Teenager who vomits & get diarrhoea for no apparent reason

[PenelopeFlintstone]

This has been going on for years, really. He'll have diarrhoea (like last Monday: had a tea in the morning, followed by a chicken burger at school canteen which his friend also got and was fine, and he often gets this, then got an attack of diarrhoea at school) and then be totally fine the next day. Then nothing until today when he's gone to his Saturday job, had just a tea beforehand, and has then thrown up at work and had to go home.
For years he has thrown up when no-one else has, diarrhoea when no-one else gets it, etc. He says, "Why is it always me, Mum?"
It's not my imagination. It's very clear to all of us in the family.
We thought he might be lactose intolerant as he did seem to be getting diarrhoea after milkshakes, pizzas, etc, but other times he eats and drinks those things with no reaction whatsoever.
I'm wondering if he's had for years some kind of low-level bacterial infection.
Has anyone else ever heard of something like this. He probably gets either D or V every 3-6/8 weeks - but usually just one 'burst' of either, not for hours or days.
Thanks

I had/still occasionally get something similar, my DM and DSis the same. It's always been anxiety based. Even little things trigger it.

It's usually like food poisoning for a short amount of time, sweating profusely, agonising stomach cramps, sickness and diarrhoea, then disappears as quickly as it came.

DM got so bad we couldn't travel even to visit family when I was little.

I now occasionally get it a few days after something stressful has happened or been discussed. Could it be something like that? I had it at school every morning for a week once, eventually worked out that it was a few weeks before work experience and there was a small issue with my placement.

Obviously it may be something completely different, I just thought I'd share m experience incase it can help, but maybe a GP trip too just to rule out other things.

Thanks PopUp - I'll bear that in mind

It's more likely irritable bowel syndrome - look up a FODMAP diet. But do keep your GP appointment to rule of celiac, chrones or another gastritis. Stress will make any of these worse.

*crohn's

Coeliac, migraine, crohns.IBS, food intolerance of some sort ?
Needs to go to gp.

My ds has cyclical vomiting. Diarrhea is not normal with CVS. I have a friend whose son has diverticulitis and your ds' symptoms sound a lot like her ds' symptoms. Also sounds like IBS. Please take him in to the GP.

You could try takin Bimuno to improve gutflora. Innocuous stuff to take, might help to make him feel he is doing something about the prob

Hi Alma, I agree. We bought him some Inner Health Plus powder.

Thanks for your replies everyone.

DS had periods of diarrhoea and vomiting, started off every few weeks, gradually the gaps got smaller and smaller until it was just a week apart. Kept going to the GP and was told it was normal in toddlers 🙄 went private and turned out it was milk enzymes. The intolerance built up so he could tolerate milk for a period and then his body rejected it. And when he'd been sick all he wanted was milk!
He still has a weak stomach but he can tolerate cooked milk in biscuits etc just not a glass of milk.
My DD was the same but now (aged 9) seems to have grown out of it.

Sorry that was a bit rambley- short version - dairy intolerance doesn't necessarily mean an instant reaction of d&v. It can have a cumulative response.

Thank you, Notonthestairs. Interesting to learn that.