My daughter is 5 and we have been dealing with something since March and I am worried sick. Every month, she has an episode where she complains of stomach pain and runs a low fever, usually around 100.5. She usually vomits, but only 1, maybe 2 times. A few of the times this has happened, she has complained of her throat hurting. Only August and September, this episode didn't occur. The doctor is referring her to a gastro specialist. I've looked up periodic fever and I don't think her fevers are high enough for that. The dr mentioned cyclic vomiting but she usually vomits only 2 time. Google has me worried sick that it's something serious. She has a good appetite and hasn't had any weight loss. Please, any advice would be appreciated.
I didn't know how to respond to the answers, so I just put them here. Thank you all for your feedback. I will definitely start journaling everything she eats so I can present it to gastro specialist, which we probably won't get to see until after the first of the year. I think Margie mentioned a little about it, but would something gastro related cause her to run a temperature? She's always been very gassy so I wonder if it's connected. She is also pale during these episodes. I know I shouldn't Google, but I do it all of the time. I'm just so worried..
Update: Just wanted to say thank you all again for your feedback. I am waiting for the specialists office to call and set up the appointment. Her color is better and she has been feeling good the past couple of days. I did start the journal so hopefully we can figure out a pattern. I'm just very eager to get in with the doctor but I'm sure we will have to wait until after the new year to do that.
Has she had any blood tests for bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections? I ask because some things can cycle between dormant and active, even if she's always a carrier. I wouldn't assume it was something like that, but testing should be done to rule it out.
Sorry you're having to deal with this.
I suggest beginning a food log immediately. It will be of great help to the gastroenterologist.
The easiest way to do it is to buy a simple notebook or legal pad. Use one page per day. Write down the food she eats during the day, and be specific. Don't write "snack", write "1 Granny Smith apple and a handful of Teddy Grahams", for example. You don't need to measure things (you don't need to write that she ate 3 ounces of something, just an estimate of the amount), just jot down what she's eating and drinking. Again, be specific with the drinks. Drinks can be confusing. For example, a carton of kiwi strawberry juice will often have apple juice as it's first ingredient. Try to note the time of her meals and snacks and beverages.
When she mentions abdominal pain, and/or vomits, note that in the journal, and make sure that you make note of the time of the episode. I know it's unpleasant, but you should also note what she vomits: liquids, undigested food, mucus, etc. (My daughter has gastrointestinal diagnoses so I've done this a million times.)
I have kept logs of all kinds for my daughter. I put a post-it flag on the pages where my daughter has experienced whatever it is I'm keeping track of (sleep issues, vomiting, panic attacks, etc). That way you can point the doctor directly to the episodes.
You might notice a pattern, or the doctor may, but a journal will be a really useful tool.
And try not to consult with "Dr Google" prior to seeing an actual doctor. It's one thing to look up symptoms if you don't know where to start, but you're being referred to a specialist, so just focus on the food journal and try to stop worrying. She may be sensing your anxiety and that might be making things worse.
The gastro should be able to help out a lot more than your pediatrician. There are several things that could be causing the vomiting, and yes cyclic vomiting could be one of them. I had a friend whos daughter went through a period of unexplained vomiting. They did tons and tons of testing and everything came back normal. She was referred to a therapist and surprisingly it helped. It was an anxiety/stress related issue. I would try not to freak out until you meet with the gastro and go through some testing. With the throat hurting when she does vomit makes me think there is some GERD or something going on. Reflux can cause your throat to hurt.
One of mine vomits from anxiety. Can work herself up so she could get a bit warm. How I know it's going to happen is that she complains her throat hurts. That's the tell tale sign. She could be cool as a cucumber - she just says "Mom, my throat hurts" and then she is sick. Usually once or twice. Usually before doing something she finds stressful such as the first day of school, etc. Or getting dropped off somewhere she hasn't been before.
If you haven't checked her stools in a while, just keep an eye on those. Food intolerances usually cause stools that are not the norm.
I would keep a log - her mood, any kind of stress, what she ate that day/day before, and what her stools were like - for when you see the GI specialist. If she's gaining weight, has healthy appetite etc. those are very good signs :) Good luck.
Stay off Google, for starters. It will frighten you into a complete lack of clarity!
Yes, keep a journal. Also ask again about cyclic vomiting syndrome. A pharmacist friend went through this for years with her daughter, and no drugs helped. She finally resolved it with nutrition and getting away from the pharmaceuticals (despite that being her specialty), but the point is that not every doctor investigates all the possibilities. Do start with a gastro specialist, but watch the drugs over too much time. And don't be afraid to go to a children's hospital for a full work-up by pediatric experts perhaps in a couple of disciplines. Insist on a team approach with a case manager who coordinates all the doctors/tests.
You have to be the advocate and insist on her being seen. But that can be done in a relatively stress-reduced environment suitable for children.
strep maybe?
sometimes it starts with gi issues
hope she feels better
Sounds like stress. Children are so much more stressed than adults know a lot of times. If there are no problems after the dr tests her, you may want to check into the Bach remedies or an essential oil that would fit her needs.
Ok, this is really weird because my sister's 5 yr old daughter goes through the EXACT same thing. Saw all kinds of specialist, kept food journal, did an elimination diet, etc. Her Dr. also diagnosed her with cyclic vomiting although hers is triggered by fatigue. So if they go on a weekend trip and she's up late one night and doesn't get much sleep, she'll throw up. Just once, and will have low temp and say her throat hurts. So basically, my sister has to do her best to make sure my niece is well rested and doesn't disrupt her sleep schedule. It's difficult but it's helped significantly. Hang in there and stay off of google!!!
Did she just start school or has she been going to daycare since she was little?
My sister and I stayed home till kindergarten - and then we got sick with everything that came along for about 2 years.
And then things settled down to one or two colds per year.
Our son started daycare when he was 3 months old - and he got sick with just about everything that came along for about 2 years.
And then things settled down to one or two colds per year.
(It actually calmed down even more once his tonsils and adenoids were removed when he turned 4 yrs old).
My personal theory is - it takes about 2 years of exposure to public germs to train up an immune system
It doesn't matter when they start - when they are babies, or pre-schoolers or starting kindergarten - it's still going to be 2 years of catching everything before it calms down.
Best thing you can do is to get into a good hand washing routine.
Try to spend a few hours outside every day.
My 14 yr old granddaughter just went through something similar. She had reoccurring stomach aches, came and went over a few weeks. Was seen by her doctor several times couldn't find a cause. Then Monday night my son took her to the ER because she was in so much pain. The ER doctors did more tests and discovered she had appendix stones, I had never heard of this. The stones would block the ducts in the appendix, it would swell and hurt then the stones would move and the pain would go away. No infection, just pain. Anyway they kept her over night to administer antibiotics and removed the appendix Tuesday morning. She came home that night.
I know an infected appendix can cause vomiting and fever and be chronic not acute. With a chronic appendix the pain, vomiting and fever can come and go for quite some time. With an acute appendix the fever and pain do not subside.
Take her to a doctor and have her looked at. STOP GOOGLING. Go to a doctor.
I've had a low grade fever of 100.something for the last year. And a few other symptoms but not vomiting. It could be a gastro issue. I had both and endoscopy and colonoscopy done and mine came back ok. You may want to see a urologist, it may be a chronic UTI or something of that sort. Good luck.
