12 yr old’s stomach pain. ‘Stomach Migraine?’
Does anyone know anything about/have experience with ‘stomach migraine’?
We have had 12 year old daughter tested for everything paediatrician can think of.
She gets such bad pain, for days sometimes. Most days to a level of tears.
Terrible nausea.
She’s missing days on end of school.
She also suffers with constipation/runs.
And weight gain.
Any help appreciated… feeling so helpless.
22 Replies
Has she been checked for any gynaecology issues like endometriosis or pcos that can cause these sorts of issues? Even if her periods haven’t started yet her hormones would be changing and possibly causing other issues.
I agree. Either that or Howell issues. I wouldn’t trust this diagnosis at all. I have been passed off for many things when it wasn’t the case. This needs further investigation.
Bowel
We have been checking bowel for months. Dealing with constipation. Ongoing.
Yes she has not started menstrual cycle yet. She has had hormonal levels checked.
I had similar and I find probiotics helps me so much. Try her on a good probiotic. I take inner health for gut restore. I really notice the difference. Cut out gluten and lactose temporary and see how she goes.
I think you should take her to a gastroenterologist and follow this up further with other tests. I suffer with bad migraines and bad stomach / gut problems. I’ve been in so much pain i times I’ve been unable to eat for weeks/ a few months. I didn’t get any true results until I have the camera down my throat. Has she had this.? She may have an intolerance. Have you tried elimination. My culprit ended up being all due to an intolerance and inflammation. I am still going through it now. It’s better than it was but still there, some days worse than others. She needs to see a dietician and go through a plan with her to see what helps. I think a stomach migraine is just his answer to fob you off. It’s happened to me for the past 3-4 years with my issues. I’m finally getting better now staying off gluten and no processed foods. Don’t just settle for his answer. They tried this with me.
We have appointments with dieticians booked. I’m just really concerned about setting up disordered eating. It’s so hard.
Worried about the problem first and a dietician will help with that. The main thing right now is getting the correct diagnosis. It feels to me as if she has Crohns. Her symptoms are all the same as friends kids who have Crohns. Make sure they have taken a biopsy to detect crohns or demand one. Also anxiety meds will make her gain weight too.
She needs to see a gastroenterologist and rule out Crohn’s disease.Their basic stool, blood tests, etc.won’t always show. Unless she has had through testing, endoscopy, colonoscopy, scans Other than this Eliminate foods and see if that helps.Also her age, or maybe hormone related. Don’t stop until you get a diagnosis. It’s not a stomach migraine.
She has had a the blood tests a stool samples when blood Was in mucus. The stools etc. I think back to elimination diet.
All my stools came back clear. The only real way for them to tell is colonoscopy for crohns or MRI have they done either.? I’m not sure if kids get colonoscopies but they told me it’s the only way to 100 detect it.
I wouldn’t walk away with this. I would see a different specialist until they find out the real cause.
Keep pushing for more answers and get a different opinion.
"Stomach migraine" is one of those bullshit diagnosises they give you when they don't know what's going on and don't care enough to investigate deeper but they want to be rid of you.
There's also the high possibility they're not taking this as seriously as they would otherwise because she's a pubescent 12 year old girl.
Stamp your feet until you get a referral to a gyno, gastroenterologist and maybe even an endocrinologist.
Nausea/constipation/diarrhea, chronic pain, inexplicable weight gain - not normal!
100 % I have been through this and now it’s all thrown to anxiety when it’s not. How many times I have to tell them that it’s not the anxiety doing it but it’s the pain and not knowing that’s causing anxiety. Anxiety is not the trigger. So over them passing people off.
Today they started her on anxiety meds. Feel her levels of anxiety are definitely related.
I have posted replies on here. I have had similar issues. They completely pass me off with anxiety when it’s not. I’ve been medicated for 3 years while they keep passing me off. Don’t let them do this to you.
That's great because if it helps, you'll know. And if it helps the anxiety, and the stomach issue is still there you can see what's left and not be passed off with anxiety as you can firmly say no, it's not.
I have a child that had chronic rummy ache that would escalate into diarrhoea or vomiting and it was due to anxiety. I also know of myself and other friends who presented repeatedly to doctors with very real issues and considered ourselves with a real problem, but it cleared up with the end of an abusive relationship. The mind can definitely show your problems through your body being sick. So I don't discount that, but you need to work through it all, it's not an answer that you just take and say ok then that's it.
Demand a colonoscopy and endoscopy for her, if she hasn’t had one.Go private if you have to. I found my issues during these procedures. I was in the same boat as your daughter.
Try eliminating caffeine from her diet. I suffered terribly from about 5-15 with stomach migraines then head migraines. I had every test imaginable.
As a kid that used to feel sick a lot, and probably before anxiety was recognised as a thing. There wasn't a label for what was going on. I learnt to soldier on. However at 20 hit a wall, was tired, burnt out, and not looking well. By that stage we had a friend who had been diagnosed with coeliac disease, so mum marched me into the dr to see it that could be it? referred to a gastroenterologist (these drs stick cameras down your throat and up your butt to see what is going on)
Test showed chronic inflammation- no surprise i was feeling off. So now i live Gluten free and for the most part healthy as. Just so you know a dietitian can't help you with any of this until you have diagnosis. eliminating food might make her feel better but for these tests to work you must be eating your normal diet. Good luck