My son has been having some sharp pains in his stomach the last few days, not too bad, but it's gotten worse tonight and he is in a lot of pain it seems like, but it's a throbbing that comes and goes, but when it comes, awww, my poor guy, he feels awful. He had just got over a cough, then I had to pick him up from school 2 days ago an hour after he got there because he was feeling sick, I took him to the doctor and they said he had Bronchitis, and put him on an antibiotic and, and said to do our usual inhaler everyday and singular everyday, that's he's taken every day for years. Nothing was really said about the pain in his stomach because it wasn't really bothering him at the time. I gave him some Ibuprofen and the only thing I had handy for stomach, which was tums, just 2 of them. And he had a cold wash cloth on his upper belly where it's bothering him. I'm wondering if it could just be he's experiencing heartburn for the first time, or indigestion, or could it be early sign of something else, like appendix or gall bladder. I don't have a way to take him to a quick care hospital or anything at the moment. Does anyone have any ideas, or suggestions? Any info would be great, I'm just feeling so bad for the poor guy. Thanks Mamas!
You are all right, I did leave out a few details. He's had diarrhea, is not constipated. He was feeling nauseous a cpl days ago, thought he was going to be sick and hugged the toilet for about 45 mins, but never vomited. There are many things going around his school right now. The nurse at his school is actually a friend of mine I went to school with, and she told me, as a secret she said, that she's worked for the school for 8 years and has never seen this many sick kids ever, and many different symptoms. He already had a school excuse for the first couple days. I believe I will keep him home from school tomorrow, then he's on his 2 wk Christmas break. I don't believe I want him going again and getting any thing else, or getting worse. Thank You all for the advice. And No his doctor doesn't have a 24 emergency number or anything. we're just a small town, nothing like that here, which there should be. But if it gets any worse, which he says it's slacking down some, I will call an Ambulance, I won't have a car to take him for a couple more hours, my husband is still at work, with no way to reach him. Thank you all soooooo very much though, I appreciate all of the suggestions and opinions. I can always count on your Mamas!!!!
Sorry, another important detail I left out, he had a small small fever a few days ago, but has No Fever now. I am definitely going to seek medical attention for it, even if it's just something I freaked out about and wasn't a big deal, Like you said, better safe than sorry. We will be going first thing in the morning, it must of dulled down enough, he's starting to doze off. Which makes me think it may have been maybe the coughing just got to him, the use of the stomach muscle, and the mucus from the other things been going on with him. Thanks guys, you're so awesome!
Call the doc if you are still worried.
There is something going around. My DD was horribly ill this morning and my DH and I were both sick with a version of it earlier this week.
This could be anything from very simple (virus) to VERY serious (appendicitis does not always cause pain only in the right side but can cause it elsewhere instead; or he could be allergic to the antibiotic he was given,which can be very serious; or it could be a bowel issue which also can be serious -- is he having any issues with bowel movements?).
You aren't a doctor and neither are we. You have no way to tell if it is serious or not. Please err on the side of caution, mom. Immediately phone the emergency line for his pediatrician's office -- they DO have a 24-hour line you can call and request a doctor's call back ASAP even in the night, right? -- and tell them all the symptoms. Do not hold back details. Note right up front that he is in a lot of pain and it is growing worse. They may tell you to get him to a hospital pronto, and it sounds like you don't have a car right now; do not be afraid to call an ambulance or a friend.
If it turns out to be nothing major, please do not say "I feel silly now" or "Next time I won't be so scared and will just wait." The one time you "just wait" might be when it really is life-threatening. Better to be told "It's nothing" than to do nothing and find out later that you lost precious time.
Call the pediatrician's emergency line now.
FYI, ibuprofen can upset stomachs -- I wouldn't give him any more of anything until you speak to the doctor on call for the pediatrician's office.
If he's feeling sick and probably has a lot of mucus going into the stomach from the sinuses (post nasal drip) or the bronchial tubes (from coughing and swallowing), that can really irritate the digestive tract. If he's been more inactive, he's probably not eating normally either. Ask him very specifically about bowel movements - frequency and amount eliminated since he's been sick. He may not be paying attention to that, or he may be embarrassed, but get him to answer anyway. Constipation is a big culprit of belly pain, and if it's aggravated by stuff in the stomach (or if the intestines are pressing up), that's a problem.
If he's coughing a lot, he could have some spasms in his diaphragm, which is higher up between the ribs and the stomach, sort of.
I'd try heat rather than a cool cloth. A warm bath can help too. Relaxation is important.
Push the fluids and some fiber-rich foods (raisins, other fruit except bananas, prune juice if he'll drink it) and don't give him any cheese or dairy, no bananas, no other drinks but water. If he's nauseated (which you don't say he is), try a ginger tea or put ground ginger from the spice rack into warm water.
The appendix is down lower and on the right, but don't press too much if you don't know what you're doing.
The antibiotic can also cause stomach upset - I assume it's not viral bronchitis because an antibiotic is useless for that. If he has a sinus infection too, the antibiotics could be for that.
I wouldn't go to urgent care without a call to the doctor - pediatricians have someone on call all the time, so use that phone and put in a call!
Did the stomach pain start after antibiotics? The stomach pain/ diarrhea could be from the antibiotics. Is their a location to the pain? It also could be muscle pains from coughing, or something different altogether. I would call Dr. Today and discuss this with them. It doesn't sound like a bug.
if he's still in pain now? I would go to the urgent care to see if he has appendicitis. It's nothing to mess with. Symptoms can vary with people..
Good luck!! Hope it's just part of the virus and not something more serious!
If he can't sit down and watch TV and forget the pain is there then the pain is intense enough to get medical care. Since he's had is for some time I'd take him in to see the doc first thing in the morning.
Did he have a fever with the bronchitis? If not, does he have one now? That would be my concern. Please call your doctor/peditrician immediately
because pain with fever cn be a concern.`This can be any number of thing.
Mel R has made some good point I would have said anyway, but please don't wait call your doc. Better safe than safe than sorry.
Sounds like you have this situation in hand. I want to tell you that all hospitals have an advice nurse available 24-7. Sounds like there isn't a hospital in your town. Suggest you can call the nearest hospital for advice.
I just read this I know it was sent in the night sometime. But if he is still in pain I would go just to rule out appendicitis. separate from that. I know you said he had diarrhea. Has it been actual diarrhea? or just little bits of liquidy poop. A kid who is really and truly constipated can have that symptom as it is the only thing able to squeak out. My son used to get really really let me just say really again for good measure backed up. His adhd meds caused it. He had to take a swig of mineral oil a couple times a week to be able to go. and stopped up the toilet each time. even though for those in between days he had the diarrhea symptoms. So just a though.
Sounds like a virus that has been going around our school. I actually had it. Ugh...hang in there. Did you check with the school?
Could be strep. Our daughter had really bad stomach pain when we were on vacation last summer. We ended up in the ER thinking it could be appendicitis. Turns out it was strep. She didn't have a sore throat at all. One of my co-workers just told me yesterday that her son was vomiting and had a fever. They took him to the doctor and it was strep. Again, no sore throat. I had strep a couple of months ago. No sore throat and only had a slight fever one day.
