My Daughter Keeps Puking

Updated on October 05, 2011
M.J. asks from Tucson, AZ
8 answers

My daughter keeps puking at least twice a week. At first she was getting sick when it was storming real bad outside. She would get so scared and worked up that it made her vomit. Then she had phnemonia, so her coughing was making her sick. I have had to keep her home from school now 7 times because of this. I took her to the doctors 4 times. Finally one doctor gave me a note saying unless she has a fever she should stay at or go to school. Well now I am having troubles knowing if she is really sick or not. I just dont know what to do now. I kept her home again today cause she is coughing so much. People keep saying it is seperation anxeity. I wonder if it could be something more. I just feel sick wondering if maye there is something else going on that we dont know about. If you have a child that has been doing this, or a child that pukes frequently, please HELP!

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So What Happened?

Well I talked to her regular doctor. He wants her to see a psychologist to help her with her fears. My husband is not keen on the idea because most are in it for the money and not for the healing. I called my Christian counsuler and he suggested a place and said if it didnt work he would try to help her even though he doesnt have much history with ones so young and has worked with me before. Her teacher is very supportive and isnt sending her to the nurse unless she is warm. Also she didnt allow her to join the dance party.

I do have treasure box at home, usuall my children have to have 10 green days at school to get a prize. I switched hers to 5 green days combined with 5 no pukings to get her prize. So she has a chance to earn one a week. I even offered her $1 a aweek because she is saving for a very special toy. I have been in tears over this because so many people at school keep asking me how she is and what I am doing to help her. My husband said we will discuss things tonight and check up with the doctor on monday and let him know our decision.

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J.S.

answers from Hartford on

It could be anxiety induced vomiting, it could be cough induced from reactive asthma thanks to the pneumonia, or it could be something else entirely.

I would take her to see an Ear, Nose, Throat specialist (ENT) who also deals with allergies and asthma. You might also consider having her see a pediatric Gastroenterologist in case she's having gastro issues that are contributing to this. I'm wondering if she's having reflux related to anxiety.

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D.M.

answers from Detroit on

I would also check with school counselors or get a referral to a child psychologist because it does sound like it now has an anxiety/psychological aspect to it now.

She may also just have a physiology that makes her prone to vomiting when she coughs, etc. But, the anxiety thing must also be ruled out. Good luck. D.

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☆.A.

answers from Pittsburgh on

It sounds like she has anxiety. Have you talked to the pediatrician about that? Good luck!

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J.C.

answers from San Francisco on

Take her back to the doctor.

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P.W.

answers from Dallas on

My first thought is allergies. Coughing and throwing up from flem or just coughing too hard.

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K.C.

answers from Albuquerque on

my daughter puked a lot when young. we discovered a couple of things that she puked more often on... macadamia nuts, shrimp and anything with caffeine were big ones. she also would eat too much, get too full or puke after a rough car ride (we live in the woods.) we just tried to lower the odds by avoiding certain foods and minimizing stress. we home schooled so there wasn't the separation anxiety. she's almost 15 and totally over it!

T.N.

answers from Albany on

There are many different triggers for an asthma attack. Anxiety is one of them. Did her ped rule out asthma? Onset of asthma is also fairly common after a bout of pneumonia.

Hope she feels better soon!

:)

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C.C.

answers from Flagstaff on

My friend's son does this, although he is only 3 now. He makes himself sick whenever he doesn't get his own way. I guess it's sort of his way of throwing a tantrum. The doctor said that he has a very sensitive mechanism for throwing up (I can't remember what it is called, sorry) so that he can just do it "on demand." My friend has been told by the doctor that there is nothing to be done but to ignore it like any other tantrum and hopefully he will grow out of it. (HAH! Like you can ignore a kid throwing up!) Apparently, as kids get older their mechanism tightens and it may make it more difficult for them to throw up on demand.

Your daughters issues do sound like they started when she wanted attention (during the storm). My daughter also would throw up when she cried very hard or wanted attention. It took a lot of time and patience, but she did finally get over it. We had to warn her that she would get sent to bed with no attention if she threw up (because if you throw up you must be sick and need rest), but that she could spend time with us if she did not. Also, we felt that it was important to give her lots of positive attention when she was around.

I agree that your daughter has missed a lot of school, which could only be making things worse for her and making it more difficult for her to return to school. Tell your daughter that she will be going to school whether she throws up or not. Maybe even include a special prize for not throwing up (like stickers on a chart with a prize when she reaches a goal) to help encourage her to stop. Tell her how proud you will be when she reaches her goal, and give her lots of positive praise for what an amazing kid she is. Also, tell her how important it is that she attend school to learn new things so that one day she will be able to be a good mommy just like you are!

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