Help for Ongoing "My Tummy Hurts"

Updated on July 24, 2008
S.M. asks from Fort Wayne, IN
62 answers

Hello everyone~ I am wondering if anyone has experienced this situation with their child... My five year old daughter has been complaining, several times a day, that "my tummy really hurts". I have noticed it more right after she has eaten. We are wondering if it could be that she feels full, or needs to use the restroom...but it sounds painful for her. It will pass, only to return a short while later. Also, she has become increasingly worried about everything...and I wonder if some of this anxiety is causing her stomach to hurt. Overall, she is a healthy and active girl. Attends preschool two days a week, has friends, loves many activities. I am taking her to the doctor tomorrow afternoon, but was hoping to read about any similar experiences before going to the appointment. Any ideas or suggestions?

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So What Happened?

Thanks so much to all of the wonderful Moms who took time to respond. I was hoping for some feedback to help prepare me for our Dr. appointment, and got that plus alot of comfort in knowing that others can relate. Our Dr. ruled out appendicitis, and lactose intolerance. She is treating the stomach pain for reflux with OTC meds for now, and will prescribe in two weeks if there is no improvement. She is testing for blood in her stool (to rule out irritated or inflamed bowel), but waiting to do any further testing until much later. The anxiety factor is playing a large part in this, so we could consider some counseling in the future as well. Thanks again! ~S.

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M.G.

answers from Austin on

Same thing happened with my daughter, conplaining of stomach pain, come to find out she had a parasite/amoeba that was causing the pain. They found it by doing fecal test. Good luck!

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K.B.

answers from Washington DC on

S.,

I have a six year old daughter that had severe tummy attacks. Hers would almost always end up with her vommiting and then being admitted to the hospital for 3 - 5 days. The first episode was when she was 15 months. They Dr's said she had a virus. About 4 months later we were back in the Hospital again, Dr's still certain it was a virus. I was not convinced and started doing some research. She was in and out of the hospital ever 4 - 6 months for two years and then it was every 4 weeks. FINALLY after demanding we be sent to a specialist they sent us to Hopkins. She had tons of tests and was diagnosed with COLITIS AND asphogitis. Basically, colitis is an Inflamatory Bowel Disease. HE bowels were swollen, she became constipated, impacted and then her body would result in vomiting because there wasn't any room for anything else. The cronic vomiting caused the asphogitis. It was a NIGHTMARE. Anyhow, she is now on Pentasa twice a day (it's like an asprin for the intestines). She was on previcid for the asphogitis but has stopped because she hasn't had any episodes for 1 and 1/2 years. She does take Mirlax every evening to keep the bowels moving. The one thing we were told to do in addition the the medications was to keep her off of chocolate, caffinated beverages, soda and large amounts of cheese. Hope it all works out for you.

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N.R.

answers from Sarasota on

S.,
I know you got a ton of replies already but in case you didn't hear this yet I just went through the EXACT same thing with my 10 yr old daughter(who is also a worrier)... We had her on prilosec and mylanta and that helped but not totally so she had a blood test and we found out that she has the bacteria that causes ulcers and other stomach irriations. She took two weeks of STRONG antibiotics and is good as new now!!! NO problems at all. I was worried about her taking the antibiotics at first but it is the best thing we did.
Good Luck!!!

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A.B.

answers from Fort Wayne on

I have an odd answer for you .... the up side is that if it doesn't work there is no way to over dose or hurt your daughter and there are no meds or side effects to worry about. the down side is it does not taste good!!! try giving her 1T of olive oil(either kind, regular or virgin olive oil) and 1 T lemon juice. we put it in medicine cups, not spoons.. we take the olive oil first then the juice. we even put a drop of juice in the olive oil because it floats and is the last thing in your mouth as you swallow. by now you think i am crazy.... i am not. my husband took acid reflux medicine for 10 years and this cured him completely and the doesnt have to take it very often at all anymore. it is also good for heart burn, and constipation and tummy aches and gall stones. my kids swear by it too! once they got over the lack of artificial colors and sweeteners! try it a couple times, if it doesn't work, you've lost nothing! if it works, you avoided expensive tests and medicine with your dr and the side effects of drugs! play with it a little - do it before meals- during the meal. bribe her with a piece of candy or something she loves to get her to take the "medicine". as soon as she swallows it let her drink something or put a piece of candy in her mouth. the olive oil has an aftertaste.... I know a family that did this with their daughter and avoided surgery!! my kids take this for constipation and tummy aches. ages 8 and 15 and they come to me and ask for it! or get it themselves!

give it a try!! it is not crazy!! it works!

