Sore tummy not going away - week 3

[dancinginthedark123]

On week 3 of a near constant sore tummy in my DD8. Always around her tummy button. She also complains of feeling sick on and off but no sickness or diahhrea or fever. At the end of last week they took bloods (all normal) and a stool sample (also normal) and ruled out bacterial infection/ coeliac/ stomach bug. Also tested urine which was clear. They’ve now said there’s nothing to do nit wait it lit and they’ll see her at Xmas time if no better. Nurofen helps but I can’t keep giving her that. She manages school (just) but at home just wants to lie on sofa and is eating less than usual and seems to hurt more after food. Any ideas on what tummy pain could be in absence of everything above?

ETA *nothing more they can do but wait it out

Sometimes stress can be articulated like pain around the belly button. If she's not constipated I'd be wondering if something has happened that's making her anxious.

Dc had sore tummy at a similar age and was diagnosed with abdominal migraines. Mesenteric adenitis was suggested too but dc hadn't been ill before it started so that's when they said about the abdominal migraines.
Other dc had anxiety that manifested as tummy aches too, is she worried about anything?

Do you mind me asking how you got the abdominal migraine diagnosis? she is an anxious child in general but it feels like it’s all the time, not just before eg school etc. for example we were meant to be going to a nice day out at the weekend and it was hurting her so she couldn’t go, so I don’t think it’s just anxiety tho perhaps a bit of it is, it’s just so hard to know ☹️

Constipation
Give probiotics

She already takes a multivitamin with a probiotic in it and she’s definitely not constipated (regular as clockwork every day) but wish It
was that so I could easily fix it!

Grumbling appendix?

I did ask about grumbling appendix but the dr said it didnt fit 🤷‍♀️

Does she have a hernia?

My 8 year old has the same symptoms and he has a small hernia. Barely visible to the eye but checked over by a consultant.

Surgery is an option if we want it but undecided x

Not at all. GP referred us to paediatrics. Dc had a thorough check over, poked and prodded, bloods taken, blood pressure etc. Basically said abdominal migraines fitted with symptoms, plus family history of migraine (me and my dad). He was given propranolol as a preventative and almost as soon as he started taking them the tummy aches mostly resolved.

Dc with anxiety was also prescribed propranolol for symptom control (different dosage). Also did some CBT, we were recommended a book (think it was something like Starving the Anxiety Gremlin?). Having to miss out on fun stuff can still be a result of anxiety, worried about lots of people/loud noises and stuff. I know looking back now that dc had obviously been unsettled/struggling for a while before we twigged what it was.

Something else to think about potentially too is that neurodiversity (ASD/ADHD) can present differently in girls, masking and covering it can be hugely stressful which could cause physical symptoms. Sorry if that adds to your worries!

Have you tried her lactose free. My friend’s DD started with vague stomach pains and nausea, before her symptoms progressed and she was eventually diagnosed as lactose intolerant.

This so helpful- thank you 🤍not adding to my worries at all. Her older brother has autism and I have occasionally wondered if she might too so we are on waiting list for assessment but In my area that’s 2.5 years 🤦‍♀️I’ll definitely try
and find that book and will ask about propranolol. she has become
ore
anxiois this year (some girl friendship dramas, her gran getting ill) so that’s All possible, thank you so much for taking the time to reply x

I did wonder about this but she eats very little lactose (just with taste - she simply
doesn’t like dairy!) and the dr said if it was lactose her tummy would hurt more after having some which it doesn’t 🤷‍♀️

Friend’s DD’s symptoms were very mild at first. It may be worth a go (esp if she’s not big into dairy anyhow) :)

That’s really helpful, I’ll give it a go and thank you x

Mine gets reoccurring bouts of stomachache, she's also had various blood tests/stool tests etc and all clear, her doctor suggested anxiety, she does get really worried around spelling test at school so we've spoken to her teacher who's come up with a few suggestions which are helping. Hope you get to the bottom of it OP

Does your DD sometimes drink squash, esp Ribena? Mine used to have huge amounts of tummy cramps and would stop short whilst running, go pale etc. she has seen the GP and the paediatrician.

she has some improvement not having cows milk but huge improvement now we swapped from ribena. I get headaches from it too.

just a thought! Could really be anything op.

That’s interesting! She does like Ribena! And anything fizzy tho I obviously try and limit that one!

We swapped to robinsons apple and blackcurrant and honestly DD didn’t notice. We also give her more juice/smoothies instead. Tummy pains gone - can’t remember how long it took but think it was pretty quick. After a few years of complaining about them basically every day.

I’ve basically stopped drinking all forms of squash too and have less tummy pain myself. All these things are very artificial so it’s not surprising to have an intolerance to something in them.

I really hope it helps your DD too! Xx

What is her diet like? Meat eater? Vegetarian?

Definitely mainly vegetarian (simply due to her tastes). Will exist happily on rice, pasta and vegetables but will eat chicken a couple
of times a week. Red meat is very hard to get her to eat. today she had:
Fairly typical diet today:

Breakfast: 1 x egg and small bowl of Kit Kat cereal
crisps at break time
vegetable pasta at lunch
after school: floured roll with margarine + a sweet
Dinner: fishfingers, chips and beans
Dessert: tinned peaches

wasnt until evening time she said her tummy was sore tonight 🤷‍♀️

I second the ribena comment, it did the same to me when I was younger. Found it was artificial sweetners particularly aspartame and now as an adult they provoke migraines.

Might be worth checking they tested for intestinal worms/eggs (which I'm sure they will have) my son had what sounds v similar and it was worms. Unfortunately so many things abdo pain can be it's process of elimination!

It's also worth considering gallbladder issues and stomach irritation given it's after food mainly, and nurofen can irritate the stomach lining so maybe change to paracetamol instead. Hopefully it subsided but if not don't wait to go back especially if she starts loosing weight poor thing

Thanks so much, so interesting about the Ribena, I had no idea! they took a poo sample and I’m guessing they
Checked for worms but actually not sure, I know they were testing for bacterial infections and IBD/Chrons,

She has lost weight ☹️at the start of it all she was 24kg so already small and she’s now 23.4. Dr doesn’t seem worried and says it will level out 😖
paracetomal does nothing for the pain, only nurofen but I try and really limit it to eg when she can’t sleep with the pain as I know it irritates the stomach lining ☹️I really do feel at a loss.