URGENT. 9 year old with stomach cramps

[poppiesinaline]

DS1 has been doubled in half with bad stomach cramps since 5.30 pm. He is now tucked up in bed with a hot water bottle sobbing cos it hurts so much.

I have a suspicion he may be constipated. Any tricks to get things moving? He refuses to eat or drink anything Would constipation cause a stomach ache? Its in the middle and to the left side quite low down.

anyone....? poor little mite is crying so much and I have done all I can think of to help him.

a bit of gentle movement, even if it's just tummy rubbing will help if it's constipation, also important to keep his fluids up even if he can't eat. No sickness?

thanks gemmiegoatlegs for replying. He did feel sick earlier a little but wasnt actually sick and doesnt feel sick anymore. He refuses to drink anything and won't let me massage his tummy. (I just tried with the result of him screeamming "NOOOOOOO!!! Ouch ouch. sob sob. Now it really hurts" )

Am I right do you think in assuming its constipation?

He has scrunched himself up into a tight little ball and I would really like to go to sleep!

have you managed to get some paracetamol down him. Even if refused i would really insist at this point. If you are really worried, ring NHS direct. They will help you judge where to go next with him. Might be a form of gastro even without the vomiting. has he been in contact with anyone who's recently had a tummy bug?

Why do these things always happen when your GP is closed?

I agree with gemmie - calpol if possible, then NHS Direct. poor lad.

nhs direct online, quite good for symtoms list. which side is your appendix ?

Don't mean to worry you, but have a read.

What are the symptoms of appendicitis?

The main symptom of appendicitis is abdominal pain. The pain is at first diffuse and poorly localized, that is, not confined to one spot. (Poorly localized pain is typical whenever a problem is confined to the small intestine or colon, including the appendix.) The pain is so difficult to pinpoint that when asked to point to the area of the pain, most people indicate the location of the pain with a circular motion of their hand around the central part of their abdomen. A second, common, early symptom of appendicitis is loss of appetite which may progress to nausea and even vomiting. Nausea and vomiting also may occur later due to intestinal obstruction.

As appendiceal inflammation increases, it extends through the appendix to its outer covering and then to the lining of the abdomen, a thin membrane called the peritoneum. Once the peritoneum becomes inflamed, the pain changes and then can be localized clearly to one small area. Generally, this area is between the front of the right hip bone and the belly button. The exact point is named after Dr. Charles McBurney--McBurney's point. If the appendix ruptures and infection spreads throughout the abdomen, the pain becomes diffuse again as the entire lining of the abdomen becomes inflamed.

could be the awful stabbing pain you get before you have diarrohea. especially if you said he felt sick earlier.poor boy,hope he feels better later

My first thought was the appendix too, but would cause pain on the lower right hand side of the abdomen. My health book says not to rule it out though as some people have appendix in the wrong place...I wouldn't go panicking unnnecessarily though.

appendix did go through my head too tbh but I did think that was on the right side so ruled it out. He has just let me massage his tummy a bit and then he said he felt like a poo but hasnt managed too. I am pretty sure it is just constipation.

But at what point do I throw in the towel and dash to casualty!?

will give him calpol too. Wasnt sure whether to or not but will try to now.

I think the dash to casualty is always the point where your mummy instincts start screaming alarm bells, you don't sound quite that panicked yet!

my sister is a nurse and insisted i take my dd's temperature the other day when she was poorly. I said "what's the point? i know she has a fever and i've given her medicine"
Anyway, when I took her temperature, she was 39.8 and I immediately panicked then. I say trust your mummy instincts.

Try and get some rest yourself poppiesinaline, is ther anyone else who can take a turn while you get some kip?

Thanks gemmiegoatlegs.

DH has just put him on the sofa next to him to watch TV. I think I may go to bed and leave the boys to it! (does that make me a bad mummy ? )

DH is very good at casualty trips anyway!

I thought appendicitis too. My sister had it at Christmas time when she was 7 and I always remember my mother telling her her tummy only hurt because she'd eaten too many sweets

what about ringing the oncall doctor?

hows ds today poppies?

ahh thanks for asking. He was up until 12 midnight that night and was restless all night. His stomach ache had gone in the morning but I popped down to the chemist and spoke to the pharmacist. He recommended Califig (gentle herbal laxative for children).

Gave him 2 spoonfuls and a couple of hours later.... hurrah!! a big fat dark hard poo!!! He went 7, yes 7 times that day! I was amazed at the amount of shit that came out of one small child . No wonder he had a stomach ache. He is feeling much better and has been banned from all junk for a while

I bet he feels a whole lot better, and lighter!!

blimey! what a relief for the poor boy, hope it doesnt happen again too soon for you

I have my bottle of Califig ready just in case