Why has my dd1 been complaining of feeling unwell, being tearful for last month! HELP

[haychee]

DD1 is 7.
She is usually full of beans and very lively.

Just recently she has not been her usual self.
No temperature.
No sickness.
No diarrhoea.

Complains of tummy ache, particularly after eating (say an hour later).

Can be her usual self, but 80% of the time is quiet/subdued and just not right.

She has an appetite and is eating well.

Has been so nondiscript that i have continued to send her off to school, wondering if she is just trying to get a day off or increased attention.

Im expecting the school to call me today, as she was complaining again this morning, of "i dont feel well". Yesterday apparently she sat with a sick bowl in class.

She isnt usually one to sit about, and its been going on so long now that im beginning to worry. I dont think she is putting it on because shed of got bored of that by now, because i havnt really given her much extra attention, very little actually.

Id feel daft going to drs with her, and say what, she has no tangable symptoms - but she is just not right.

Could it be teeth?? She has 2 big-uns at the back comming through. Hasnt complained about them, but maybe making her feel rundown?

IS SHE CONSTIPATED?

No i dont think so.
She seems to go quite regularly, if anything a little loose at times.

Her teacher says she went to the loo 3 times before mid morning break yesterday. And got upset later in the day over something very trivial.

Sometimes i wonder if she is just tired, but she sleeps soundly from 7.30ish pm to 6.30am.

Oh poor dd, take her to the doctors anyway I'd say. Am sure there are a wealth of things it could be.

But have you considered it might be psychological - ie something is upsetting her and the only way she knows how to describe it is through 'not feeling well'? Don't want to alarm you but I think you have to act on your 'something not right' instinct.

Can you ask her if there is anything she wants to tell you?

Yes ive gone down that route and im sure she is quite happy. Ive talked to her about school, friendships, teachers etc.

I think i will take her to drs if she comes home today.

Ive been saying that to myself for weeks then she perks up a bit for a couple of days.

Not daft, not daft, not daft

Take her, if nothing else it'll teach her that she matters, her health matters, you care, and doctors are there for getting help from. And pain/nausea an hour after eating is enough of a symptom for a doctor to check her out for, anyway.

Hope you get some answers and she feels better soon!

No calls from school all day.
Just got home, no signs of anything untoward again. Seems absolutley fine.

This is the trouble, one minute shes bad the next right as rain.

Kids eh?

So will be putting off drs visit again. As it is friday, i wouldnt get an appointment until next week anyway. If i made the appointment, she would probobly be bright as a button when it took her - its just typical.

Also, i dont want to encourage her to milk the situation. I do wonder if she is putting it on sometimes for the attention, but like i say i try not to give her much.
I dont like to go to the drs without something real to complain of. I have to be really suffering before i will go - and she clearly is not really suffering, well not at the moment anyway.

Oh i dont know.

How long's it been going on, Haychee? If its only few days, she might have a virus - I had one (then dh got it, and the dds in different form) that made me feel v tired, and a bit nauseous from time to time, came and went. Very nondescript, but horrid when it was there, IYSWIM. And occasional stomach pains, too.

If its been going on for weeks, I'd take her anyway - even if its next week, even if she's bright as a button that day. Then you can at least rule out anything physical, which will free you up to think about other possibilities?

Its been a month, with maybe a clear week inbetween bouts of real severeness.

Was bad this morning, took her to school anyway. Came home full of beans.

I should take her i know but just cringe at the thought of the dr telling me there is nothing wrong with her.

is she normally perfectly happy when she comes home from school?

Tends to be ok after school, until after dinner when she starts up again.

She doesnt like school at the moment. I know that and is frequently asking for a day off - i never allow it.

I think the thought of going to school doesnt help.
She is no trouble to get ready for school, but goes all wimpy as we arrive. But breakfast is regularly at 7.30, so am wondering if its the after a meal thing again.

She doesnt struggle with school work.
She is quite popular, has lots of friends etc.

She says her tummy gets angry.

I just asked her how it was today and she said, it hurt this much (about 12 inches - lol) and it hurt at morning and lunchtime playtimes and in class, but doesnt hurt now.

a long shot, but try giving her some rennie afetr a meal, tell her it will stop her tummy from hurting, maybe best trying it tonight as she knows she has no school tomorrow so might work better as she doesnt have school to worry about for the weekend IYSWIM.

Good idea.

Are they ok for kids, she is 7. How much, one or half?

Daddy has rennies. None in cupboard. Will pop out and get some now.

a friend of mine's dd went through something that sounds similar. lots of tummy ache and headaches, went on for couple of months. friend took her to doc several times and for eye tests but nothing physical wrong. had quite a stressful homelife, difficult siblings etc so was thought to be anxiety causing the probs. she is fine now. maybe if your dd is not enjoying school it could be her worries showing up as tummy pains?

Got some rennies. They say not recommended for children under 12, which is a concern.

I cant imagine it is just the school, cos it (tummy ache) happens in the evenings, at weekends even through half term.
She gets on well at school, is in the top sets etc, gets invited to parties etc.
I hope it isnt just school.

We have pizza for tea, so if it is indigestion, then pizza should spark up some irritation. Will give half a rennie i think if it happens.

rennie is perfectly fine (ring nhs direct and ask) i remember when my sonw as 2, he took 2 rennie and i panicked, phoned the doctors and they said its fine it wouldnt of done him any harm, hes 8 now and i give him a full one if he has a dodgy tummy, let me know what happens after tea.

Pizza eaten at 6.30 (all gone at that time)
Tummy ache just came on (7.15)

She knew i had the rennies and was kind of wanting one before dinner, so am not really sure if/how bad the tummy ache actually is.

Is in mouth now a whole one, she likes them thats for sure.

Is it an immediate effect usually? Or within half-one hour like with a paracetamol?

Says it hurts about a 6inch round shape now, was an easy 12inches straight line before tablet.

Its soo hard to work them out.
Is she really ill, or is it something like indigestion or is it just her being whingy?

I'd take her to the gp anyway. Could it be appendicitis?

Appendicitis is more acute isnt it? This has been going on for a month.

I'm not sure. Does grumbling appendicitis exist. I know I've heard of it but I'm not sure if it's a term for something else. I know my dad was ill with stomach pains over a period of time when he was a child and it turned out to be his appendix.
Even so, it sounds as though it's related to her digestion somehow and it might benefit from a gp taking a closer look.

Yes i should.
I will.

Will have to wait until monday now even to make the appointment.

But i will.

just a passing thought..have you considered threadworms?

there is not always bottom itchiness, but tummy aches and weepiness seem to be associated with it on NHS direct site.

Do, haychee, it honestly doen'st sound like just whingeing. Digestive things can come and go, my BF had grumbling appendicitis for years when a kid, and it wasn't where you'd expect it to be (ie was in middle, not low on r).

As for wanting a Rennie, my dd would too - its like a sweet, its 'grownup', and it might make her feel better: why wouldn't she?!

EEW, threadworms!
God i hope not!
She certainly doesnt have any itchyness, but like you say, doesnt always happen like that.

Im definitely taking her to gp asap.