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Original poster

Why can’t the doctors help with this?

181 replies

Buffalostance89 · 31/03/2022 19:12

Dd, almost 4, has been having tummy ache on and off since October. Wasn’t very regularly at first, but has become worse the last month or so.
She now has tummy ache after everything she eats, regardless of what it is, there’s no pattern to the food. She has excess gas, poos fairly regularly but says it’s hard to loo sometimes. I’ve used gentle laxatives, gas drops…she’s had a stomach scan, poo analysis and urine analysis-all clear.
It’s getting to the point where she’s worried to eat now and is hungry 🥲
Her behaviour is becoming affected and she jumps around, is hyper, bites cushions etc, so obviously in pain.
I have another appointment on Monday where I’m going to go nuts if they fob me off with saying stomach aches are normal at this age etc and tests are clear.
Has anyone had similar to this, so awful to see her like this, getting desperate now 🙏

OP posts:
hellsbells99 · 31/03/2022 21:42

DD was very similar to this when young. DD was under the care of a paediatrician and had stool tests done etc. Blood tests identified an allergic response but didn’t tell us what to. You need to stop all processed foods and only gave her water to drink. Then eliminate one different food type a week and keep a diary. The problem is once something triggers a response, it can take days to calm down so it hard to identify the problem. DD’s problem was actually aspartame (which is in some squashes and diet drinks and used to be in a lot more). Certain colourings also caused problems - E110 being a major one.

Ineverpromisedyouarosegarden · 31/03/2022 21:39

Sorry "a piece falling of the end" was in response to your op where you said she poos fairly regularly. It can appear like the child poos regularly but the bowels are not fully emptied and are backed up.

Heartbrokenrn · 31/03/2022 21:38

Definitely worth ruling out chronic constipation. Although another poster posted a very similar thread recently, I'll see if I can find it as there might be helpful suggestions on there

Ineverpromisedyouarosegarden · 31/03/2022 21:37

Yes it would and if it's a hard stool that's stuck Dulcoease won't move it. It would take Movicol or similar. Paediatric Movicol is prescription only so really need her to be assessed by doctor to get it. I have been there, done that with Ds it was constipation in the end even though we wasted months on diets and excluding things etc Sometimes it really is the most obvious thing.

Original poster
Buffalostance89 · 31/03/2022 21:35

@Artesia Hoping you find some answers too x

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Original poster
Buffalostance89 · 31/03/2022 21:34

@Ineverpromisedyouarosegarden Sorry what do you mean about a piece falling off the end?
She’s spent most of today saying she needs a poo, looking worried, then saying, no it was just a trump

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Original poster
Buffalostance89 · 31/03/2022 21:32

@Ineverpromisedyouarosegarden Yes, I’ve had her on Dulcoease every day since Monday, it doesn’t seem to be making much difference so far. I thought it could be that, but now I’m not so sure, would it take longer to see results?

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Artesia · 31/03/2022 21:32

Following as my 8 yr old is having similar issues- ongoing nausea and stomach ache for months. Had a full blood screen and nothing showed up. He’s got a dairy allergy and Dr now thinks it might be a soya intolerance too, so we are eliminating all traces of soya for 6 weeks to see if it helps. He had covid in Jan, and DH is convinced that triggered it, but who knows.

Original poster
Buffalostance89 · 31/03/2022 21:30

@itsgettingweird I’m not sure 🤔 I don’t think so tbh, she seems to eat normally, although only has a little now and leaves it
I’ve also noticed she has some days when she’s hungry all the time and wants to eat lots?

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Ineverpromisedyouarosegarden · 31/03/2022 21:30

I would really think you need to look into constipation. Pain after eating is a typical symptom and a piece falling off the end most days fools a lot of people into thinking that isn't the problem. I would be asking for paediatric movicol long term.

itsgettingweird · 31/03/2022 21:24

Is there any chance she's become so worried about eating because of the original pain she's swallowing excess air as she eats (perhaps quicker breathing?).

I'm sure I read somewhere once many years ago about a similar case and it was something like this to do with swallowing.

That would explain why there's no food triggers and it's eating in general.

