6 year old sick in morning only?

[ginyogarepeat]

Posting here for more traffic than in health.

DS woke a few days ago complaining of stomach ache and early that morning vomited a small bit of undigested dinner from the night before.
Since then the pattern has been the same - improves during the day, eats and drinks small amounts. Sleeps fine but wakes early and dry heaves with only bile coming up. This happens several times in the morning and then he seems to improve. Saw GP yesterday and he checked him over and diagnosed good old gastroenteritis. Isn't it a bit odd to only be sick (even though it's not proper vomiting) first thing in morning, plus no diarrhoea?

Day 3 now and still the same! Never experienced a stomach bug like it.

I wonder whether he has had a mild bug and now the early morning sickness is either because he's expecting it/worrying about it or possibly low blood sugar (if he's not been eating much) as that can cause nausea. Could you try leaving a carton of apple juice for him to sip when he first wakes up? Or giving him something small to nibble on as soon as he wakes?

Or is he snotty at all? Sometimes the mucous drains into the tummy overnight or settles in the throat, both of which could cause sickness or retching.

Either way, it's only been a few days so I wouldn't worry at this stage - bit of a pain with missing school/work though. Hope he's all better soon!

Thanks blackink :) no anxiety at all from him but I am wondering about low blood sugar so might phone gp to see if it's worth testing urine.

He's absolutely fine now, has kept down food etc, but first thing can't keep down water?! I can't keep him off indefinitely (nor can I stay off work!) ....it's really like no stomach bug I've ever seen!

Oh, and no mucous at all, so definitely not that!

Miy daughter gets this and the Dr says it's reflux and to sleep with a thicker pillow.

I don't think a GP would test for low blood sugar at this stage - but yes might be a good idea if it goes on a long time.

Could you try giving him a carby snack right before bed? Something like toast or a couple of oaty biscuits? If his blood sugar is low it's probably just because he's not eating much during the day at the moment.

Hi, sorry I have to suggest this and really don't want you to worry but a friend's son suffered from morning sickness and was later diagnosed as having a brain tumour. Apparently it's one of the first signs in young children (especially if no other obvious bug). How's your ds balance? Has he been having any headaches? Please please get this checked out. Sorry again

I think it's common with low blood sugar.

Thanks all. @stuckasachild - I know, I've read this too but no complaint of headache and no problems with balance etc.

I'm waiting on a call from GP now; will see what they say and if we pursue the low blood sugar possibility but no change after then I'll obviously want to try something else.

I have 2 children who vomit, often in the morning, and with no symptoms of a bug. They both have reflux.

stuckasachild I'm really sorry to hear about your friend's little boy and of course OP should get proper medical advice again if she's worried. But your post is such a jump from what OP describes.

OP's son has only been unwell for a few days. He's being sick only in the mornings, which seems unusual. But he's also complaining on and off of stomach ache and is only eating and drinking a small amount through the day. This is all consistent with a mild tummy bug, and subsequent low blood sugar causing morning nausea.

Worth checking out if it goes on for over a week, but really totally normal for vomiting to be quite spaced out in children - this is partly why the 48 hour rule exists, because children are very likely to relapse and vomit again after a gap of a day or two.
Let us know how your DS gets on OP...

My DD gets like this, its usually a bug (that we catch later!) but for her she is only sick in the mornings. Drives me mad as you think they are better each time. Hope he is feeling better soon

Or sometimes only in the night then she is fine the next day, then sick again in the middle of the night..

Bit of a long shot but could he being having problems at school with bullying or something and is hoping if he is sick you will keep him off school, although actually vomiting rather than tummy ache makes it less likely. Hope you get to the root cause soon.

Definitely not anxiety fussy - he absolutely loves school, wants to go in over the weekend! (Long may it last)

Interesting iamiam - would she eat normally during the day and keep it all down? Did she have any diarrhoea?

His poo is completely normal and food actually seems to make him better - if it's a tummy bug it's the strangest one I've ever seen!

I really didn't want to worry anyone but just couldn't let it pass , sincerely hope it's a strange bug and he picks up soon.

You can get this if your bowel is seriously impacted (although i's suspect you'd have noticed toilet issues before this point), is it happening around the same time each day?

Sounds like reflux to me. I get it real bad and eating in the morning makes it better.

I know, thanks stuck. Just off phone to GP who has recommended trying to give food first thing and see how we get on; if no better then they'll test urine etc.

So we'll see! Just can't fathom how it could be gastroenteritis without any vomiting or diarrhoea- only nausea, bringing up water and general unwellness very first thing upon waking.

Yes, reflux was mentioned by doctor ofwarren; so we'll try food and see what happens. My approach so far has been no food until about mid day as I've been scared of inducing sickness!

Also my Dr said no need to keep off school as it's not a bug - there is no stomach contents, just bile. She gets it often after eating pizza the night before.

Kew - is it always first thing with her? What about other symptoms - is she particularly grumpy, any tummy ache? I've also noticed his temp is low first thing when it's been happening.

The low temperature and grumpiness (along with nausea) are major signs of low blood sugar - some children are more prone to this than others, especially after vomiting. If he can't stomach food or drink when he wakes, could you try a jelly baby or an ice lolly? My niece suffers with this, and her mum gives a spoonful of jam or a teaspoon of undiluted squash (not the sugar-free kind).

Thanks blackink - I'm going to have something small ready for him when he wakes tomorrow to see if it makes a difference.

My daughter had this and it turned out to be constipation. The vomiting seemed to trigger her bowel to move and then she would start to feel better.
Took us ages to get to a proper diagnosis though. Especially as she eats a good diet and drinks loads of water.
She now takes a stool softener regularly and has never had a problem since.

My daughter had this and it turned out to be constipation.

This

it's when the bowel is impacted so much food has nowhere else to go.