At wits' end with DS's tummy aches

[Rainbowbrite82]

He's 8 and has suffered with tummy aches on and off over the years. He is the kind of kid that gets tummy ache when he's worried/nervous but he's at an age now where he can tell me if it's caused by something worrying him and I honestly don't think that's the case on this occasion - he swears nothing is bothering him and he does usually tell me if it is.

Recently, he's been getting them every night causing him to be in and out of bed for hours. I feel bad because I sway between thinking he's trying to get attention and believing he's really in pain. But he's woken in the night with it a few times so I believe the pain is real. He says it sometimes hurts at school too. The other day it started hurting half way through dinner. Most of the time, he is fine, happy, thriving, good weight etc. When it hurts he says he gets what I interpret as reflux coming up his throat and his belly just hurts. No medicines help. He's being tested for celiac as he also has a mild rash on his elbows and he gets leg pains sometimes- I'm not convinced that's it as his symptoms don't seem severe enough. In terms of bowel movements- he goes once-twice a day and it's always soft but he has always been like that.

I dread every evening as he's up and down the stairs constantly and nothing I try seems to help. I'm keeping a food diary but nothing is jumping out. What on earth could it be?

I'm not here with a magic answer. But I have lots of sympathy for you and him. It could be something medical - but it could be unexplained tummy aches that he grows out of. Do you ever offer a dose of pain killer? (I'm sure you have and just don't want to keep giving it. But if you haven't please try that.) - As for the link to anxiety - he could still be anxious without understanding why.

My daughter is now 11 and has grown out of lots of her pains/itches. But she is still up and down at night. Most of her issues are anxiety based and cause repetitive behaviours.

Thank you. We've try calpol, ibuprofen or milk of magnesium regularly (not all together!) - none seem to do anything. He even refuses them most of the time as he says they don't help. And like you say, I don't really want to keep giving meds.

That's what's so hard isn't it, not really knowing the cause. Yes, I suppose it could be anxiety he can't articulate. But the fact that it sometimes wakes him at night and that he says it hurts during the day at times makes me think maybe not. But equally, it's almost like it's becoming a bedtime ritual. Argh, I just don't know!

Hello, my son is also nervous and anxious. He sometimes complains of a tummy ache and I would ask him if he is worried about something. He used to get them more in year 2. Turns out that he was worried about Maths and English lessons. The school was doing past test papers for Sats at the time and he was finding it too much. I spoke to the teacher and he was better afterwards.

I'm not saying it's the same for your child but maybe ask him if something is bothering and making him anxious. As a child I used to get anxious at night time because I was worried about school the next day. Hope you get an answer soon and that his tummy aches goes away.

Have you been to your GP to have it checked? Could it be worms or something like that?

Could it be an abdominal migraine? There is some information here
www.medicinenet.com/abdominal_migraines_in_children_and_adults/article.htm#what_is_abdominal_migraine

Does he take a probiotic? If not, I would recommend you start there. It needs to be taken daily for at least a month to see full results.

Basically probiotics work by increasing the amount of healthy, beneficial bacteria in your stomach. It's not uncommon for children to have issues with their gut microbiome, particularly if they have a history of illnesses that required antibiotics (which unfortunately kill beneficial bacteria as well as the infection they are targeting).

The cool thing is that research has shown that daily probiotic use both helps with pain/digestive issues commonly caused by acid reflux, mild food intolerances, and chronic constipation AND reduces anxiety. The gut is responsible for creating some of the body's GABA, which is a neurotransmitter responsible for managing stress and anxiety. Poor gut health and inflammation tends to be associated with higher levels of anxiety. So a probiotic could help your son regardless of whether it's anxiety or digestive issues causing his pain. Probiotics are safe for children to take. I'd recommend doing an internet search first to make sure you get the proper strains of beneficial bacteria, as certain types tend to work better for anxiety than others.

My 6 year old DD has had very similar symptoms for almost 2 years now. I really thought it was anxiety as she is a worrier but one day just decided I should get her checked for coeliac disease. It turns out she does indeed have coeliac disease, so the symptoms are not always very severe. Please note that you need to be on a full gluten diet for 2 -3 months before getting blood test, otherwise you may get an inconclusive result.

[quote Stoolpigeon21]Could it be an abdominal migraine? There is some information here
www.medicinenet.com/abdominal_migraines_in_children_and_adults/article.htm#what_is_abdominal_migraine[/quote]
I was going to say this, I had them as a kid and my parents were baffled for a long time before a doctor finally figured it out.

