Medical Questions > Conditions and Diseases > Abdominal Pain Forum

teenager with severe abdominal pain

Must Read
What is abdominal pain?
Abdominal pain and bellyaches are common. Though most cases of abdominal pain aren't serious, sometimes you will need to see a doctor. We’ll review some of...
Read more >>
Abdominal Pain Symptoms
Abdominal pain can be uncomfortable but is very common. But when is pain in the abdomen serious? Learn how to describe your symptoms more accurately so that yo...
Read more >>
Abdominal Pain Diagnosis
It's important to "know your pain" to help your doctor diagnose the reason behind abdominal pain. Read on for more tools and information about how to diagnose ...
Read more >>
Conditions and Diseases
Teenager With a Big Health Insurance Que...
abdominal pain
Tape worm
Abdominal Pain
quit smoking
Dull lower left abdominal pain?
am i'm pregnant
Related Topics
Depressed overweight teenager! ?
althea pill for teenagers,an answer to a...
Another Stupid Teenager..
December 21st, 2010
Two weeks ago my child had the flu. She was placed on tamiflu. A few days later she felt pretty good. The following week she came home from school with nausea and vomiting. The day after she awoke with severe right lower quadrant pain. I brought her to the ER they did a CT which was completely normal. Her white count was normal and no fever. The ER doctor called in a general surgeon to take a look because he was convinced she had an appendicitis. Surgeon admitted her for observation. Over the course of the next five days we saw 4 pediatricians, 3 surgeons and an OBGYN. They all would argue back and forth between mesenteric adenitis and appendicitis. They were giving her dilaudid, toradol, vicodin and zofran. None of the pain meds seemed to help. After 5 days I finally had her discharged, they were doing nothing for her at the hospital why keep her in there. The following day we followed up with a different pediatrician. She said she has torn an abdominal wall muscle and has pneumonia. How likely is that in a sedentary person? Just wondering what your thoughts are. She continues to have severe pain and low grade fever. I would love your thoughts on this.
Did you find this post helpful?
|
Users who thank lhopland for this post: essenceweb 
lhopland
replied December 31st, 2010
It has now been two weeks since the beginning of all this. We have returned to the surgeon because the pain and low grade fever returned after getting better for a few days. He is now saying it could be Crohn's disease. Her lymph nodes were enlarged at the beginning of all this and are still enlarged. We can not seem to get an answer about what is causing this. We are seeing a new surgeon on Monday and a GI specialist on Tuesday. If anyone has any thoughts on this please let me know. I guess we are having to think "outside the box" at this point.
|
Did you find this post helpful?
lhopland
replied December 31st, 2010
Had to take her back to the ER tonight she was dizzy, disoriented and lost consciousness. The doctors there basically said there is nothing wrong with her. It is all mental. WHAT???? This child is on the A honor roll, district honor band and active in student council. She is not the kind of kid that would fake anything.
|
Did you find this post helpful?
Nsearch212
replied January 2nd, 2011
phneumonia?? Unless she contracted it in the hospital which is probably likely. As fas as everything else your daughter is sounding a lot like me. My ordeal started almost 2 years ago after I thought I had the flu and was also put on tamiflu which made me sicker. Since then I have had nothing but problems. My pain is my upper left stomach and have been having a lot of neurological effects as well. I also have tons of dizziness and have lost consciousness and had to be hospitalized. Has she been checked for any vitamin deficiencies? Like B-12, vitamin D anything like that? I had mine checked and they were both really low. Im on supplements and feel a little better. It wouldn't hurt to have it checked out. What about having an abdominal laproscopy done to check the appendix? They did that on my mom when she was having a lot of lower stomach pains amd they thought it was her appendix. Im really surprised after staying in the hospital for that long that they just didn't take the appendix out. Good Luck Keep us posted...
|
Did you find this post helpful?
Users who thank Nsearch212 for this post: lhopland 
lhopland
replied January 2nd, 2011
I have begged the doctors to do a laproscopy to check and they won't do it. I have asked them to biopsy one of the enlarged lymph nodes and they won't do that either. They would rather admit her to the hospital and give her morphine for pain that according to them is psychological. I have not had her vitamin levels checked, that would be something I could look into. I do not know what other blood tests they have done. I know that they keep doing drug screens. One doctor all but accused us of letting her over dose on drugs. The only things we have given her are tylenol and motrin. I gave her a benadryl the other night to help her sleep. I'm not sure if the doctors are trying to prove a point to me or if they are just that stupid. Either way they are hurting my child and I'm very upset.
|
Did you find this post helpful?
Nsearch212
replied January 2nd, 2011
I would try and get her into Children's Hospital. I know that when it is appendicitis you get that initial pain around the belly button. As far as it being psychological Im no therapist but for a teenager to manufacture something of this magnitude and allow herself to go through a barrage of painful procedures and hospitalzation would be pretty far fetched in my mind. Parents usually know when their child is in "real" pain. I can sure tell when my daughter is truely sick and when she's not. I would also get her medical and imaging records from the hospital and any other dr she's been to just so you have a copy of them on hand. Just see what the other doctors can do for you this week and if you don't like the results then maybe see if you can get her into children's hospital or do some research and see if you can find a top pediatric gi dr in your state. I know it is extremely frustrating especially when it is your child at stake but you just have to keep going on and keep fighting to get to the bottom of it. Good luck with all of your appts and let us know how it goes.
|
Did you find this post helpful?
essenceweb
replied January 6th, 2011
POSSIBLE EXPLANATION!!
I would have her checked for Celiac Disease (CD)... I have something VERY similar.. But I have had it for 6 years. I was diagnosed 1 1/2 years ago with CD. And since then, with a TON of research, I have found others with severe lower right abdominal / hip pain...

