Recurrent abdominal pain in 6yo

[Astrid]

DD1 has had recurrent abdominal pain for over a year now (maybe longer). We finally have an appointment with the Paed next week (thankfully) and just wondering if anyone else has had a child who has gone through this.

DD1 often complains of pain in the middle of her stomach (the region around her belly button). Sometimes she has a bit of reflux (vomit coming up to her mouth). There seems to be no pattern to it, but I do swear that she was a bit better when I took her off milk for a week or so.

Our GP thinks it could be anxiety (of course MIL scoffs at this, as children have nothing to be anxious about), I think that could be part of it. I am also a worrier and it goes to my stomach (feeling sick, tummy rumbles etc). I also had ulcers at the age of 14 due to stress.

She also mentioned about referred migraines. DH used to suffer a fair bit when he was a kid.

I do suspect some kind of food intolerance. DD1 was a hell baby (sorry sweetie but you were). I do recall one time when we both had gastro and were not eating, that she became an angel toddler. Slept well, ate well (once recovered), behaved well. Lasted less than a week, I assume she went back to the way she was once whatever it was in her system built up again.

So anyone else experienced this? Is there anything I should be asking the Paed to run tests for?

[Mildez]

Yes I have been through/still am with my eldest DD who is 11. I first noticed her complaining of stomach pain when she was 4-5yrs old. She saw a paed on/off and we never did get a definate answer but they put it down to migraines as there is a family history and also treated her for constipation although she never was constipated. Now that you mention stress she does complain of stomach pain more frequently when she is stressed. I hope you get more answers then I did for your DD.

[Astrid]

Thanks for replying Mildez. Not great that your DD suffers from something as well.

DD1's teacher has mentioned that she complains about a tummy ache when she does not want to do something, she suspects that it is related to anxiety. If only DH would let me get Rescue Remedy for her or something custom blended from the naturopath, it would at least give us a starting point to help her.

[briggsy's girl]

ok, not for my kid - this was me - i had migraines that were in my stomach rather than my head when i was growing up. wasn't pleasant (ended up in hospital a couple of times when it was really bad). i was an anxious kid due to abuse at home so it's possible there was a degree of anxiety as a trigger for me

i'm not implying your DD has a trigger the same as mine - school can bring about so many anxiety triggers for kids! they want to play with X, X wants to play with Y... - it can be really full on developmentally/emotionally!

a lot of times i was told i was having growing pains too...

[Charlotte91]

I used to get really bad stomach pains from about 4 years old and still get them now. I was in and out of hospital when I was little because of the pain.

Turns out when I get a sore throat instead of the glands in my throat swelling up, my glands in my groin swell up. Its really painful.
They thought for some bizarre reason that it'd stop after I had my appendix out at 10 years old. But, it didn't.

Good luck finding out. Hope you find some answers.

[*Ang*]

OMG I could have written your exact thread Astrid. We are currently going through the exact same thing with our eldest DD (7.5) and in fact it got so bad today that I have made another appt tomorrow with our GP. She was lying on the couch in tears for around 3 hours, didn't eat her fave lunch (which is so unlike her) all because of the pain.

DD's pain has been going on for approx 2-3 months, initially at bedtime so we cut out the milk before bed routine and that seemed to help somewhat. But lately it has now been occurring at different times of the day and she doesnt eat alot of dairy so I don't think that is it. Approx 3 weeks ago we had to provide urine and stool samples for her but they came back all clear and the GP said that it is therefore more then likely related to stress/anxiety as well. Interestingly he did ask about migraines in the family and I have suffered from those.

I really hope you get some answers as we are heading down the same track as you and it is so so frustrating.

[Astrid]

Oh dear - this is much more common than I first thought.

It has been hard today, as she has been in a fair bit of pain. Enough to make me think about a GP appointment, but probably not worth making due to seeing the paed next week. Have been giving her panadol, which I think is helping.

[Astrid]

Wish I never told her about the Paed appointment. All she has done is ask questions and all her symptoms have ramped up. So it does seem to be pointing towards anxiety being the main cause.

I feel awful, I am getting angry at her as I just can't deal with it. There is nothing more we can do, we have Gaviscon tablets for reflux (had to deal with a chemist laughing at me when I asked for them, as if a child gets reflux), panadol for pain (but don't want to be pouring that down her throat every day). I just want to cry. I know something is not right with her, but I also suspect right now she is playing on it. DD2 has been ill on and off the last month and has had a few medications to get over it all. I just want the appointment to be first thing tomorrow not middle of the week.

[Charlotte91]

Oh, honey.
Will be thinking of you.

[Arcadia]

What about peppermint or chamomile tea? They are calming on the tummy and the nerves and may help her feel you are doing something itms?

Good luck with the dr.

[black_rose]

I was like this as a kid, I had so many tests, x rays, a barium meal, ultra sounds you name it. Finally worked out as an adult that it was milk, the pains stopped along with my headaches too.

Dd1 complains of a sore tummy and in her case it's related to her not wanting to poo on the toilet she holds on and it gets very painful for her.

[Astrid]

Thanks for the replies Ladies!

Had the appointment today. Looking like anxiety. He was watching her behaviour along with DD2 and suspects there is a good amount of attention seeking, along with her not really understanding her body. Saying that though, he is going to run some tests to do with gluten and wheat. Also have to monitor her bowel movements, just to ensure she is not having too much trouble there. There is the poo chart and she need to mark the what one she has done. What she calls "sloppy" is actually a good poo.

Going to do a chart of good and bad days for tummy pain. Good days get a star/smiley face, bad get nothing. This is to track what is happening, also it rewards the good days and not the bad ones (just incase some of it is attention seeking). Along with this we are to encourage her to manage the pain herself. So I have gotten her a wheat pack (a soft toy style one) and she is to use than when in pain.

We are to get her to think about her tummy a lot more, just not the pain, get her to describe more (butterflies etc). So she can learn that the "pain" could be due to her needing a poo, or butterflies is that she is nervous. I do notice she is not the best with hunger, not sure if it is her or a kid thing. She almost seems constantly hungry, but really does not eat much. May be she is not recognising hunger properly

Once we get through a lot of those tests, charting etc, if there is no improvement then we move onto food elimination.

[Arcadia]

Good luck with it all astrid. I think the wheat pack is an awesome idea. I hope it's just a phase for her and not an intolerance.

Keep us updated.

[aussienic]

Could be wrong but I was doing some research into my sons migraines and some children can get Abdominal migraines. I can't remember what it was all about though.. Maybe have a google and see if the symtoms fit??

Quote from a site I just googled

An abdominal migraine is a variant of migraine headaches. It usually occurs in children who have a family history of migraines. Abdominal migraines are rare in adults, but about 2% of all children may get abdominal migraines. Females are more affected than males.

Children that experience abdominal migraines typically develop migraine headaches when they get older.

Although abdominal migraines are in the migraine family, the pain occurs in the belly. Usually, it’s near the navel or midline. Abdominal migraines frequently occur as a reaction to a migraine trigger. They can cause severe stomach pain, nausea, abdominal cramping, and often vomiting.

[fromscratch]

I have never heard of abdominal migraine before. Sounds nasty.
Just wondering, if you feel it's food related have you concidered an elimination diet? (using a nutritionist is best)
Might be worth a thought.
Jee I hope something can be done soon. hate to here about children suffering.