fecal smelling burps

For the last week, DD (5yrs) has been getting really bad stomach cramps on and off. Doubled over in pain. The first night (a Thursday, 9 days ago) she had both the runs and vomitting. Her vomit smelled like poo but didn't contain anything resembling fecal matter. Off to the Dr's the next day and by our 1200 appt, she was bouncing off walls and running around. The GP said I looked worse than her. Her tummy was soft and pain free. Vomiting had ceased.

That weekend she was totally fine. Until Sunday night when she was doubled over in pain again. She was begging me to make her vomit and dry retching for hours - but couldn't vomit. Her burps smelt like poo in the sense of what her poo smelt like at that time (which had that very distinct gastro smell). She had the runs. I kept her home on Monday and she had these tummy pains perodically throughout the day. But by night was totally fine. The next day (Tues) she was fine all day and went to school Wed.

Last night (Sat) she started to complain of tummy pain around 11pm and between 11 and 0300 she had used her bowels twice - both very very lose. During the night, I've had to ask her numerous times if she has burped or farted because it smelt like her last poo. Each time she has burped. We've had no vomit.

Clinically I don't believe she has a bowel obstruction - she has been pooing frequently, her stomach is soft, her stomach isn't tender to touch. She has copious bowel sounds - excessive even. She is able to keep down water and crackers. But does anyone have any ideas? Has anyone else's child had this? I know there is a tummy bug going around but this just seems so sporadic...

TIA

Sounds like she may have giardia or something similiar that is living in the gut and raising it's ugly head every now and then. I think you'd have to take a poo sample in for testing to be sure about that? I'd also hit the yakult or something like it to get the good bacteria going in her gut again.

Is it possible to have a partial bowel obstruction that allows poo past sometimes and not others?

I was also wondering if it might be giardia or c.diff? Maybe you could make an appointment with the GP and try and get a poo speci to take with you so they can send it for testing straight away.

A partial bowel obstruction is a possibility although given the time frame I would think she might be more ill by now?

Definitely sounds like it needs investigating. Hope your little one feels better soon

I have no advice, but it's definitely something to investigate, I second the probiotic idea, but I would head to the health food shop and get a real good quality one..

Thanks girls. C diff had fleetingly crossed my mind but it is all so inconsistent. I plan to get yokult today for her. Poor little thing.

Part of me is wondering if it is related to the coin she swallowed last year (and had removed).

I think whilst it's still early ish I'd head off to emergency
Xxx

It could be a narrowing more then a blockage, sometimes you get increased bowel sounds with that. Is it related to something she has eaten before these attacks happen? Anything in the previous 24 hours before? Has she eaten another coin and not told you?

In typical fashion, her pain is now resolved. If/when it returns I will take her to ED. Not a lot of point going without symptoms.

I think I will also keep a food diary incase it is food related.

In the mean time, DH is still snoring his head off and I feel like I'm about to fall over with so little sleep! Going to eat my corn flakes and kick him out of bed!

Just another thought, is she constipated? She could be having breakthrough diarrhea.

No, not constipated. She opens her bowels almost daily. She did two last night before her pains kicked in.

I just saw your other post LC. I can't pin point a food but have started a food diary today to see if there is something causing it.

She hasn't swallowed another coin. She couldn't pass the one last year due to its size. When they did the gastroscopy everything was normal with the exception of the coin being there!