the blockage was found? Sorry you had to wait so long for your son to have some relief!

[Feelingsolost1]

Oh, never heard of a stomach migraine! I'll have a look into it. This evening her stomach pain seems to be increasing and heading over to her right side aswell. Her tummy is extremely distended. I'm really at a loose end!

[chugmonkey]

Thanks Feelings, once we figured out the problem we solved it with nightly senakot.
We saw a number of doctors over the years before someone spotted the cause though.

[Kaykay066]

Does paracetamol/ibuprofen help with her pain?
Just ask her not to flush After a poo it’s possible if she has to to go back to hospital the nurses will ask to see her stool and she would need to go in a bedpan (on the toilet so they can take a sample)

Could be an early appendicitis or mesenteric adenitis as someone said above or constipation maybe abdo migraines but time will tell which it is. Don’t leave giving pain relief before seeing dr/hospital I see lots of kids and they haven’t had any analgesia so we can see they are in pain - not necessary.

I hope your daughter is feeling better soon, my son was very poorly in hospital a few weeks ago I know it’s worrying and not nice when they are Ill and there’s nothing you can do

[willowandsage]

Please don’t rule out appendicitis - I had appendix stones and appendicitis several times before it’s removal and the pain always appeared on the left side.

Has kidney infections or similar been ruled out? Has she had a water sample tested?

[DonKeyshot]

As I know from first hand experience, appendicitis begins in the middle of the tummy and can move to the left before moving to the right. When it moves to the right there is a danger of the appendix bursting resulting in peritonitis. Mine was removed just in time.

Please take your dd back to A&E and stay there until they scan her to rule out appendicitis.

[LynetteScavo]

I sometimes get a pain on the left side of my abdomen- it's tender if poked and a doctor looking for something else once told me it was my appendix and I would get appendicitis one day.

[Feelingsolost1]

Hi guys - taken note of all your replies that you have taken time to write so thank you all so much. In answer to a few things -
She has had her urine tested, twice and sent to the lab once, all seems OK.
Paracetamol/ibuprofen really doesn't do much.
The pain is always there, but every maybe, 10 minutes? It comes on severe, and she's doubled up crying.. Then it'll ease off a little.
Her tummy bloating up like this is a new symptom it's not been like that at all since her pain began (except today when it's began)
Her doctor called back this afternoon and said her bloods checked her liver and kidney function and also full blood count and all came back ok with them?
She's prescribed an anti spasmatic pill and said she will call me back on Thursday to see how she is..
Xx

[Feelingsolost1]

Really guys? I'm beginning to feel really concerned about the whole appendix thing. I honestly only ever believed you had a bad pain on the right side. She's complaining of pain middle of tummy, right on her bellybutton which moves both left and right at bellybutton level? X

[independentfriend]

I think it's worth trying to compile a diary style record of what's happened today and over the next couple of days till Thursday, noting:

• what medication she's taken and when
  
• what she's eaten and when
  
• what she's had to drink
  
• when she's passed poo and its consistency
  
• any changes in the pain more/less severe?
  
• when she slept (inc any daytime naps or disturbed nighttime sleep from pain)
  

This is to give you better info for the medics and maybe to see if you can spot any patterns yourself.

But the distended stomach sounds really worrying to me - I'd take photographs of it, so show a doctor and consider whether she needs an emergency appt to be seen tomorrow/needs A&E this evening. Is it listed as a possible side effect of the anti-spasmodic medication?

[DonKeyshot]

I certainly wouldn't be waiting for a call back on Thursday to see if an anti-spasmatic has helped.

Do you have a paediatric A&E that's easily accessible, OP?

If not, take her to your nearest A&E with a camping chair, and a large picnic, and make it clear that you are not budging until your dd has had a scan to rule out appendicitis and impacted fecal matter.

[HavenDilemma]

Hospital - NOW!

[Strictly1972]

Could it be her pancreas? It’s often overlooked but a relative of mine had undiagnosed stomach pains on & off when she was younger then lived years totally fine. In later life it kept coming back & she was diagnosed with severe pancreatitis. Have they ruled out gall stones or problems with the gall bladder?
Hope she feels better soon.

[Throckmorton]

I would call 111 at the very least - A&E may be a better plan given the severe pain and a new symptom. Best wishes