Recurring stomach aches and 'sick' in throat

[PickledLily]

My DD is 7 and has always complained about stomach aches on and off since she was little. She also had silent reflux until she was 3.

She's been off school most days for over 2 weeks now feeling sick - she did actually have a stomach bug in the middle of that, so I don't know if the nausea is related or if it's not wanting to go to school which is what I've assumed in the past (she's a very anxious child, but also says school is boring).

She's also complaining about sick in her throat a lot and I'd noticed that she often seems to be regurgitating/refluxy in the middle of the night (although she is often snotty too so could be nasal drip?)

I took her to the doctor a few weeks ago because she is always so tired and doesn't seem to be able to cope with doing anything after school (she wasn't feeling so sick at that stage) but the GP was very dismissive and I felt he wrote me off as fussing about nothing.

I'm going to book another appointment but wondered if anyone had any pointers or advice? I do think there is something going on, be it physical or anxiety related, but need help getting to the bottom of it.

Could it be gastritis? DD(13) has gastritis and I think it was caused by a combination of anxiety and an antibiotic that caused stomach pain and diarrhoea.

She has always been anxious but something that happened a few months ago made her worse. She then got sick and the antibiotic upset her stomach which led to the gastritis.

She has a burning type pain at the top of her stomach. She sometimes has heartburn as well but I'm not sure if that's related to the gastritis.

I'm sure there is an anxiety element but not sure if it's heartburn, the discomfort is further up the throat and she doesn't complain of a burning sensation.

Sounds like anxiety-I’m seeing an increasing number of children displaying signs of this at /before going to school. There is very little support from Camhs here for ‘low level’ Issues due to the massive number of children they are currently seeing who are suicidal/self harming.

Can you have a chat to the teacher/senco?

I will ask school. I've asked in the past and they seem to think she is fine.

Does she drink enough at school? DS2 had a phase of feeling sick every day at school and it turned out to be dehydration. Just a thought.

Get blood tests done, including for Celiac's

Thanks for the replies. She's back at school ok today, so I think it was the tail end of a bug. But it keeps happening (not just bugs).

Another friend suggested getting tested for coeliac, to rule it out. GP said he doesn't send children to get bloods done because it's too traumatic for them and that she was absolutely fine. She's had bloods before and was fine with it.

I mentioned anxiety to the teacher and she said she would never had guessed as DD is full of beans at school. I do know she doesn't like going to the childminder after school and often wants to stay off school on those days but I have no other options for childcare, it's all over subscribed here.

With the anxiety, what can I do to help her? It's so sad to hear that children aren't getting the help they need.

She sounds very similar to my DD2. She is 7, also has a history of saying she has a stomach ache and saying she has been 'sick in her throat'. In the last few months, my DD2 has also developed quite bad constipation - she has had it in the past, but now it is lasting much longer.She has been prescribed movicol, but now has daily stomach pain. DD2 has had blood tests, including coeliac, which came back negative - but DD1 has just tested positive for coeliac, so I'm still wondering about it with DD2 as well.

I would definitely push for more tests, if only to rule things out. I don't understand the GP's thinking - if your daughter does have something like celiac disease, the sooner you find out, the better.

Fingers crossed that you get some answers soon.

My son had gastric reflux as a baby. Then when he was about 6 was getting up in night to be sick and having sick coming up in his throat during the day. His breath smelled awful all the time. Doctor put him on rinatidine. Turned out he was lactose intolerant. Now follows a lactose free diet. Symptoms have cleared up and no need for medication now.