To not have a clue what is going on with my 2 year old.

[121gigawatts]

First of all, apologies if this is going to be a long post but my 2 year old DD (just turned 2 in August)
Is having alot of health problems and nobody can get to the bottom of it.

In May we went on holiday to Spain, she and her older sister came home with terrible coughs. I am convinced it was whooping cough, even though vaccinated, I believe they can catch it more mildy. GP dismissed it but around 4 weeks in received some antibiotics as things weren't clearing. The week later she was given more medication for an inflamed tonsil, the next week it was her ear. It did all start to settle down and she is in childcare two days a week so put all the sickness down to that. Fast forward to around 4 weeks ago and she started vomiting. The vomiting occurs at the same time of the day afternoon/early evening and can go on into the night. She never vomits in the morning. Before the vomiting she usually becomes extremely lethargic and fussy, then once she feels better bounces right back. Sometimes it's been every day for 5 days, goes away for a few days and comes back. She got admitted to hospital who took a chest/stomach x-ray and then gave her antibiotics as they said her lungs had infection. Vomiting didn't stop a week or so later so got seen on rapid access clinic by a peads doctor.

Paeds doctor does tests for coeliac disease after he re diagnoses the x-ray that the ANP diagnosed and says her lungs are OK but her stomach is in a terrible way filled with poo and gas. Paeds doctor also gives laxatives. So the last 9 days DD has been the toilet every day and had no vomiting, things were looking up but then today randomly vomited everywhere, and it was loads and since been lethargic and not herself. Paeds doctor told us to treat her as coeliac for next 6 weeks but I'm still awaiting results of the test so not actually sure if she is. We have been sticking to a strict GF diet (I am coeliac so not an issue and I think this is why Paeds doctor thinks she is) However, something in my gut is telling me something more is going on here. I wonder as well if she has some kind of reflux as I here her gulping and swallowing a lot but this could be as the result of something bigger going on.

Also, I don't know if everything is related, as in the cough and multiple infections she caught from May but just thought I would detail everything as I feel she has not been right since May. She also still has the cough at night sometimes and has little coughing fits in the day occasionally. Paeds doctor says too late to test if it was whooping cough though. Eldest DD seems absolutely fine now.
I was not diagnosed with coeliac until early 20's and my symptoms were different but I know it can present in other ways.

I am at a loss. Paeds doctor said to go back to hospital if vomiting didn't stop and they will want to do a CT to rule out anything on her brain but that would usually present with vomiting in the morning.

I am starting to feel so anxious and down about it. Its affecting childcare, work etc as she has so much sickness. Not back to paeds doctor for 2 months but I guess if the vomiting continues again we have the option of going back to hospital and demanding CT (which really scares me)

Anybody else had any experience with random episodes of vomiting/lethargy?

My ds vomited regularly when he was little. It was a combination of an over sensitive gag reflex and asthma.

If there is a reflux issue it can actually cause coughing and also result in an unsafe swallow and chest infections. So all of these might be related.

Thanks for replies. So initially the doctor said cough induced vomit but the cough has gotten better and she doesn't cough before she vomits. I asked for an inhaler but they said they didn't think it was asthma. But perhaps I need to revisit this.

Also DD1 had reflux as a baby and was on gaviscon and omaprazole. It could be worth asking for some infant gaviscon.

Could it be EoE? EoE causes coughing and vomiting. I don't know a whole lot about it but it is part of the allergy family so would be triggered by certain foods which could explain the recurring time of day, if she is reacting to foods she eats in the afternoon for example.
Antibiotics can lead to EoE developing too.

With any digestive issue I would definitely start by keeping a food diary with a close eye on the top 9 allergens. Some allergies present with delayed reactions that can occur 2 hrs after eating, I think this can be the case with egg and milk products.

You have my sympathy it's horrible knowing there is something wrong but not knowing what it is or how to fix it. You will get there i'm sure but definitely try to spot any correlation with specific foods because not all food allergies can be tested for unfortunately so it may ultimately be up to you to figure it out by process of elimination, if it is something like that.

Coeliac can cause acid reflux, indigestion symptoms also as a knock on effects of being constipated or backed up. How long has she been on the GF diet and how long have you been waiting on the results of that test? With you having coeliac she has a 1 in 10 chance of having it too.

Could the antibiotics have unsettled her gut?

Go back for the CT don’t wait.

Stick to the GF diet. Keep a detailed food and symptom diary. Could it be reflux caused by lactose intolerance?

Perhaps try some probiotics, the antibiotics will have affected the gut microbiome.

Thanks so much for all the replies. She's been GF since she Friday 6th, basically as soon as soon as she'd had the test, I changed her diet. I rang the hospital last week for results but on Friday they said they didn't have them yet. I'm going to call again today as this seems unusual to wait for bloods this long. Unless the consultant needs to report on them or something.

Will get some probiotics today, she is also still BF but this is only at night really and I take a really strong probiotic so I think she will be getting some of this as read it does pass through milk but I'll go and seek some advice today on best type of probiotic today.

I will also start a food diary. I am trying to get to the bottom of what she had at IL's house on Saturday but they're being vague. I believe she had GF pasta and DH confirmed this but I have asked what was in it, sauces etc. MIL is usually OK about making GF for me in past but have had the odd issue.

Did the hospital mention how long results would take? It probably differs by area but when I was awaiting results from the hospital the delay was in the consultant writing the notes up due to backlogs. However, my GP was able to access results at the practice and could explain them over the phone whilst I waited for letter to come through.

Not been able to get through to consultants secretary today yet, and have been into GP to ask but they said they can't get any results as requested by the hospital but they would get a letter from consultant but I assume I would be copied into it also.

So today she's covered in spots, face only. Have attached photos. Was thinking perhaps hand, foot and mouth but no spots other than face and seems ok in herself, no temperature.

Would anyone say this is an allergic rash? Sorry, photos aren't great.