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Original poster

Anyone up who knows what this could be? DS in pain.

753 replies

daydreaming3 · 23/09/2023 06:09

DS (4) was fine all day yesterday. We went out for dinner last night and he ate all of his (including beans which may be relevant). We then had our weekly family movie night, DS had some squash and a tiny bit of chocolate whilst watching the movie. Normally on movie night we let the DC stay up later than normal so they usually sleep in aswell.

He's now woken up at 4 this morning crying saying his stomach hurts. I instantly thought its because he ate so much last night so encouraged him to go to the toilet which he did. He did a poop but said his stomach was still hurting.

He's now white as a ghost, feels really cold and clammy to the touch and is saying his tummy hurts so much he can't stand up. I've got him to walk a little bit which he has but he's bent over whilst doing it bless him.

I don't want to take him anywhere yet incase it is just wind from the beans Blush but I would have thought going to the toilet would have helped ease that a bit which it hasn't. Anyone had this with their little ones?

OP posts:
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Balloonhearts · 24/09/2023 17:59

I too would be worried that his appendix has ruptured and the temperature is the beginning of sepsis.

Original poster
daydreaming3 · 24/09/2023 18:15

We've just seen the same dr as yesterday. They randomly looked in his throat (he hasn't mentioned it being sore) and realised he's got severe tonsillitis, they also think there is a possibility of pneumonia so he is going to have another X-ray. They also said they can't rule out his appendix so are going to get the surgical team to come and see him. His temp is now 39.3 despite calpol and ibuprofen. There's talk of him being discharged tonight if the results come back clear but I've said I don't feel comfortable with him being sent home until I see some clear improvement and we have a plan in place.

OP posts:
mommatoone · 24/09/2023 18:18

Gosh OP , just seen your update. Hope you are both ok.stand your ground here- you know him better than anyone. Big hugs to you both .

MarshmellowMoon · 24/09/2023 18:18

This reply has been withdrawn

The OP has privacy concerns and so we've agreed to take this down.

Fallenangelofthenorth · 24/09/2023 18:18

How can they discharge him when they can't even regulate his temperature? Hope they get to the bottom of this and he gets well soon.

anyadvicefor · 24/09/2023 18:20

Hi op been following this thread. I'm sorry your ds is poorly and had to go back to hospital, but it is the best place for him. I agree they can't discharge him if his temp isn't coming down, that's ridiculous ! Stay firm

DailyEnergyCrisis · 24/09/2023 18:22

Stand your ground. I’ve had to a few times with consultants who retrospectively told me I was right. Your instincts are absolutely essential in the absence of a diagnosis that explains the abdo pain. I know they’ll be telling you that bloods were good, scans clear but the most significant piece of information is that your child is clearly unwell and it can’t all be explained by tonsillitis.

Bubblemoons · 24/09/2023 18:23

I’d be concerned about sepsis, this can develop from tonsillitis. Have they done blood tests?

Approaching · 24/09/2023 18:24

Hope you’re ok OP. I’ve had to stomp my feet and refuse discharge for my child before - and then he stayed in hospital for a week with what turned out to be severe flu - so don’t be afraid to do that.

Approaching · 24/09/2023 18:26

Have they, repeatedly, checked for Sepsis?

Balloonhearts · 24/09/2023 18:30

Honestly this whole situation is screaming 'sepsis' in huge red flashing font. Make as much noise as it takes to get bloods repeated and another scan.

CanNeverThinkOfAName · 24/09/2023 18:32

My DD had appendicitis when she was 4 and it took 5 days from stomach pains starting for it to be diagnosed. She presented the same as your DS but we were fobbed off as it being constipation or a virus in 4 GP appointments as 4 year olds don't get appendicitis!

She has an ultrasound after we decided to take her to A&E as knew it wasn't that and they said was a suspected stomach tumour. Her appendix was not in the usual place as we discovered later.

It wasn't until they put a camera down her stomach that they realised it was appendicitis, they operated straight away and it burst just before they removed it.

I dread to think what would have happened if they waited any longer or we'd listened to the GPs and waited for a referral to paediatrics for constipation!

Please insist on appendicitis being ruled out as an emergency OP.

