Child is always sick

[Roundthebendx]

I need some advice please. I'm a single, full time mum to a 9 y/o. I work full time in an emotionally demanding job. Co-parent rarely sees our child and so I have absolutely no support network.
Said child is ALWAYS sick. If they get tonsillitis, they're sick with a stomachache. Hayfever, they're sick with a stomachache. Nervous, stomachache which sometimes leads to sickness. Excited, stomachache that can lead to sickness. This has been an ongoing thing now for a couple of years. We've been to the GP, had blood tests, allergy tests etc. Much of it is put down to being anxious.
It's to the point I'm having time off every month from work. I'm desperately trying to climb the ladder, in order to provide a better life but I can feel it becoming an issue, with having to have time off every month. I've taught my child anxiety techniques, given them strategies to help when they feel anxious, stressed etc. We have a good, balanced diet. I don't know what else I can do. It's awful to see them being sick or having a stomachache so frequently, and to be honest it's draining for me too. I'm so tired and behind all the time. I'm really worried that work are also going to have a problem with this and I honestly wouldn't blame them.

Can anyone suggest anything I can do to help my wee one further, anything that I haven't covered? I'm getting really stressed out every time I have a message from school to collect them, or waking up to "mum I have a stomachache" all the time. It's to the point I actually dread it. I've tried everything I can think of to help them. The GP has said around 80% of stomachaches in children have no known cause. I'm glad they're not concerned obviously, but between looking after an ill little one so frequently, lack of sleep and working full time, it's starting to take a toll on my own health however, I can't take time off when I'm ill because I have so much time off when they're not well.
Please can someone offer some suggestions on what else I can try?

Do you think it is actually a stomachache, like do they look pale and uncomfortable? Do you think it's anxiety or something else? I guess my 'go to' is drink water or go to the toilet but I'm sure those bases are covered. After that it might be anything from a food intolerance to something like Crohn's. If they get a stomachache alongside anything else I'd say that sounds like it could be anxiety

They've been tested for everything repeatedly. Everything comes back ok. I used to put a lot of the stomachaches down to anxiety. I just don't know what else to do. I don't know how to manage something where's someone's natural bodily instinct is to just be sick, at pretty much everything. Even when they have a cold.
I've tried lots of anxiety techniques, I'm actually qualified in this area. I literally don't know where else to turn. I'm tired, stressed and rundown myself.
I'm glad it's genuinely not serious, but it's obviously not nice for them feeling ill every month. It used to be worse as they had separation anxiety, this doesn't seem as bad now they're older though. Motion sickness is another one. Just constant stomachaches and sickness at absolutely everything.

My friend's DD was similar and, with no explanation, she outgrew that when she started secondary school. We'll never know if it was psychosomatic or purely biological (onset of puberty fixed that somehow?). But it went away. Hope your DS gets better soon too. Hang on tight meanwhile.

@MumOnBus I hope so! Only three more years to go. Thank you for this comment. I was starting to think we're both going mad.

Have they had their Vitamin D levels tested? Low and high Vitamin D levels can result in abdominal pain. This tends to be an extra test that isn't normally performed.

I assume by allergy testing you did the full gamut, including gluten-intolerance, etc.?

Have you had your child keep a "Food/Activity/Mood" journal? Sometimes, the culprit is something a part of every day life, habits, taste, and you don't really notice it until you see a pattern with "what" your child is eating or doing, and "when."

So, for example, if your child ate/drank loads of nuts, chocolate, tea, spinach, potatoes, etc, on a daily basis, they may be overloading on oxalates, and in addition to kidney stones this can cause upset stomach. You might not really think of this until you see it in the food journal.

I would test for Vitamin D if you have not, and have your child keep the journal. Considering they are 9, you will have to keep it for them, most likely.

We have been tested for literally every. When I say everything, I mean everything. I had convinced myself something must be seriously wrong. All clear though. We have been tested several times.

Do things like kwells for travel sickness prevent the vomiting? I used to get stematil prescribed for sickness due to ear issues. Wonder is that could help.

I know these things dont fix the root cause but if the vomiting would stop the child couod leave the house.

Acupuncture could help. They do children and babies. It can fix things GPs dont know how to fix. Ours does treatment half price for children.

@RentalWoesNotFun Kwells is the only travel sickness tab that actually works. It used to be so bad that they'd be sick a couple of hours after arriving at a destination, like the tabs would suppress the sickness until the tab wore off. Kwells is the only one that's been 100% successful. It used to be so bad we couldn't travel longer than 15 minutes in the car.
I will look into acupuncture, I'm well in favour of alternative treatments so thank you for this suggestion. I will definitely look into this.

Younger children when ill will often get an upset stomach or feel sick and have abominable pain. This is due to lymph nods in that area swelling when they are ill. Adults don't seem to get this as it only effects children.

Have they had professional input for their anxiety from a Psychologist? It sounds quite deep seated if they had separation anxiety & still have ongoing issues.

@MigGril thank you for that explanation. As predicted, my boss expressed concern today regarding my time off. However, being a parent will obviously trump any job I have.

@Leo800 thanks for your comment. I am a mental health professional.

I know this is an old thread but experiencing similar with my 6 year old son. Noticing every 4-6 weeks he has tummy pains for 1-2 days then the sickness starts. Can be sick 1-10+ times it varies. Have you looked into this - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cyclical-vomiting-syndrome/

I just think there must be a reason for it, it’s definitely not normal!