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Recurring Intense Stomach Pain in 9yr Male

My nephew has been battling this stomach pain, that is focused in the region of his belly button.
It has been progressively getting worse with various doctors not claiming to understand it. I don't think I have every posted anything before online, but tonight he left at the beginning of concert he had been looking forward since Christmas. We just want to find out what exactly it is, so to get on the path to treatment instead of slow investigation
About him:
He is 9 years old otherwise healthy child, active in sports Apporx 55lbs
He previously had a balanced diet
About the pain
It is intense enough that it brings him to tears.
It is most common in the morning or the hour or so after eating after eating.
It has only become functionally problematic in the past year and a half. It is possible it was present before.
It has progressed from accruing once a month to know what is daily or a few time a day.
His explanation is a stabbing pain that has a pulsing duration (with the frequency of what I would say is a contraction) Focused at or around the belly button.
What has been tired and tested  with NO improvements, and the frequency has only increased
-He was tested 1 time for celiac (Negative result)
-He was tested 1 time for a parasite (Negative result)
         -Both as I understand it can produce false negatives?
-He has tired diet of NO gluten for 3 months (limited amounts of gluten for the past year)
-1 Month of NO gluten and NO dairy.
-Antacid as prescribed by the doctor for 2 weeks
-tested for cortisol (Result a bit low)
-Had an enima and 1 week of laxatives per the pediatrician

The big concern is that it is getting worse and worse. For example up until 3 months ago I had not seen him have an "attack" and I usually look after him for an evening almost every week. Now he has had an "attack"  the last 4 times.
Doctors (Family, pedaiatrian and emergency) and Naturopaths have all been seen. With not one with a good idea of what it could be. Just looking for answers. It really hard to see it effecting his life soo much now.
ANY help or thoughts would be helpful
3 Responses
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Avatar universal
Constipation should have resolved with the laxative and enema as long as he pooped. Did he?

I wonder about the rash. Gluten and rashes could be correlated, so some testing might be suggested. Easy test is the gene test that can be done quickly and privately via enterolab. Results are typically returned in about 2 weeks time.

Check to see if dairy is an issue. In some it can cause diarrhea, but in a large majority it can cause pain and constipation. In others, just bloating and pain.

Was a typical blood test done that included liver and pancreatic enzyme levels? As strange as it might sound, pancreatic issues can be found in children and the belly button can be a significant location for that issue.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks for your response

He describes the pain as right at his belly button.
He does not appear to be constipated.
Bowel movements do not relieve the pain.
It seemly comes and goes on its own.
The pediatric doctor have suggested the constipation and put him on laxatives for a week.
And the enema at the beginning of the week.
Should the laxatives not relieved any build up at least a little bit?

Gluten Free eating was suggested by both the Family doctor and Naturopath. No known family history.

Only other issue he has had was a rash on his face for about 3 months.
It has since gone away and not returned.
Thought was that it may have been related to his football chin guard.
Other then that his health is good.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Is the pain located below the bellybutton about an inch or so? Does he have constipation, hard stools or large stools? The location below the bellybutton could suggest the pain is at the turn where the sigmoid colon makes a sharp 'curve' to become the rectum, and in some that are constipated spasms in that area can really make things miserable.

Why was no gluten tried? Are there members in the family with celiac or gluten intolerance? Any with food intolerances at all?

Does he have any other symptoms at all that may not seem like they're related to the GI tract - joint pain, headaches, or?

Helpful - 0
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