Really worried about dd - tummy ache

[Archduke]

Hi there, dd (9) has had a tummy ache since March. It comes and goes but when it's bad she is in tears - which is VERY unlike her - she's usually tough as old boots. She says she feels sick and her tummy hurts - achey not sharp pain.

I've taken her to the docs 3 times, first time they gave her some fibre drink stuff to sort out her bowels in case she was constipated. We gave her the drink but it didn't sort the tummy ache.

2nd time we went she was examined properly and a urine sample taken. Doc couldn't find anything and said that sometimes children have tummy aches and to pretty much just get on with it.

3rd time they gave her an anti-b in case of uti. She still has the on/off pain no change, she wakes in the night saying it's painful.

I will take her back to the docs but I'm wondering if she is intolerant to some food?? I have no other ideas and don't really know where to go from here.

Anyone got any advice or q's I can ask the doc?

I would keep a food diary to see if there is a common factor. Also is she drinking enough fluids as this can cause constipation?
If you are not happy go back to the GP and explain how much pain she has.
Just a quick thought - its not monthly is it? My friends 9 year old has just started her periods and they were painful

Could it be an abdominal migraine? I used to get them when I was a child.

Otherwise keep a food diary so you can see if there are any links or could it be IBS?

Thanks guys, a food diary is a good idea. I half heartedly tried cutting out gluten last week but it's so hard!

She drinks quite a lot, and I don't think she's constipated, she poos ok and the doc didn't find any "mass" in her intestines.

wheretoyougonow the thought of her starting her periods fills me with horror! Someone else suggested that, but the pain isn't monthly - seems continuous but off and on iyswim. It's been going on for months, poor darling.

TheHouseofMirth, thank you, I've just read about abdominal migraines - how weird. Those symptoms do partly fit what she's going through. I'll mention it to the docs when we go for our 4th visit . Did you grow out of them?

Bumping for the morning crowd - anyone got any advice?

Re abdominal migraine my DD suffered badly with these (ended up in hospital on a drip for five days several times as she would keep vomiting to the point where she started bringing up a lot of blood). Then they called it the periodic syndrome because it came periodically but they didn't know what caused it. Through research I found the description of abdominal migraine and started looking for my daughter's triggers. She used to start the pain quite often at 4.00 am - I suspected it was through low blood sugar so we began ensuring she always had cereal or toast before going to bed. We also made sure she ate regularly during the day and if we noticed her going slightly pale we would again often be able to head off the attack by getting her to eat something. Her other triggers were getting overtired, eating chocolate after 4.00 pm (but was OK other times of day), and eating ham later in the day (food diary identified these). She did grow out of them - though it may be because she still makes sure she eats very regularly so the major trigger of low blood sugar just doesn't occur now. I hope you find what is causing your DD's problem soon.

Definitely keep a diary and note what else is going on at the time. I'm NOT saying she's putting it on at all but it could be linked to something she is stressed about. It's not just on one side is it?

I started my periods at 9 and they weren't monthly to start with but were painful so it could be her body getting ready. Also in children it can be linked to stress so might be worth looking for triggers.

Thank you very much. flamingtoaster, I'll keep a food and pain diary see if anything correlates. That must have been an awful time with your dd, thank goodness she grew out of it. I'll make sure she eats little and often to try and avoid low blood sugar slumps.

Lonny, the pain doesn't seem to be localised on one side. I did think initially that the pain was psychosomatic as it started when dh and I went away for a weekend back in March and she missed us. But here we are in August and it's still happening. We've had lots of chats about school and worries etc and she's really happy, no issues that she's telling me about at least so as far as I can tell she's a happy little girl.

Motherofdragons, I'll keen an eye on things, I do hope we have a few years before periods start as she is still very 'little girlish' but I will have a chat with the doc later (have an appt at 4pm) about that possibility.