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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Why can’t the doctors help with this?

181 replies

Buffalostance89 · 31/03/2022 19:12

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 🙏

OP posts:
Josette77 · 31/03/2022 22:14

My son was so constipated he had his urine blocked and had to go to the ER for an emergency catheter.
He is lactose intolerant and gets very gassy after eating dairy. So do I. I am also celiac. In order to see a difference you need to keep her off milk for a long time.
Also if she was sick not long ago has she been on probiotics? That should help.

This might be a stuoid question but does Trumps mean fart?

MangyInseam · 31/03/2022 22:15

I'm not sure I would just start feeding a child that age only liquid, or rice, without medical supervision.

But aside from getting some tests for celiac, I'd try cutting out dairy. A food diary won't always make lactose intolerance clear, because if the bowel is very irritated from the dairy it will be reactive to lots of other foods too. I's try a week without dairy and see. You need to really watch ingredients, lots of weird things like crackers and granola bars and chicken nuggets have dairy - it will be called milk solids or whey protein, usually. Have a look at some websites to see what to look for. Sometimes these ingredients can be worse than straight milk.

Some people, once they have their gut back to normal, can manage to eat some dairy products that are relatively low lactose but at first you need to give it time to heal.

Abaababa · 31/03/2022 22:18

Try Children’s prebiotics to rebalance the gut. Can’t hurt.

MimosaFields · 31/03/2022 22:20

It could also be too much fibre. You mention fibre in your posts. Is that standard amounts from fruit and veg or is she having it from other sources?

TroublesomeTrucks · 31/03/2022 22:21

[quote Buffalostance89]@TroublesomeTrucks She’s had a scan of her tummy, would this rule it out?[/quote]
I’m not sure, sorry.

SirVixofVixHall · 31/03/2022 22:23

Don’t give up gluten until she has been screened for coeliac disease, or the test won’t be accurate.
Gut bacteria can be very disrupted by tummy bugs, you can get her gut bacteria tested privately, and if there is an issue you can give her keffir, or buy supplements to restore the microbiome. It may be just this as it started after the bug.

DidWeHaveAWinter · 31/03/2022 22:29

Just a day without bread or a day without dairy wont work if its that thats causing it
She will need weeks of being off of a particular food group to notice a difference

Talk to the dr about allergy testing

BigUpAllOfUshereOnMN · 31/03/2022 22:30

Similar experience and we were told "functional" pain. Would grow out of it. Could it be due to anxiety of any kind. Hope it resolves

IDontDrinkTea · 31/03/2022 22:31

It sounds like an allergy to be. But cutting it out for a few days wouldn’t be sufficient - you’d need to cut out for six weeks and then trial reintroduction. Alternatively I’d be asking for a referral to a dietician and allergy testing

chisanunian · 31/03/2022 22:32

@Josette77

My son was so constipated he had his urine blocked and had to go to the ER for an emergency catheter. He is lactose intolerant and gets very gassy after eating dairy. So do I. I am also celiac. In order to see a difference you need to keep her off milk for a long time. Also if she was sick not long ago has she been on probiotics? That should help.

This might be a stuoid question but does Trumps mean fart?

Yes, trumps - short for trumpeting. Probably.
Avocadobacardi · 31/03/2022 22:37

You have made the right decision to see a private paed gastro. I would keep in touch with the secretary for cancellations and if it’s still a long wait ask her who else he would recommend who may see you sooner. Feel free to pm if you want a recommendation of good people

Original poster
Buffalostance89 · 31/03/2022 22:38

@BigUpAllOfUshereOnMN No, not anxiety, although I worry now it’s starting to cause her anxiety 😥
The pain starts and then she often farts lots and it’s better, but if she doesn’t, she’s worse. Started to be worse a month or two ago, she was farting constantly, but she wasn’t as bad as it was at least coming out. Just seems so full of gas

Sorry, yes trumping-farting! So used to saying it in this house at the moment

OP posts:
Original poster
Buffalostance89 · 31/03/2022 22:39

So no connection to the eyes with any of these problems?
Seems bizarre but just a bit strange she’s starting to mention her eyes too

OP posts:
Apileofballyhoo · 31/03/2022 22:39

Bear in mind that blood tests for coeliac disease sometimes give a false negative. Constipation is definitely a symptom.

