Stomachaches that keep coming back, even after normal tests
A normal workup rules out anything dangerous. It doesn’t explain the pain. Those are two different things, and your child still needs the second one answered.
In-person in Central Florida. Telehealth anywhere in Florida.
You’ve been here before.
- Stomachaches most mornings, especially before school
- Visible bloating by evening
- A normal ultrasound, normal labs, and no plan
- Missed school and a child who’s stopped mentioning it
Pain doesn’t show up on every test.
Constipation
The single most common cause, and often invisible without a careful exam or a scan looking specifically for it.
Bacteria out of balance
When gut bacteria are out of balance, the fermentation they produce causes gas, bloating, and pain.
Trouble digesting certain sugars
Lactose and fructose are the usual suspects, and both are simple to test for and manage once identified.
Celiac disease
Still underdiagnosed in children, and worth ruling out properly rather than guessing with a gluten-free trial.
The gut-brain connection
Stress and the gut are physically linked by the same nerves. This kind of pain is real, physical, and treatable — not “in their head.”
Diet and eating pace
Carbonated drinks, eating too fast, and certain trigger foods can all build up into the pattern you’re seeing.
Find the driver. Then treat it.
A board-certified pediatrician with the time to look properly — working alongside your child’s regular care, not replacing it.
- 1A history detailed enough to actually find the pattern.
- 2Confirm nothing serious was missed, then move past just ruling things out.
- 3Targeted stool, breath, or nutritional testing when it will change the plan.
- 4Dietary trials with a clear timeline and a clear end point, not indefinite restriction.
- 5Address the gut-brain piece directly, without ever dismissing the pain.
Stomach pain rarely shows up alone.
Digestion, diet, and stress are closely linked. If your child has more than one of these, they’re likely related.
Let’s find out what’s driving it.
See exactly how a functional consult works, what the process looks like, and what it costs.
Process, pricing, and how to book.
In-person in Central Florida. Telehealth anywhere in Florida.
Functional medicine consults are cash-pay and do not replace your child’s primary care or specialist team. This page is educational and is not individual medical advice.