9 year old with constant stomach aches

[Maria951]

My 9 year old has been complaining of daily stomach aches for almost 3 years - a dull ache rather than a sharp pain. The GP says it's not unusual for kids to have constant stomach aches.
He's been tested for coeliac - negative. He isn't losing weight/is growing normally and doesn't appear to have any physical issues the GP could find. I thought for a while it was anxiety but it doesn't make sense for it to be so constant and lasting for so long.
When he complains of stomach pain, I usually acknowledge it and then just try to distract him. He has started trying to mask the pain because some people have made him feel like he's faking. Has anyone else had this experience with their kids? Does it just go away as the Dr suggests.

I’d be asking the GP about stomach migraines.
Does he have any diarrhoea/constipation with these pains ? Have you done a food diary to see if there is any setting it off ? Is he an anxious child, is he doing it to avoid certain situations ?

My 7/8 yo dd did complain of tummy aches daily but it tended to be in the morning and at bedtime so I did put it down to anxiety or indigestion. Or just a delay tactic for bedtimes. However I discovered a few months back that my dc both had worms and I have to say the complaints have mostly stopped now they have been treated. I did wonder if that was actually the cause and felt awful that it was potentially something so simply. I had no idea they had them until I checked when they were asleep 😱

Lactose intolerance?

My 9year old DS is exactly the same. He’s had tummy aches for as long as I can remember. He usually goes and lies down for a few minutes and they pass. He’s also been tested for coeliac which was negative. We’ve tried dairy, soya and gluten free diets which didn’t really make a difference. Currently under the paediatrician at the hospital and awaiting what to try next.

Personally I think it’s IBS or something similar.

One if my kids had similar and Dr tried her on Gaviscon for 3 week trial and within a few days - can't remember exactly 7-10 days maybe? The symptoms had resolved. She hated it so at her request we gradually reduced after that time (rather than stay on full dose) and symptoms didn't come back.

I think to ignore the problem and home it goes away is wrong. Your poor DS.

If the GP can’t help it should be referred onto someone who can.

Or if you do think it’s anxiety find someone who can help him with that (probably privately).

One of my siblings had stomachs what were linked to poor mental health. He ended with stomach ulcers and IBS.

These are the “the big nine” of things people are most often intolerant to: milk, eggs, soy, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, fish, shellfish, and sesame. Usually, the ones that people have the most trouble with because they’re woven throughout the diet are wheat, milk, soy, and eggs. If he had trouble with nuts or fish, it’d be a different kind of reaction, and I doubt he’s eating them that frequently.

As you didn’t mention any other stomach problems like wind, diarrhea, or constipation, it may be a mild intolerance? I’d try an elimination diet of each of those four, one at a time, and see if any of them make a difference. I often hear about dairy as the one that gives children the most nebulous symptoms, like just a bit of a stomach ache. You can also keep a food diary for a few weeks first and see if you can track it to him eating specific things.

If it is just pain and not other symptoms, I would wonder about stomach migraines. I had a lot of stomach aches as a child and no food allergy or intolerance. I get headache migraines as an adult, so do think they might have been linked. My migraines make me vomit too.

Could it be constipation? My DD always had stomach aches. Took her to GPs. After a few attempts one felt that she was very constipated (can be difficult to feel) despite having regular bowel movements. The new poo just found it's way around the blockage. She's been on stool softeners ever since.

Had she had the stomach aches for a long time before she started Gaviscon?

@BergamotMouse which stool softeners did your dr recommend?

Movicol. We've had it on prescription for years now. If we come off it the stomach aches return.

There's a paediatric one which I think is prescription only or adult one which is OTC and double strength so can use half the amount.

I'd probably speak to a GP as it might not be that.

I wonder if it could be anxiety related? My autistic kiddo had tummy aches because of this frequently

Constant for a month @Maria951 It had been put down to anxiety at first.

My youngest is on Laxido which is like movicol. She only got tummy ache after eating though. Weaning her off after 6 months of retraining her bowel (sitting on loo for a minute for every year of her age, after every meal at the start, now just needs it once a day.) If you think it might be bowel related, start upping their fiber and water first, and plenty of exercise. A lot of kids don't get the minimum recommended requirement of fiber according to DDS pediatrician.

Is there anything else about him that you're concerned about @Maria951?

My DD has always been a bit "quirky" and we had regular trips to the GP at this age due to stomach ache. She's a teen now and in the Pathway for assessment for ASD & ADHD. I'm pretty sure the stomach ache was anxiety about school.