Stationed Overseas Mom needs help

[Mom in GE]

My 11 year old son has had stomach pain with nausea off and on for a long time.  I think he also is having reflux which he calls vomiting he can swallow.  Last Sept he became constipated and we thought that was the cause.  However, the pain and nausea are persisting now and he had an ultrasound done yesterday at the City Hospital here in our German city.  It showed everything as normal, not even any excess stool.  They said our Pediatrician could perform tests but he seems to want to send our son out to a German Peds Gastroenterologist who seems to be very difficult to schedule an appointment with as the days slip by with my son in mild to moderate pain and not attending school.  The only other option for further testing is to have my son admitted to the Hospital for tests or drive 2 hours to our regional Military hospital.  My husband is deployed and I would really have to plan out child care before going to the ER at the City Hospital. I guess the questions are: 1) can my Peds Dr. do further testing? 2) what are the initial tests?  3) is a regular Gastro Doc versus the Peds Gastro Doc a bad idea?  I am so frustrated!!!
I read from one of you to have tests done before going to a specialist.  Thanks for any help.

[Baseball_Mom]

I'm not sure exactly what your situation is but if you can get him to a Gastro doctor or perhaps a Pediatric Gastro doctor that would be your best bet.  I don't think at this point a regular pediatrian is going to do you much good.  Can you get an appointment with a specialist?  If so, maybe you can tell them that your husband is deployed and that you are very worried about your son and perhaps they will get you in sooner.  My husband and I were in the Navy so I know all about geting to see a specialist in a timely fashion, that it almost never happens. But I'm hoping things have changed in the 15 years my husband has been out of the Navy.  Best of luck to you and please keep us posted.  Take care!

[Northernlightldy]

Hi,  I am sure it is very difficult being so far from home and having a sick child.  I dont have a solution for your problem but maybe a couple of hints for the constipation your son has been going through.  At least maybe this will help some until you can get him to the dr you need to get him too.  Try giving him some Metamusill every day, I am not sure what it would be called there in Germany but maybe if there is a base store there they most likely carry it.  Also make sure he stays away from fatty foods and eats lots of fiber, fruits, vegatables, you may even try some coffee with him also.  To make it taste better add some milk and sugar in it.  Has your family been eating alot of the countries food there? And did all of this start after you moved to Germany?  It could be the move and the new type of food that they have there.  And him not being in fimilar surrondings can add stress and make it hard to have a bowel movement.  When he does go to the restroom, it needs to be as relaxing as you can make it for him.  No intruptions and give him a kid magazine to read.  No games that will cause the blood pressure to rise and make it hard to concentrate on having a bowel movement.  That may sound silly but if you stop and think abut it you really do concentrate when your trying to use the restroom.  It does sound like you need to get him to a military hospital i am betting those Dr's have seen this many times before in American childern in a new place you will just have to make arrangements to do so, find someone you trust to babysit and go.  You really do have many choices.  Good luck to you and Thank your husband for serving our country and thank you and your kids for uprooting your lifes to help him serve.  God bless