AfingeroffudgeisNOTenough · 24/09/2023 18:33

This is a very random suggestion and I’m really not trying to minimise your DS’s situation, but just offer a potential (very random) explanation. When my DS was about 4 years old we ended up in out of hours docs overnight because he was doubled over with excruciating pain. I have honestly never seen anything like it, and similarly to your DS, he was experiencing pain when his stomach was pressed, he couldn’t stand properly, he had a fever, he had no appetite, he was struggling with the toilet etc etc etc.

He too had various tests and scans etc and the conclusion was the lymph nodes around his groin and intestines were swollen due to an infection and that’s what was causing the severe pain. Totally benign as it were, but incredibly scary. He ended up on a course of antibiotics for the underlying (quite minor) chest infection and the abdominal pain ceased after 2-3 days of its own accord.

I had never heard of this before, but when I mentioned it to a friend she said her son had experienced similar when he was about the same age. The doc who diagnosed him was an older, very experienced, guy and he said it wasn’t actually that uncommon, but perhaps more uncommon was the severity of the pain, but perhaps because he was normally a very well child (that was the first and only he has ever had antibiotics and he’s now 20, and he rarely even ever had calpol as a child) his body just reacted more severely to what was a fairly minor infection.

Anyway, all that to say it is a very random explanation but I really do hope it’s
something as simple as that for your DS and that the pain eases swiftly.

Original poster
daydreaming3 · 24/09/2023 18:40

Thanks for all the continued support. He's just had bloods taken again when they fitted a cannula. They also are going to do an X-ray and get the surgeons to come and see him so I think this time they are finally taking it seriously and want to get to the bottom of it.

OP posts:
WhoNeedsToSleepAnyway · 24/09/2023 18:40

Sending lots of well wishes. I've been reading your posts and this last update reminded me of a similarish issue we had with our 4 yr old. She was writhing around in pain, high temp, screaming in pain. Dr sent us to a n e with suspected appendicitis and it was tonsillitis, the stomach pain was swollen glands in her tummy. I had no idea they could hurt them do much. Hoping you get answers soon.

Tempone · 24/09/2023 18:41

It sounds like you are ready to advocate for your son op, don't let them discharge him.

CanNeverThinkOfAName · 24/09/2023 18:43

Just don't let them dismiss appendicitis because of his age.

Just remembered a cousins DS also had it at around age 5.

stayclosetoyourself · 24/09/2023 18:46

daydreaming3 · 24/09/2023 18:40

Thanks for all the continued support. He's just had bloods taken again when they fitted a cannula. They also are going to do an X-ray and get the surgeons to come and see him so I think this time they are finally taking it seriously and want to get to the bottom of it.

In paeds they do much less bloods than we do in adult medicine. It will be good to see if there are any changes in the inflammatory markers now he has had a fever. ? Grumbling appendix

PlipPlopChoo · 24/09/2023 18:46

Stand your ground and kick up a stink if they try and discharge him tonight. Trust your instincts and try and keep him there another night.

The fact they might not have enough beds is an appalling situation for them but is not your problem.

molly2212 · 24/09/2023 18:48

You need to raise the possibility of Intussusception which also increases the risk of tonsillitis and causes intermittent stomach ache in children. My nephew had this at 3.
It is also easily missed so don't let them discharge him.

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 24/09/2023 19:01

I'm glad you're feeling like they're taking it more seriously now OP, that's great news.

But please, please make sure you say 'I'm concerned he has sepsis' repeatedly and loudly to every person you speak to. If they say he doesn't, or they're not worried about it, ask them to explain to you why.

VeloVixen · 24/09/2023 19:03

Bit of a random suggestion but have you tried putting all his symptoms in chatgpt? I read an article which says chatgpt can be as an accurate as a doctor in diagnosing. Obviously been in hospital and listening to the actual doctors Is totally necessary but it might make some suggestions you can ask them about?

Flyingfup · 24/09/2023 19:05

Best wishes. Have they ruled out Strep? We had a young DC who was very ill for days before being diagnosed. The presentation was a cluster of symptoms, rather than the classic sore throat.

Differentstarts · 24/09/2023 19:12

Keep fighting you got this