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Children's health

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Original poster

14 year old with severe abdominal pain

23 replies

FloofyDuck · 22/01/2023 09:29

Just looking to see if anyone has experienced similar or can offer suggestions. DD has been experiencing lower right side abdominal pain for a week now. It's pretty sever, she was eating it a 6/7 then upped that to an 8. She's feeling unwell with it but no fever. Nausea but no vomiting. Headache off and on. No appetite but she eats sporadically because she knows she ought to. Bowel & bladder movements all normal. Usually completely fit & healthy, very sporty. Not one to complain.

At first appendicitis was suspected but blood test & an ultrasound have ruled this out. They also said all her organs including ovaries/liver/pancreas etc look normal. She was admitted to hospital and had various drs & surgeons feel her abdomen, nothing unusual felt. The scan showed nothing. So she's home but the pain hasn't let up. I just have no idea what to do. Something is obviously wrong but what on earth could it be? She's losing weight and can't do anything. She walks so slowly because of the pain. Any ideas would be so appreciated

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

MissMarpleRocks · 22/01/2023 09:30

Take her back. They dismissed my 12 year old initially. It did end up being her appendix.

Xrays · 22/01/2023 09:32

Ask for an early morning cortisol blood test to rule out Addisons disease. Have a google. Stomach pain, nausea and vomiting are all symptoms. It’s very rare but often missed as you have to do the specific blood test for it which must be done around 9am and no later. I have it and it took 2 years of misdiagnosis to be diagnosed properly.

LadyGardenersQuestionTime · 22/01/2023 09:32

As above, take her back. They will have discharged her on the assumption that the pain would go away of its own accord. It hasn't, so go back again.

Xrays · 22/01/2023 09:33

LadyGardenersQuestionTime · 22/01/2023 09:32

As above, take her back. They will have discharged her on the assumption that the pain would go away of its own accord. It hasn't, so go back again.

I agree with this as well.

She does need to go back.

Original poster

FloofyDuck · 22/01/2023 09:33

Sorry to hear that @MissMarpleRocks did your daughter initially have a blood test taken & scan? The ultrasound dr said the appendix looked normal and the blood test didn't have whatever markers they would expect for appendix

OP posts:

CottonSock · 22/01/2023 09:33

Go back. I had appendicitis 4 times before it was taken out.

CottonSock · 22/01/2023 09:35

Although my dd was diagnosed with this a few times.
www.winchesterhospital.org/health-library/article

It's hard to tell them apart though (dh is a surgeon and always cautious).

CottonSock · 22/01/2023 09:36

Link didn't work. Was for Mesenteric Adenitis.

Ang06 · 22/01/2023 09:37

Ovarian cyst and/or ovary that is twisting/untwisting/retwisting? I had a teratoma cyst that reflected the ultrasound waves so it wasn’t diagnosed on the first ultrasound.

Makinglists · 22/01/2023 09:42

I would take her back. That said ds2 whose 12 had mesenteric adenitis in November and was in agony - hospital query appendix but decided it wasn't that. Has she had a viral infection recently as that seems to trigger MA. Ds2 was on max paracetamol and ibuprofen - could hardly eat and clinging to a hot water bottle.

Original poster

FloofyDuck · 22/01/2023 09:44

These replies are all really helpful, thank you. I was feeling like the hospital think DD must be over exaggerating or there's no problem. She's very good at sort of withholding pain so she's not writhing around and being obvious I guess. She was seen by at least 7 drs so I can't fault that they got a lot of opinions but none of them could see a problem and it does make you feel like you're being a fraud somehow. I'll take her back.

OP posts:

Treaclex69 · 22/01/2023 09:46

My 9yr old was at the OOH last night for acute abdominal pain and sporadic sickness she was examined and appendicitis ruled out as was diabetes but she was positive for a urine infection. Dr said definitely not a bug as her tummy was quiet and said often urine infections can cause vomiting/ nausea and acute pain. If your child's still in pain keep pushing until you get the answer.

MissMarpleRocks · 22/01/2023 10:18

FloofyDuck · 22/01/2023 09:33

Yes everything appeared fine. We were away with family & it was just before Christmas. We left the following day so I took her to our GP when we got home & he thought appendix also.

She was admitted to our local hospital & again appeared ok but I think they just thought whip it out as so near Christmas. They couldn’t see on scan as was hidden behind ovaries. When they took it out it was inflamed so right decision.

good luck.

LadyGAgain · 22/01/2023 10:22

Endometriosis?

MissMarpleRocks · 23/01/2023 20:32

How’s your dd op?

Original poster

FloofyDuck · 24/01/2023 08:05

No progress really. Took her back & as there are no concerning symptoms other than the pain and blood tests are clear again they sent her home. Said it could possibly be lymph nodes & should settle, meanwhile continue painkillers every 2 hours. If it doesn't resolve we have to go via GP for them to investigate & refer. I'm just so sorry for her ☹️

OP posts:

MissMarpleRocks · 24/01/2023 08:50

Abdominal migraine?

Remmy123 · 24/01/2023 19:30

Have they done a stool test?

Localher0 · 27/01/2023 13:35

OP are you me?? My DD is exactly the same, but she has already had her appendix removed. It started last Sunday (15th) with cramps, we thought it was period related and she started a few days later. However as she has a mirena the GPs wanted to make sure it hadn't moved so she had scans which were all normal. Blood tests also unremarkable, gynae doesn't think PCOS or Endo. She also had nausea and a few bouts of vomiting. Back to GP this week who has now referred her to gastroenterologist - we have an appointment but not until next week. Up until now her bowel/bladder were fine but she had diarrhoea in the early hours and the pains have got a bit better since. GP now wants a poo sample..... I feel so bad for her - she's been mostly in bed for nearly 2 weeks with a heat pack.

Localher0 · 29/01/2023 08:53

@FloofyDuck how is your DD now? Only ask cos we ended up at A&E on saturday cos she couldn't keep anything down or in. They said she had bacterial gastroenteritis and put her on IV fluids, antibiotics and painkillers. Sample has gone off for culture (4 days) Home now and the vomiting has stopped but not the runs....yet. A 5 day course of antibiotics and we had a GI referral for next week anyway so will be going to that. Hope yours has recovered.

Original poster

FloofyDuck · 29/01/2023 10:50

Oh your poor DD @Localher0. Mine is now on the mend but not right iyswim. She's regained her appetite and the pain has definitely eased. She feels pretty well within herself again now but still needing regular painkillers. But as she's on the mend we're hoping it will just completely pass and be a blip that she never suffers from again. Wish we knew exactly what the cause was but lymph nodes is still all we have to go on. Hope your DD feels better soon, it's so horrible watching them suffer 😢

OP posts:

WLAH · 01/02/2023 21:51

Was going say abdominal migraine too

Localher0 · 02/02/2023 10:32

Abdominal migraines usually don't last so long. My DD had them and they would be 1-2 days max.

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