4 year old still having stomach aches....

[ScootchsMom]

We took DD off of all dairy and soy because she was complaining of stomach aches. She is still complaining and we took her to the ped again yesterday. I got what I think is a bunk diagnosis - possible reflux. This was mostly based on the fact that her 9 month old brother does have reflux. They prescribed Prevacid and said if it doesn't work in a week to bring her back in and they'll order tests. Why would reflux suddenly show up in an almost 5 year old, she has never had symptoms of it before.

She also started complaining of itchy skin in the last few days, but I don't know if its related to the stomach ache or not.

Is there any specific test I should push for? I don't know what the insurance will "allow" as far as testing, but do we start with just blood work or what?

Thanks for any guidance.

Liz

[Marnica]

Stomach aches can be from so many things. I would not give my child a drug with potential side effects based on him having a tummy ache! but that is just me!

She could be allergic to some other food she is eating....what about taking her off wheat/gluten? Is she upset abpout anything? recent changes or things going on? tummy aches can have emotional roots.

Are her BM's normal despite the ache? any other symptoms. Maybe keep a food diary for a while to try and pinpoint if it is worse after ingesting any particular food.

[ScootchsMom]

Originally Posted by Marnica

Stomach aches can be from so many things. I would not give my child a drug with potential side effects based on him having a tummy ache! but that is just me!

She could be allergic to some other food she is eating....what about taking her off wheat/gluten? Is she upset abpout anything? recent changes or things going on? tummy aches can have emotional roots.

Are her BM's normal despite the ache? any other symptoms. Maybe keep a food diary for a while to try and pinpoint if it is worse after ingesting any particular food.

Thanks. No recent stresses, her brother was born 9 months ago and she adjusted well. Her grandfather passed away in September but she has coped surprisingly well for a 4 year old. The stomach aches only began the first week of January. She goes to pre-k, no complaints, no stress. She complains of stomach aches at all different times, after food, before food, in the middle of playing and having fun with friends, playing by herself, before bed, when she wakes up, etc. There doesn't seem to be any correlation to anything. Her bowel movements have improved dramatically since we took her off of dairy though.

I even asked her if she had perhaps swallowed a toy or something she shouldn't have by accident and was afraid to tell us. She said no.

I'm hesitant to give her the meds as well. I don't think reflux is the problem at all. It doesn't fit her symptoms. One other thing she does have is dark circles under her eyes and also complaining she is tired quite often. Despite sleeping almost 12 hours a night straight through.

[kjbrown92]

Start a food journal if you haven't already, writing down everything she eats and drinks, and all symptoms (stomachaches, sleep habits, eye circles, poop habits, itchy skin, etc.). Write down ingredients not just "noodles with sauce" so that if it's something in it, you'll be able to track it.

Any food can cause any symptom. The most common food intolerances are dairy, gluten, soy, and corn. And they can come at any time (so can allergies, though the 8 most common allergens are more well known).

Dark circles under the eyes are known as "allergic shiners". And it doesn't correlate with sleep.

And if her poop changed for the better off of dairy, keep her off it until her body has a chance to heal (at least 6 months off all trigger foods).

And even if it was reflux, barring a structural problem, most reflux is from food allergies/intolerances (in case you want to look at that for your son as well).