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B.A.

answers from Asheville on

Hi S.,
We started with that same problem when our son was almost 5. Stomach pain even eating very little. The pediatrician sent us to a gastrointestinal doctor who did an upper GI and put our son on Zantac (I think was the med). It didn't improve after several months. We went to an allergy doctor and got all the scratch tests and they showed nothing. After months and months of testing and doctors our son was finally re-tested for thyroid dysfunction by a local family practice doctor and was found to be SEVERELY hypothyroid and the starting symptom was constipation that was causing abdominal pain but had lead the doctors into a whole different direction. Once we were with the specialists, they were only looking for their area of expertise and our son went for three years almost with different drugs, tests, and discomfort.
Good luck and I hope you find the problem soon. Let me know if you have any further questions on what we experienced.
Warmly,
B.

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C.C.

answers from Richland on

S.

There is a real, treatable, reason for her stomach to hurt. Her system is not digesting her food so that it fermints in the wrong place. This brings acid into the esphogus(probably misspelled), hence the burning feeling. What is needed are digestive enzyme's (probiotics)to aid her body in it's work.
In my home business we have childrens vitamins that have probiotics in them.

The probiotics are live bacilli that are to keep the acids balanceed in the stomach so that foods is digested correctly. Lots of water to push it on through. Yogurt contains the live bacilli in it, so you can start there. Check the label to make sure. The OTC's wont work, the chemicals they could put her on privacid, zantac all those won't work. They just mask the problem. We also carry Aloe juice, flovored like strawberry & Kiwi, it will also help the imbalance. It tastes great!

All this info comes from having this problem and worse, with my husband. These are the things that helped the most in the last few years. He had masked it with the other chemicals so long that it took surgery to fix his problems.

Need to talk? Write me.
C. C.

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P.C.

answers from Missoula on

Dear S.,
YOu might try EFT - emotional freemdom technique - it is a simple easy to learn tapping sequence that might help, I use it on children and the pain subsides, tears lessen, fears go away. YOu can look at my video on YouTube P. Crawford EFT or email me for easy instructions or check out www.emofree.com for back ground on EFT. Hope this helps along with your other efforts.

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J.B.

answers from San Francisco on

I know you have already had many responses and seen your doctor. I would really like to recommend (like others did) that you try Papaya enzymes (Walmart has the best tasting ones that I have found) and probiotics for children.

I had suffered for years with reflux and these two things changed my life. My husband used to get anxiety stomach aches and irritable bowel. Since he has starting using these he has no problems.

I hope she feels better soon.

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K.D.

answers from Charlotte on

S.,

I was just reading your message. I have a 7 yr old daughter and she complained off and on for the past several years and we assumed it was that she had to go potty and gave her some water to move things along. A couple months ago, she started complaining of severe stomach pains every day, in tears not wanting to go to school or my having to pick her up...no fever nothing else wrong. We went to the doctors and they took x-rays and found that she is completely backed-up both intestines and has been going on for over a year. So we are taking miralax to try to help her system...we've been to a ped GI and she did a cleanout with her.. Just a thought, you might want them to check that. Her belly pain is around the belly button extending out. The GI and pediatrician's concern was irritable bowel. She still has some pain so we will be going back to make sure. Hope this helps...just found out about another little girl going through the same thing and is backed-up too. Also we notice it more while eating or shortly after.

K.

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M.W.

answers from Chicago on

Hi. I just saw your original request and just wanted to suggest that if the stomach ache continues to investigate Type 1 Diabetes. My sister developed the disease at age 6 and her biggest complaint before it was successfully diagnosed was a stomach ache. My son has the disease - he developed it at age 21 months.
You can review the symptoms at www.jdrf.org

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S.D.

answers from Fort Myers on

Hi; Something you might want to try that is not a medication that has worked for me and several other people who had reflux problems, including my son. Get some papaya and have her eat several pieces a day. It tastes good almost like candy but it really works. I get my papaya at an Amish store and it comes in little square chunks. I'm sure you can probably get in at the natural food store or even some of the larger grocery stores. Hope this helps. S.

