What's wrong with my 15 year old daughter?

[Serena]

My 15 year old daughter Katie has resently been having some symptoms which are both uncomfortable and confusing.  About three months ago she began having constant uncontrollable releases of gas.  This lasted approximetly a month and then she began having unusual bowel movements.  She says that it is not diarrhea exactly because when she has to go she just goes and is done, but she has to go to the bathroom constantly; often she will be fine one second and the next second she has to go to the bathroom NOW.  This stopped about two weeks ago, but now the same thing is happening again except that the bowel movements are extremely liquidy (not solid at all).  I have not taken her to the doctor yet because she was under a lot of stress this summer (she got her first job, whichand was taking an evening class at the local collage) and also because we are very low on money and inially I was not sure if this was something I should be worried about. I am begining to get quite worried now.  My daughter has not had anyother symtoms and has not experienced a loss of weight and her diet has not changed other than the switch from the time she would each lunch during the school year to the time she would eat lunch during the summer.  Please tell me if I need to take her to the doctor and what could possibly be wrong with her.

[Theresa]

I understand your frustration at lack of answers, and i also understand low income regarding medical coverage. However, there are city run clinics, and other free resources that can be used.  I would look into the stress of work, and if she feels she needs the money to help the family or if she needs it for fun.  Sometimes what other teens can do cannot be done by others.
and i also question that, you ahve the money to pay for online service but instead of devoting those miniscule dollars that arepaid for it, wouldnt it have been better to save those dollars towards a doctors appointment

[FL Mom]

Serena,

As a young teenager I experienced some of what your daughter is experiencing.  Always had stomach problems.  This went on for years.

Just recently I had a doctor say he suspects I may have something called irritable bowel syndrome.  There are books on this issue.  Basically it has to do with being lactose intolerant at times.  Like when I have lots of dairy products my stomach hurts and I have what I would call upset stomach and bowels.  Like your daughter when I go to the bathroom ... it's over.

Has your daughter been eating more dairy than normal or has she started a different diet?

I hope she gets better soon as I know this is miserable for her.

[Don't Understand]

Serena, I'm not sure why you're upset with the doctor in this forum.  You're asking for a doctor who specializes in child behavior to help you with a gastroenterology problem and you're upset because they can't advise you?  Would you ask a gastroenterologist to help you with an angry child?  Just because they're doctors doesn't mean they can treat everything!  You should also know that nearly all child behavior specialists (or counselors) are NOT medical doctors.  They have a degree in their specialty of child psychology or psychiatry and other areas, but that doesn't make them qualified to diagnose and treat an internal problem.  If they were then they would be an internist, gastroenterologist or other such specialist.  When my own child had behavior problems I would have never dreamed of going to her gastroenterologist (which she has one by the way).  I want to talk to the professional that's been trained in the area in which I'm seeking help.  Surely you didn't mean to take out your frustration on the doctor in this forum who has helped many, many people and given unselfishly of his/her time - for free I might add.  They want to be of help or else they wouldn't be doing this, but let's not kill the messenger.

[Emily Ann]

That is unfair to the Dr. He/She was trying to be helpful. It's not his/her fault if the other site is not responding. The docs here fo a terrific job, and are unusually sympathetic. Give them a break!

[Serena]

I would have posted this question in the Gastroenterology Forum except no doctor has been answering those questions for months!  I'm just going to find a different web site instead and take my daughter to the doctor.  Thank you for your lack of help.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Dear Serena,

Your question is not with the scope of what we can answer here. This Forum addresses issues about child behavior.

Please, though, have your daughter see her doctor.

MedHelp (the organization that sponsors this Forum - go to the HOME page) also has a Gastroenterology Forum. You might consider posting the question to that Forum, but don't do that as a substitute for seeing the doctor.