Stomach issues, unable to get answers

okay im almost 16 years old, for the past few years i slowly started getting pretty bad stomach aches from certain foods for ex if i had pizza one night the whole next day id barely be able to get through school i would feel so awful, and over time i slowly would get sick from certain foods and over time i ate less and less because i hated that sick feeling and now for the longest time ive barely been eating anything and have had to quit sports and my stomachs always the worst in the morning so i didnt even have sleepovers anymore. all gastros say its functional abdominal pain or abdominal migraine or some broad term like that, but ive seen counselors, been on anti anxietys, tried anti depressants (make me feel worse) then in jan, i got a headache and it affected my vision and it is now august and i had to quit school because my vision is messed up, and even watching tv it hurts and i get awful temple headaches the only vision prob i have is eye accomdative insuffiency and ive had that for years, as of now i am on a ng tube and im up to three cans and i feel extremley sick. im on a waiting list to go to rodgers anxiety and ocd in septemeber but i had a bad experience at a week in a hospital and i dont feel its anxiety related but going there i would have extreme anxiety because being forced to eat when you feel extremley sick away from home would be hell, and im on the waiting list for mayo but my spots not up till novemeber. i really want to be checked out before then, because im afraid somethings being completley missed. im also hoping the feeding tube gets easier fover time and makes it easier to eat and im hoping it jurt hurts because my stomachs not used to the pain and once it is itll be easier to eat but im really scared because no dr realizes how much pain i am in, i have had ct, xrays, small bowel follow thru, blood tests, i also had a low copper and high billirubian but the dr said its nothing to be worried about. im on my third day of tube feeding and i havent noticed a relief in eye straighn, headache, eye focusing, light sensitivity. pleasse help im miserable. also i have seen a neurologist who just put me in the hospital for dhe treatment, to which did nothing for me. and ive seen eye doctors.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the About Kids & Teens Support Group.

@whattodo

My daughter is 16 and has a similar situation to yours for which we’ve been trying to figure out for quite some time. The doctors are thinking it’s anxiety that is the root of her gastrointestinal symptoms but we do not know for sure. It feels like a very long and frustrating process. She barely eats much these days. I pray a an effective treatment is figured out for those in this situation. Rest assured you are not alone.

Jump to this post

Hello @whattodo and @snapdragon20

I'm so sorry to hear of your teens' digestive difficulties. How frustrating. It is hard enough to have problems with digestion and eating as we age, but it really must be difficult for teens.

@whattodo Have you considered getting a second opinion for your daughter? I would recommend a multidisciplinary health center like Mayo Clinic or a university medical center. If the facility has a well-known children's specialty department that would be good. Has your daughter lost a lot of weight? How is her energy level?

@snapdragon20 You mentioned that you use a gastric pacemaker. Could you tell us a little more about that?

REPLY
@hopeful33250

Hello @whattodo and @snapdragon20

I'm so sorry to hear of your teens' digestive difficulties. How frustrating. It is hard enough to have problems with digestion and eating as we age, but it really must be difficult for teens.

@whattodo Have you considered getting a second opinion for your daughter? I would recommend a multidisciplinary health center like Mayo Clinic or a university medical center. If the facility has a well-known children's specialty department that would be good. Has your daughter lost a lot of weight? How is her energy level?

@snapdragon20 You mentioned that you use a gastric pacemaker. Could you tell us a little more about that?

Jump to this post

She has been referred to a paediatrician who has been quite attentive and is monitoring her weight (yes, she has lost weight). She started out with a three month treatment of Restoralax as she was very cinstipated and didn’t realize it. Once that cleared up there were still stomach pain issues that we continue to work in. She has had a few sessions with a nutritionist as well but as much as she understands that the professionals want her to eat small bits throughout the day, sometimes she just can’t stomach it. She does have a lack of energy but that could be a combination of factors in these pandemic times. I do see some improvement in terms of her stomach pain so that is good news.

REPLY
@whattodo

She has been referred to a paediatrician who has been quite attentive and is monitoring her weight (yes, she has lost weight). She started out with a three month treatment of Restoralax as she was very cinstipated and didn’t realize it. Once that cleared up there were still stomach pain issues that we continue to work in. She has had a few sessions with a nutritionist as well but as much as she understands that the professionals want her to eat small bits throughout the day, sometimes she just can’t stomach it. She does have a lack of energy but that could be a combination of factors in these pandemic times. I do see some improvement in terms of her stomach pain so that is good news.

Jump to this post

Yes, that is good news, @whattodo. As time goes on I hope that she continues to improve. I'm glad that she is seeing a pediatrician who is attentive and monitoring her care. That is such a blessing. When you have a caring, attentive physician it gives you confidence.

I understand that COVID has made us all more isolated, but how is your daughter doing socially?

REPLY

I have been having lower abdominal pain for 6 weeks. It is a burning feeling in my lower abdomen. I’ve had a colonoscopy and endoscopy. Told I have some acid reflux and took Omeprazole. I have not had any upper GI symptoms associated with acid reflux. All of the pain in in my lower abdomen and comes and goes. It comes when I eat or when I don’t. Had all kinds of blood work and all is normal. Also had a ultra sound on pelvis and vagina. Can’t figure out what this could be. I am now taking pain killers to ease the pain. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

REPLY

@mmoss I see you have been waiting for a member to provide some input to your post. I would recommend that you share your post this in the Digestive Health Group here to allow you to connect with other members who may have similar experiences: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/digestive-gastrointestinal-problems/

Are you willing to share your post in that group?

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.