12 year son feels sick after he eats

Has he been tested for celiac? Has he had an endoscopy? Any possible autoimmune issues? Has he tried giving up gluten and dairy? An elimination diet for two weeks might be helpful (see a nutritionist for this). This kind of problem can be hard to diagnose. I hope he gets answers soon.

I had eye nerve damage several years ago. What I’ve learned after many many tests and doctor appointments is it matters who who you see and where you are seen. I ended up getting referred to neuro eye at Mayo and traveling from Illinois was the best decision I’ve made. Kind and caring doctor who properly treated me for over 5 months. If you can’t travel to Mayo, I would research top gi docs at teaching hospitals near you.

So sorry you're family is going through this. I don't have any answers for you, other than get another opinion from a gastroenterologist and CT scans with and without contrast. Avoid anything with sugars such as Gatorade , sodas etc.. stick with water best health option. Also avoid starchy foods such as breads, rice and pastas as these break down into sugars. Try a mostly vegetarian diet limiting gas producing foods. Meat portions no larger then the size of the palm of your sons hand no more than an inch thick. Avoid all fried foods. Maybe choose to grind meats rather than whole cuts of meat. Lamb is a good choice in moderation as it is easily digestible. Think soft foods. I am 58 years of age and find baby foods low in sugars to be helpful. Protein drinks made from vegetables is also helpful. This is what works for me. Your son may need a corrective surgery. Best of luck to your family.

Castle and Connolly lists the best doctors. Their names are submitted and then they are thoroughly vetted. I have been happy with the docs on their list.

It would be great to see if they list pediatric GI doctors.

I had some GI issues. After a 3rd endoscopy and results showing hypertrophic cells, I was told to stop taking a prescription med I had been on. On my own, in trying to figure out what I was dealing with. I omitted dairy, sugar and gluten products. And I also chose as many organic products as possible. Nonorganic fruits and vegetables are sprayed with glyphosate. After 2 weeks. I started feeling much better. So, I knew I was on to something. Find a doctor that will test for the CAUSE of your son’s issue. It could be SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), a fungus, a parasite, mold. All these can be tested for.
Best of luck to you and your son.

@gigi4 I think that post is meant for @yourmagicinsider 🙂 Replying gets pretty confusing on here!

I agree: my daughter and I both gave up gluten and dairy. She turned out to have celiac; I am sensitive. Dairy is the worst for me. I had no symptoms prior to the elimination diet, but once I stopped, if I try to eat dairy, the reaction is remarkable.

Def get Pediatric GI Dr. from a good hospital. Google best pediatric GI and see if you can take him to that person . Don’t give up . I’m on my 6 th Gastroenterologist in 10 years. Over 7 diagnoses, over 20 tests . Still I suffer daily.
I pray you find the right caring , smart , Dr.

Here is info from another post on this forum (none of the following text is mine):

According to Mayo Clinic, "Bowel wall thickening is a nonspecific finding, however, that could also be the result of a bacterial infection of the colon, diverticulitis, or due to an autoimmune condition called inflammatory bowel disease."
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/weekend-wellness-cause-of-ischemic-colitis-often-unclear/
My research also led me to this information:
"If your doctor is concerned about possible complications of C. difficile, he or she may order an abdominal X-ray or a computerized tomography (CT) scan, which provides images of your colon. The scan can detect the presence of complications such as thickening of the colon wall…

My son has been having bowel problems for almost a year. We've seen his doctor many times, and he's done multiple tests. The latest ultrasound found a slightly thickened bowel wall, but everything else is normal. I'm concerned about this finding. Has anyone else experienced this? What could be causing it? Any advice would be appreciated!

@yourmagicinsider
I’m quite late in welcoming you to Mayo Clinic Connect!
It must be very worrisome to see your young son going through this.
Your pediatrician has gotten a good start in trying to find out what’s making your son sick.
I agree with other members that you need to see a pediatric gastroenterologist, preferably at a university medical center or Mayo Clinic if that’s possible.
Any further testing should be done by an experienced pediatric gastroenterologist.
Discuss this with your pediatrician who can help you find the right doctor for your son.
Please let us know what happens- we all learn by sharing information like this.
Wishing your son well!