8 Year old with ongoing "stomach Virus" or Psychologial issue?? please help!

A few weeks ago my younger daughter had a bug. she threw up and was a little sick. nothing major. a few days after, she was went to nurses office, (she ate a CRUD LOAD OF EASTER CANDY THAT AM!) she was crying and i brought her home and took her to the doctor (threatening her the whole time, they will give you shots to see what you could possibly be allergic to, etc...) For days prior she'd walk around with a garbage pail, and complain her belly doesn't feel well.

She has normal days, and then days where her belly hurts.
I am trying to pay attention to milk products, etc...
so... yesterday nurse calls, she's sick, she vomitted mucous and some bile.
Ex picks her up and says she is visibly sick (pale-faced, miserable, sleeping etc..),then this AM she looks like her regular self, then she carries a garbage bag around with her and says she doesn't feel good.

We are both concerned about her mental state. Is she sick over our divorce?
She once said that she gets "homesick" (yesterday started ex's weekend)

Anybody know of ANYTHING that has been lingering around stomach-virus-wise (the nurse said a few kids left yesterday with the same thing).

We have already approached school about talking to the psychologist.

Ex has stomach issues, my other daughter is lightly lactose intolerant.

Any advice? thoughts

Re: 8 Year old with ongoing "stomach Virus" or Psychologial issue?? please help!

The stomach virus goes around our school every other week it seems. What does the doctor say? Doesn't sound psychological to me, but then again I'm not an expert.

Re: 8 Year old with ongoing "stomach Virus" or Psychologial issue?? please help!

SHe only went the one time that i brought her. The lingering of it is what bothers me.

Is it real, or fake?

I guess only choice is to make her go through a crud load of physical testing to find out that it could be mental... Right?

Re: 8 Year old with ongoing "stomach Virus" or Psychologial issue?? please help!

Was yoru DD quick tested for strep and also cultured for strep? B/c I think my DD had a missed strep infection a few mths back, long story but complained of stomach pain on and off for a period of time. Also some vomiting. Please have this checked.

Re: 8 Year old with ongoing "stomach Virus" or Psychologial issue?? please help!

Re: 8 Year old with ongoing "stomach Virus" or Psychologial issue?? please help!

Re: 8 Year old with ongoing "stomach Virus" or Psychologial issue?? please help!

Well you asked for advice/thoughts and like the other ladies, I am concerned just reading how you posted this, that you are scaring your young child.

This is how phobias can start.

Your first concern should be to take her to the doctor to get checked out. Emphasize the good in it.

And your tone about "mental state" is also a bit off-putting as well.

Just being honest.

I've brought DS to the doctor several times when he was sick and no shots were given and no blood was drawn.

Unless you have an MD behind your name, let's not jump to conclusions. And even then.....let's just not...

Message edited 5/11/2014 6:44:53 AM.

Re: 8 Year old with ongoing "stomach Virus" or Psychologial issue?? please help!

Allergies? Not for type but environmental could give her post nasal drip which runs into her stomach making her sick to her stomach.

Re: 8 Year old with ongoing "stomach Virus" or Psychologial issue?? please help!

My DD (7 at the time) had sort of the same thing. She had the stomach virus, it resolved in 2 days or so. Then about week later, she was complaining that her stomach hurt, etc. She missed a day of school, ok. I eventually told her the same as you...I'm going to have to take you to the doctor. "Will I have to get a shot", she asked. I said "I don't know. We'll see what the doctor says". She agreed to go anyway. So to me, she was actually uncomfortable. The doctor checked her out, and eventually prescribed Prilosec for her, saying that it could be a little reflux causing the pain in her belly. She also included DD, telling her to try to have less tomato sauce-based foods, try to stay away from other things like chocolate and soda. She took the med for a while, and then stopped complaining that it hurt. I stopped the med. Now every so often, she asks for the medicine, saying that her stomach hurts.

I don't think I instilled any phobias in her. Sometimes we have to try to sift out the real problems from the fictional ones. She knows that there are plenty of times she goes to the doctor and doesn't get a shot.

Re: 8 Year old with ongoing "stomach Virus" or Psychologial issue?? please help!

