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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Unexplained child health issues. Can you help

37 replies

sadscotmama · 21/12/2024 10:22

Hi. I’m a newbie. My DD 8 has had severe headaches and stomach pain every single day for months. . She isn’t attending school and i don’t know what to do.

AIBU to ask for advice here online to ask what you think the cause might be, maybe a parent has gone through the same with their child. Then I could go back to my doctor and say it could be XYZ.

They don’t seem to be investigating and calpol and ibroprofne aren’t helping with the pain.

She is nearly 9, was a happy very energetic active child. Now she spend her whole day in the sofa or bed, on the IPad or tv. She has headaches several times a day which vary in intensity. Last nights he cried jerked to sleep and finally does off around 1am.

Shw also has stomach pains and is very lethargic and has low energy.

Paediatrics told me to put her on a wheat and dairy free diet as she was intolerant as a baby but outgrew it.

Its not helped. I’ve also cut out migraine causing foods like chocolate etc. All bloods and her stool sample came back clear.

She is just deteriorating and DH and I are confused as some hours she seems like her old self then all of a sudden she looks and feels ill.

Has anyone gone through this with their child?

She always says she feels dizzy and has no energy.

OP posts:
stayathomer · 23/12/2024 15:01

My son had similar but no headaches but was so lethargic his teacher was telling him wake up, buck up etc etc. he complained of a sore tummy and was even in hospital for a week where they wondered was it appendicitis and then was it just him being anxious. He had awful eczema too them bam- went gluten free and it was like a switch was flicked- energy back, eczema still there but not close to what it was, stomach much better.

even if gluten isn’t the issue look into auto immune diseases- before we figured out gluten was the culprit a doctor at the hospital said there’s a lot of stomach issues being misdiagnosed and there’s countries such as Germany finding autoimmune diseases linked to the gut. Best of luck op, I hope ye figure it out x

YesYesAllGood · 23/12/2024 15:02

Something very similar happened to my friend's sister growing up. She had all sorts of tests done, all to no avail. It turned out to be severe anxiety.

endofthelinefinally · 23/12/2024 15:43

Dizziness and lethargy can be symptoms of both anaemia and over use of ibuprofen.

You don't say whether you have taken her to an optician for a proper eye test, but I would recommend booking one at your local optician or optometrist asap. Tell them about the headaches. They will do a much more detailed examination and test than can be done in a GP surgery.

ElBeMe · 07/04/2025 01:21

Did you ever get to the bottom of this? It sounds very similar to my 5 yo but without the headaches…

CiscoTS · 07/04/2025 01:24

sadscotmama · 21/12/2024 10:50

She tested negative to celiac and excluding gluten and wheat has made no difference.

I want her to have a CT or ultrasound scan because I’ve noticed when she is going to the bathroom before bed, she is in pain and that’s when her headaches are worse. I called Spire but they said to call back on Monday now.

Ive pushed for an MRI and it’s not available in Scotland privately.

re

Go to England then.

Sorry OP. Nothing stands in the way of the health of my child. Even if I couldn’t afford it on paper, I’d make sure my child had that scan whatever it took for me to pay for it.

I pay for private health insurance for my daughter because your scenario terrifies me.

Corilee2806 · 02/06/2025 19:27

hi - sorry I know this thread is a few months old but I’m wondering if you got any answers for your daughter? Going through almost the exact same thing with my 6.5 year old and no one can tell us the cause. Have also been accused of being an over anxious mum in urgent care!

sadscotmama · 10/06/2025 15:34

Hi. I tried posting but I was away on holiday and it wouldn’t send

OP posts:
sadscotmama · 10/06/2025 15:36

Corilee2806 · 02/06/2025 19:27

hi - sorry I know this thread is a few months old but I’m wondering if you got any answers for your daughter? Going through almost the exact same thing with my 6.5 year old and no one can tell us the cause. Have also been accused of being an over anxious mum in urgent care!

i’m sorry to hear Thankfully my daughter has recovered fully I would say. It took several months and she is due her paediatric appointment soon where I will let them know.

I put it completely due to hormones as she started her period very early and after this she got better daily. She has now had 2 -3 periods and no longer has her previous debilitating symptoms.

OP posts:
sadscotmama · 10/06/2025 15:41

CiscoTS · 07/04/2025 01:24

Go to England then.

Sorry OP. Nothing stands in the way of the health of my child. Even if I couldn’t afford it on paper, I’d make sure my child had that scan whatever it took for me to pay for it.

I pay for private health insurance for my daughter because your scenario terrifies me.

This seems such a young age though. Would it be be worth considering she is going early puberty as my daughter did.

Her symptoms of severe fatigue, extreme headaches and dizziness have thankfully gone. She enjoyed a busy holiday and is back to her happy self.
I really hope your daughter finds answers. Please push for all tests. You know your daughter well and don’t allow any medical professional to gaslight you or make you feel you are a hypochondriac. Most medical staff were great but I had one terrible experience.

pleas what in touch if there’s any way I can help. I will never forget the worry and desperation I felt being so confused watching your child so ill not knowing what was happening.

All the best.

OP posts:
saracharlotte · 20/09/2025 06:44

Hi I know this post is a bit old but please reply to me - I am going through the same with my 7 year old,

Barnbrack · 20/09/2025 07:11

Take her to the optician, tell them you're concerned about brain tumour symptoms, they'll dilate her pupila and look at her optic nerves. Choose one with an octopus scanner and ask for an octopus scan of her optic nerve. This will show if it's swollen. It's not 100% but a fair whack of brain tumours are picked up this way and I suspect that's the worry at the forefront of your mind.

ittakes2 · 20/09/2025 07:52

Please google PoTs - if you have a finger tip monitor which checks heart rate and oxygen levels (about £20 Amazon but must be one which fits kids) when she wakes up in morning before she gets out of bed take her heart rate and then get her to stand for 3 mins unaided and take her heart rate again. If her heart rate goes up more than 30 beats in that time talk to gp about investigating pots.

also try her on a daily antihistamine 30mins before first meal to see if she’s having allergic reactions in tummy. Fexofenadine best option if she is old enough

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