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?