Some advice please

Chuzzle

Hi

I know we can't give medical advice on here but I was rather hoping that some other parent might have experienced something the same or similar. If this breaks the forums rules I am sorry and please feel free to delete.

My 12 year old has for some weeks been suffering from very painful stomache ache. Doctor has ruled out apendicitus and gave him some medicine telling me it was colic. The medicine seemed to work, and his on/off tummy pains went. To describe the pain it was a sharp pain lasting up to 20 minutes but only 3 or 4 times a day. The pains have come back and he seems constipated as well, I have been giving him fybrogel to drink and it seems to be helping him "go". The pain now seems to be more painful just before going and goes away afterwards only to come back again an hour or so later. Have been to the doctor again but he doesn't seem to think its anything to worry about. took a urine sample and there is no worry with that.

I wondered if it might possibly be a sudden allergy to cows milk? Do you just suddenly develop an allergy like that? I'm getting a second opinion from another doctor but have to wait a week before the appointment, I figured it couldn't hurt just to enquire on here.

My son is a worrier but he has assured me that there is nothing stressing him out so I don't think the pain is anything to do with that.

mrcow

Go and see another doctor. Book it now.

Unexplained pain is never "nothing to worry about". Don't listen to a doctor who advises otherwise.

Edit: Sorry seen that you have. Don't try and self diagnose anything. Especially on the internet! If it is an allergy, it can be tested for. You shouldn't be doing or givng him anything until then.

gonzo127

although i dont know about sudden alergies (which i beleive can happen) surely a simple test would be to swop to either goats or soya milk for him to have for a few days to see if that helps, and of course make sure you see the other doctor

brians_daughter

If he has had a stomach upset etc before he began to get the pain it could be an allergy, The body being put under stress from illness can lead to temp allergies. If he is a worrier it may be due to 'stress' TBH it sounds a bit like IBS. I suffer from this when i am stressed, i get periods of constipation, then it goes the other way for a day or two (IYKWIM, maybe TMI there lol!)

i would deffo be taking him to see another GP if you are worried at all. And i would be taking him today, not only is it unfair to have a child in pain (obv i am not saying you are to blame here, you ahve done the right thing by taking him to GP) but any pain that goes on and is unexplained needs to be rectified

Not much help, i know but its always comforting to have advice, no matter how vauge

fiscalfreckles

Stomach pain can be notoriously difficult to diagnose, but if it is really troubling then you need a patient GP - and be prepared to go through a lot of tests. If you don't feel your GP is giving it his full concern, yoou are right to ask to see another GP - or ask to be referred to a pediatric consultant.

(I've been through similar with my daughter when she was 13).

Allergy tests can be done, but I think you'd get more reaction than just his stomach if it were that. It could be an intolerance, like being ceoliac (reacting to wheat) and that can be checked with a blood test. It could be IBS, which is very difficult to diagnose what triggers it - can be certain foods or stress that prompt a physical reaction, all you can do here is try & identify the triggers & treat the symptoms. Or it could be (as it was in my daughter) something called abdominal migraine - this can be treated with medication, though like traditional migraines, not completely successfully & it takes a while to find which meds. suit an individual.

I would google all of the above & see if the symptoms fit, then you could ask whoever you see next about any that seem possible. Don't try & diagnose it yourself, but sometimes you can match up things & tell the doctor.

It may also be useful to keep a detailed diary of what he eats & what he does each day, and when he gets the pains. Then after a few weeks the dr can look for any patterns.

I hope you get some answers, its horrible to have a child in pain & feel helpless.

MrsManda

A diary is a useful tool for diagnosis, also speak to your local pharmacist as they can be quite useful for making suggestions you/your doctor may not have thought of.
Has he been eating/drinking anything which he normally wouldn't have?

Amanda65

My eldest DD had a time of extremely painful tummy when she was about 10 which resulted in a 3 days stay in hospital whilst they ruled out appendicitis, an ovarian cyst and constipation. They eventually diagnosed her with Mesenteric Adenitis, a completely harmless although painful set of symptoms:-

http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Mesenteric-Adenitis.htm

We were told it is often mistaken for appendicitis and the only way they can confirm it isn't is if they adopt a wait and see policy, which they did with her (although this can be dangerous and appendicitis can escalate to peritinitis very quickly) or operate and take out a healthy appendix.

slightlyconfused1

Hi

I would take him back to your GP too and a diary is a great idea to help you identify any patterns.

Is he drinking/eating a lot of anything in paricular? My son (age 6) started to get terrible stomach pains. He has been lactose intolerant since he was a baby so we have always given him lots of fresh juice and water instead. His favourite was orange juice and this suddenly began to cause an "acid pain" in his stomach. We have cut back on orange juice now and it seems to have done the trick.

xxlaurissaxx

I had a very similar pain a few years ago. I was around the area of my stomache where the ovaries etc are. The pains would just suddenly start and last different lengths of time between 15 mins to over an hour They were so sore it would sometimes have me in tears and felt like I was being stabbed millions of times

My doctor was great and sent me away for loads of test and a lapratoscopy (sp?) where nothing showed up and everything was fine. She then asked me to write down everytime and had these pains and what I was eating/drinking and doing at the time. After a few weeks we worked out that it was everytime I was stressed out I would get these pains.

She said it was just a form of stress and that everyone is different. 99% of the time that I had this pain was when I was at work. I left that job and got a much better/easier and I've rarely had a pain since.

If I were you I'd ask for another GP and keep at them until they find out what it is. Its better to be safe than sorry xx