The two times DS has had the stomach virus, something else has followed a couple of days later (the first time it was an ear infection, the second time it was strep). My nephew was really sick for a few days, fever, vomiting, etc. and it was an ear infection. He was 3 or 4 at the time and didn't complain about his ear once. So it could be that.

Re: 8 Year old with ongoing "stomach Virus" or Psychologial issue?? please help!

I also just want to add....have her tested for H.Pylori. H. Pylori is acquired during childhood most studies show. It's a bacteria in the stomach. The symptoms don't usually start until adulthood, but can give children troubles. Typically in adulthood H. Pylori is the cause of reflux,silent or painful, ulcers, etc. BUT, the symptoms can be present in children, and will cause stomach issues, vomiting etc.

I believe this is my issue. No one has mentioned it, not the GI, or the general doctor. I'm waiting for an endoscopy scheduled for next month, but in the interim am self treating, and the herb I'm taking IS working (Mastic Gum Extract pills). I've been taking it for a week, and am 75% better. I wish I had read about H. Pylori 2 months ago when this all started. Sorry to babble, but I really would ask for the H. Pylori testing if you can't find any other reason for the stomach issues. and YES the Strep also. My daughter never gets a REALLY painful sore throat with strep, but usually a stomach ache goes along with hers. She doesn't vomit though.

As a side note, I would never give a child PPI's (prilosec, prevacid, etc.), they don't work for the long term, and make things worse over time. Doctors throw PPI's around like candy. Leg hurts...it's acid reflux, here's a PPI. I would try every other method possible before giving those. I'm not a granola rolling mom, AT ALL, but believe me, I've done so much research lately due to my own issues. Good luck!

Re: 8 Year old with ongoing "stomach Virus" or Psychologial issue?? please help!

Maybe a gluten sensitivity?

Re: 8 Year old with ongoing "stomach Virus" or Psychologial issue?? please help!

Hi,

You can do a breath, blood or stool test to check for H Pylori. You don't need to wait for endoscopy. Breath is most accurate, even more so than biopsy from endoscopy. You can ask your PC for a script and take it into any lab.

Re: 8 Year old with ongoing "stomach Virus" or Psychologial issue?? please help!

Re: 8 Year old with ongoing "stomach Virus" or Psychologial issue?? please help!

Re: 8 Year old with ongoing "stomach Virus" or Psychologial issue?? please help!

Re: 8 Year old with ongoing "stomach Virus" or Psychologial issue?? please help!

Does she run fevers at all?

My DD was prone to what we thought were GI viruses. It seemed like she was getting them every other week. Over a year later we discovered she was getting frequent UTIs due to a congenital defect that we were unaware of. A simple urine test would have would have saved us a year of vomit.

Message edited 5/12/2014 2:26:28 PM.

Re: 8 Year old with ongoing "stomach Virus" or Psychologial issue?? please help!

I was/am in a very similar situation with my 6 year old DD (who just turned 7 on Thursday). I hate to say it, but she is a total middle-child who is prone to attention-seeking behavior here at home, so I really didn't know what to think.

I don't exactly remember how it got started, but there was a vomit incident (only 1x) and I think that might have been the beginning. She would then complain frequently that her stomach hurt, meanwhile dessert would come out and she was suddenly fine. It was really strange because she's not a picky eater and wouldn't be doing it as a ploy to skip dinner. So anyway, like your DD some days would be fine others, she'd be crying in "pain." Weeks of this...

I ended up taking her to the ped who thought maybe it was a constipation thing (as did my DH, but I think she was going as normal); he did a strep test and said it was faintly +, so prescribed her amoxicillin. Wouldn't you know...her 1st dose and five minutes later was "cured." Total placebo...I told her it was an antibiotic and doesn't cure stomach pain.

The behavior has mostly stopped, but I'd say every 10 days now her "stomach hurts." I haven't followed through with any other testing, but I think if I were you and this continues I'd see a GI doctor or whatever.

Oh, and for right or for wrong, I did the same as you...threatened her with medical procedures, etc. Only you know your child...

Good luck!

Re: 8 Year old with ongoing "stomach Virus" or Psychologial issue?? please help!