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T.H.

answers from Fort Wayne on

Hello S. M,
My name is T. and I also have a little girl who has stomach problems. She is 8 now but we went through all the stomach problem mess. She went to a different Doctor every other week. We finally found a doctor that gave her a medication call Previcid and she has hardly any stomach problems now. She is also a worry child, takes on all the problems of everyone she knows and has stomach pain when in trouble at home. I would suggest you follow your gut when it comes to the Doctors though because the first thing they want to do is run a bunch of tests on her stomach and they are not plesant for the child at all. I refused the testing and went with the medicine because I found that worked for her and didn't want her to go through with all the tests they wanted to preform. She was scared enough without the added fear/woory of more tests. There is a simple test to find out if she has IBS( Irritable Bowel Syndrome) ask for that one first and then get results before going on any farther. Alot of we have done is change her diet and she has done almost a complete turn around with her bathroom habits too. She complained when she needed to use the bathroom too. We put books in the bathroom to make it more relaxing for her and she is doing wonderful. She does still take her medicine everyday and it helps, but our goal is to try and ween her off of it if possible. If that doens't work the medicine she takes is not harmful to her system at all and has no long or short term side effects. I don't know if this helps but I hope it gives you some hope. Spicy, acid, tomato based things seem to make it the worse. Just try the simple stuff first. Most importantly, know you are a great Mom and do the best you can for your daughter. Good Luck and God Bless.

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G.S.

answers from Chicago on

S.-
I would get the Dr to check for Celiac Disease as that can present as any type of GI distress, also neurological symptoms such as nerviosness... OCD behaviors, etc... It can have almost any type of symptoms, most commonly GI distress, and anxiety/depression/fatigue. It can be dangerous if left undiagnosed. If the Celiac test is negative, the child can still be "gluten sensitive" "gluten intolerant" or have "gluten allergy" so don't rule out gluten right off the bat. An elimination diet-- off gluten completely for several weeks-- might lead you to some sort of answer as well.

Good luck,
G. Spielman, LCSW
www.ginaspielman.com

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M.M.

answers from Denver on

Try also Papaya Extract. It is chewable and you can get it at health food stores and some grocery stores and the like. My husband, 4 year old and 1 year old all had problems with reflux. My husband was popping 3 and 4 antacids a day. Our chiropractor said antacids actually interfere with the stomach's natural digestion and over time will make the problem worse. She said papaya will help with the acid without interfering with digestion. We use it regularly now and my husband almost never takes antacids any more, and both the children are better as well.

M.

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J.C.

answers from Lancaster on

I'm sure you have gotten alot of responses. My 4 year-old has been suffering with stomach problems, like your daughter, off and on for 2 years. She would constantly complain of tummy aches. It got so bad in November, that she started throwing up to the point of dehydration. The ER diagnosed it as a virus. It cleared up and 5 days later she started throwing up again. After 2 visits to the ER, I took her back to the pediatrician, and she suggested testing her for H-Pylori. This is a bacteria that causes ulcers in the throat, and stomach lining, and can be detected by a simple blood test. The test came back positive, and after a series of 3 different medicines over a course of 2 weeks, the stomach problems have stopped.

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T.L.

answers from Seattle on

I may be a little late as well, but I have gone through exactly what you're going through. my 7 year old daughter complained of stomach pains, she didn't want to go out, she'd curl up in a ball. It was extremely upsetting. We had some x-rays and she had poop all the way into her small intestines. We immediately went onto Mirolax and it was an almost immediate change. however, you have to make sure she's getting a lot of fiber,cut down on anything "white, gooey or mushy" (the doctors words not mine) and really increase the intake of vegetables like raw carrots. My daughter still occasionally gets stomach pains, but quite often it comes after we've fallen off of our "diet". Good luck.

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M.M.

answers from Dallas on

I know I'm late getting this in, but it might be helpful. My son also turned 5 in Dec., and sounds very similar. We found he is very suseptable to Candida (yeast), which is extremely common but often overlooked. Easily treated with probiotics from a health food store. The main thing is eliminate sugar for a week and use probiotics. Within 2 days his tummy aches were gone, but we went a week to be sure to clean it out. We watch his sugar intake carefully now. At the worst point, it spread to his urinary tract, making urination frequent and feel "weird" as he put it.

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R.B.

answers from Amarillo on

My daughter went through this as well and my pedi. said usually they either need to go to the bathroom or they are trying to get out of doing something they don't want to do. I caught on quickly after this good advice, usually she did not want to clean her room and that is when her stomach would start hurting. If it is anxiety remind her that God is always near even if you aren't and all she has to do is talk to Him and He will calm her.
R

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G.S.

answers from Tulsa on

My daughter has always had problems with her tummy, as a little girl she did not like to go to the bathroom. She went to the bathroom every other day but she still had tummy problems. Since then we have been to the doctor to find out that she was full of poop, not to be gross. So the doctor put her on Miralax and she now goes 4 times a day and has not complained of her tummy hurting at all.

