Stomach/abdominal cramps in a 6 year old?

[LynnS6]

Any idea what this could be?

Dd (6) has been mostly lying on the couch today because she has had stomach cramps. They definitely come in waves. She began complaining of stomach pain Thursday evening -- she often gets mild stomach issues. (I suspect some dairy intolerance, but just when I was going to remove all dairy this fall, she went 4 months without complaining at all about stomach issues.)

She went to bed early on Thursday, seemed OK on Friday, but was complaining a bit last night. This morning she was complaining again, but eating and went to gymnastics, and walked home with me (20 minutes). She had lunch, but nothing after that and it seems to be getting worse. She feels a bit nauseous, but hasn't thrown up. She has no fever. Her lower abdomen is tender when we press on it, but it doesn't cause great pain, just discomfort.

It's a bit hard to know how serious to take her lying on the couch moaning, because she does that when she has a fever or a cold too. (She's very sensitive to pain.)

We can take her to the doctor tomorrow (with some juggling), but I'm not sure what they'll do. I'd rather wait until Monday when our regular pediatrician would be available.

Ideas?

[Llyra]

My first thought would be to ask about her BMs-- could it be as simple as some nasty constipation? Has she had any diarrhea? Constipation can cause some pretty dramatic discomfort if it goes on too long. With diarrhea, I'd be suspecting some kind of lower GI infection, or maybe food-borne illness. Honestly, if her BMs are fine, then I'd be taking this maybe more seriously-- because if it's not GI, then it would make me wonder what it IS.

I hope you get some answers soon, from a health care professional.

[chaoticzenmom]

Moving this to Health and Healing where it will get more responses. 

Thanks.

Lisa

[LynnS6]

Well, she woke up the next morning chipper and in no pain. Her appetite was a little off, so I'm assuming it was some sort of stomach bug. (Her poops were fine -- soft and normal.) I was just about to take her to the ER because I was convinced it was her appendix when she started to get more lively.

[Greenlea]

My sister would get really bad stomach pains like this around the same age.  She would be crying, not sleeping, etc.  She even had a colonoscopy to rule out anything serious.  Basically it turns out, she was lactose intolerant.  It did not happen all the time, and would come in waves.  I would try cutting out her dairy. 

[LynnS6]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greenlea 

My sister would get really bad stomach pains like this around the same age.  She would be crying, not sleeping, etc.  She even had a colonoscopy to rule out anything serious.  Basically it turns out, she was lactose intolerant.  It did not happen all the time, and would come in waves.  I would try cutting out her dairy. 

Yes, that's a good thought. There's a strong family history of lactose intolerance. If it happens again, we'll cut out dairy for 2-3 weeks and then reintroduce it to see if that's the cause. It's going to be a hardship for her if that's the case. The child lives on cheese!

[neetling]

abdominal migraines could be a possibility too.

http://www.relieve-migraine-headache.com/abdominal-migraine.html