Desperately need some advice: daughter so unwell

[VirusSchmirus]

I'm really hoping someone can help or at least provide reassurance.

My DD11 is now at week 3 of having severe stomach pains, so much so she cannot walk without help or sit upright. She is eating and drinking relatively OK.

The pain means she has pain relief every 4 hours, paracetamol and ibuprofen on rotation. She is asking for pain relief an hour after the last dose. It does very little to make her comfortable. I have tried to entice her to do things - and even the bribe of visiting her favourite shop and buying a treat (which would involve very little walking, just from the car park) resulted in her crying "I can't, I can't walk with the pain". At night when she eventually manages to sleep she cries or whimpers in her sleep. We're awake continually due to the pain.

She has had 2 ultrasound scans (no appendicitis or anything sinister) - they say her lymph glands in her stomach are inflamed (but only 1). Been told its mesenteric adenitis.

Have had private GP assess her. The bar seems low - if she can eat, drink and poo then she is deemed "clinically well". Saw another GP last night after she suffered a day of diarrhoea (new symptom). I ended up crying - which probably wasn't helpful - after we just went around in circles. Scan is clear, bloods are relatively clear (low markers but expected with a virus), urine test clear. Tilted head from GP yesterday "what would you like me to say or do".

My gorgeous daughter, who is usually so full of energy and laughter and endless bloody questions, is silent, and I can see her getting thinner and thinner, and more miserable. I feel like I'm one of those mothers who is making things up as I just can't seem to get answers (main question - when will she start to just feel better - not even get well, just a tiny bit better?). No one seems able to answer.

What can I do? Is mesenteric adenitis really like this - no improvement at all for 3 weeks?

AIBU: its just a virus, suck it up
YANBU: that's bonkers, go kick some clinical ass

Stop the ibuprofen, which irritates stomachs badly. It’s not recommended for children under 12 unless under medical supervision.

Make sure you’re not giving her too much of either ibuprofen or paracetamol or both - four to six hourly intervals are recommended for paracetamol, but a child of her age can only have a maximum of 4 tablets in any 24 hour period.

If any physical causes have been ruled out, then you need to consider anxiety, as other posters say. Has she just started secondary school? It can be a very anxious time. This can also cause weight loss.

But physical cause hasn’t been ruled out it’s been ruled in I think, only there’s no treatment available (which is the case for many illnesses and ailments).

It sounds like ibs. You need to keep a food diary with her and keep a note of any triggers. Mint tea is highly recommended for ibs it works wonders. But she also shouldn’t be having any ibuprofen at all.

Yes, I took too long to type and missed all OP’s later posts!

Our private GP said to take ibuprofen to help with the inflammation so all under medical advice. Seems medical professionals just want to mask the pain - 2 separate GPs have said to increase the dose and not worry. I hate painkillers (unless absolutely necessary) but she is begging for pain relief just an hour later (which I refuse).

Have given hot water bottle which helps but does not stop it.

Ds had MA when he was 5. He still mentions the pain he felt occasionally now and he's 12!!!!

Took us weeks of various Drs and tests and tests to get the diagnosis. Then were told it will be painful, we just have to wait.

Sorry, but the severe pain (and crying and foetus position) lasted 6 weeks.

Now, whenever DS gets ill he worried about the virus "getting to his tummy" and getting MA again.

No advice I'm afraid. I can't remember any meds particularly helping but I have blocked a fair bit out of my mind as it was awful seeing him like that.

@TadpolesInPool Not, that's helpful. Not nice to read but really really helpful. Having some understanding or reference point is useful.

If that's what it is, then we'll just have to weather it. The diarrhoea yesterday was new and a bit scary but seems to have eased.

I am worried about the painkillers and the amount she is having, but haven't made up the medication plan, we've been told to give her para/ibuprofen.

She also got given lansoprazole and fybogel. No difference even after a week.

With regards the ibuprofen, my daughter has had it under medical supervision at much higher doses than advertised but alongside a tummy protector. Has your daughter been offered this?

I have no other advice I am afraid on the specific condition but I do have advice on being fobbed off so I really do feel for you.

This is my little one. OP he hasn't had it as long as your daughter but I feel your pain! It seems to be able to cause such intense pain and his has been the same in that it's sitting and standing/walking that made it worse. When we got discharged they told me to avoid ibuprofen because they said if the pain is causing him to not eat much then the ibuprofen will just cause more pain in the stomach rather than help it. Hope she recovers soon!

@BoilingHotand50something No tummy protector offered.
@daydreaming3 thanks. Starting to feel like I'm going mad! I can see how much pain she is in, but limited help because she's eating. I totally get why other posters are saying "what wait, she's in pain but eating but can't sit up" - it doesn't make sense!

The advice has been useful so thank you all. Will stop ibuprofen. Good to see other suggestions too, as worth considering everything.

It does seem to be dreaded MA and the horrible symptoms it can bring. Just wanting her to be better, and is she.

Might be worth checking about the tummy protector if stopping the ibuprofen results in the pain becoming unbearable. Hope she feels better soon.

Impacted bowels? Severe IBS?

I really think you should push for a scan MRI or CT. If you’re on week 3 of severe pain, weight loss and change in her disposition, isn’t right! Also, is it her lymph nodes that are swollen?
I hope you get her sorted, poor love x

My daughter had MA pretty much all through y4-6. She just grew out of it. It’s grim though - she said it was like having a headache in her tummy. Sometimes it was more like a migraine.

If she had a bad D&V episode it could be her stomach settling (can be so painful). I remember after bad food poisoning it took me months to feel right and not be in pain after eating. Hope you get answers.

If she’s been on Fybogel for a week that is probably what’s causing the diarrhoea.
The stomach protector can also mess up the guts natural flora.

How long is it since she’s been in school and how does she react when you suggest going back?

I hope she gets better soon x

Ibuprofen - good call and exactly what I said when told to take it - but apparently its to reduce the inflammation seen on the scan.

well fgs follow the medical professional that actually saw the scan rather than posters

@Nuttyroche I'm not convinced its actually helping.

Has your daughter been tested for Crohn's disease?

OP, did she do a stool sample? Has she had any recent antibiotics? If so I’d want her tested for c diff and other bugs just incase it’s anything longer lasting.

Very strange so many people are going down with D&V and longer lasting symptoms after! Covid is rampant where I am and it’s presenting like this but taking a while to show up on tests which is a nightmare!

I hope she feels better. I have IBS and the pain can be excruciating! Potatoes and bananas are safe foods for me and lots of bone broth and probiotics.

@Hollywoodeyes She misses it - most likely because she misses her friends. She's very sociable, and was excited about joining the clubs that high school offer.

Ibuprofen may have been suggested as a short term measure on an as required basis. Regular frequent doing over an extended period of time is a very different scenario.