NHS direct still haven't called me back after 5 hours, is there anyone around who can give me some advice?

[HeadFairywithacapitalHandF]

ds started throwing up last night at midnight. Initially I though Norovirus. Not nice, but he'll be over it in a couple of days. But he's had no diahorrea and no temperature. What made me call NHS Direct was that he has tenderness in his lower abdomen, specifically to the right hand side, which gets worse when I gently press it. He's been throwing up every 20 minutes since midnight. I'm relieved he's got no temperature, but the abdominal tenderness worrys me. What are the chances it's appendicitis?

He's 5 btw.

[CabbageLeaves]

Take him to A&E or phone out of hours GP.

Isn't NHS Direct just a useless advice line?

[Sirzy]

Can you not call OOH for advice?

[TanteRose]

call them back - I would also be worried about dehydration if he is throwing up that much

is he keeping any liquids down?

give him tiny sips of water from a teaspoon, or ice chips

hope he's better soon

[ScillyCow]

I would go straight to A and E.

When 3 yr old DS had one-sided abdo pain (no vomiting) I was seen straight away (though it was 3am!) by OOH doctor.

Hope he is feeling much better soon.

[CabbageLeaves]

If he's thrown up that often since midnight you should take him to A&E. A 5 yr old dehydrates quickly. Regardless of noro issue the tum pain needs investigation

[CabbageLeaves]

X post but same view :)

I'd contact NHSD later with a formal complaint as well

[AloeSailor]

Take him to a & e

[HeadFairywithacapitalHandF]

He can't keep water down, he had 6 tea spoonfuls and brought them back up 5 minutes later.

Unfortunately I had to come to work this morning, 0630 start so I couldn't call anyone to cover. As soon as people start coming in I'm going to try and get cover to get home again. Dh is with him now, but he has to go to work. OUr nanny will be there from 7.30 and I'm going to get my mum to go over as soon as she's awake. I hate being so helpless.

I didn't want to take him straight in to A&E unless there was something that might indicate appendicitis or something as if it's norovirus instead I don't want to pass it around. I will call dh in a bit (we've both been up all night, he was trying to get a little sleep before work - ds was also asleep when I left) and see if ds has managed to have a drink.

In the meantime, does anyone know what the likelihood of it being something more serious than norovirus if he doesn't have a temp? I assumed appendicitis would come with a high temperature.

[Eve]

Appendicitis doesn't have a high temp.

My DS had his out about the same age, we were originally told he had constipation but on insisting it wasn't to the A&E doctor he did blood tests and later an appendix on point of erupting was removed.

[Murtette]

When does your doctor's surgery open? As soon as it opens can you ring & make an emergency appt or at least speak to one of the GPs? Having said that, I would think that there is also some concern of it being appendicitis in which case, A&E would be your best bet...although is vomiting a sign of appendicitis?

[HeadFairywithacapitalHandF]

I'm not at home Murtette, I'm at work, but doing my best to get back home to him. He's slept a couple of hours and dh says he's awake now. He still hasn't had any liquid, he's just trying to have a sip of water now and see if it stays down.

Vomiting is a sign of appendicitis, as is lower abdominal tenderness when pressed. He can bring his knees up to his chest so far, which I think is really painful if you have appendicitis.

[SantasHairyBollock]

I am an ex triage nurse and I have had appendicitis. I very rarely take my children to A and E or the GP.

But with these symptoms I would go to casualty TBH. Let the staff worry about infection control if it does turn out to be viral, honestly.

[yellowsubmarine53]

I agree with others.

Get yourself home asap or get dh to take him to A & E. Do you have other children that your nanny can look after?

[Longtalljosie]

A and E - I would be pretty convinced it's appendicitis.

[HeadFairywithacapitalHandF]

Argh, it's going to take me an hour at least to get home, I'm in central London, on bloody Oxford street no less, completely congested hell hole.

Dh says he's tried a little bit of water again and been sick again. It's not really being sick it's dry heaving but whatever little fluid he's had comes back out again. I'm going to call my mum to go over there. We do have a nanny to look after dd so I'm not concerned about that, but I'm not entirely convinced my nanny's English is good enough to understand the complexities and ask the right questions if they do go to A&E.

[TanteRose]

sorry, why can't your Dh take him?

[ggirl]

can your dh not take him to a&e and you meet him there?

[HeadFairywithacapitalHandF]

This is all so bloody frustrating, dh has a really really important work thing this morning. Missing it could possibly mean losing his job, so he has to go in for that. I've just called my mum who's 10 minutes away and she's going to go straight over. I do trust our nanny to let me know if she thinks he's in a bad way by the way. It's not that I don't trust her at all. But I'd just be so much more reassured if dh, myself or my mum was with him at least until he's drunk something.

[TanteRose]

OK, your mum can take him in

good news that he has kept some liquids down

[WeAreSix]

Another triage nurse here...

He needs to be seen. Can your DH phone in to work as absent then take him to A&E? Even if you get home in time for your own GP to open / phone in / get call back then you've still got a few hours wait.

Your OOH doctors will still be there until your GP opens. DH could phone them while you're getting home?

Also, get some diarolyte. Give DC 5mls every 10 minutes.

Good luck, hope its nothing serious and he's better soon.

[WeAreSix]

X-post.

Will your mum take him to be checked over?

[PearlyWhites]

Why would your nanny take him and not your dh? Why did you feel you had to go to work? even if there was none to cover you, you are entitled to look after a sick child especially one who may need hospital treatment. The law gives 24 hours to find alternative child care for a sick child.

[HeadFairywithacapitalHandF]

TanteRose, sadly still no fluids. He tried a bit of water at 7.30 and it came back up five mins later.

Dh absolutely can't phone in absent to work, he will be in serious risk of losing his job. There's no way I can get home in time for GP to open, it'll open in 15 mins and I'm at least 90 mins away. We don't have diarolyte at the moment, my mum will try him on a bit of Ribena.

NHS Direct still haven't called back. That's now 6 hours since my call

[HeadFairywithacapitalHandF]

Pearlywhites Can't explain on here but I have the sort of job that I can't just not turn up at. My shift started at 06.30, I had to leave home at 5am. Obviously at that time I couldn't start ringing around for cover. I'm on it now, hoping people will pick up their phones.

Dh has now had to leave too.

WeAreSix my mum will try and get him in to GPs if he's still not taking fluids when she gets there in about ten mins.

[doublecakeplease]

I would tell DH to have him wrapped up ready to get in the car with your mum, then leave work now and meet them at a&e. I have no medical knowledge at all but people on here are trained and have told you to go. Unless you have a life and death job just go - shut up the shop / office or whatever and deal with it once you know he's ok.