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General health

What would you do?

23 replies

Jen84 · 16/05/2005 17:25

My DS1 is 22months and has had diarrhoea since saturday and also had vomiting since sunday. Took him to emergency doctor this morning because he was quite listless and drowsy. He also had a dry nappy overnight and was refusing to eat or drink anything this morning. the doctor said he was dehydrated and it looked like a viral infection. he said he would prescribe antibiotics for this but not until the sickness and diarrhoea had stopped. Had really struggled to get him to drink and the doctor wrote me an admission letter in the event that if my son still wasn't drinking i was to take him to the hospital tonight. So far he has some mouthfuls of juice at 11 and two tsps of yoghurt and about a mouthful of milk about an hour and a half ago. Which i don't feel is much. he's refusing to take anymore. The doctor also gave him diarlyte but he won't take it either. So what i don't know is should i ride it out overnight or take him back to he doctors. I don't want to be over-reacting though. He has a small rash on his leg but the doctor said it wasn't anything sinister...but i can't help but have this is the back of my mind. Please tell me i'm over-reacting and i don't need to take him to the doctors. Right now he is lying in bed still quite listless,altho no more vomiting or diarrhoea and only one slightly damp nappy all day

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moondog · 16/05/2005 17:28

Take him tonight. Little children dehydrate very fast. Chances are that he will be rehydrated with a drip.
GO NOW,and let us know what happens.

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Laylasmum · 16/05/2005 17:28

the fact that the sickness and diarrhoea has sttled now is a good sign he proabaly feels nauseated still though and may have some tummy ache from being sick, keep offering the fluids even if he has a couple of tablespoons every hour as long as he keeps it down he will soon perk up again.Personally wouldn't bother at all with any solids or food stuff and would also leave the milk off as it may upset him again plain water or weak juice is probably best!!Hope he feels better soon

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WigWamBam · 16/05/2005 17:30

I agree with moondog, he's probably still dehydrated and I think you should take him in.

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Lonelymum · 16/05/2005 17:30

Not sure if he has drunk enough but can I advise you not to give him any more dairy now until he has been free of symptoms for three days? Milk and yoghurt and such like can keep the bug going. I know what you are going through. My ds3 (aged 26 months) has diarrhoea right now and hasn't eaten properly since Friday lunchtime. Fortunately, he is drinking though.

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PuffTheMagicDragon · 16/05/2005 17:32

Jen, I agree with moondog - you should err on the side of caution. Your doctor has already given you an admission letter in case you need to take him to hospital.

I have a ds the same age as yours, given what you've described, I'd be taking him to the hospital so they can assess him. If he's ok enough to send you home, they will do that.

You're not overreacting.

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QueenEagle · 16/05/2005 17:32

If he's been refusing drinks and his nappy has been dryish for this long I would imagine going on a grip overnight will be a good idea. Use the letter your doctor gave you, the hospital won't mind at all and you will be reassured by taking him.

Hope he gets well soon btw.

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serenity · 16/05/2005 17:32

I would go to A&E tbh. I would rather trek up there on a wasted visit than sit at home worrying.

It's a well known fact that taking a child to A&E guarantees that they will be up and running about, swigging milk by the gallon, just to make you look overanxious! Been there, done that loads of times

But seriously, your DS1 sounds poorly, I would take him just for the peace of mind.

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QueenEagle · 16/05/2005 17:33

Even better if he goes on a drip* rather than a grip tho

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Jen84 · 16/05/2005 17:34

so you don't think the doctors will think i'm over reacting because he has taken something and also the d&v have stopped. Had experiences before where doctors treat me like a stupid little girl who knows nothing(i'm 20)

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PuffTheMagicDragon · 16/05/2005 17:35

No, and if they are arsey with you, be firm with them. You have a letter from your gp as ammo.

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SaintGeorge · 16/05/2005 17:38

Well for one thing get your GP to go back to medical school:

"the doctor said he was dehydrated and it looked like a viral infection. he said he would prescribe antibiotics for this but not until the sickness and diarrhoea had stopped"

Since when have antibiotics worked for a virus?

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Aragon · 16/05/2005 17:38

Hi Jen

You're not some silly little girl but a Mum with a sick child. He sounds dehydrated poor little soul - although he's had some fluid it still doesn't sound like very much and to all intents and purposes he's still not drinking. I don't think you'd be doing anything silly in having him checked over again.

Mandy

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Jen84 · 16/05/2005 17:42

thanks everyone for your replies. Gonna take Ds later on when Dp gets home and once i've dropped ds2 off at my mums. He's sleeping just now anyway gonna let him rest. Thanks again i feel much more confident in taking him.

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serenity · 16/05/2005 17:44

Doesn't matter what they think tbh. The problem is you don't know if DS is Ok or not, and it's not worth the risk that this is the 1 in a thousand chance that there is something wrong imo.

I think A&E doctors are very harassed, and can be very unfair on people sometimes. I get annoyed when they act like we're wasting their time, we're not medically trained, how the hell are we meant to know whether something's just a virus or something more serious.

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KBear · 16/05/2005 18:44

just to add my tuppence worth Jen, I think you should do what you feel is right for your child in every case. Mother's instinct rarely fails and to hell with what anyone else thinks, including doctors if they think you are wasting their time. They are paid for their opinion and you are seeking it. I'm not being down on the doctors either, they are fantastic most of the time and I couldn't do their job but GPs especially do love to do that "you're an over-anxious parent routine".

Paramedics once made me feel quite stupid after I called them when my DS had a fit last year. "oh they're very common, lots of kids have them". I felt like saying "I know that but this is my two year old, laying blue and lifeless on the floor thank you very much not yours. Tell me how you would feel if it was your child."

Ooh, rant over, sorry, it's gets my goat. Our babies are the most precious things in the world and we shouldn't be patronised for taking care of them.

Hope he's better soon Jen.

x

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kama · 16/05/2005 18:46

This reply has been deleted

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PuffTheMagicDragon · 16/05/2005 21:52

Just hoping all is ok Jen, post if you have time .

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Jen84 · 17/05/2005 16:29

Hi all thanks for your post. Phoned NHs direct last night and was told to take him to a+e with the letter. Staff were lovely and seen him straight away. The doctor was lovely and told me i did the right thing by bringing him. The said he was very dehydrated and that he would need a drip and to be transferred to a bigger hospital. The offered him one last drink but he refused it so they started getting the drip together and he took a drink. I was so relieved. They said i could bring him home and they's give me a follow up call today. Turns out he has gastroentinitis(sp!) so am very glad i took him. The staff were lovely and they called today and couldn't have been anymore helpful. The diarrhoea has started again and we've only had one slightly damp nappy again. he's still not eating but he's is drinking small amounts. The nurse is gonna phone again at 5 to see how he is and we'll reassess the situation from there. Thanks again

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moondog · 17/05/2005 18:52

We'll all be very pleased to learn that things have resolved themselves, Jen!

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serenity · 17/05/2005 19:31

Glad to see things are improving

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Jen84 · 17/05/2005 19:57

he's up and rnning aboujt now you wouldn't believe he was so poorly yesterday!

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Jen84 · 17/05/2005 19:57

he's up and running about now i mean oops

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PuffTheMagicDragon · 17/05/2005 19:59

Great Jen - give yourself a brill Mum smiley !

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