Is it just me?

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Is it just me or do stomachache complaints annoy others as well??? I work at a middle school, so think about kids ages 11-14.

Not even 10 mins into Monday school day and I have a child c/o stomachache. Then I get another one the next hour. I took him to the more quiet bathroom and guess who feels much better after using it?! 5 mins after I get rid of him, another one comes c/o of... guess what... a STOMACHACHE.

Winter break needs to get here already cuz I'm about to explode. :banghead:

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I'm taking some graduate classes now and we were just covering somatic complaints. I agree- they are frustrating and also difficult to assess! We don't want to dismiss something that could be potentially serious but c'mon now!

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Specializes in School nursing.
I'm taking some graduate classes now and we were just covering somatic complaints. I agree- they are frustrating and also difficult to assess! We don't want to dismiss something that could be potentially serious but c'mon now!

This. Also constipation and not wanting to poop at school when they obviously need to poop.

And anxiety. I balance assessing for a physical issue and feeling out if it may be stress/anxiety related, especially if I start to see the same student coming at the same time of day.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Community Health, School Health.

My own 11 year-old is a frequent flyer and is usually c/o a stomach ache. Drives me (and his nurse) bananas. I have a few of those here at my school as well and it drives me nuts. And I always have to rule out something serious before I can just send them on their way. I have yet t have a stomach ache be anything "serious".

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I'm with you....had one of Friday that came directly from the bus to the clinic to call home. Mom knew he didn't feel well but told him to "try." OK bub, try doesn't mean get off of the bus and come straight here. Funny, he managed to make it through the day!

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I've seen 14 vague "my stomach hurts" today. Last week it was sore throats that started "just now".

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I'd feel better if I had younger kids. It annoys me to no end that I have the amount of high schoolers coming in complaining of stomachaches that I do! By this age, I would expect that they would know that sometimes we're just uncomfortable as people! The nature of biology and the human body. Drink water, eat something, and go to the bathroom! 99% of the time that's the issue.

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Specializes in DD, PD/Agency Peds, School Sites.

Oh, the joys of school site nursing in December. Makes you want to sneak some flax seed in their Flaming Hot Cheetos.

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Today! Monday! I had about 16 students come in, all complaining of stomach aches. I literally had 9 students all at one time which I had to give a whole lecture about "if I do not have to call an ambulance, and you are talking to each other then you are clearly ok to be in class." - which at the same time I had a student with an ear infection, one that fell and HIT HIS HEAD and one with a bloody nose. All of them just staring at me. Then the ones with the stomach ache has the audacity to say "no" when I tell them to at least try to use the restroom. Then one of them goes and says "can I call my mom, she's subbing here today". Aca-Scuse me? Of course the poor boy that hit his head was the one that got to go home, all others had to stay.:). I was quite the meanie to today, but really? Did I also mention that this was the last week before winter break starts? Lol

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Specializes in Behavioral Health.
Is it just me or do stomachache complaints annoy others as well??? I work at a middle school, so think about kids ages 11-14.

Not even 10 mins into Monday school day and I have a child c/o stomachache. Then I get another one the next hour. I took him to the more quiet bathroom and guess who feels much better after using it?! 5 mins after I get rid of him, another one comes c/o of... guess what... a STOMACHACHE.

Winter break needs to get here already cuz I'm about to explode. :banghead:

You mean like your patients need to in the rest room?

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.
My own 11 year-old is a frequent flyer and is usually c/o a stomach ache. Drives me (and his nurse) bananas. I have a few of those here at my school as well and it drives me nuts. And I always have to rule out something serious before I can just send them on their way. I have yet t have a stomach ache be anything "serious".

My first few weeks at the school, brand new, and my student had a bowel obstruction. Thankfully, I called parents and sent him home.

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Exactly! One year, while I was nurse at a 6-8 middle school, a little 6th grade girl came in x2 with a tummy ache on the VERY FIRST DAY . Of course, I assumed it was first day jitters, but by the 3rd time she came in, I decided to call parents....just in case....

Turns out she had an emergency appendectomy that night! Yikes!

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