Original poster
Buffalostance89 · 31/03/2022 22:40

@chisanunian Trumping-maybe a Northern thing 🤣

OP posts:
Original poster
Buffalostance89 · 31/03/2022 22:41

@Apileofballyhoo Is lots of gas?

OP posts:
ittakes2 · 31/03/2022 22:41

What laxatives are you using? There are the stool softners, those that bulk out the stool like fibre and those that cause the bowel muscles to contract. All have different purposes and side effects.
Worth asking doctors if she is hypermobile as it can effect bowel motility.

ittakes2 · 31/03/2022 22:45

Honestly, I would try her in on no diary for at least two weeks. my son had the exact same systems pain after eating and loads of gas.
Cealics can have so after that try two weeks no gluten

Hillsmakeyoustrong · 31/03/2022 22:48

How stressful for all of you.

The eyes may be bothering her but might not be linked to her tummy, it might be a separate issue?

My nephew had a terrible dairy intolerance which started around age 5 and he still has it now at 18. It absolutely wrecks him even if he has say a small slice of cake made with butter. I never realised that some intolerances can be so severe.

I have always had to push hard with the GP and I know they do an inward eye roll when I walk in but you have to stand your ground. It's vile though because it makes the appointment even more stressful.

Nyfluff · 31/03/2022 22:50

I have the same symptoms. I got an online test ordered for coeliac, very cheap and quick, it's a finger prick blood done at home. I've been bad for 2 years but especially bad for the past 2 weeks with all day pain that gets worse every time I eat. It's really horrible so I hope you find answers soon. (The other test the GP said was for helicobacter - h.pylori, jic you haven't had that done with the stool sample).

Original poster
Buffalostance89 · 31/03/2022 22:54

@ittakes2 It’s Dulcoease that children can have, I asked the chemist and they gave me this one, I hope I’m not giving the wrong one

OP posts:
Original poster
Buffalostance89 · 31/03/2022 22:56

@Hillsmakeyoustrong Really stressful, my worry is that even if they do find out what it is, it won’t be quickly enough, it needs to stop now

OP posts:
Original poster
Buffalostance89 · 31/03/2022 22:57

@Nyfluff That’s awful, yes she seems similar at the moment, wakes with some pain, not too bad when up and then pain again after having breakfast

OP posts:
LoveMyPiano · 31/03/2022 23:06

Not sure for little one, but maybe look at Digestive Enzymes. They might help, especially if some issues with lactose.

The body can become depleted and they are needed to break down food successfully.
Arrowroot is old fashioned - but effective for stomach pains - powder, or biscuits,

Also, kefir can be gentle and help reset the diestive system to an extent. Best to make it from scratch/live cultures, although it can be bought ready-made now, with flavours.
Anything "pre-digested" is easier on the stomach, so Quorn products can be so much kinder, and can be tasty or bland as necessary.

Disclaimer - it is a long time since I had a small child, so forgive me. But I would have tried these things on my own daughter, I promise.

Ikeameatballs · 31/03/2022 23:08

I completely agree with @Ineverpromisedyouarosegarden this sounds like classic chronic constipation. It’s very common in young children. Constipation can be a feature of coeliac disease so still worth ruling that out too but simple chronic constipation will cause exactly what you describe.

Don’t limit her diet but she will need a proper clear out of poo, she probably has some hard rocks of poo sitting in her bowel that only lots of laxative will clear. She needs so much Movicol that her poo is “running clear” to be sure her bowels have emptied then you can very slowly cut back.

Please see your GP again and ask about this.