I have not yet found out how to help it.. I was also told it was all in my head and I was faking it (it started at the age of 15, I am now 21)..It went away in early 2007, returned in January of 2010. It is so severe I usually can't do much of anything. It feels to me like being hit by a semi with knives on the end.

BUT! Good news.

I go to a chiropractor. They do NOT crack my neck to align my spine, they use a type of machine. ((I am not certain as to the type of machine, and you will have to find someone who uses it.. I will get the name from my Dr. as I am not allowed to post the office's contact information on here.)) I have my spine aligned, and after a while, it does TEMPORARILY relieve the pain. But ONLY A LITTLE.

You could also just try your daughter on the Gluten-Free diet to see if it helps her feel any better. She could be a Celiac.

Rebecca
|
Did you find this post helpful?
lhopland
replied January 6th, 2011
I want to thank you all for your input. I want to update you. She has had blood work done for Celiac, Crohn's and UC, we are awaiting the results. She is also scheduled to have an EGD and Colonoscopy. I'll keep you posted!
|
Did you find this post helpful?
lhopland
replied January 15th, 2011
She has had bloodwork, EGD and colonoscopy. She has Celiac Disease. Gluten free diet the rest of her life, but at least we know what it is now. I urge anyone that has had these problems please ask to be tested for celiac. It is not generally in the differential diagnosis for abdominal pain and this is unfortunate. It is my understanding that many people go years with abdominal pain before they are diagnosed with Celiac. Be persistent you know your body better than anybody. Don't give up. It took us 6 weeks and 8 doctors, but we finally have answers.
|
Did you find this post helpful?
brockhardman
replied February 17th, 2011
You may want to also look into Leaky Gut Syndrome and Candida infections. I put my testimonial on my website where I actually sell a probiotic that literally changed my life!!! It is feelingnormalagain dot com. You can call or email me if you have any questions. I do not charge for consultations.

Take care!
Brock
|
Did you find this post helpful?
Sign up for FREE weekly health tips!
... Saving
Ask a doctor

Featured Experts
Dr. Kokil Mathur
Dr. Kokil Mathur
General Medicine
anandsingh
Anand J. Singh
General Medicine & Surgery
DEEPAK ANVEKAR
Deepak Anvekar
General Medicine, Emergency Medicine
AjitKukreja
Ajit Kukreja
Gastroenterologist, Colorectal Surgeon, ...
eHealthPedia Articles
Abdominal Pain Diagnosis
Abdominal Pain Symptoms
Abdominal Pain Treatment
What is abdominal pain?
Causes of diarrhea