My lo is also 8 and has been suffering with stomach pain for years, it’s fucking miserable for all involved.

We’re now currently exploring if the pain may be a systemic allergy response (MCAS) and have been referred for allergy testing, we’re also doing a 4c’s elimination diet to mitigate abdominal migraines.

Again, it is utterly miserable for the entire household.

Thank you all for your suggestions.

Firstly, yes, I've spoken to the dr (can't see them in person at the mo) and she has suggested stool and blood test for celiac.

@Squicknick im sorry to hear that - did your DD have other symptoms?

Prebiotic is a good suggestion, thank you. I was also wondering whether to get him privately tested for intolerances as I know you can't get that done on the NHS.

Re anxiety - he was having some problems at school recently but always told me when it was worrying him and would say it was making his tummy hurt. Problem is sorted out now and he says the tummy ache is different to that.

@squicknick I'm sorry to hear that. Did your DD have any other symptoms and did they come and go?

Re worms - wouldn't I notice other symptoms such as itching and wouldn't the rest of the family have it too (it's been going on a long time!)

Abdominal migraine - I suppose that's a possibility - looks like a nightmare to diagnose!

@pinkyU I sympathise. I get really frustrated about it and then feel awful for feeling that way.

This might seem like an odd question but in addition to the leg pains and stomach aches does your DS have hyper mobility and/or stretchy skin? If so, look at Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. My DD has similar symptoms and this is now being investigated.

It sounds like a non-ige allergy to me. I'd be keeping a food diary at the very least.

@Rainbowbrite82 My DDs symptoms were complaining of feeling sick after almost every meal (I didn't keep a food diary, I'm afraid), and although she never had diarrhoea, she needed to go with some urgency at times. Other than that, mainly lethargy and just seeming lacking in energy. Also she was quite irritable and a bit down. So nothing glaringly obvious, at least, not to me.

Hope you get to the bottom of this soon! Good luck

Try cutting out all dairy for a week. My son gets like this if he has too much dairy. Also keeping a food and mood dairy is a great idea to try and narrow things down. Hope he feels better soon x

If he's got tummy ache do not give ibuprofen as it can make stomachache worse!

He may be suffering with stomach migraines which are not great! I had them when I was younger and it's usually something that you grow out of. migraine.com/migraine-types/abdominal-migraine

I'm keeping a food diary, nothing obvious so far. Dr has told me not to change his diet before he has a blood test.

Yes, I know ibuprofen isn't the best thing for a tummy ache - just tried it out of desperation!

@Squicknick your poor DD, hope she's doing OK. He isn't tired or lethargic and doesn't have urgency for the loo. He did say one day the other week he felt down in the dumps for no reason. Why does celiac cause irritability? Is it just because it makes you feel so rubbish?

Trapped wind?

My ds is very similar. Tummy aches for ages that I put down to anxiety then he became poorly with it about a month ago with a high fever and enlarged appendix and lymph nodes. Antibiotics calmed everything down and we got a stool sample result that showed him positive for faecal calprotectin. They want to re-test in a month once he's well past the acute stage. In the mean time I am keeping a diary and giving pomegranate juice and probiotics. It is miserable for him though, poor toots.

DD had a feeling of sick coming up her throat every day for months, then complained of pain high up on her stomach. Turned out to be coeliac disease.

I was quite surprised, no bowel issues etc. Once she was fully diagnosed and gluten free she did have a huge growth spurt, and I realised her growth had previously slowed. Her behaviour and mood improved too, there's a link between the gut and the brain that affects mood.

DD was v similar, coeliac test was negative and paediatrician said wheat intolerant and IBS. She also turns out to be milk intolerant. Now we have a handle on that, it's entirely controlled by diet, and tummy aches are very rare.
Go and see your GP. Good luck

Abdominal migraine?

Poor him he must feel awful

Have you tried looking at the emotional side, your posts seem quite dismissive of that possibility but stomach upsets caused by worry are very common in young children, more common than some of the physical conditions you are considering.

I do agree with checking food intolerances and coeliac too though, these cause real problems.

My ds used to cry every night with a stomach ache, said he felt sick etc. I thought it was anxiety, and was quite dismissive of the actual pain at first. It turned out to reflux, a couple of gaviscon before bed and some diet changes have really helped.

@Rainbowbrite82 i think you are doing the right thing testing for coeliac. I got half way through your OP and thought this before I saw you are already looking into it. When I got my diagnosis my only symptom was Anaemia. Coeliacs can present in lots of different ways.