DD's mysterious tummy aches - food intolerance? or something else?

[DeadTall]

My DD has complained of tummy ache on and off for a long time. Initially we put it down to not wanting to eat what was on her plate, as she usually recovered as soon as she got down from the table . Then we thought it was attention seeking. But as she's grown up I've become more concerned that there is something wrong. At one point a GP prescribed anti-spasmodic medicine, but I'm not convinced it helped.

She's 11, a slim build, some exzema patches here and there, & an intermittent scalp problem (pityriasis amiantacea) which we treat with gel that the GP prescribed.

I've wondered whether she's wheat intolerant, but I know very little about symptoms etc. The tummy pains don't seem to be related to any particular time of day, they last 5 - 15 minutes, sometimes she says she feels sick and looks a bit pale, other times she says it's like cramp. The reason I thought it might be wheat is that she just loves carbs - pasta, bread, muffins, wraps, crackers. WE make our own bread, mostly wholemeal/granary, but she also occasionally has white bread and muffins, and pasta twice a week or so. Today she sat in front of her dinner she said she really liked it, & really wanted to eat it, but couldn't & was very upset and ended up on the sofa curled up That was an hour ago, she seems fine now.

Anyone have any experience of wheat / gluten intolerance? Does this sound familiar? Or am I barking up the wrong tree?

[DeWe]

Dd2 complained of tummy ache for ages. Turned out to be constipation. Once we'd cleared it, she's been mostly fine. I wouldn't have realised she was constipated from her , err, habits.

[gingangoolie]

Could it be linked to colds? Children get swelling of lymph nodes in the abdomen during colds and tummy aches are common.
Be on the alert for diarrhoea, or any blood loss from bowels as children can get Crohns disease and Ulc Colitis too. Crohns can just present with tummy aches so take her to GP if it continues x

[DeadTall]

hmm, constipation has been a problem in the past, maybe it's that again. She's been fine the last couple of days. One of the issues may be that she won't go to the loo at school as they are 'disgusting' - toilet paper stuck to the ceiling, no paper, seats falling off or non-existent - which makes her hang on all day.

[Floralnomad]

Ask the GP to check for coeliac disease , sounds like my DD and that's what she's got .

[megandraper]

yes, second flora in saying test for coeliac - don't adjust her diet before you do the test.

DS1 had a lot of tummy aches and was a very picky eater before he was diagnosed. he's a different child now! Very important to try and get it diagnosed before puberty if this is it, as it gives them a chance to catch up on pre-pubertal growth/development.

[wigwam33]

Sounds like it could be coeliac disease (gluten intolerance). A couple of friends' children got diagnosed with this. One DD suddenly grew 2 inches within 1 week of having entirely cut gluten out of her diet! Doctor was insistent it wasn't coeliac disease though and friend had to push for the tests. She was so much happier and healthier afterwards.

Another sign can be an overall slim build but with a small (or largish) pot belly.

Worth checking it out and be a pushy mum if you have to. Even if it isn't coeliac, at least that's one possibility eliminated.

[megandraper]

The Allergies board on MN is good for questions relating to coeliac, if you have any, too.

[Floralnomad]

Don't cut out wheat/ gluten before you get the test as this will cause the tests to be negative .

[mercibucket]

We tested ds for this but didn't find out what it was. In the end we got told they could be abdominal migraines

[mercibucket]

We tested ds for this but didn't find out what it was. In the end we got told they could be abdominal migraines

[DeadTall]

Thanks everyone, I'll keep an eye on things and ask our GP about coeliacs.

She's tall (a head taller than almost all of her classmates) and slim, no pot belly but is 'filling out' a bit and is worrying about her tummy overhanging her belt (which is a whole different discussion!). So I haven't got any concerns about her growth.

Abdominal migraines is a new one on me - was your DS given any treatment for them, mercibucket?

[Sexyfothermucker]

Another one here for abdominal migraines. Ds10 had them on and off for about 4 years. He could go for months without one, then be laid up for days with one. Docs gave us nothing for it,and said it could be brought on with stress I used calpol occasionally but that's about it. He seems fine now.

[mercibucket]

No we weren't given anything, I'm not sure how convinced I am by it, but we do have a big family history of 'proper' migraines so maybe it's true. We'd gone thro all the celiacs etc first and all came back neg

[mercibucket]

No we weren't given anything, I'm not sure how convinced I am by it, but we do have a big family history of 'proper' migraines so maybe it's true. We'd gone thro all the celiacs etc first and all came back neg