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S.D.

answers from Dallas on

My son had the same thing going on. His would occur post meals or post juice. he was also having reflux quite a bit. I went to see a kenesiologist who found a corn syrup or fructose intolerence that was effecting him. We removed this from the diet and things improved 100%! I was also worried that the anxiety he was experiencing at night was a factor (he's a "what if" thinker) We did some cognitive therapy and that too helped him reason out of his fears. He is doing wonderful now and is very cognizant of corn syrup in his food and will actively avoid it. It's nice to see your child wanting to feel better. I hope you find the answer for your daughter. We tried the OTC without much help. I wanted more in finding an answer that the Pediatrician couldn't provide which is why we sought a kinesiologist. Good luck!

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M.A.

answers from San Diego on

Hi, My daughter had some problems similar to this when she was about 7. She had lots of gas and a stomach ache, although not as severe as your daughter has. She passed gas even at school which was very embarrassing to her. We went to the doctor for several months. They had us do a food diary. They thought she had Acid Reflux and wanted her to start taking Zantac. My parents have this too, but I thought how could she possibly have this at such a young age and I didn't want her to be stuck taking medicines as a child. My brother-in-law looked at her diary and told us that the cereals she was eating were loaded with sugar and that could be causing her problems. He's a chiropractor and said that a lot of his patients have some serious problems with their GI systems. The lining of their stomach is bleeding all because they have had such a bad diet for years. The doctor didn't even notice this. We changed her diet, no more sugared cereal, and she got better without the medicine. You should really rule out diet before you start her on a lifetime of medicine. Or maybe she could use the meds for a short time until her diet is better. If it's one of the problems other moms have listed good luck with that too. At least she has a mom who's looking out for her. God Bless!

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R.D.

answers from San Francisco on

So far neither of my kids have complained about their stomach hurting, but with a family history of reflux I am only waiting for the day. I read a lot of the responses and I would have your daughter tested for celiac's. Celiac's is an intolerance toward gluten. gluten is in everything, but if she has Celiac's she can't have any gluten. When my son was younger he fell off the growth chart and his ped thought he might have this because he wasn't gaining weight. He didn't, but more importantly Celiac's presents itself in different ways in different people and some people don't even know they have it. There have been estimates that upwards of 30% of the European population have this disorder. The medical community also believe that this intolerance leads to other problems down the road; ie. IBS, Crohn's Colitis. My two cents would be to take your daughter to a ped gastro dr. and have them check her out. You want to confirm the problem before you set your daughter up with a lifetime of meds. Find the problem first, then medicate.

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G.V.

answers from Phoenix on

Hi S.,

Taking meds will unfortunately NOT solve the problem. They will likely alleviate the symptoms so that it "appears" the problem is no longer there. However, I highly recommend you seek a solution to the real problem and not just treat the symptoms. I have a list of holistic doctors on my web site (www.HealthyHabitsWellnessCenter.com) you could check out for a long-term solution. Also, I do personalized health and nutritional coaching and would be happy to work with you and your daughter. Feel free to call my office at ###-###-####.

Best wishes to your and your daughter! :)

Warm Regards,
G. Van Luven

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L.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

This is really late but I went through the same thing as a child-downing liquid meds every night and going through numerous tests and stool samples and finaly about 3 years into it, my grandma brought me to an "OLD SCHOOL dr and he diagnosed me with a nervous stomach- gave me .5 dose of Adarax(SP) and it changed everything(it does get worse when you worry or think about it). I missed a lot of fun stuff and now I could do anything by only taking 1 a day.
So when my son developed it I knew what it was and he has not had to suffer like I did-we nipped it immediatly and now he is 16.(you do grow out of it) I am not sure if this is what your daughter has because their can be so many causes but I wanted to share, so you could ask your Dr next time if you have to see him again. It is an anxiety/mind over matter thing but I was sure helped and so was my son. If the med does not help you know for sure it is something else.

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J.S.

answers from Boston on

Was she check for h-pylori. A blood test can reveal these antibodies.
Go to this website to read more about this very common problem.
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/stomach/h_pyl...

