6 Year Old - Tummy Issues (Anxiety?)

Updated on July 11, 2011
J.S. asks from Saint Paul, MN
4 answers

I'll start this with - I've talked to the pediatrician (once in April), a parent counselor, teachers, teachers aids and the principal at my son's school for part of these issues.

Here is the short version of this story. I went on vacation in April for 3 nights/4days. My son had an ear infection when I left and my husband was ill with a flu like bug. My son ended up on a strong set of antibiotics and it upset his digestion. I believe that the upset digestion caused him anxiety that he might have a poop accident at school or on the bus. This combined with my being gone (which I rarely am) caused him to have some pretty disruptive anxiety with me dropping him off at school (we stopped riding the bus since we live close enough to walk - it was spring/nice out - and next year busing isn't an option as he'll be in 1st grade - they only bus K kids that live as close as we do). Apparently the second I was out of sight, he was totally fine at school. We made it to the end of the year and things were starting to get better with drop off. We did fine with some summer camps and swim lessons with minor anxiety/disruptions where he would say he "didn't feel good" or felt "upset to his tummy".

My question is here - it seems that to get my attention he uses "I don't feel good" all the time. If anything comes up he doesn't want to do he "doesn't feel good". I do think his tummy really does get upset when he is nervous about something, I'm the same way, and when I was a kid my tummy was upset whenever I was nervous or upset about stuff too - so I do relate, but it is getting so frustrating to me. I wonder if he really needs some probiotics or something to get his tummy back on track? He has never had tummy issues before this spring. He was always really regular (one good normal poop a day usually after lunch) and he seems like his just been off and out of wack since his last round of antibiotics this past spring.

I know I get more frustrated than I should because it has been happening for a long time now, and seems to come and go in waves depending on what's going on around us (how tired he is, how busy we are, etc.).

Have any of you given yourkids probiotics? Where do you buy them? How do you give them (in food, water, etc)?

Thanks for your help.
J.

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A.W.

answers from Kalamazoo on

Go to the doc. After several rounds of antibiotics for reoccuring ear infections, my daughter started to complain of tummy aches regulary. They did an Xray and found stool backep up in her intestines. Some was still getting thru, but the extra was causing pressure when she got any gas or anything. The put her on prescription Miralax stuff to get the extra poo gone. After that she was much better. We never did actual probiotics, but I did have her eat yougurt (which she loves) everyday for awhile. Also, he might have some lactose issues.

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A.M.

answers from San Francisco on

He is prone to anxiety. The best remedy for anxiety is to mirror his feelings. "It sure is scary sometimes when you go to swim lessons, isn't it." "Or "camp can sure be scary sometimes, can't it." I can almost guarantee you he will nod, and then go do the thing.

Saying things like this will NOT, I repeat NOT, make his anxiety worse. It oddly has the opposite effect. Try it. I promise you it works.

It works for adults too, by the way.

1 mom found this helpful

D.S.

answers from Columbus on

My son is on antibiotics right now, so I'm making him morning smoothies with Kefir (you find it in the refrigerated section with organic stuff) that is like a yogurt type drink and frozen fruit. I also bought Dan Active for when I don't have time to make the smoothies. There is also regular milk with Probiotics where the milk is (not all stores carry it).
Just a note of caution, I once bought flavored Kefir and my son (6 yrs) hated it, so I actually buy the plain one and use frozen fruit and sweeten it with maple syrup, but you could use regular honey or truvia or even sugar.
Good luck!

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A.N.

answers from New York on

Probiotics sounds like a good idea- sorry, I don't really have any info about that.

I just wanted to suggest that it might be worth a trip to a pediatric gastroenterologist to rule out any issues. I once had trouble with gastritis after 2 rounds of antibiotics, and needed prescription acid reducers.

If that all checks out, some counseling might be helpful to keep the anxiety/ stomach ache pattern from continuing- and even worsening. I used to have that problem- and it eventually got so bad that I never wanted to leave the house because I kept "what-ifing" myself to death. It's so much easier to deal with when the problem is relatively new.

Best wishes! =o)

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