Ds 9 belly pain - Abdominal Migraine?

[Vix1234]

Hi,
My ds9 (10 on 7th) has had really intense pain an inch or two above his belly button on and off for around a year. The pain is so intense he often cries and on a number of occasions including today I have had to pick him up from school. If I touch where the pain is he says it's very tender.
We did think it could have been anxiety but he is absolutely adamant he isn't worried about anything, he has a nice group of friends, enjoys school (but given the option would rather be at home). I thought if he's not anxious maybe it could be coming on when he's doing something he doesn't enjoy that much at school, but he said no, he had to miss pe because of the pain, and he really enjoys that lesson.
He's had it on and off for around a year now. Over the summer holidays he only had it a couple of times 🤔. For the past few weeks being back in school there was no sign of any pain, until this week that is. Out of nowhere, he's in quite a bit of pain. He woke at 3am this morning is pain.
Today the doctor spoke about abdominal migraines but apart from the pain he doesn't have any other symptoms like sickness etc.
His blood test was ok and urine sample showed keystones were raised but that might be because he hadn't eaten or drank much.

I'd welcome any advice.

Many thanks

Hm this sounds somewhat similar to something my DS had for 2 years or so between the ages of 10-12, although his tummy pain was on the sides, not so much in the middle. You mentioned a raised level of keytones, Could it be a sort of liver pain? There are inherent liver problems like Gilbert’s syndrome that might cause something like this? Does he have toilet problems when he has the pain, or is that all normal? How is his diet?

Strangely for DS, after having the pain on and off, it disappeared seemingly overnight and hasn’t came back in a year. We had numerous visits to the GP but nothing seemed to be certain, although my guess is it was IBS and that it could come back randomly.

Thank you for your reply.
He's had various blood tests and urine tests and they've come back ok, so I don't think it would be liver related. The doctor did say it's probably because he hasn't drank much.

He has a good diet, veg, fruit, little bit of meat plus the usual sweet treats, nothing to excess. He drinks plenty usually too.

Has he had a virus or any illness in the preceding week? Sometimes the glands in the abdomen become enlarged and inflamed in the same way they do around the neck following throat infection. If not abdominal migraines are a definite possibility. They are little understood but are a migraine variant that usually occurs in children. DS has cyclical vomiting syndrome which is another migraine variant and often morphs into migraines in adulthood. However you can't assume it is AM as (even if it is), it may one day be appendicitis, so needs checking on every time unless the doctor is really certain of the diagnosis and gives some kind of treatment that is affective. DS has CVS and we sensed something different on one apparent episode and it turned out to be pancreatitis. Even the doctors were stunned at this. Only a tween, so no idea what was going on.

I would try a gaviscon. It's not for under 12s but a Dr did ok us to give it. If that works I would ask Dr for omeprazole.

This is very similar to DS at similar age. The gaviscon worked like flicking a switch. It's not a long term solution but that's where the omeprazole comes in. Basically DSs problem was some kind of indigestion but I do remember stomach migraine being said which seemed a bit like a "virus" cover all.

Thank you so much. Did you give it to your Ds as and when the pain happened?

We just tried a gaviscon when he was in pain. I remember he looked up at me and said "it's worked" - after over a year of pain, this was some moment!! After that revelation we were pretty convinced it was some kind of GERD, acid indigestion type thing but it was never actually diagnosed. The Dr said after a month we couldn't continue Gaviscon (which we were giving one tablet as and when he was in pain which was about three times a week) and there was nothing else we could give (!) That prompted me to post on here and it was another poster who said they can give omeprazole, it is licensed for children and "don't be fobbed off". So back to the Dr who agreed to prescribe it!! He took one a day every day and was pain free. We later stopped on the advice of a hospital Dr (by this point he had been referred) and the pain didn't return.

This may not be anything like your DS and perhaps it is stomach migraine. I feel for you. It's so frustrating. I previously thought you get sick, you get a diagnosis, you get treatment, but now I know it's not so clear cut.

Thank you. I will discuss your experience with my husband a bit later on. I really appreciate you sharing.

Could also be a food intolerance. Did they check for celiacs?

Could also be constipation - I think that's often one of the first things considered and affects a lot of children.

Any signs of diabetes (drinking loads and weeing loads)?

It's horrible not knowing what it is and therefore not knowing how you can help them. Hope you get sorted.

Gaviscon can cause constipation so it's worth watching out for that. We use old fashioned Milk of Magnesia and it doesn't seem to have the same side effect. Might be useful as an alternative.

He hasn't been tested for celiac but he doesn't have any other symptoms really apart from the pain. But I will double check when the Pediatrician gets in contact.

It sounds like we are in a very similar situation OP. My daughter is a similar age and has had similar symptoms for years. We've cut out gluten but she might have to start eating again if the specialist decides she might have coeliac after all (most recent blood test suggested she didn't, went GF after that). Does your son have any other symptoms? Mouth ulcers can indicate coeliac for example.

Sorry, just realised you said that he doesn't have any other symptoms!

That's ok 👍
Yes it's really strange that it's so hard to work out what's causing the pain. Looking at the pattern of when It seems to occur - mostly at school, we were pretty much convinced it was anxiety but he's happy in school and has a great group of friends, as I said above, even if we ask him if there's something at school that he doesn't really enjoy, there's not much really. The school welfare lady has even seen him a few times but she can't seem to identify an area of anxiety really.

Does calpol help him?

It's hard to know for definite because if he has it before going to school he said it helped for a while and then started hurting again, so I'm not sure if the pain returned before he was due more calpol.

Hi all, we are in a similar situation with DD. Every few weeks she has stomach pain and you can't even touch her tummy. We have been to the GP several times and even rushed to hospital with suspected appendicitis the other day. Abdominal migraine has been suggested also mesenteric adenitis. There isn't anything that can be done other than Calpol which doesn't seem to work.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

I wish I knew @maybeCornish ! She sounds similar to my daughter. Have you tried keeping a food diary? You never know, it might highlight something useful

That's what we are trying next. There doesn't seem to be anything that's a trigger that we have noticed but we will keep a record.