Good luck

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N.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

I was most interested in your journey. My son at 2 mos. old started vomiting my breast milk. He lost lots of wt. then all of a sudden he stopped. Then, on his way to school on the bus when he was one month shy of his seventh birthday, he began vomiting again. I had every test done, several meds., every psy test. Til I did research myself and found out he had remination syndrome (eating like a cow) and cyclic vomiting syndrome, they have a web site. After 10yrs he is better. I use a low-carb diet, lots of veggies and fruits, water no caffiene, no sweets, no pasta, rice, eggs, milk or citus jucies, whole wheat bread. And NONA juice (not all the time) he has no more hospital visits and is losing weight. And no more tummy aches and vomiting.

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B.P.

answers from Houston on

Dear S.,

I know you have already started a treatment with medicines but I think you should reconsider and look into using digestive enzymes instead. They are all natural and don't have the harmful side effects that can cause other problems with her body. Go to the pharmacy and ask the pharmacist for a printout of the side effects of these meds the doctor has prescribed or you can ask to see the Physicians Desk Reference (PDR) book and it lists ALL medications, the reasons for taking them and the side effects. You will see. These are very rarely mentioned by those that prescribe them. You can get digestive enzymes in any health food store. I know that your concern is her health now and in the future.

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L.S.

answers from Chicago on

Have they checked for Gluten sensitivity? I had the same problem and after years they tested for Gluten and that turned out to be the problem.

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J.R.

answers from Portland on

I'm late getting into this but I just had to respond to your post. One response mentioned mild celiac as a possible cause. This is actually a condition that develops in the intestine due to a gluten allergy. Because it inhibits the absorption of many vital nutrients, many systems in the body can be effected and emotional imbalances are very common. My daughter suffered from tummy aches and painful episodes of gas and diarrea (sp?) for years before we figured this out. Along with the digestive symptoms, she also suffered from anxiety and mild depression. After being off gluten (wheat, barley, spelt, non GF oats, etc.), her stomach no longer hurt and her mental state improved dramatically. MD's don't often diagnose this so I would look into a reputable naturopath in your area. Also there are some great books out there to help guide you along the way if this is indeed what is causing your daughter's problem. Best wishes...

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A.H.

answers from Canton on

Not sure if this help or not but my daughter went through this when she was 8. I kept getting calls from the school saying that she would come to the office after lunch complaining of a stomach ache. I thought maybe she just wanted to come home. But after about a week or so of this, I took her to the doctor and after explaining where it hurt, he said she had acid reflux. He had me avoid any foods that were the least bit spicy (pizza, pasta, anything with tomatoes, etc) and that seemed to help.

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A.E.

answers from Cincinnati on

As a child, I had frequent stomach aches, too. I was also a worrier. Medication wasn't offered as freely for children then as it is now.

What turned it around for me (oddly enough) was hearing the doctor say that if I kept up like this, I'd have an ulcer by the time I was in fifth grade! I decided then and there that there was nothing so important as to allow me to damage myself over it.

Eliminate all the possible physical issues there could be, but if she's anxious, help her find ways to work through it. Maybe that's more physical activity to take her mind off things. Maybe it's setting up time to talk things over at the end of the day. Maybe it's finding some time most days to do something you know will allow her to laugh and enjoy herself.

It may lessen her stomach discomfort, but no drug is going to make her cope with anxiety better. This is, however, something she needs to develop skills for to help her through life. The best possible treatment is caring, involved parents. I'm willing to bet she's got exactly that!

A.

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S.G.

answers from Boca Raton on

Mild celiac disease also presents this way.
The best way to diagnose it is to remove gluten from the diet for 2 weeks and see.
Contact me directly if you want more info!
: )

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L.H.

answers from Chicago on

S.,
This happened to our 10 year old son. We thought it was stress to a new sport and that it would go away. It did not. The doctor wanted him to take medicines. I thought he was way to young to start meds. for his stomach and there had to be more to it. We took a very detailed look at every time he ate and what was happening. We also had an IGG test done on him.It turns out he is allergic to dairy. Dairy is in about everything including what we found out yesterday, gum. I hope you find your daughters answers soon.
L.

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S.R.

answers from Syracuse on

I had similar complaints from some of my children. They have been diagnosed with celiac disease. As long as they stay away from wheat rye, barly, and oats grown in USA they are fine. Neither my husband or I have it but 6 of our 8 children do. Seems scairy at first but oh so much better than it would have been left undiagnosed. My sister in law almost died because she was not diagnosed with it for a long time. Be glad to tell you more if you would like.

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J.M.

answers from Kansas City on

My daughter had a similar problem in November (her's included high temp and diarrhea) and the Dr was unsure what was wrong this went on for a week before they took a stool sample and it turned out that she had salmonella poisioning, with a round of antibiotics she was all better.

