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Original poster

When to take child to doctor with tunny ache?

17 replies

zoomstyle · 01/07/2022 07:40

9 yo DD has been complaining of a tummy ache, on and off, for about a week and a half now.

It started with her having some blood in her poo, but that hasn't repeated.

The thing is, she's a fussy eater and it's hard to get veg and decent food into her.

I've assumed that the tummy ache is from poor diet and this last week made a big effort to get her to eat her veg and more fibre and to speak to her about the importance of eating healthily

At what point would you go see the doctor? She's woken up with it hurting again, and it was hurting quite a bit last night when she went to bed too.

But she's managed school fine this last week.

I would need to keep her off school to try to get a an appointment.

OP posts:
Original poster
zoomstyle · 01/07/2022 07:40

Tummy ache, not tunny ache!

OP posts:
Pinkwellies81 · 01/07/2022 07:43

If there’s been blood in poo even if only once please phone the doctor today

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 01/07/2022 07:45

I wouldn't,I'd presume she had constipation and get some Movical. Of things hadn't improved after a week or so I'd see the GP.

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Sunnysidegold · 01/07/2022 07:45

I would take her to the doctor as soon as possible. Blood in her poo? Or was she bleeding because she tore when she passed the stool? Either way I would say please see your doctor.

You say you are increasing fruit and veg, remember that drinking enough water is essential for a healthy bowel too .

I hope it is nothing too serious and she feels better soon.

Sunnysidegold · 01/07/2022 07:46

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor but surely you'd have to see the Dr to get the paediatric movicol?

Original poster
zoomstyle · 01/07/2022 08:01

She says she's not constipated.

I posted on Mumsnet with the blood on the poo and people suggested it might be lack of fibre, which would fit.

OP posts:
Original poster
zoomstyle · 01/07/2022 08:02

She's not had blood in her poo since, that was only 1.5 weeks ago.

OP posts:
Pansypotter123 · 01/07/2022 08:24

You really do need to see a doctor. Blood in poo should never be ignored and the other symptoms are not going away. Oh, and relying on medical advice from Mumsnet is really not the way to go about it. What were the final words from Dame Deborah James? "And finally, check your poo. It could just save your life."

puddingandsun · 01/07/2022 08:29

Is she regular at the moment?
What is the consistency of the pop?

Is something big happening for her - is it nerves?

I would check the stomach ache pages on the NHS pages to see if anything resonates.

I called the doctor twice for dc (5)'a stomach ache back in March. They didn't do anything except for suggesting diet changes. My dc had a very persistent (over two weeks) diarrhoea.
I'd still call the doctor though as they did examine his tummy.

grapehyacinthisactuallyblue · 01/07/2022 08:36

If my dc had persistent tummy ache started with blood in the poo, I'd definitely see GP.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 01/07/2022 08:37

zoomstyle · 01/07/2022 08:02

She's not had blood in her poo since, that was only 1.5 weeks ago.

Was it IN her poo or from straining?

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 01/07/2022 08:38

Sunnysidegold · 01/07/2022 07:46

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor but surely you'd have to see the Dr to get the paediatric movicol?

I bought it from the pharmacy

Utini · 01/07/2022 08:45

Paediatric movicol is the same as the adult one but with half the amount per sachet. I give the adult one to DD (we use a different brand, Cosmocol), as she didn't like the unflavoured paediatric one the GP prescribed.

ChloeHel · 01/07/2022 09:20

Was the blood visibly in her stool or was it when she wiped. You need to keep an eye on how many stools she’s passing daily/weekly and the consistency of them. You said that she said she wasn’t constipated, but she may not understand if she is or not as she may think it’s normal. If shes constipated then try her with some lactulose.

At the present time I don’t think it is a GP issue unless the blood was clearly in the stool and not when wiping. If when wiping that would indicate a tear which would be associated with constipation.

I would give it another two weeks. If her stools are loose and hard/varied, more blood, stomach pains, then yes go to GP.

Original poster
zoomstyle · 01/07/2022 15:05

ChloeHel · 01/07/2022 09:20

Was the blood visibly in her stool or was it when she wiped. You need to keep an eye on how many stools she’s passing daily/weekly and the consistency of them. You said that she said she wasn’t constipated, but she may not understand if she is or not as she may think it’s normal. If shes constipated then try her with some lactulose.

At the present time I don’t think it is a GP issue unless the blood was clearly in the stool and not when wiping. If when wiping that would indicate a tear which would be associated with constipation.

I would give it another two weeks. If her stools are loose and hard/varied, more blood, stomach pains, then yes go to GP.

The blood was in her poo, she got me to come look, it wasn't just on the tissue. That was 1.5 weeks ago. She's not had it since.

OP posts:
Original poster
zoomstyle · 01/07/2022 15:08

We had a telephone appointment and the doctor called us in so he could feel her stomach.

He said for children's tummy aches, they're limited on the test they can do, so most of the time they never find out what caused it, and it gets better on its own.

Very, very rarely it could be something serious so good not to ignore it.

He said the best thing to do is guess what's causing it and treat that to see if it makes a difference. He guesses she's got a build up of gas from her digestion being sluggish. He's given her sachets, I forget what of but I assume probably movicol, we're to give her that and see how it goes.

OP posts:
justasking111 · 01/07/2022 15:09

I'm erring on the side of caution an adult with blood in Pooh always advisable to see GP don't see why a child would be different.

Just make an appointment to see GP

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