Daily tummy pain since September

[dancinginthedark123]

I’ve posted about this before but I’m getting worried now ☹️
DD8 had a diahhrea bug at end of August with tummy pains. After 2 weeks the diahhrea finally subsided but the tummy pains didn’t. Every day she complains it hurts, often multiple times a day. It’s genuine pain-she bends over and goes pale when it hurts.
its always around her tummy button or just above it. She’s had bloods/ coeliac screen / uti test done and all perfect. No obvious cause. GP seems to think it will pass on its own and to keep up with paracetomal / ibuprofen but I’m aware I’ve been giving her this since September and that doesn’t feel right. She’s also had slight weight loss and is urinating more frequently.
at first I thought it was anxiety related but I now don’t as even during lovely happy times it suddenly hits her and she has to stop playing,

what next, what else can I push for? I keep waking up hoping today will be the day she doesn’t have a sore tummy but that day feels far away and it’s taking it’s toll on her and on me as I’m worried but keep having to put on a brave face and tell her it will pass☹️

She should be referred for an ultrasound or MRI to see what is going on in there. Has she had a liver function test? Stool sample taken and tested?

The pain killers are only masking her symptoms.

She could have a hernia or a cyst or a chronic infection or a parasite infection.

Stool sample showed nothing, bloods
were all normal (not sure if they included
liver? They said it was a full blood count)
no ultrasound which I find odd, they just say it will get better but it’s not and I find it increasingly upsetting to see her in pain and asking me why it always hurts and I don’t know the answer or how to make it better ☹️

Get copies of the stool and blood tests so you can see what was tested for and what was not. The stool test for parasites is different than the one for celiac’s or cancer. A full blood count doesn’t test liver or kidney function- it tests for anemia, cancer and infections.

So, I would definitely take her back saying it’s getting worse, it’s chronic and she is losing weight and urinating more frequently.

They need to keep investigating- more tests and scans.

Thank you so much, I’ll call on Monday and ask for another appointment.

Go for it!

What are her bowel movements like now and how is her eating? How much weight is slight loss?

I would definitely push for liver and kidney function tests as PP has said if you find after requesting past results it hasn't been done. And I would be asking for an ultrasound also. GP's are so good at fobbing off so what I tend to do is ask for what I want first and if they say no/not necessary or I feel a push back from them, I use the phrase "I really feel this is necessary and I won't be fully satisfied or reassured until it's happened" that usually works.

Bowel habits are back to normal thank goodnsss but the tummy pain has never gone away and she’s now urinating more and is generally tired. I’m tired of worrying and pushing ☹️I don’t understand why they are so reluctant to scan her in case there is something there. to be in pain every day at 8 isn’t right ☹️

So she weighed 24kg before this started and is now 22.8kg. Gp not worried as she’s only dropped one centile but surely any weight loss can’t be good☹️

Frequent urination can be a sign of constipation if urine has been checked and no infection present. It can also be a sign that any of the organs nearest the bladder are inflamed/swollen and putting pressure on the bladder. Are you checking her stools yourself and keeping an eye on the frequency of them? Or just taking her word on it?

As for the weight loss, unless there is a reason (reduced appetite, increased exercise or a sudden growth spurt in height) then no she shouldn't really be losing any weight at 8yrs old.

If they really refuse any other referral or test, could you go private?

definitely no constipation- fully formed stools and regular as clockwork. I can’t afford to go private ☹️

I’m sorry but I’m having a horrid panic attack and am alone so turning to here for
a handhold.
I’vd stupidly googled and now panicking its some kind of
stomach cancer or lymphoma. Please talk me down☹️☹️☹️

Sorry OP I fell asleep quite early last night. I hope you managed to calm down and get some sleep. Stomach cancer would be causing vomiting/regurgitation, lack of appetite, reflux/heartburn etc so I'm sure she doesn't have any of the red flags for that.

I completely understand your panic though, my ds10 hasn't been well this year including hospital stay and was eventually diagnosed with coeliacs disease and whilst at a consultant review on Friday he said the word "leukemia" and despite it being in a sentence of I do not think it's this - just the sheer fucking fact that my son has 3 of the more minor symptoms of leukemia sent me into a total panic and stupidly googling but I'm trying really hard to put it to bed in my mind.

You'll be ringing the GP today and hopefully can get a quickish appointment, go in with the mindset of you're not leaving with a referral for further testing.

Ibuprofen on an unprotected stomach can cause pain if given regularly for months. Has she been given something to protect her stomach? Would discuss a prescription for something if you get an appointment. Please make them aware you are still giving it (as advised).

Thank you so so much, I’m sorry you have had a hard year of
worry too. Your message really calmed me down 🥰thank you so much. Have called to leave a message for the GP to move things forward I hope.

That’s a very good point actually, I hadn’t thought of that.

Temporary lactose intolerance can be quite common after a bug. Have you tried cutting out milk?

She’s naturally pretty lactose free as had a dairy allergy as a baby and just never liked the taste of milk / cheese etc when she outgrew it. Gp said as she has so little it’s probably not that.
the other odd thing is she keeps complaining of feeling cold (especially on waking despite heating being on and in warm pajamas. Not sure if that could be linked or not. Feel I’m going mad trying to second guess it all and help make it better ☹️

OP, would it be a stomach migraine? Our DD started having stomach pains around 7 or 8, and I avoided doctors as I was terrified of getting bad news. She suffered on and off, but this then developed into a regular headache. By 12/13 she was fine after chiropractic fixed the headaches. She's now coming 14 this year.

Could this be 2 separate issues? With the increased urination and weight loss I would be worried about type 1 diabetes so she should get that checked out asap.
Also she could have developed an UTI since last time she was tested so they should test for that again.
If neither of those things an ultrasound or MRI would be the next step I would think.

Ds had similar but without diarrhoea and it stopped when they put him on a low dosage of stomach tablets but then reappeared. He ended up in hospital with suspected appendicitis but then they said it wasn’t. Now on a gluten free diet and actually there’s a huge change in all, energy, appearance and stomach pains. Hope you get to the bottom of it op

Also just wondering if you have been abroad this year? Could she have picked up a tropical disease or a parasite?

Also worth repeating the coaliac tests because children sometimes need a follow up test, and if she had not been eating normally last time because of the upset tummy then maybe she wouldn't have had high enough antibodies to detect- don't cut out gluten until she has been tested

Not heard of stomach migraines, could be? I feel exactly the same way, I’m terrified of bad news (rotten health luck has led
to my health anxiety) So I’m actually scared of hearing bad news and it makes me
want to hide under a duvet and not take her back to the dr
and keep pushing but I know I need to ☹️

Sadly nothing abroad!

My kids had a vomiting bug last December. Both had regular tummy pains on and off for a long time afterwards. One was having the pains daily and I took him to a private GP who said that it was most likely constipation. I was surprised as he was passing stools every day. We upped his fibre and that was a turning point. We also give a daily prebiotic and it worked a treat too. I think k after a bug it can be normal for the ecosystem in the digestive tract to be disrupted.