2.5 yr old constantly complaining "bad tummy"

[SayCoolNowSayWhip]

My 2.5 yo DD is constantly complaining "I have a bad tummy". It started a few weeks ago; she kept saying she had a bad tummy which culminated when she was sent home from nursery with a temp of 39.

Took her to the doctors and they said it was either a respiratory infection (??) or gastroenteritis. She was having diarrhoea and really really stinky farts. I mean, smelling like something had DIED. It was horrific. She no longer has the diarrhoea now but still complains of a bad tummy, and her belly seems very distended. It seems to come and go - one minute she'll be saying "tummy all better" and then the next minute it's "bad tummy" again. I think some of it at least is for attention, but it's not all made up as she is genuinely in pain. Her temperature is also up and down.

Anyone have any ideas? We're taking her back to the docs on Tuesday anyway but just wondering if this is merely a long-lasting virus or something else?

[Pancakeflipper]

It can sometimes take ages for tummies to settle down.

I would go for a bland diet ( rice and chicken are great in helping to settle tummies) and I would avoid dairy for a couple of weeks as it can irritate tummie after a nasty bout of illness.

Hope she feels fine soon.

[incywincyspideragain]

I'd second a bland diet too, no dairy and I'd be tempted to say wheat too, apple purée is also good for unsettled tummies

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

Mesenteric adenitis?

[SayCoolNowSayWhip]

Thanks for the replies. Just Googled mesenteric Adenitis and it could be a possibility..... Not sure it would be going on this long though.

Will definitely stick to the bland diet. Have been trying to cut down her dairy but where her appetite has been off and she hasn't eaten much, she seems to be craving dairy - she's been asking for milk and yoghurts.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

I would go and see GP again.

Sounds a real worry for you :(

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

Oops, sorry, you are going on Tuesday.

Hope they have some answers.

[Sam100]

Our dd has asthma. When she was 2 she had pneumonia and then following that a number of respiratory infections. Each time she was getting sick I could tell because her breath would change and smell awful. She would also get bad tummy ache. The doctor said it was the build up of mucus in her system. He also said the tummy ache was down to swollen glands in her abdomen.

[SayCoolNowSayWhip]

I never knew before all this that mucus could cause a bad tummy! She is very snotty at the moment so perhaps that's it....

It is worrying - she's my PFB! Hopefully the doctor will ease my mind on Tues.

Any ideas how to get her to stop saying 'bad tummy' when she HASN'T got one, ie for attention?

[nicky2512]

My dd is gluten and wheat free. Always complained of a sore tummy and would bloat when eating. Hope you get it sorted soon.

[fasterthanthewind]

Giardia? Fits the tummy and farts.
Ds 12m, who has never been anywhere exciting, has just been diagnosed w it. 1st gp said was impossible and wouldn't test.
Was diagnosed from 3 day poo sample.
If you want them to test for bacterial and viral stuff then go along w 2 samples, each ideally collected from more than 1 days poos. Is so disgusting - but am super glad we did it, as ds had been ill for abt 2 months when finally diagnosed