Worried because I know too much...

Nurses General Nursing

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First of all I want to be clear...I am not asking for medical advice.

I am posting out of concern for my teen age daughter. I got a call early Tuesday afternoon from the school nurse saying she had my daughter in her office complaining of severe left sided pain. I picked her up from school and she had pain in the upper and middle left side of her abdomen. She rated her pain at 7 out of 10. She also complained of nausea but no emesis. She doesn't have a fever. Thinking maybe she has a kidney stone or UTI, I got her in to see our PCP.

After some more questions by our PCP, decides it sounds more like a good ole case of constipation but decides to order an abd x-ray just to be sure. So, down the hall we go to the outpatient x-ray office in our PCP's building and then we carry the x-ray back to the PCP's office.

All the while my daughter and I are making jokes about her being full of poo.

Well, when the PCP put her x-ray up on the light, I suddenly wasn't in a joking mood. Yes, she was relatively full of poo, but she also had a large area of mostly air filled dilated intestine.

My PCP felt this could be an ileus or blockage. He told her to try either MOM or a bisacodyl suppository. She is also to have nothing more than clear liquids until she is better. She tried the MOM and all that produced was diarrhea x2. She does not feel any better. Our PCP told me to call him today with an update regardless of if she feels better. I am so worried that she does have an obstruction and I hate to think about what she may have to go through to get it resolved.

Anyway, again, I am not seeking medical advice, I just needed to get this off of my chest without scaring the wits ot of my family because of what I fear could happen.

Thanks for letting me get this off of my chest.

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I know what you mean. Sometimes it's hard to rein yourself in and just be Mom.

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So sorry for you and yours.......I have a teenage dtr and I'd be worried also. Let us know what happens.

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Specializes in cardiac/critical care/ informatics.

((((((hugs))))))

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Specializes in Trauma ICU,ER,ACLS/BLS instructor.

My middle son went through something similar a few years back. He was basically FOS . Teens diets and fluid intake being what it is, it happens. Hope it all works out. Nurse MOM's worry and always assume the worst. Good luck!

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:icon_hug: My daughter only had her tonsils out, a very MINOR procedure and I was still freeked out about her having surgery. I can only imagine how you feel. Please let us know how everything turns out for her. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

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I hope your daughter feels better and may the outcome be a good one.

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.

Yes, I've been told, time to take your nurses cap off and put your mom cap on.... I know how hard that can be. I wish you and your family well.

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Big (((((hugs))))) to you!

I understand. Sometimes being a mom makes the logic part harder, and even harder still when you "know too much". I was upset when my son had severe pneumonia and they wanted to do a lumbar puncture to rule out meningitis. Long story and I don't want to hijack the thread! ;)

Hang in there, be there for her, love her. ;) In some cases, I think "knowing too much" is good, because you are then aware of some of what she'll have to go through if she does have an obstruction. You'll be less likely to freak out, because you won't be getting a ton of information that makes no sense or is completely foreign.

I hope it all goes well!

Tiffany

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