...to take my DD to A&E?

[cattypussclaw]

Bit scared of posting in AIBU as it can be a bit scary but here goes...

So, have an 8 1/2 year old DD. She's been having tummy cramps on and off for several months. Not just tummy ache but curled-up-in-a-ball-crying pain. No other symptoms other than one occasion when she said she felt dizzy and hot. No sickness. No noticeable pattern to when it comes on (could equally come on on the way to school as in the middle of a fab weekend away). No medication seems to help, we just have to wait for to pass. We've been backwards and forwards to the doctor, who mostly say that "little girls get mysterious tummy pains" or that it is stress-related (possibly, school has its ups and downs, but nothing major, and nothing going on at home). She's not constipated, nor does she have a bladder infection. She's not "developed" at all so not girl-related. A blood test showed nothing (although not sure what they were actually looking for). GP requested a hospital scan, which was refused by the hospital (no need, they said). GP has referred us to the hospital but I've no idea how long an appointment will take to come through.

This morning, she is yet again curled up on the sofa, not interested in anything, saying her tummy hurts. I'm torn between being a hysterical Mum who whips their children to A&E at the first sign of a sniffle and a Mum who doesn't take their child to A&E when it's something serious because she doesn't want to bother them. I'm so aware of the pressure that A&E are under but really getting quite upset and feeling very helpless that my DD is clearly in so much pain so often and Mummy can't fix it.

So AIBU to just put her in the car and take her to A&E to get checked out or should I just call the GP to chase our referral?

I rang 111 in similar circumstances but at the first episode. they got a gp to ring back and talk through the symptoms. htought it could be a grumbling appendix and sometimes they grumble on and on. was sent to the gp the next day for them to have a feel of her tummy.

111 would be the preferred option and they can decide what to do.

In the midst of other investigations, get a stool sample from her and ask Dr to test for Helicobacter Pylori. It's a nasty bacterial infection which is often overlooked but is really common. I had similar pains, on and off for about 20yrs, took super-strong antibiotics and been ok since.

Could well be IBS. Have you tried buscopan, colofac, colpemin etc? Try peppermint sweets next time it starts.

I'm a GP and I had a patient recently who sounds very similar. She turned out to be chronically constipated despite saying she opened her bowels daily with no difficulty.
I certainly wouldn't recommend A&E, but I'd suggest asking your GP to speed up the hospital appointment.

Sorry, yes, I knew what I meant, honest! We used to give her Nurofen as she dislikes Calpol and never has it. It's the Nurofen we discontinued. The doctor says she is now old enough to simply have paracetamol tablets, which are what she has. She had Nurofen once or twice a week for growing pains in her legs, as advised by the doctor, and we were hoping that stopping that would stop the pains in her tummy (first thing we thought of was the ibuprofen bothering her) but it's made no difference.

Will chase up the referral tomorrow and chase the secretary at the hospital, thanks for that suggestion lithewire.

It is beginning to feel like the only way that I am going to get anybody to look into this is to keep nagging and pushing and making a nuisance of myself but, having read quite a few threads on here where people have had to do that with social services, mental health services, etc., I don't know why I'm surprised. I completely get that the NHS is stretched to breaking point but I do need to be sure that it's not something serious. Suppose it was and I didn't make enough of a fuss to get her treated? That's my bottom line.

Coeliac disease is a lifelong condition but there are other poorly understood types of gluten intolerance. Docs are not sure whether I have coeliacs (neg antibodies but clinical symptoms the sane) and Crohns, or "just" gluten intolerant Crohns. Right now gluten makes me very ill but if the latter then I may be able to tolerate small amounts "one day".

Endoscopy, colonoscopy and capsule endoscopy are typical range of tests for coeliacs/Crohns but all are quite invasive and usually require sedation so will be booked in advance via gastroenterologist, not via A&E unless it is an emergency. And of course there may be other avenues they want to explore.

Sounds exactly like my DD, DeeWe. See my post earlier about coeliac. All I know is my sister was diagnosed with it but no longer seems to suffer. Whether that's becuase she was misdiagnosed or whether her symptoms have simply reduced as she got older, I really don't know.

We haven't really got very far with the GP, he just shrugs and says lots of little girls get tummy ache, but I am suspecting some sort of intolerance (hence keeping the food diary). I think I am hoping a food intolerance or anxiety-related as they are the least worse options of what could be wrong. He only referred us to the hospital because I insisted.

She has Gaviscon, Jollyphonics, on the advice of the doctor. She also takes mints to school (simply because the bureaucracy involved in her taking any form of meds to school was crazy and she can't always get her medication when she needs it). It seems to help a little.