my four year old daughter started getting severe bellybutton pain one day she just woke up with it. The pain was intense and I stupidly thought it was school nerves (started reception that week.) over the course of two days the pain started coming every 20-30 minutes for 3-5 minutes at a time. Doctors thought it was constipation at first so gave medication for that, which helped her pass three to five bowel movements but the pain kept coming. Started to wake her up at night and she was inconsolable writhing in pain. Fast forward to day five and I took her to an and e for the second time where they took bloods. Normal paracetamol and burden didn’t touch the pain. Traumatising blood test done and said infection markers were high but not terrible, urine was ok so they diagnosed mesenteric adenitis. said it would take a week to resolve.
unfortunately no improvement in the pain and new symptoms presented. Loss of appetite, very tired (from being in pain every thirty minutes and not sleeping at night) so went back to an and e two days later where more bloods were taken and infection markers had now doubled in two days. I pushed for an ultrasound but said they had no facilities in an and e to do that. So was referred for one. Day 8 was horrible pain still there every thirty minutes pain meds not helping. Pushed my gp for an xray which I had done and nothing strange on x ray.
ultrasound booked for Monday, but now what had happened is over the weekend she has slowly improved, pain has been less severe and slept well last night. But I am still clueless as to what it actually was? Viral infection seems possible as coming out in cold like symptoms now but not sure if she has picked something up from her sister?
the whole thing has shaken me to my core, hearing her crying out saying “mummy help me” for 9 days has taken its toll and now I’m meant to accept it was messentric adenitis, and it’s just disappeared? I was certain it was appendicitis but wouldn’t know now as ultrasound will probably show nothing.
now going to be petrified of any virus or illness she gets will trigger off a week of unbearable pain for her. Don’t know what to think and my anxiety is through the roof. Feel incredibly let down by the NHS for giving me no ways to manage her pain other than it will ride its course!? I Have health anxiety, panic disorder and major depression so don’t think this situation has helped my mental health.
what do you think I should do? I’m tempted to push for paediatric referral just in case she has something dietary causing it, but at the same time the poor thing has been poked with needles the past week and is traumatised too.
any advice welcome. How do you move on after seeing little ones in intense pain and being helpless as their mother?
thank you for reading/ responding.