Mystery tummy ache

[Ems]

My 7 yr old has had a strange tummy ache since Saturday night, he is sleeping, eating and 'toileting' normally.

He has just started back at school, he is loving it, but yet I feel that it is a worry/stress type tummy ache. I had read that children get tummy aches like we get headaches. He is a real worrier, had it at the end of last term, but strangely enough not in the hols!

I am struggling to make him better! Has anyone else had experience of this, or any of you with alternative health knowledge know about calming a worried tum? Thanks guys.

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Ems - it is more than likely worry/stress - but don't rule out something like a grumbling appendix. As a teenager, I had a bad tummy ache the night before going back to school and my mother thought it was stress - the next day I had my appendix out! Don't want to worry you though, as this is highly unlikely - but maybe it would be worth noting down when he gets these aches and what is happening in his life at the time to see if an external link becomes obvious. If not maybe you should get him checked out by your gp.

Ems, my stepdaughter (aged 6+ at the time) used to get "tummy aches" when she came to stay with us. In her case it was an attention getting ploy and I soon realized that being ill was the only way she could get attention in her mother's home. I would just say something like, "oh I'm so sorry your tummy hurts. I was going to take you to the (insert fun activity here), but it sounds like maybe we should just stay home and let you rest. Why don't you go and have a little lie down on your bed and see if it helps your tummy." Once she realized that not only was she not going to be getting any attention, but that she was going to miss out on a fun activity, the tummy ache soon disappeared. I don't think she was consciously making up the tummy aches, so I didn't belittle or chastize her for them. Instead, I just provided a subconscious reason for them not to happen. I would always follow through on the promised activity and make sure to give her lots of attention when she was not "feeling ill."
Perhaps as suggested by Willow2 your son is nervous about school for some reason and this is manifesting itself in the form of a tummy ache. Whether or not it is a real ache, he probably believes it to be real. Can you find something to distract him and focus his attention on. Maybe a fun activity that is associated with going to/from school (stopping to buy a special treat/toy/..) so that he thinks about that each day instead of what is worrying him about school. It might also be worth having a quiet word with his teacher to find out if there is something going on at school that is getting him agitated (bullying, school work too hard/easy, etc.). good luck.

Ems my friend was saying the same thing about her dd, couldnt put her finger on it and she even had it on Saturday (so assumed not totally school related) so was going to take her to the docs to check it out, I will try and find out outcome.

Thanks everyone, forgot to put on my message that he has had his appendix out, so therefore I do tend to ignore him now when he says he has a tummy ache as I know it cant be that serious!! Whereas before you always think, oh no, which side, could it be appendicitis etc!

He didnt mention it this morning, I'm hoping he doesnt mention it tonight too.

I was wondering if multi vitamins might give them tummy ache, I'm really good at remembering them on school days, but forgot them most of the hols.

My youngest gets 'stress' tummy aches too. I try to be mater of fact and it goes away.

One thing to bear in mind, though, Ems, is that as your DS has had his appendix out it could be adhesions, which are like internal scar tissue. It's pretty unusual but not unheard of. Hope he's better soon.

We've just had a similar tummy -bug, even managed to pass it around work. Mine was just uncomfortable tummy ache/sore not cramps, but dh was sick. Lasted 3-4 days and even then didn't really feel hungry. Hope he gets better soon.

My DD tends to be the same - but remember that tummy aches can also be related to sore throats and possible tonsillitis - so perhaps have a look down DS's throat to make sure that all is well in that department!
HTH

crystaltips, funnily enough he said he hadnt been able to drink much at school on Monday because his throat hurt (?! thought I) I didnt know the two could be related.

I do hope its not scar adhesions SueDonim, will get specific area when he next mentions it.

It hasnt been mentioned AT ALL today, phew, although when I picked him up from school, the teacher said his nose had bled all morning! I think he's falling apart! Are nose bleeds stress related too?

Bach Remedy on next shopping trip I think.

All this goes on, and he is loving school this term, he has a party to go to at the weekend, and appears to be very happy and positive. Fingers crossed.

Would be interested to hear about your friends little one Joe1 when you next speak to her. (Hope your tummy is being nice to you today!)

ems, multi-vitamins can give a tummy ache if they contain iron and are given on an empty stomach. Also, if they have calcium they can cause constipation and therefore tummy ache. Always give multi vitamins with iron after a meal.

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Thanks robinw, decided to stop the vitamins today as he did mention it still hurt this morning, see how we get on over the weekend.