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L.K.

answers from Los Angeles on

I just saw this one and remembered that my tummy used to hurt a lot after eating - when I was older - maybe about nine. Looking back, my mom made traditional food - meat and potatoes with bread and veggies. I think it was too heavy for me. You could expiriment with vegetarian dishes (pasta, macaroni and cheese, rice and veggies) or perhaps even take out the wheat and see if anything happens (no bread for example, with dinner). I think a lot of food sensitivities aren't bad enough to show up on a food allergy test, but nevertheless, can affect your digestion and overall feeling.

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C.A.

answers from Minneapolis on

I know you already got a ton of responses, but I wanted to share some thoughts too.

Anxiety definitely CAN cause digestive issues: tummy aches, vomiting, diarrhea.. The fact that you notice it more right after she has eaten I think would suggest it's more of an actual digestive issue, but if she does have anxiety also, it certainly isn't going to help.

One thing you might want to consider is having her tested for allergies? I just mention this because when I was younger I was always complaining about my stomach being upset and feeling like my tummy was "pushing out" (I don't know..kind of like a bloated feeling or something?). I think there was a lot of stuff going on with me at the time (much of it emotional) but supposedly when I got tested for allergies (allergic to a bunch of things but house dust mites was the most severe) and got on shots and meds for that, according to my mom it helped with the stomach issues.

Best of luck! :)

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V.E.

answers from Detroit on

my children get stomach aches when they have strep throat...even if there is no sore throat or fever... good luck w/ your diagnosis!

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S.P.

answers from Denver on

What is she eating? I recommend taking her to a pediatric acupuncturist.

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P.B.

answers from St. Louis on

When my children and grandchildren have tummy aches, as well as ourselves, we take an Aloe product. Our favorite flavor is strawberry/kiwi which is sweet so the kids ask for it. It has helped my husband get off his acid reflux medicine. It stablizes the PH balance in the intestines. You can go to my web page and check it out under Health and Nutrition. www.marketamerica.com/pambird. Hope this will be beneficial information for you.

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D.R.

answers from Cincinnati on

I recently experienced the same with my daughter who is 7. She had become increasingly worried over the weather and complaining about stomach aches and back aches. I started googling her symptoms and found that stomach aches are a common symptom of anxiety, as are body aches and pains. I was relieved because I thought there was something wrong with her, and I was missing it. Since we have put it all together, we are able to concentrate on what she is anxious about and try to help her work with that.

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M.G.

answers from Kalamazoo on

S.,

I am going tomorrow for a follow-up visit with my 4.5 year-old daughter for the same complaint. She complained at least once a day (usually more often) about her stomach hurting, before eating, inbetween meals, at bedtime, etc.--had been going on for over a month when I took her to the doctor. We discovered that she was quite constipated (discovered through an x-ray), which was putting pressure on her stomach and pushing the acid up, causing heartburn. They put her on Prevacid 15 and Miralax for two weeks (I stopped the Prevacid about 10 days into the treatment, because it was giving her bad headaches--however, it did help her stomach). When she was about 3.5, her tastes and drinking habits changed, but she was still eating, so we didn't worry. We now have cut way back on the mac-n-cheese and cheese, and have been pushing more water and insisting that she finish her veggies, salad, etc.--making sure that she has a varied diet. The extra fiber along with activity seems to have alleviated the problem. Good luck!

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J.L.

answers from Tampa on

S.,
It is amazing that most of the response are with little girls 5-10 years old. My daugther is 8 and we have been questioning her pediatrician for 2 years, with over 12 different vistits for constant stomach pain. My daughters occurs several times a day , usually after eating. My doctor also whent the route of prescibing zantec, etc. If did not help. We are now looking into gluten and other food allergies. I would highly recommend pushing you pediatrician to take action...mine waited until 11 visits later to agree to a GI specialist referal...always trying a different remedy.

Best of luck

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L.S.

answers from Dayton on

My son went through that and it ended up that he was allergic to yeast. His stomach would hurt when he was digesting the yeast. I always gave him tums because he had reflux also... It is a hard thing to eliminate, but it is worth a try.

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C.S.

answers from Seattle on

Please please look into celiac disease! It is very underdiagnosed! Research online and see if she has any of the symptoms. There is no medication required but a life long gluten-free diet. I was diagnosed in 2003 and have felt wonderful. My stomach would bloat after eating and I got worse and worse with anemia, diarrhea, fatique etc... It is workth a mention to the doctor!

