Recurrent stomach aches and low appetite in 10 year old

[Anonymous]

My ten year old keeps complaining of stomach aches during meals. He eats a few bites and then goes quiet, looks inconsolable and complains about his stomach, usually feeling better a short while later. The pain itself doesn’t seem to be severe but I’m beginning to be concerned about the frequency and how little he seems to eat. It happens regardless of whether it’s food he likes but I haven’t been able to identify a pattern either. The pain is not linked with diarrhea or poop related stomach cramps though he has (almost) always had soft stools and poops multiple times a day.

He has a pediatrician appointment next week so I’ll bring it up, but I also don’t want to go down a whole rabbit hole of tests if it’s something that he’ll move on from without intervention. This morning I decided to start keeping a record of what he’s eating and what sets it off. Celiac has crossed my mind, but I also wonder if it could just be an allergy or intolerance to something else. Any suggestions are welcome.

[Anonymous]

Have a teen, and don't think she had any friends with this issue. I'd want to get a pediatric GI to check it out.

[Anonymous]

Definitely check for celiac or other allergies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My ten year old keeps complaining of stomach aches during meals. He eats a few bites and then goes quiet, looks inconsolable and complains about his stomach, usually feeling better a short while later. The pain itself doesn’t seem to be severe but I’m beginning to be concerned about the frequency and how little he seems to eat. It happens regardless of whether it’s food he likes but I haven’t been able to identify a pattern either. The pain is not linked with diarrhea or poop related stomach cramps though he has (almost) always had soft stools and poops multiple times a day.

He has a pediatrician appointment next week so I’ll bring it up, but I also don’t want to go down a whole rabbit hole of tests if it’s something that he’ll move on from without intervention. This morning I decided to start keeping a record of what he’s eating and what sets it off. Celiac has crossed my mind, but I also wonder if it could just be an allergy or intolerance to something else. Any suggestions are welcome.

OP here, was meant to say uncomfortable not inconsolable in the above.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Definitely check for celiac or other allergies.

Does this sound like it could be celiac?

[Anonymous]

Just reading your post title I was going to say screen for celiac's. The diarrahea is also another symptom

[Anonymous]

I'd do a test run to see if it's celiac by cutting out gluten.

Possibly a dairy allergy/severe intolerance.

My DD has a severe intolerance to dairy. If she eats even a little bit, she gets a terrible stomach ache.

Does this stop her from eating her favorite ice cream? No, lol. She'll eat it once in a while and suffer for a few hours.

[Anonymous]

I have a relative who had similar issues all throughout her childhood and adolescence. Finally in her early 20s she underwent a big food elimination diet process and it turned out she has no allergies but several intolerances, including to both soy and potatoes. Soy especially is in a LOT of foods which is why she was so frequently feeling awful. So, might investigate that? I'm really sorry your son is going through this and hope you all determine the cause soon.

[Anonymous]

The ped can order blood work and a stool test.

[Anonymous]

Can he identify where the pain is radiating from?

DS went through this. But his was accompanied by severe vomiting. Three trips to the ER later and they still couldn't figure out what was going. Took him to a gastro - turns out he has a hiatal hernia, which was discovered during an endoscopy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd do a test run to see if it's celiac by cutting out gluten.

Possibly a dairy allergy/severe intolerance.

My DD has a severe intolerance to dairy. If she eats even a little bit, she gets a terrible stomach ache.

Does this stop her from eating her favorite ice cream? No, lol. She'll eat it once in a while and suffer for a few hours.

Keep up the gluten until he is tested.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely keep gluten in diet for testing

[Anonymous]

Celiac is not the only Stomach related condition. A good doctor will look at a few things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Definitely check for celiac or other allergies.

Does this sound like it could be celiac?

Definitely could be. Any issue with diarrhea or loose stool or unexplained rashes? Pediatrician can do blood work to at least rule it out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Definitely check for celiac or other allergies.

Does this sound like it could be celiac?

Definitely could be. Any issue with diarrhea or loose stool or unexplained rashes? Pediatrician can do blood work to at least rule it out.

Oh yikes, this is OP. He’s twice had unexplained rashes accompanied by nausea that eventually went away after weeks of trying to work out what it is. They were tiny itchy raised bumps mostly on his hands, but also the first time covering other parts of his body. Is this a celiac symptom? The doctors had no idea what it was and he went back several times. He does typically have loose, frequent stools.