To think DD has appendicitis or am I over reacting?

[Duedates]

DD is just about 6. She often complains of mild stomach aches but she sometimes carries on eating when she's got a full tummy so we've put it down to that in the past. She hasn't mentioned anything recently though.

Then on Thursday she had a stomach ache that stopped her doing ballet class. On Friday night she had a severe stomach ache and was crying out in pain and unable to do anything for about an hour as it came and went. It was just above her belly button.

Nothing all week end then tonight again severe pains that have lasted about an hour, coming and going, and lower down around her belly button.

One minute she's doubled over when I asked her to walk, and the next minute she was ok and able to put nightdress on.

She's now sound asleep and said the pain was there but better when she was lying down and still.

I'm in 2 minds whether to take her into a&e. We called NHS direct and spoke to a doctor. When I was speaking to him she was doubled over in pain so he said to take her in. But literally a moment later she seems fine again.

Has anyone experienced appendicitis in their DC? Does this sound like it could be? The pain seems rather infrequent so I wonder if I am just panicking and it could only be constipation/gas.

I had appendicitis as a child. It involved vomiting everything I tried to eat or drink for a week prior to going into hospital after a GP appointment to check it out. The pain was not actually that terrible- dunno though if I am a bit insensitive to pain. Has she got a temperature? If you think it may be you're best to get it checked out IMO as it can rupture if left too long (mine apparently wasn't quite but very nearly). I think people can have a weird intermittent version too, there was a boy in the ward who had it like that.

Is everything ok for her at school? The reason I ask is you mentioned she was poorly on Friday, fine all weekend then bad again tonight. Stress and worry can cause very real tummy pain in a child.

If she is sleeping , no temp, no sickness or upset tummy I would let her sleep and see how she is in the morning.

I took DD2 to A&E with suspected appendicitis last year and the triage nurse sent us away to make a GP appointment.

She was admitted by the GP five times over the next few months. He thinks it's a grumbling appendix flaring up and the surgeons disagree.

Appendicitis can be really hard to diagnose. DD1 had it aged six and was discharged with it three times in two weeks before she became very ill and even then they thought I was overreacting until they dipped her urine. She ended up with a large appendix abscess precisely because she was able to do things like hop on her right leg.

If the pain comes back tomorrow it's definitely worth a GP appointment.

my son had grumbling one then nothing for couple of years last month he said his tummy hurt but he had been swimming that afternoon put it down to pulled muscle no temp etc he got up next morning said still hurt gave some calpol which within 10 mins he threw up dh felt his tummy and anyone whos had this know when you press down it hurts but when you let go the pain is unbelievable! I had appendix removed after I had my twins so we knew what it was took him straight to a&e 20 mins before surgery it burst doc said it was the worst one he has seen esp as my son had no other symptoms so please if unsure get your dd checked out