Stomach Pain - I'm Lost

[Gammaw]

DS (7) has been complaining of stomach pain - general ache, not sharp - for over a week now. I discovered he hadn't had a BM in three days, but did after I started heavy hydration with Gatorade and water, broth etc. It appeared he wasn't getting enough fluids at school and his desire for fluids seems decreased as well. He had been on antibiotics for a cough before that, but even tho I brought the doc a stool sample, they didn't test it, thinking he was dehydrated too. But we are still complaining of a belly ache, especially after drinking his Gatorade???!! I think. It's hard to know what's triggering it. The belly ache seems to come and go. He was on a probiotic while on antibiotics, but we quit taking it afterwards. He has had regular bowel movements the past four or 5 days, so I assume the constipation is done, Any suggestions??? Or ideas???. He did have a meconium ileus at birth, but no further complications since then. He was also recently dx with pseudemonas and has been on TOBI for a couple of days - which he hates. He says it tastes bad and it makes him cough as soon as he starts breathing it in.

 

[mysticrose]

I think it is still possible he could be obstructed. My DD was pooping up until the night she doubled over in agonizing pain and we found out she was seriously "back up". Is he on Miralax at all? After my DD's issue and we got her to the point she was pooping clear, her doc put her on mirilax for at least 6 months to give the intestine time to heal and go back down to normal size. My suggestion would be to call the clinic and see if the GI doc wants to see him and do an xray to see if he might still have a small obstruction.
My oldest DD hates the taste of TOBI too and it makes her cough quiet a bit. Which I have been told the coughing is good because it is moving the junk around in the lungs and she is having to take a deep breath after coughing which is getting more meds into the lungs.

Good luck I hope your little guy gets to feeling better quickly!

Jen mom to 4. 3 w/cf and one lucky red head.

 

[Julie7]

Agree w previous post, get an X-ray to be sure. My son was having diarrhea and had a partial small bowel obstruction and also acute pancreatitis. Is he PI? He lost interest in eating or drinking much bc of belly pain which contributed to the problem. Now we have a rule. He has to drink 2-3 bottles water daily to get sufficient water intake, he has his own huge water can like 32 ounces. He did have to stay in hospital but no surgery, healed with bowel rest, fluids and NG tube. My son is almost 9.

 

[JennyCoulon]

I would suggest maybe doing Merilax to get him cleaned out and see how he does. It could be dehydration or acid in the tummy, on any type of meds for reflux? I know sometimes depending on what my boys eat if it is greasier, etc. they get tummy aches. I would maybe even try Pepto and see if that helps.

 

[Ratatosk]

Agree he probably still needs to be cleaned out. Is his belly distended? Where is the pain at? DS had issues with constipation when he was a baby and while he was still stooling, his eating would decrease and he'd be fussier. We'd give him Milk of Magnesia to get him cleaned out and he'd be fine.

When he had an obstruction a few years ago, if he ate really well he'd get a sudden stomach ache and vomit. Also if he eats too many peanuts, he'll get stomach pain, usually around his naval (belly button). So we try to limit the amount of nuts he gets.

 

[Gammaw]

Wow. Sounds like a lot of similar experiences. Thank to all. Yes he is PI. He was born with a meconium ileus. Takes 4 Creon 12000 with meals but is at a great weight - in the 74%. He also takes Omeprazole. He has serious reflux and tends to burp a lot even though he takes his meds for it. Our CF team has never referred us to a gastroenterologist though and he's never seen one. They did order a KUB X-ray but no results yet. His belly does not appear distended, but it has always looked a little poochy since he was born. Ive always affectionately called it the pancreatic pooch. Not sure where I got that from., but his pants are always too long if I fit them round his bellly - size 10 waist, size 8 legs! His belly is pretty much soft. But do tell me what acid has to do with this . . . I don't understand the connection. He's never taken Miralax. If he seems to be constipated, I usually give him apple juice and it seems to work! I've stepped up his fluid intake and he has a watered down 20 oz. Gatorade that he even gets to keep at his desk at school. Fortunately he has had no pain today. When he does, he says it's aches all over his stomach and makes a circle from sternum to below his belly button. He says it's not sharp pain. I assume the KUB will show constipation or back up if that's still it. If not, what else could it be? Thank you all.

 

[MOM247]

Hi there,

I think an X-ray sounds like a great idea. Our son was also born w/meconium illieus. When he was 3 he started having tummy aches, but was still having bm's. I didn't think there was a chance he could have obstruction, but he began vomitting. At that point we were off to the ER. Turned out he had scar tissue from his meconium illieus surgery as a baby, and the scar tissue was choking of part of his bowel. Very scary! I think with our children X-rays are really best bet to know what's really going on. Good luck!

 

[Aboveallislove]

Our DS has severe acid reflux too and it is always much worse when things are backing up. They explained that if things don't go down easily (because of a back-up) it forces the acid up.

 

[Printer]

Based upon my experience, stomach pain every afternoon about 4 pm, he should be on enzymes to help his digestion. I would also suggest daily dose of mirilax,to prevent stool build-up in the colon. Talk to your CF Specialist about this.

Bill