How do you know if your child has a true medical condition versus sensory issues? My son Evan is 6 years old, and is having serious problems with his stomach....I think. :sad5: He had episodes last year after having four continuous antibiotic treatments for strep throat (which we have since remedied with a TNA). And then he started up again about one month ago after a tummy buy. It begins with him "having to go #2" often, but he seldom does, just sits on the toilet. He can sit there for up to 45 minutes, or when we tell him he has to get off. I would think he was constipated, but when he does go it is very normal, soft and what I consider a very typical bowel movement. The weird part which is why I don't know if it is sensory or not, is that he refuses to wear jeans. He pitches the biggest fit when we put them on crying and sreaming that "they are too tight, they hurt". I went out and purchased all new jeans one size too big which are the adjustable kind, just to make sure. He only wants to wear elastic waist, running pants. If he could live in those, he would be fine. He actually refused to go see Santa because we didn't have any clean running pants and he had to wear jeans. Additional symptoms include pulling at his private areas often, itching them, putting his hand down the back of his pants and just "holding" his bottom. None of it is the normal boy, curious about their bodies behavior, because he usually is totally oblivious he is doing it, and I am constantly saying "Evan, lets not put our hands down our pants in public. Try to do that in the bathroom or your bedroom", and he looks at me startled like he didn't even know he was doing it. So, off to the ped we go. She doesn't seem concerned, does a basic stool sample test, x-ray of his gut and tells me "he is fine, just let him wear elastic pants". She did give us a script for pinworm medication in case that is what it is, which I know it isn't (I did give him the pill anyway with no improvement). Well, that isn't good enough for me. He does complain of his tummy hurting quite a bit, and he can have 2-3 "normal" bowel movements per day. He eats like a bird, and is only in the 20% for weight (since birth he has been little, just like my daughter). So, I have actually made an appointment with a ped g.i. for two weeks from now -three hours away in St. Louis. :hairpull: My question is if anyone has any experience with how to know if it is truley physical or if it is a sensory issue. My son is a tad nuerotic, and it wouldn't surprise me at all. If it is physical, I want to find out what is going on and get him help. However, if it is behavioral, what do we do? Is it therapuetic to make him wear the jeans, or do we just buy stock in Nike and running pants? Thanks for hanging in so long if you read this novel, and any advice is appreciated. :oops: ~Donna.

Donna, I honestly have no idea...but, I know that if my tummy doesn't feel good, jeans are the LAST thing I want to wear, kwim?

I hope the GI can shed some light on this for you guys.

It don't know, but it seems like it could be conected to him not feeling well. Everything seems to be isolated to his bottom area, so it would make sense that he may have some kind of discomfort down there.

Maybe you could take him to a psychiatriast or a developmental ped to get a better idea of what is going on.

BTW it is great to see you back, how is Emma doing?

It don't know, but it seems like it could be conected to him not feeling well. Everything seems to be isolated to his bottom area, so it would make sense that he may have some kind of discomfort down there.

Maybe you could take him to a psychiatriast or a developmental ped to get a better idea of what is going on.

BTW it is great to see you back, how is Emma doing?

Thanks for the support ladies. I think I am going to see what the ped g.i. can offer, and then go through a developmental specialist to rule that out. He has a lot of motor issues, and seems overwhelmed with lots of noise and chaos, so it wouldn't surprise me if this is more of a psychological/sensory issue than anything else. I am just always freaking out about his stomach issues because two years ago he had borderline test readings for CF. Hopefully, this appt. will put that to rest. :sad5:

As for Emma. Well, reflux is a rollercoster isn't it! She is basically reflux free, but recently had two throwing up episodes, that was classically acid based. A little Mylanta and she was o.k., but she still has such a sensitive stomach. She is also very allergic to dairy, and she got some milk over the holidays with disasterous results. :banghead: Ohter than that, she is a VERY active and happy 2 1/2 year old! Smarter than her mom sometimes!! I appreciate you asking! I lurk on the board quite a bit, just don't think I have much to offer others in the way of advice....I can't seem to get it right with my own kids! :oops: I always know where to look for answers though! You ladies are awesome! :hug:
Donna.

I can't seem to get it right with my own kids
Donna, it sounds like you are doing just fine to me!

Shae-Lynne is the same ...she wants to wear elastic waist pants all the time and never dungarees. (she is all tomboy...no dresses on her either or it is a fight).

If Evan is happy in wearing the stretch pants I don't see any harm in it...why push the issue and get him upset?

Good luck with appt...let us know how you make out.

best wishes
Jean

Thanks Jean. Yes, for now we are buying lots of elastic waist pants!