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S.Z.

answers from Cleveland on

It may be late but my son had the smae type of thing for a long time. We went to the dentist and they said to start having them rinse with flouride. So I did. For months he compliand about a stomachache. We had him for xrays and tests. Then one day it dawned on me that flouride is very bad for young ones to swallow. We cut out the rinse and re-taught him how to spit out toothpaste and he stopped complaining within 3 days. I dont know your brushing routine but its something I went through.
S.

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S.K.

answers from Albany on

S.,
I just wanted to tell you I just went through this over the last couple weeks with my 7 year old son. HE ended up being put on liquid zantac for a week and now he is doing great and off the medicine. I will keep a close eye on him incase it happens again but he is back to his normal self again. I hope your daughter gets better soon.
Sherri

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M.M.

answers from Canton on

My sister had that when she was a child. They found out she was not eating enough fiber. She had a bowel blockage. Everytime she will it hurts because she really needed to "poop".

My mom gave her a laxative to take but, that was in the 80's. So you might want to ask your doctor what is the best laxative medicine to take.

Take care,
Manley ~ Canton

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N.A.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi S.,

Hope your daughter is feeling better. It is hard to pin point what is going on without knowing what she eats and drinks all day. One important thing I see is some moms forget to give their children water. That is important so the digestion system has enough water to digest everything and enzymes is important to remove toxins and help to digest food.
My granddaughter had stomach problems when she was born.
It is recommended to drink good filtered water that the body can obsorb without chemicals going through it. I have my family on Piwater and all the children and grandchildren love it. It has trace minerals and calcium in the filter to give us living water we had 100 years ago. If you would like more info check out my web page www.nikken.com/ninamarie
Have a blessed day. N. Marie

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R.W.

answers from Anchorage on

Hey moms! I had a similar experience with my now 11 yr old daughter. Many months of this went by with extreme frustrations with trying to figure out this nonspecific tummy ache. Then one day, a coworker of mine suggested to take out all dairy products to see if she could possibly be lactose intollerant (Spelling?). It was an amazing difference. Come to find out she was and it solved almost all complaints. Good luck.

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A.M.

answers from Cincinnati on

My daughter who is 4 is going through the same thing. What I am finding out is that she is not going to the bathroom at school when she needs to go and is causing a lot of probelms. She says the bathrooms are scary and the toilets are to big. I did take her to the dr yesterday and we are putting her on a laxative to help get her through this. Hopefully resolve our issues. BUT you may want to take to her and see what is going on at school and things of that nature.

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L.R.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Hello S., I am wondering if you live in the Ada area? I would love to show you a couple of techniques that you and she could do that would really help her with anxiety. The 'tummy pains' that she is experiencing could very well be linked to her anxiety. These techniques calm the brain, the cortices.

My office is on 12th street, next to Ray's Travel Service, Kneading Relief Massage Therapy. And don't worry, when I invite someone, there is no charge. So give me a call (I only am in the office when I know I will be meeting someone there) ###-###-####

L. Ring, LMT (Texas license)

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K.B.

answers from Cincinnati on

My sister did that for a long time when she was young. They some how figured out that she was lactose intolerant...cutting out dairy poducts made her feel better and she didn't complain anymore.
It could be a lot of things. Does she have Bowel movements often enough? Is she very gasy? These can both cause great pain. But I would think that it's related to something in the food if she is hurting after she eats. Try to look for tends...does she do it after every meal, and snack no matter what she eats or are there certain times of the day/certain types of food she eats? Best of luck!

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S.B.

answers from Santa Barbara on

I'm very belated in my response but just wanted to add a comment. I'm glad you took your little girl to the doctors... I too (when my daughter was younger) took her to our Ped. numerous times because I was convinced something was soooo wrong with her. She complained almost daily that she had a tummy ache. I almost made myself sick with worry and now looking back I'm sure I made her more anxious about her symptoms because I'd ask her, 'How does your tummy feel today?' Well, her tummy-aches went away altogether just like the Doctor thought. We chalked-it up to Kindergarten nervousness, probably having to go to the bathroom but not always taking the time to do so, gas, etc.... Do be cautious on the OTC meds. that you give her... I sometimes would tell her to have a glass of water and it would 'help'. Sometimes it can be a mind-over-matter type of thing with them. Just thought I'd share my experience... and hope yours turns out just as easy and that she's ok. Take care!

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S.H.

answers from Minneapolis on

Hi S.
I'm called S. too but I'm 55!!!

