To call the doctor or not?

[Donkeypoo]

DD7 has been complaining on and off of a sore stomach for the last few weeks. She's come home early today as she says it hurts quite a lot, though she's not crying and is talking normally etc, and is currently having a snack.

DH wants to call for an emergency appointment and I think we can wait until a routine appt next week, maybe starting a food diary to see if there's any food culprit.

We live abroad and there is no equivalent to 111 here.

So, to call the doctor for an emergency appt or not?

If its been persistent for weeks, then booking a standard GP appointment is reasonable to get it reviewed in due course - but an emergency doctors appointment is not reasonable. Its not an emergency.
A generically sore stomach which is not causing immense pain or discomfort could be down to many things such as gas, constipation or simple gastric rumblings. Food diary is a good idea; its very likely the GP will ask for a month or so's diary before they make any referrals. I would also keep a note of bowel movements as they'll likely ask for that also.

If it's suddenly worsening and she can't be distracted from the pain then I would advise being seen sooner and emergency appointment reasonable. Especially so if the pain began around her belly button and is now worsening moving down towards the right leg (appendicitis like symptoms). Obviously if she starts looking very unwell, pale, holding herself very stiff not wanting to move, can't tolerate anyone touching her stomach (through pain rather then grumpy leave me alone!) then these are signs it's a hospital emergency.

If she had pain earlier but now settled and well/playing then book a regular appointment would be reasonable also seeing as it's an intermittent pain persisting over several weeks with no obvious cause to yourself. Typical causes can include urinary infection, constipation, mesenteric adenitis (swollen lymph nodes), anxiety.

Thanks very much for your advice. Have booked an appointment for early next week and she seems much better already (asking for chocolate!)

I'd keep a food diary and mention it at next visit it doesn't sound urgent unless she's crying out in pain a lot.

My little girl (5) went through this too. The gp did see her he wanted to check it wasn't her appendix but he basically said that when kids have a virus the glands in the stomach can swell and cause pain. She had a bit of a sore throat and he said her neck glands were a bit swollen. He cldnt feel them in her tummy but he said they are hard to locate. He just told me to give her ibuprofen as that's better as it's anti inflammatory but only if she has been able to eat something. She still complains about sore tummies now and again but at that point it was every day for a week or so and she was crying out in pain at times. It's hard to know how sore it is and if u need to get them to a hospital etc. U can generally tell with how they are behaving though.

If you are abroad you should see a local doctor. U.K. doctors will not be insured to treat patients overseas. And they can’t examine if needed. Also make sure you are entitled to receive nhs care if you live abroad