Why can’t the doctors help with this?

[Buffalostance89]

Dd, almost 4, has been having tummy ache on and off since October. Wasn’t very regularly at first, but has become worse the last month or so.
She now has tummy ache after everything she eats, regardless of what it is, there’s no pattern to the food. She has excess gas, poos fairly regularly but says it’s hard to loo sometimes. I’ve used gentle laxatives, gas drops…she’s had a stomach scan, poo analysis and urine analysis-all clear.
It’s getting to the point where she’s worried to eat now and is hungry 🥲
Her behaviour is becoming affected and she jumps around, is hyper, bites cushions etc, so obviously in pain.
I have another appointment on Monday where I’m going to go nuts if they fob me off with saying stomach aches are normal at this age etc and tests are clear.
Has anyone had similar to this, so awful to see her like this, getting desperate now 🙏

Definitely ask for a coeliac screen. It's a specific blood test - your GP will know.

Was DD's scan ultrasound or CT? I'm honestly not sure what age it can be apparent from, but certainly ask for a CT scan of her bowel if possible. To rule out colitis.

I was also going to say lactose intolerance, it leaves you very gassy, and you'd be surprised how much food has milk in the ingredients. Does she drink milk with meals? Hope you get it sorted soon, there's nothing worse than watching your child suffering.

I'm assuming you have had a recent eye test?

@FawnFrenchieMum They haven’t tested anything like that yet, I will ask for it. The doctor put in for the poo analysis, I think for worms etc 🤮 and the scan of her tummy, both fine

Also, ultimately, paeds referral if the GP cannot find the problem.

I was like this as a kid. Got worse in my twenties and only recently determined I am intolerant to most carbs. Especially potatoes. And legumes. And the cauliflower/broccoli/cabbage family. And lactose intolerant too.

If I were you I'd give her just rice or baby rice or rice noodles as the only carb known to have no intolerances to give her poorly gut a rest from inflammation & gas production then gradually introduce a different food stuff.

I can eat most animal proteins so egg, fish and meat.

The results of these investigations will be useful data for a GP rather than expecting the NHS to analyse and sort the issue for you (other than bloods for coeliac). My mum has had the same issues as me for 70 years and is disabled by her stomach - pain, diarrhoea he and constipation but refuses to try giving up various foods. She vaguely buys gluten free products but wolfs down toast and biscuits.

Hope you get some relief for your kid soon it's miserable seeing them suffer.

Not sure if this is helpful. Google carb intolerance.

www.healthofchildren.com/C/Carbohydrate-Intolerance.html

@Spaghag It was ultrasound

Ds was very similar and is dairy intolerant. It's not just obvious dairy but hidden in all sorts of places you don't expect it. Hospital suspected dairy or gluten initially.

@Theunamedcat We’ve not had a recent eye test, will need to ask, that’s been fairly recent she’s been saying it. Don’t know if there’s a connection? All seems to be coming at once

@stressedscot Did he have the same symptoms? Lots of gas etc?
I’ve noticed her trumps are sort of watery this week

@Theunamedcat What were the symptoms of it? How did they check for it/diagnose it?

Do anyone think emergency is the place to go? Will they be able to get to the root of the problem do you think?

Has she had a Calprotectin test done on a stool sample? This is a specific test that has to be done separately to the normal stool cultures test and it is an indicator of inflammation in the bowel.

Also I'd echo others re a test for celiac.

If she has an intolerance or something else causing inflammation or irritation inside, then once the digestive system is irritated then any food might be uncomfortable to eat regardless of whether that particular food is the cause of the underlying problem.

Is she better eating liquids than solids? Are things like yoghurt, ice cream, soup any better?

@Ruralbliss That must be really hard 😔

I will try her on just rice (she won’t be happy) to try to calm her stomach

It’s not really ok for your GP to just say stomach aches are normal at this age. She shouldn’t be in constant discomfort/pain every time she eats. Definitely agree with asking for tests for coeliac and diary intolerance and if these come back ok then to ask for a referral to a paediatric gastroenterologist or general paediatrician (not a medic but suspect the gastroenterologist might be the first port of call?). You are entitled to get a second opinion.

@Poetnojo It’s awful to see and frustrating to feel we’re not helping her 😔
She generally does have milk with breakfast and one cup later on, but on days when I’ve not given it her, she’s still the same, so I really can’t pinpoint what it is

If it is an allergy to milk, it will take a number of weeks to leave her system - rather than just avoiding for a day or two.
Not sure if it's the same for other allergies of just milk proteins.

[quote Buffalostance89]@Theunamedcat What were the symptoms of it? How did they check for it/diagnose it?

Do anyone think emergency is the place to go? Will they be able to get to the root of the problem do you think?[/quote]
It would start early morning tummy ache then he felt a bit better then it would hurt a bit more by tea time he would be in agony and he even ran temperatures with it and had time off school abdominal migraine was discussed he did need glasses but it didn't fix it then I mentioned it was like when he had acid reflux as a baby the screaming the pain getting worse throughout the day the doctor realised he was having a relapse and a huge bottle of gaviscon later he has no more stomach ache he does still have gas but that's a seperate issue that just coincided with the pain

@INeedNewShoes That’s interesting, I will try her on just liquids also

She hasn’t had that test done, just the initial ones, I will ask for it. It does sound like you say, somethings irritating there, so from then on anything she eats is causing it too

@Flyingteaspoon Yes I’ve made an appointment with a different doctor this time. I’ve actually sent an email for an appointment for a paediatric gastro consultation privately, but the wait is long apparently, I’ve not heard back

@Theunamedcat Was there a connection with his eyes? I’m confused as to whether this is a separate thing she’s complaining of
Did his tummy hurt after eating?
Dd also now wakes up with a tummy ache, I feel like it’s becoming most of the day now

Is there any chance she's become so worried about eating because of the original pain she's swallowing excess air as she eats (perhaps quicker breathing?).

I'm sure I read somewhere once many years ago about a similar case and it was something like this to do with swallowing.

That would explain why there's no food triggers and it's eating in general.

I would really think you need to look into constipation. Pain after eating is a typical symptom and a piece falling off the end most days fools a lot of people into thinking that isn't the problem. I would be asking for paediatric movicol long term.

@itsgettingweird I’m not sure 🤔 I don’t think so tbh, she seems to eat normally, although only has a little now and leaves it
I’ve also noticed she has some days when she’s hungry all the time and wants to eat lots?

Following as my 8 yr old is having similar issues- ongoing nausea and stomach ache for months. Had a full blood screen and nothing showed up. He’s got a dairy allergy and Dr now thinks it might be a soya intolerance too, so we are eliminating all traces of soya for 6 weeks to see if it helps. He had covid in Jan, and DH is convinced that triggered it, but who knows.

@Ineverpromisedyouarosegarden Yes, I’ve had her on Dulcoease every day since Monday, it doesn’t seem to be making much difference so far. I thought it could be that, but now I’m not so sure, would it take longer to see results?