Just a quick update- went to St. Louis to a ped. G.I. .........WHO WAS FABULOUS AND I LOVE:party0049:. If anyone needs the name of a good one in St. Louis, just let me know!! She sat with us for an hour answering our questions and doing a full assessment. Bottom line is, she can't be sure of anything without a few tests. So, we are doing a 24-hour stool collection, blood tests and a few others. She did want us to start him on a small dose of Prevacid in the a.m.s to see if we notice any difference in case it is GERD :sad5:. It would make sense though, his sister had it pretty bad. She wants us to try it for two weeks, see if there is a difference, then call for a permanent script (she gave us enough samples, again LOVE HER!):yahoo:. Ironically, the day after we returned he seemed better, and even wore jeans to school:smt102. We wonder if it a placebo effect, just knowing he saw a doctor and she has given him a pill made him feel better???

Bad news. His asthma is a nightmare right now. It came out of no-where Friday night, and I have had my work cut out for me giving breathing treatments and albuteral PRN to keep him from having a full-blown attack :sad5:. *Sigh*. If it isn't one thing it is another. But, lest I complain, I am very happy with our consult, and feel like we are headed in the right direction.

Thanks for listening! :hug:

Sounds like you found a keeper in your GI, Donna!!! That's half the battle sometimes.

The placebo effect? Could be. You could certainly test it by giving him something else, like a vitamin he's not familiar with, once you run out of samples. That would let you know if it's the prevacid that's really helping or just the "taking" of a medication that helps.

I hope you get his asthma under control. Being tied down to a nebulizer is a pain in the neck!

I actually first learned of this g.i. from the boards! One of the members (Emily) recommended her way back when we were dealing with Emma have GERD. Her symptoms abbated just before we needed to see the g.i., but I remembered the name. I haven't seen Emily on the boards since I have returned, but I sure would like to say thanks to her!:hug:

Donna,

As moms, we know when something is just not right with our kids, so trust that feeling and keep pressing for answers.

Recently, my middle child, Aaron, was seen by a neurologist regarding his "toe walking" and based on answers to lots of *other* questions, the doc feels that Aaron may have sensory issues, a "shade" of ADHD (whatever that means LOL) and gave a working diagnosis of pervasive developmental delay-not otherwise specified. We are seeking a second opinion as we need more info before proceeding with tests. What you describe about Evan *sounds like* he has sensory issues as I have seen some of these in my son. I am no doctor, of course, but I would like to recommend looking into the information this site provides about such issues. Judge for yourself....you know your son best. I am looking for the link so I can post it...

http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/sensory-processing-disorder-checklist.html

C is an adhd kind of guy- he still prefers elastic waist pants when given a choice, and he turns 9 in three weeks.:haha: he will wear jeans, but only if they're two sizes too big. He hates anything tight or constricting- Sunday mornings are NOT his favorite, (we make him wear a dress shirt and tie). Other son does the nebulizer thing...so I understand how crazy it can get.

That's so awesome you found a great GI doctor! BTW, we're not too far away- we're in Overland Park, KS.

Deanna, thanks so much for that link. It was awesome, and Evan definitely has some of the characteristics on the check list. I think I will be look into an eval from an occupational therapist if I can. I tried to have the school help, but he is too "functional" to qualify for anything from them (despite him repeating kindergarten due to poor motor skills resulting in issues with writting etc). :hairpull: So, I think I will have to check into private services.

Vicki, I know what you mean about Sunday mornings! Just this morning, it was a challenge to get him to wear anything remotely nice. He came out of his room with sweats and a dress shirt! What a kid!:haha:We opted for the dress shirt and a pair of jeans.....two sizes too big :smt036 . We actually live in Springfield, and have to drive the three hours either to St. Louis or KC. for specialists. Springfield is great for basic, run of the mill medical care, but just don't have resources for peds. issues. However, we needed fertility help to get pregnant with Emma, and used a clinic in Overland Park- A great place!:smt036

I am so glad that you found such a good GI. I hope you are able to get to the bottom of all of this.

I am so glad that you found such a good GI. I hope you are able to get to the bottom of all of this.

"bottom of it"....:haha:I don't know if you meant the pun on purpose, or I am just tired, but I am ROFL!!! :rolling:Sorry if I sound like I am in 2nd grade, but in this house that is what we teach the kids to say re: their...... hind quarters (the other "b" word is a bad word :smt036). So, it struck me very funny!!

Thanks for the good wishes! :hug:

:haha:No pun intended, but I am glad you got a good laugh!!