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DD 3.5, complaining regularly of tummy aches...

8 replies

titferbrains · 15/03/2012 14:35

I have been to dr about a million times this year. Before I take dd in AGAIN, just wondering what causes of a tummy ache might be? She often has it after meals, she does eat an awful lot of fruit. Her appetite is very small so I really don't want to cut it out of her diet. She eats lots of grapes particularly, about 5 or 6 after every meal. She cries/tantrums if I try not to give them to her... She has a bowl of cereal in the morning with banana, then fruit - grapes and something else, maybe blueberries, today bluebs and rasps. today she had a tummy ache after cereal and then again after fruit. Dairy in tolerance? she doesn't have much dairy except milk on cereal, milk at night and butter/yogurt. Not really a cheese eater and not a fan of creamy things.

She had blood tests a few months back to check her health, she was quite pale - and still is - but all was clear.

She is rather skinny, but has become more and more fussy recently, she is asking for a lot of pasta, fish fingers, sausages, and she is eating less chicken than she used to - she used to eat quite a lot. Carbs are always rice or potatoes or bread.

Could it be too much fibre? I love hi fibre bread so her occasional sandwiches are usually allinson or hovis. But she poos like a train, daily, never had a problem.

What sort of thing can/will they check for as she will not be able to explain her tummy pain???

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
missdeelite · 15/03/2012 19:13

What did they screen for? My son haf some of those symptoms for a while before becoming very poorly and then diagnosed coeliac, which is condition where intolerant to gluten.

missdeelite · 15/03/2012 19:39

Sorry for brief message was preoccupied feeding baby - in more detail my son became increasingly picky, got skinnier and paler (due to low iron) and had soft yellowish stools for ages before I realised anything much was wrong. He also had bloated tummy which DRs insisted was normal for 2 1/2 year old, but it turns out it wasn't! I had put symptoms down to normal toddler behaviour until he started to get tired and sick, and ultimately very weak and frail - even though for a while Drs wouldn't listen. If you think there is something wrong be persistent, a lot of GPs (quoting paediatrician friend) make assumption nothing much is wrong because usually there isn't!!! But you know your daughter better than anyone!

neverquitesure · 15/03/2012 19:53

I was thinking gluten too. Not sure how they would test for it but I would be inclined to start a food diary (even though they are a complete and utter pain in the arse!) as things like gluten can be hard to spot.

missdeelite · 15/03/2012 20:03

If its coeliac the first step is a simple blood test which detects antibodies present in coeliacs as its an autoimmune condition (although can be false negative sometimes, and other forms of gluten intolerance wouldn't be detected through this). Could be good to rule it out at least.

titferbrains · 16/03/2012 14:45

thanks so much for this info. will read a bit more about. slightly terrified now about what she'll eat if no wheat. she adores pasta and isn't really a huge eater of potatoes Sad

OP posts:
titferbrains · 16/03/2012 15:45

gosh have been googling and this really could explain a lot actually. Thanks again!

OP posts:
LondonNadiy · 16/03/2012 18:02

Cut it out immediately, and keep a food diary, then take that to a dietitian or specialist - they'll only tell you to keep one anyway so it will cut out 2 or 3 weeks when she could be in some real pain.

If she likes pasta, Tescos do a good gluten free range (they do a good GF range of most things in fact). Genius bread is the best GF bread ever, but it is pricy - if she turns out to be intolerant, a breadmaker and GF flour (M&S or Doves are best) will be SO much cheaper. If she's coeliac or Crohn's be prepared to also possibly have to lose potatoes, they can be an irritant too. Get her interested in rice now!!

missdeelite · 21/03/2012 10:51

Hi OP just wanted to say if you really think she may be coeliac DO NOT cut gluten out before diagnosis as this can really prolong the diagnostic procedure. They will only give accurate blood test and biobsy result if your LO has been eating gluten every day for a minimum of 6 weeks, and this means many people end up having to reintorduce gluten whilst they go through proper testing. If you don't there is chance that you can get a false negative. As it is serious and lifelong condition you need to be sure of diagnosis before you muck about with diet. Go to GP and ask for blood test asap. Don't panic if it is coelaic as diet is pretty easy and can get great gf pasta! But get the blood test done first, and IF that is positive its necessary to get the biopsy of small intestine done BEFORE you cut out gluten. I speak from experience with very poorly little one. GLuten is big part of western diet and shouldn't take it lightly to remove it from diet.

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