My DS goes thru similar stuff. He is 6.5 yrs. He gets a stomach virus and then for weeks after often complains of belly issues and sleeps with a bucket next to his bed. Constant complaining of feeling sick esp at dinner and night time. It happens every winter. I honestly thought it was all I his head. He is the type of kid that something always hurts and I thought he was just scared of getting sick so if he had to go to the bathroom or was gassy - thought the virus was back. This winter it got unbearable. After a stomach virus - he was constantly having stomach issues. Missing school and fun events. We couldn't go out to dinner bc we'd sit and he'd run to the bathroom thinking he'd get sick. It got worse and I realized it wasn't all in his head. (I do think some is. I think he gets nervous when he feel sick and it makes it worse.) I do think something is going on in his gastro system. He also started going to the bathroom more than usual during these episodes...not always sick but going 3-5 times a day. I finally saw 2 different gastros and still no definitely answer. He also complained it hurt when he swallowed and he mostly pointed to his throat area. Dr said most kids complain of belly not throat and stuff. First dr put hi on reflux meds and that did nothing. 2nd dr did a host of tests. Nothing major came back so far...his celiac number as slightly elevated but he didn't see it as the cause. About a couple months into - it stopped. So for now - we are watching and seeing what happens.

No real advice but maybe see a gastro if possible for peace of mind. Good Luck! It is hard to deal with, I know!

Re: 8 Year old with ongoing "stomach Virus" or Psychologial issue?? please help!

Any headaches? My 7 year old has suffered migraines that resulted in vomiting in the past few months. At first she wasn't aware of the headache but now I treat it and she's fine. If the headache goes untreated, though, pukes r us.

Re: 8 Year old with ongoing "stomach Virus" or Psychologial issue?? please help!

I just stumbled upon this. I displayed similar characteristics in the first grade.

I would get myself so worked up that I would actually develop a fever (yes, I could turn on a fever anytime I wanted to). I would even vomit from time to time. I told my mom "I didn't feel well". The actual reason was merely homesickness that spiraled out of control.

I had the sweetest teacher, great friends, an awesome class. Not sure what sparked it but it was rough, for months.

Looking back, maybe if my mom had given me something "comforting" to take with me. A shirt of hers, a small blanket, a lovey, I would have been better. But, she didn't know it was homesickness at the time. I think I was embarrassed to say "I miss my mom". I was totally fine in all day kindergarden so I don't know what sparked it in first grade.

It got to the point that my mom couldn't send me to the bus stop because I would get so worked up that other children would get upset. She would have to drive me to school.

I would sit down with her and ask her if something else is bothering her? Ask her if she feels sad and misses home/you during the day. If the divorce is making her sad. Once she knows it is OK to open up, maybe that will help things SO not easy.

Re: 8 Year old with ongoing "stomach Virus" or Psychologial issue?? please help!

Also, I do remember being semi dependent on immodium in middle school. I had a bad stomach virus and was worried I wouldn't feel well or would have to rush to the bathroom in school so I took Imodium daily for a few months. I was a nervous wreck if I didn't take it though I certainly didn't need it after a week or so.

The mind is pretty crazy, how we can convince ourselves of things!

Talk through things. You will get to the bottom of it.

8 Year old with ongoing

Can she be constipated? My son started throwing up bile out of nowhere and they did an xray and said he was so backed up that it was causing him to vomit....

He would randomly complain about stomach pains previous to this, and Id always just figured it was gas pains/or he ate something that didn't agree with him...

Even if they go to the bathroom everyday, they could be impacted....My son poops everyday, but only goes a little just to get some relief... (Doesn't wanna sit on the toilet and "finish")...

We cut back on dairy tremendously.... he also limits his apples/bananas (he ate like 2 of each a day....) I give him pedilax chews or miralax if he doesn't go within 2 days.... (after this last "Scare" he know how important it is- to communicate if he stomach is bothering him/he isn't going- and to sit there for awhile to let it all come out!)

Now that the weather is nicer and the fruits he enjoys (cantaloupe, plums, grapes etc....) are in season- I have up'd his intake with them (to replace the bananas and apples) and I have had no need to give him anything to "help" him go...

Message edited 6/3/2014 9:23:53 AM.