Anyway, our "great" nephew has stomach problems and pain etc. too. They saw a dr. in WI and have taken him off of wheat products so gluten free. It is so amazing the difference in him. Like night and day! It is hard at first to do this, but they are finding bakeries who bake cookies, cupcakes, bread, cakes etc. without flour etc. Worth a try to see if it helps. I guess gluten (flour) is so h*** o* our digestive system and we all should cut back! Good luck!
S.

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J.Z.

answers from Sacramento on

Oh My gosh! My five year old does the same thing! I have taken her to the doctor, they have given her some laxiatives and still it hurts. My husband at that age was diagnosed as allergic to Milk and Chocolate. We have gotten rid of the chocolate and she only has milk when she has something like cheese, no more drinking it alone, and it really seems to help. Camden is a really great eater,she is actually small compared to the average 5 year old and is bursting with energy, but sometimes I wonder if she eats past feeling full also, I am not sure. So I told her that when her tummy isnt hungry anymore that she should stop eating. Oh and one more thing, I think the more that I worried about it, the more it would happen, because at least with my five year old she really milks it (no pun intended) but really the chocolate and milk thing, seems to have done the trick. I just told her that I think she is allergic to chocolate and whether that works for her in her mind or if it really is the case, we have less tummy hurts by far.

J.

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J.D.

answers from Columbus on

Hi S.,
I also have a 4 year old daughter with the same problem. In fact I got a call from pre-school yesterday saying I needed to come and get her because all she wanted to do was lay on her cot. She even refused to participate in the Valentines Day party. They said she kept complaining that her stomach hurt. Since this has been an ongoing problem I made an appointment with her Dr for next week. Does your daughter have any other symptoms other then the worrying? Mine also has some very dark circles all the sudden under her eyes and sometimes her lips look a little blue. She is also very small. She only weighs 28 pounds. She only picks at food and eats small portions throughout the day. I spoke to the nurse at our Dr office when I made the appointment and she said that it could be a number of things. Diet is always very big especially with stomach aches. She said it could also be a lack of viatimin C and/or Iron... which I thought was interesting. Allergies also play a part in it and she said sometimes it can be a little more serious. With my daughter and all of her symptoms, she mentioned the possibilty of a heart murmor that may be a sign of something not working properly there... in any case... I am a firm believer that a moms instincts are usually right on. If you look at your daughter and feel that there is something that just isnt right and want to see the Dr, thats what I would do. However, if that is her only symptom, I would try some diet changes and maybe some childrens Tums... Good luck!

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D.B.

answers from Houston on

Hi S.,
I have an 11 year old daughter with the same problem. It has been going on for many years now and we had many test done to rule out medical conditions. We tried diet changes and antacids/acid reflux meds. The pediatrician did say that children tend to get stomach aches very similar to adults getting headaches. She has always been a worrier also, and very anxious about things. Within the past year it has escalated to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, where she washes her hands over and over, and prays a lot. We are headed to a psychiatrist next week. I wish we had treated for Anxiety Disorder long ago. This might be something to have your child checked for. Best of luck, I know how heartbreaking it is when you can't make it better.

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K.R.

answers from Minneapolis on

sounds like a gluteon/wheat intolerance. my friend and her daughter both have this. stomache gets tied in knots afterwards and very painful. try taking her off wheat products for awhile.

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M.S.

answers from Memphis on

Good Morning,S.,
When my youngest was about 9 he kept having stomach aches.
I went to school to see if everything was going okay, just incase it was a nervous stomach.
Then, one night he came into my room and woke me up with fever and he just kept throwing up. After a few hours I took him into the emergency room and they took xrays of his stomach.
He had a blockage. They sent me home with Milk of Magnesia.
I'm sure you've been suggested to give your child extra water and maybe, see if she will drink some carrot juice.
Hope this helps and that she is feeling better soon.

M.

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R.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

I am mother of 3 and now grandma of four. I hope your little girl feels better. Has she ever been tested for food alergies. They are very common and can cause stomach aches, modd and personality changes. Just dealing with the symptom doesn't heal. I hope your doctor will look further. R

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A.L.

answers from Houston on

Hi - Here's one other possibility I haven't seen on the other responses, and you don't hear about it elsewhere: fructose intolerance. My daughter had severe stomach cramps and intermittent vomiting from 5 yr until 4 th grade when a GI dr. gave her many tests. The fructose is hard to catch; it's a delayed reaction from missing enzymes in the lg.intestine/colon. We went on a sugar-free diet for 6 wks, then only foods w/out high fructose corn syrup in them. Tough ! More additives we don't need ! That plus medicine, and now she's 'grown out of it'. Good luck and God bless you for all you've done for her.

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