My 9Y/o Son and Stomach Pains

Well, appendicitis does not always have the classic symptoms of swollen appendix -- my child had it and the appendix never swelled at all before they yanked it out. How long has passed? It could be that he does have an infection that is short of full-on appendicitis that would burst the appendix.

Has he been tested for: Diverticulitis? Crohn's disease? Celiac disease? Food allergies? I assume that all the scans ruled out a twisted bowel, right?

More troubling, have you been in touch with his psychiatrist if he has one? And I hope he has one, and sees one religiously, if he was diagnosed with psychosis -- that is very serious and requires serious treatment; is he getting that? If this is "all in his head" it is not a kid being bad, it is part of his mental illness, and requires treatment and not punishment. It's very troubling that he has this psychiatric diagnosis; a pediatric psychiatrist needs to see him in the hospital, now, to see whether there is a psychiatric component to this illness. He's still sick, even if this is in his mind and not his body. A kid who was just "playing you" to get out of school or get attention would not end up going this far-- that kind of kid would be scared to death to go to the hospital. So there's more going on with your son.

You mention punishing him if he is "just wasting my time for attention" but you also mention a diagnosis of psychosis. Which is it? Do you see him as just playing you (and he's a world-class actor if that's the case, which is hard to believe) or do you, his own mom, believe that he may be either really physically ill or really mentally ill? Please ramp down the "I will get you if you turn out not to be sick!" feelings. Please.

Please insist that first thing tomorrow his own psychiatrist or counselor see him or that a pediatric psychiatrist be brought in to examine him to see if there is a psychosomatic illness going on. Your pregnancy could have trigged in him a need for attention that is way beyond what any kid usually experiences. Or...he could be truly physically ill and the doctors are not doing a good job of diagnosis. You need to be more assertive. And you need to believe your child because a kid who is just messing with you for attention does not usually end up in a hospital. Whether the pain is physical or mental, he is experiencing it as pain. Please don't let the doctors tell you what to do entirely -- make some demands, and especially ask for mental health help for him.

3 wks ago I had my daughter (10yo) to the ER twice for severe belly pain. First time at our local hospital, the second time, 2 days later, to Children's hospital. All test were normal. Her severe belly pain persisted. She would moan and toss and turn in her sleep all night long so I never doubted she was faking. Additionally, she just would not do that. Took her to a GI specialist and when he reviewed her X-ray he saw stool in her upper right colon that should not be in that location. So it turned out she was constipated although she was still going to the bathroom regularly.
It is very annoying that 2 different radiologist and two different sets of ER docs reviewed her X-ray and didn't see anything abnormal.
Once we gave my daughter the meds, she got better but it was a long 2 weeks of witnessing her in pain.
Good luck!!!

Another thought:
What meds is he on and how long has he been using them? Almost all medications have a list of side effects a half mile long. Most people never experience any of them. Some people do, but they are the mild ones. Some people have severe side effects immediately. It just all depends... some people are more sensitive to things and react differently.

Some people will have side effects that are rare even. And many, many, medications list stomach pain as a possible side effect.
I'm going to assume that the doctors treating him in the hospital have been apprised of the medications/dosages that he is currently taking, and for how long. If not, you need to do so immediately. Bringing the labeled bottle is the best way to do that. Check the list of side effects and ask if this could be related.

So sorry you are going through this.

Other things that come to mind:
- food allergy - did he anything new? Does the pain happen only when he eats certain things (could be something he ate 2 days ago)

- diverticulitis
- constipation
- kidney stone
- ulcer
- dehydration

Why did they admit him if all his tests came back normal? My son has been having stomach issues since Christmas and when I took him to the ER to rule out appendicitis or anything serious they did the blood draw, ct scan and xrays and once everything was fine they said it was a virus and sent us on our merry way. Since the pain persisted and also turned into some major acid reflux issues and several more Dr visits I took him to a Pediatric gastroenterologistand she tested him for Celiacs and upped his acid medication and he is finally complaining less and less with the medicine. He was also having some major stomach pains. I would ask to see a GI specialist and there is no reason for him to be admitted day in and day out if they don't think anything is wrong with him.

Did they do an Xray??? to see if he is constipated??

I would give him papaya enzyme tablets (natural). They are chew-able and yummy. They help to break down protein enzymes that some people have troubles with. My daughter who is now 14 used to always say she was sick after eating a meal. When I bought those she claimed they made her feel better. In your son's case, if he is needing some extra attention the tablet might act as a placebo for him as though you are medicating him as well as possibly help his tummy. Win Win...Good luck! I have five kids by the way. Ages 6, 11, 14, 16, & 17.