Persistant stomach ache/puberty issues?

[golfgal]

DD13 has been complaining of a stomach ache off and on for the past week. It seems to be more uncomfortable vs painful. She took some ibuprofen yesterday thinking she is getting her period (hasn't had it yet so this would be the first time) because it has gotten more constant. I had her use a heating pad last night and that didn't help much she said. She took ibuprofen every 4 hours today and said it hasn't helped. I don't remember getting cramps with my first period and later when I did get cramps they never last this long. It is possible she is getting ready for her period or something else? What is everyone else's experience? I don't want to call the dr just to have them tell me she is probably getting her period.

 

[BabyPiglet]

She's probably just got cramps.

 

[Avalon_toon]

I have read that menstrual cramps are uncommon in girls prior to first menstruation and fairly uncommon for at least the first few years after onset, so I'd suspect some other cause and call the Dr. I hope its nothing serious!

 

[BelleBoo&AmisMum]

My oldest went through this for a long time, turned out to be chronic appendicitis, after several weeks, countless doctors visits, ER visits, and one emergency surgery it went away.

 

[luv2nascar]

I be a little concern. Some discomfort prior to first period for months before is normal. If it is too painful for her I consult a doctor.

 

[minkydog]

Abdominal pain that has lasted a week and requires ibuprofen every 4hrs? I think you need to take her to see her doctor.

 

[Illuminations_Rocks]

Abdominal pain that has lasted a week and requires ibuprofen every 4hrs? I think you need to take her to see her doctor.

I agree. Even if it isn't anything serious, she seems to be pretty uncomfortable consistently. Best to rule something out as it has been fairly constant. Is it her actual abdomen/stomach area or is it lower? This could be a help in figuring out what it is.

Poor girl, hope everything is ok!

 

[golfgal]

Abdominal pain that has lasted a week and requires ibuprofen every 4hrs? I think you need to take her to see her doctor.

That is just it, she isn't in 'pain'. It hasn't slowed her down any. I had her take the ibuprofen every 4 hours to see if it helped--that is what I did when I had cramps and it kept them at bay. It is more discomfort then anything.

I thought possibly appendicitis but she has no other symptoms--no vomiting, fever, etc. It isn't tender. Another thought was possibly a hernia. I can feel a small lump near her bellybutton but that might have been from her stomach surgery several years ago??

When I ask her where it hurts she draws a line across her waist vs lower like cramps would be??

She took a jacuzzi and said that made it worse?

 

[eh24fan]

When I was her age, I had a similar thing going on!! The Dr's never did figure it out and my mom's ob/gyn actually had the nerve to tell me it was in my head! I refused to go see him ever again. I already had my period and this was not even related. I kept telling people that but no one believed me. I had a horrible stomach ache and my back would hurt sooo bad too. I took advil, tylenol, anything they would give me. I wouldn't eat becauase I was afraid it would make it worse and sometimes it really did. There was a 2 week period when this was at it's worst that I didn't eat and only drank when mom forced it down my throat. I lost a lot of weight, she took me to her dr. and that's when he told me it was in my head after doing test after test.

This happened off and on for a few years and there was never any explanation whatsoever. I finally learned to just deal with it, but initially it had me down for awhile every time it happened. My dr. even gave me a RX for naproxen, before it was OTC. That helped but nothing else did.

 

[gottaluvPluto]

My niece had something similar happen to her with her first period. In fact, her stomach problems lasted two months. My SIL took her to doctors and they ruled out appendicitis and gastro problems. My niece finally saw a GYNO and found out she has cramps.

 

[kmp1191]

My oldest went through this for a long time, turned out to be chronic appendicitis, after several weeks, countless doctors visits, ER visits, and one emergency surgery it went away.

Same thing happened to my niece....except her appendix had ruptured, but was contained in one area....very lucky young lady!! She was in pain for over a week before they found the problem!!
Also, my sister had bad problems with her period....she'd get HORRIBLE cramps, but no period. When she was 16, she still hadn't had a period. Long story short...she had endometreitis. (spelling??) She had to go on the pill to have a period, and finally at the ripe old age of 28 she had to have a complete hysterectomy.

Make her an appointment...better to be safe than sorry.

 

[chager]

My ds13 has been complaining of stomach issues for 6 weeks! 2 ER visits, countless tests, still no answer. Interestingly enough several other kids from his class have had similar symptoms lately. No answers for them either. He will take Motrin to help control the pain when it gets bad. He also gets a bad upset stomach with it. No particular time of day either. So far the docs are thinking some strange virus.

 

[rentayenta]

Could it be anxiety?

 

[BelleBoo&AmisMum]

I thought possibly appendicitis but she has no other symptoms--no vomiting, fever, etc. It isn't tender. Another thought was possibly a hernia. I can feel a small lump near her bellybutton but that might have been from her stomach surgery several years ago??

Mine had no fever with the appendicitis - ever. The day it got tender was the day I threw a fit in the ER and refused to leave until we saw a surgon, they let me make the call and I had it removed, it was hard and huge. All test results were unremarkable, the ER was going to send us home, again. There was only a slight elevation on WBC, seriously, all tests came back "mostly" normal. Ultrasound looked a little off, but they decided that's just how it was. They ended up being wrong.

I'd see a doc, see about an ultrasound if nothing else.

 

[aepecoraro]

Could it be anxiety?

I was going to say the same thing. Around 13, 14 I had that same thing. I had multiple tests done, cat scan, ultrasounds, blood work. I just had constant stomach pains and it happened day after day. It turned out to be depression. Depression runs in my family and I was lucky to catch it early and be able to treat. It might be worth it to check out. I am not saying that is what it is, just a possibility.

 

[LBAK]

My DD12 just went through this a few months ago. she had "annoying" stomach aches for about 8 weeks on and off. Next thing I know she got her period and no more stomach aches. I didi take her to the dr. and he said it was probably hormonal. Guess he was right.

 

[Disney Ella]

My DD12 has been having stomach problems off and on since January. After it persisted more than a few days, I thought maybe it was stress, or like you, puberty. When she started coughing up blood, it was obvious it was none of those things. The Dr. thought she may have had an earlier stomach virus that irritated the esophagus and prescribed Prevacid. She took Prevacid for two weeks and was much better, but then it happened again a few weeks ago. I started her on Prevacid again right away and it's gone away again, so we'll see what happens. DH did start getting his stomach problems at this age, so I hope she hasn't inherited his issues.

It sounds like this may not be uncommon in girls this age.

 

[wishspirit]

If she is having problems tolieting as well it might be IBS or something similar. I was told i most likely have that recently after some bad stomach pain etc. They said it was probibly due to stress, so i'd check that out.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Abdominal pain that has lasted a week and requires ibuprofen every 4hrs? I think you need to take her to see her doctor.

Agree....As women we accept that everything is related to hormones. It may be but I would rather rule out anything serious.

As I tell my kid's doctors I am done diagnosing them.

In fact my 16yo dd had her gallbladder out. When the surgeon came back to tell us about it, he said no wonder she felt awful. It was fatty, inflamed, in addition to the stones.

 

[golfgal]

Could it be anxiety?

I don't think so. She isn't prone to that, she is a pretty even keeled kid. There really isn't anything going on that would make her anxious now either.

If she is having problems tolieting as well it might be IBS or something similar. I was told i most likely have that recently after some bad stomach pain etc. They said it was probibly due to stress, so i'd check that out.

I asked that and she said everything is normal in that aspect.

She said she was nauseous this morning, didn't eat very well last night though so that could be part of that. She ate some toast. She just did say that it hurts worse after she eats and then gets a little better??

I will give the dr a call when they open to see what they say.