Original poster
Buffalostance89 · 31/03/2022 21:21

@Theunamedcat Was there a connection with his eyes? I’m confused as to whether this is a separate thing she’s complaining of
Did his tummy hurt after eating?
Dd also now wakes up with a tummy ache, I feel like it’s becoming most of the day now

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Original poster
Buffalostance89 · 31/03/2022 21:18

@Flyingteaspoon Yes I’ve made an appointment with a different doctor this time. I’ve actually sent an email for an appointment for a paediatric gastro consultation privately, but the wait is long apparently, I’ve not heard back

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Original poster
Buffalostance89 · 31/03/2022 21:16

@INeedNewShoes That’s interesting, I will try her on just liquids also

She hasn’t had that test done, just the initial ones, I will ask for it. It does sound like you say, somethings irritating there, so from then on anything she eats is causing it too

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Theunamedcat · 31/03/2022 21:14

[quote Buffalostance89]@Theunamedcat What were the symptoms of it? How did they check for it/diagnose it?

Do anyone think emergency is the place to go? Will they be able to get to the root of the problem do you think?[/quote]
It would start early morning tummy ache then he felt a bit better then it would hurt a bit more by tea time he would be in agony and he even ran temperatures with it and had time off school abdominal migraine was discussed he did need glasses but it didn't fix it then I mentioned it was like when he had acid reflux as a baby the screaming the pain getting worse throughout the day the doctor realised he was having a relapse and a huge bottle of gaviscon later he has no more stomach ache he does still have gas but that's a seperate issue that just coincided with the pain

pinkunicorns54 · 31/03/2022 21:13

If it is an allergy to milk, it will take a number of weeks to leave her system - rather than just avoiding for a day or two.
Not sure if it's the same for other allergies of just milk proteins.

Original poster
Buffalostance89 · 31/03/2022 21:13

@Poetnojo It’s awful to see and frustrating to feel we’re not helping her 😔
She generally does have milk with breakfast and one cup later on, but on days when I’ve not given it her, she’s still the same, so I really can’t pinpoint what it is

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Flyingteaspoon · 31/03/2022 21:12

It’s not really ok for your GP to just say stomach aches are normal at this age. She shouldn’t be in constant discomfort/pain every time she eats. Definitely agree with asking for tests for coeliac and diary intolerance and if these come back ok then to ask for a referral to a paediatric gastroenterologist or general paediatrician (not a medic but suspect the gastroenterologist might be the first port of call?). You are entitled to get a second opinion.

Original poster
Buffalostance89 · 31/03/2022 21:11

@Ruralbliss That must be really hard 😔

I will try her on just rice (she won’t be happy) to try to calm her stomach

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INeedNewShoes · 31/03/2022 21:10

Has she had a Calprotectin test done on a stool sample? This is a specific test that has to be done separately to the normal stool cultures test and it is an indicator of inflammation in the bowel.

Also I'd echo others re a test for celiac.

If she has an intolerance or something else causing inflammation or irritation inside, then once the digestive system is irritated then any food might be uncomfortable to eat regardless of whether that particular food is the cause of the underlying problem.

Is she better eating liquids than solids? Are things like yoghurt, ice cream, soup any better?

Original poster
Buffalostance89 · 31/03/2022 21:09

@Theunamedcat What were the symptoms of it? How did they check for it/diagnose it?

Do anyone think emergency is the place to go? Will they be able to get to the root of the problem do you think?

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Original poster
Buffalostance89 · 31/03/2022 21:07

@stressedscot Did he have the same symptoms? Lots of gas etc?
I’ve noticed her trumps are sort of watery this week

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Original poster
Buffalostance89 · 31/03/2022 21:06

@Theunamedcat We’ve not had a recent eye test, will need to ask, that’s been fairly recent she’s been saying it. Don’t know if there’s a connection? All seems to be coming at once

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stressedscot · 31/03/2022 21:04

Ds was very similar and is dairy intolerant. It's not just obvious dairy but hidden in all sorts of places you don't expect it. Hospital suspected dairy or gluten initially.

Original poster
Buffalostance89 · 31/03/2022 21:03

@Spaghag It was ultrasound

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