Continuous tummy pain post covid

Posted by preocupada @preocupada, Sep 18, 2022

My 13 year old tested positive for COVID on the 1st of May 2022, symptoms were: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tummy pain, headache, sore throat, caugh, flem. Around the 10th day her tummy started hurting more, specifically in two areas left and right of bellybutton, took her to A&E sent home with pain killers, no tests; week later returned to A&E, tested for Multisystem inflammatory syndrome, came back negative, sent home with more pain killers. Pediatrician did number of tests: boold, urine, stool, porphyria, helicobacter & tomography all seem to be fine or negative. Sent to digestive Dr, Dr did additional stool samples to test for blood and inflammation in intestines. Faecal calprotectin was 62.3 (normal values 26 - 50). Digestive Dr did no more tests. Told to see a psychologist so they could train her to increase her pain tolerance. 1 month later returned to A&E as pain intensified, on the third day in hospital had ultrasound, signs of fluid and partially swollen appendix, appendix removed se day, more tests done in hospital all seemed normal. Since then had tummy infiltration as Dr's believed tummy problems due to abdominal wall, only caused more pain that subsided after 5-6 days, initial pain still remains. Referred to Digestive again, Dr doing more tests, pending endoscopy. My daughter is in continuous pain all day long, when she eats or drinks her pain intensifies, ends up vomiting due to the pain

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Forgot to mention, pain killers don't do much. Also has headache that intensifies when tummy pain intensifies, painkillers help more with headache, but don't do much for tummy. Sorry, also forgot to mention additional symptoms when tested positive: fever, fatigue, body aches

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@preocupada, welcome. You must be so concerned about your little one. GI issues are common with long COVID, as Dr. Vanichkakorn, a post COVID specialist at Mayo Clinic, illustrates in this blog post:
– A Gut Feeling: Long COVID and GI symptoms https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/post-covid-recovery/newsfeed-post/a-gut-feeling-long-covid-and-gi-symptoms/

@preocupada, since you refer to emergency department as A&E am I right in assuming you are in the UK? Has your daughter been to a post COVID specialty clinic?

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Dear Ms Young, thank you for your answer. I live in the south of Spain, from my understanding there is no post COVID speciality clinic, there could be one in Barcelona. I know they are training people to start helping post COVID symptoms through sport, but they have not started yet. I am trying to get information to see if she would be eligible

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I’m so sorry this is happening for your daughter. My Covid infection attached my GI system as well. My only suggestion is to try other providers if you have good medical options where you live. I went to three different Emergency Rooms for dehydration over about 10 days. I couldn’t eat anything and could barely take liquids . It was wasn’t until the third, where the GI doctor I consulted sees patients, that anyone took me seriously. I was admitted and they gave me potassium, magnesium, and antibiotics for a UTI they found. I am doing well now, about six weeks from original Covid infection. Hugs to your daughter.

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Oh my, my prayers for your daughter. I too had Covid in January. I have had just about every GI test and medication possible. I was diagnosed with POTS in August. Dr says I probably developed it as a result of being in bed for 8 months with my GI issues. But my abdominal pain is still there. I did have one ER doctor prescribe me Metoclopramide 5 mg 4 x per day. He only prescribed 5 days. It is the first medication that seems to have given me some relief. However, it is NOT recommended you take this long term! My GI told me this, my Urologist told me this and the internet warns you of this. But it would be interesting to see if it helps your daughter. I do believe their are other medications that work in a similar fashion.(my GI recommended a drug out of Canada but I am not comfortable taking it) Best of luck, My nightstand looks like a pharmacy. I have tried medications for indigestion, IBSC, IBSD, etc…

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My granddaughter had similar symptoms but also has had to deal with seizures. Many trips to the ER. Her doctor diagnosed her with mast cell activation as a result of COVID. She will see a specialist for treatment in a couple of months. Fingers crossed. Best of luck to you.

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@darladarla

I’m so sorry this is happening for your daughter. My Covid infection attached my GI system as well. My only suggestion is to try other providers if you have good medical options where you live. I went to three different Emergency Rooms for dehydration over about 10 days. I couldn’t eat anything and could barely take liquids . It was wasn’t until the third, where the GI doctor I consulted sees patients, that anyone took me seriously. I was admitted and they gave me potassium, magnesium, and antibiotics for a UTI they found. I am doing well now, about six weeks from original Covid infection. Hugs to your daughter.

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Thank you @darladarla for your kind words and glad to hear you are doing so well. She was already put on antibiotics after having her appendix removed. I'm having the same problem, some Dr's don't take it seriously, buy luckily a few do. She is pending some more tests with another digestive Dr but just a long wait for tests,...

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@sonrodriguez4

My granddaughter had similar symptoms but also has had to deal with seizures. Many trips to the ER. Her doctor diagnosed her with mast cell activation as a result of COVID. She will see a specialist for treatment in a couple of months. Fingers crossed. Best of luck to you.

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Thank you @sonrodriguez4 for your kind words. I will ask her Dr if this could be a possibility. I do hope the treatment works for your granddaughter.

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@ilean

Oh my, my prayers for your daughter. I too had Covid in January. I have had just about every GI test and medication possible. I was diagnosed with POTS in August. Dr says I probably developed it as a result of being in bed for 8 months with my GI issues. But my abdominal pain is still there. I did have one ER doctor prescribe me Metoclopramide 5 mg 4 x per day. He only prescribed 5 days. It is the first medication that seems to have given me some relief. However, it is NOT recommended you take this long term! My GI told me this, my Urologist told me this and the internet warns you of this. But it would be interesting to see if it helps your daughter. I do believe their are other medications that work in a similar fashion.(my GI recommended a drug out of Canada but I am not comfortable taking it) Best of luck, My nightstand looks like a pharmacy. I have tried medications for indigestion, IBSC, IBSD, etc…

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Thank you @ilean for your kind words. We are still waiting on more GI tests, it's just such a slow process. My kitchen is the same, looks like I could open my own pharmacy. So far no meds really working, pain killers bring the pain down a little but not much. I do hope you also find a solution soon

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Thanks so much. I am calling Baylor Houston today to see if I can be seen there Mayo clinic turned me down. UTSW Dallas can’t get me in till August 2023! I am on my second GI. The first said I was constipated and then when he realized that was not the case said I had a torn muscle! All of my tests are coming up negative so I don’t know what to do! Again, prayers for your daughter. I have lost 18 pounds since January. Had 4 ER visits and 5 days in the hospital! I have seen 7 specialists!!

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