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Original poster

14 year old in great pain

29 replies

MrsArchchancellorRidcully · 21/09/2022 19:30

Over the past couple of months Dd (14) has complained of stomach pain. We saw a gp who ruled out appendicitis and said to monitor.
In the past couple of weeks she's had pain/ cramps after eating anything. She's now stopped eating anything during the day as she can't cope with the pain at home. She takes 30ml of nurofen twice a day but says it does little to help. Refuses any tablets and reluctant to take calpol as gates taste.
It's now impacting her while life. Not eating, not going to her sports after school, can't cope to do homework etc.

I don't know what to think. She says it's not like period cramps. She went dairy free about a year ago. Poos and wees normal. No temp but did have s small rash on her back.

We have a private gp video appt tomorrow as can't get a f2f gp appt here. But I can't think how they can help. Except say go to a&e??

Anyone have any similar experiences or suggestions? She is sleeping though swears she's not but I went in last night and she was fast asleep.

Thanks for reading.

OP posts:
BobinogBobbleHat · 21/09/2022 19:33

I think if the GP sends you to A&E then at least that decision is made for you.

The only thing I'd say is if she really is eating very little, nurofen will be irritating her stomach. It shouldn't be taken on an empty stomach. There are different flavours of liquid paracetamol if she can't swallow tablets so I'd be trying to find paracetamol she can tolerate the taste of.

Allmarbleslost · 21/09/2022 19:40

She shouldn't be taking nurofen on an empty stomach - that's probably what's causing the pain!

Bodyisbuggered · 21/09/2022 19:48

Could she be constipated? She could be even if she's going. Try having a feel on the left side of her tum as sometimes you can feel the build up. Pain after eating can be constipation as eating triggers the peristaltic movement which is the contraction of the bowel to push the food along (can you tell my child has this constantly?!). It can be really painful.

I hope you get it figured out.

abcd4321 · 21/09/2022 19:55

Might be worth asking for a coeliac blood test.

Wibbli · 21/09/2022 19:56

My daughter had this and she was coeliac! Has she had any blood work done? She could have swollen lymph nodes in stomach causing the pain, but she does need investigation

hiredandsqueak · 21/09/2022 19:58

If she's not eating the ibuprofen will be damaging her stomach lining and probably causing pain. Stop the ibuprofen.

multiplemum3 · 21/09/2022 19:59

Sounds like my daughter who has been diagnosed with coeliac.

junebirthdaygirl · 21/09/2022 20:03

My ds had constant pain in his stomach at that age. Saw different GPS at our practice and they eventually thought it was schoolitis.. as they could see nothing amiss.. but he was happy at school. Then he saw a locum who checked his tonsils..never previously checked..and said..of course he has a pain..the poison from his tonsils is going down to his stomach!! He was angry his tonsils were still there. He never had a sore throat. He had them out and never looked back.
Have her tonsils checked.

danadas · 21/09/2022 20:04

As others have said ask for a coeliac blood test if she hasn't had one already.

mac1974 · 21/09/2022 20:04

Get her pancreas checked out. My sis had this when she was a teen and it ended up being chronic pancreatitis

helpyhelperton · 21/09/2022 20:10

This might not be the same but we've had 18 mths of unidentified stomach aches. All tests negative. IBS treatment - still in agony daily - can't eat properly, has to run to loo.

Fast forward to 2 days ago, emergency appendectomy....

The only change was that the pain was slightly different and didn't abate for 24hrs? It's worth checking - I knew this was different and never seen them in quite this much pain but it was inflamed when they removed it.

Good luck

CatsAreCrackers · 21/09/2022 20:13

I'd like to add another voice to please, please stop the Nurofen if she isn't eating much. My friend used to take it on an empty stomach as she didn't realise she shouldn't, she ended up in A&E with severe stomach pains, turns out she had got stomach ulcers from the Nurofen.

Eileen101 · 21/09/2022 20:27

Is she generally eating gluten? Has coeliac disease been considered?

hiredandsqueak · 21/09/2022 20:34

Have you asked about mesenteric adenitis? It can be long lived for some and cause significant pain

DSGR · 21/09/2022 20:37

Only a doctor can answer this

Pixiedust1234 · 21/09/2022 20:42

Take her off the ibuprofen immediately! That is actively harming her if she isn't eating. She needs paracetamol instead.

Weird fact for you. Its normal for girls to present with stomach problems when in fact its headaches and/or migraines. Some doctors know this, others don't. Its on the same knowledge level as any other female medicine unfortunately.

CatsandFish · 21/09/2022 20:54

she's had pain/ cramps after eating anything.

That to me SCREAMS gallbladder issues ie gallstones. That pain happens after eating. Same as Pancreatitis. I've had both gallstones, and Severe Acute Pancreatitis 4 times. Your post absolutely positively screams gallstones/pancreatitis. She'll need an Upper Abdominal scan to check the gallbladder, and possibly blood test to check Amylase and Lipase (pancreas enzymes) levels.

Original poster
MrsArchchancellorRidcully · 21/09/2022 21:18

Thanks to all for the comments. I'd heard that about nurofen but DH insisted it was the right thing to take. I'll keep the other comments in mind for the appt tomorrow too.

Thanks. All very helpful.

OP posts:
Cheerybigbottom · 21/09/2022 21:47

I thought gallstones, unusual in young adults but not unheard of and it causes incredible pain.

Surely an ultrasound of abdomen and chest could check for this or gastric issues

abcd4321 · 22/09/2022 11:19

CatsandFish · 21/09/2022 20:54

she's had pain/ cramps after eating anything.

That to me SCREAMS gallbladder issues ie gallstones. That pain happens after eating. Same as Pancreatitis. I've had both gallstones, and Severe Acute Pancreatitis 4 times. Your post absolutely positively screams gallstones/pancreatitis. She'll need an Upper Abdominal scan to check the gallbladder, and possibly blood test to check Amylase and Lipase (pancreas enzymes) levels.

They can look for gall stones with just an ultrasound but GP will probably assume for ages that she is too young for it to be that. Meanwhile the OP's daughter suffers unnecessarily.

Notsoyummymummy2 · 22/09/2022 11:35

These were my symptoms when I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. Terrible pain after eating, lost a lot of weight quickly. I didn’t have the typical bowel symptoms. You should push for a stool sample with faecal calprotectin. X

Notsoyummymummy2 · 22/09/2022 11:36

Oh and also, do not take anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen, they irritate bowel/stomach symptoms and can make them worse. They certainly did for me. X

Remmy123 · 22/09/2022 11:44

She needs a stool test. Sometimes crohnes can also present with a rash.

is she losing any weight / mouth ulcers?

foctor shouid do a blood test and defo a stool test

helpyhelperton · 29/09/2022 22:25

How is your dd doing?

BabyST · 30/09/2022 08:57

Do you know what DD weight is? Is she over 50kg? She can then take 2 500mg paracetamol tablets for the pain. As said this is much better than ibrophen. Ibrophen long-term can harm the tummy can cause ulcers.

Where is her pain exactly? What type of pain is it? Stabbing, Burning, or just crampy?

I don't think A&E will help they will look for anything life-threatening and discharge with a follow-up with you’re GP.