Poorly child- how much does instinct get right?

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

Ds has been unwell all weekend, various symptoms, declining. Calpol and Brufen making less of am effect.

I've spoke over the phone with the GP as ds is with his grandma today as dh and I are at work. Gp not overly bothered, said he is just "fighting an infection".

Grandma is doing grand with rest and cuddles and meds, and dh and I will obviously make a decision when we see him soon on whether to attend the walk in or whether he is on the mend.

I just don't feel right about this. An instinctual feeling that probably is daft. But whenever he has been off colour in the past it's been a day or two and easily coped with Calpol (which is why dh and I felt able to leave him with Grandma today).

All I want to do is race home and get him and take him to be fixed. But then even the GP said "well, we can really only test him for a water infection" so if it's not that then what?

How does Grandma feel he is? If she isn't too worried I would finish work then get home and see how your instinct is then.

And paracetamol and brufen making less of an impact on his symptoms or his fever?

Once it's kicked in he gets a little perkier for about 30mins or so then back to sofa and a lie down.

How old is he?

If it's a virus, they can last several days, and cause quite high temps.

What other symptoms does he have?

Is he old enough to be able to tell you where it hurts etc? It's so hard when they are sick, what you describe at the moment doesn't sound any great alarm bells but you can see him and know him best.

I think instinct is everything, yes virus can last days but if he’s not getting any better then follow your instincts & take him to the Dr’s. I hate to think of what would have happened to my daughter if I’d have listened to “it’s just a virus”

Really hope your little boy feels better soon xxxx

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/parenting/3738928-Struggling-after-baby-s-illness?msgid=91450243#91450243

What are his symptoms?

Hmmm, we had this and it turned out to be tonsillitis. We were stumped to be honest, and at the same time, I was sure something was wrong. But you'd need to go to the GP for them to diagnose it.

Whenever mine got like this it was usually an ear infection.

High temp, reducing for short period following calpol/Brufen
Cold hands. Generally cold and needing extra layers.
Pains in arms and legs. Today also pain in the neck.
Vomitted Saturday night.
Toilet habits the same.
Lethargic and weepy.

Forget about instinct, go with the symptoms. Cold and lethargic for me would mean he needs to see a doctor. The pain in the neck is also possibly worrying.

Cold extremities and neck pain would do it for me too.

My instinct always goes out the window when one of mine gets ill (I just generally flap and panic and think the worst)

However I rarely take them to the Drs and they never know how much I am flapping.

I think being at work makes it harder too, as you aren't there? My 6yo had the flu last week and I had to leave him with granny whilst I went to work. I was literally running home to him!

When one of mine get ill (you can always tell the difference between them being a bit off colour and ill proper) I work out the max dose of medicine they can have in a 24h period (It's 4 lots of Calpol and 3 lots of Nurofen). I work out a rough idea of times they can have what and I have very rarely needed to give the full dose. It's just good to know what they can have.

I offer fluid and anything goes [the 4yo had a can of Coke last time she was ill as its all she would drink ]. I also take the same approach with food. When they are properly ill, they can have whatever they fancy!

Hopefully DC has turned a corner today?

Sorry I have just re-read your posts.

Urm, no the GP can do a full examination (as well as test for water infection!)... Your GP sounds a bit shit!

Honestly I wouldn’t trust a telephone appointment with any medical professional least of all a GP. Take him to A&E (or an urgent care centre attached to a hospital) and let a nurse triage him.

Absolutely no harm is insisting he's seen. You might be given antibiotics as a precaution.

@bridgetjones1 your daughter was very lucky with a dr who is on the ball by sounds of it. hope she’s on the mend. You definitely need to be more cautious with under 1’s due to symptoms being vague and severity can be masked as they compensate for so long compared to adults.

Op, I hope your son is better today, lots of horrible viral type bugs just now - my 9 year old was sick last week and my 14 year old. Elder son was vomiting and younger had a high temp, cough, aches and pains which he’s kindly shared with me, and his brother then shared his sick bug with him so now he’s being sick. Hoping youngest avoids both!!
Usually when kids have a high temp their hands and feet will be cold, and they will shiver and ask for blankets etc. Some can rigour which is horrible. Take your son for a checkup and keep him well hydrated - make sure he’s passing urine in meantime. As someone upthread mentioned a little of what you fancy when you’re ill is a good idea, measuring how much meds they can have is good too so you’ do not get mixed up in the night or give too many doses. All common sense really (until you’re overtired worrying about a sick child)

On my way home now. Surgery is open til 5.30 so if he seems still as poorly when I get in I'll rush him along, and if not I'll go to the walk in.

I would also get him seen with those symptoms.

When I've had that not right feeling with ds we've usually ended up on the children's ward or needing a lengthy phone call with his consultant! So I'm a massive believer in trusting your instincts. Luckily we have a fantastic go who would always rather check him out than not. But the not right feeling has put me off going out to our normal groups, made me not send him to nursery and made me check on him more than normal at night. It usually means his had a sezuire at home rather than at nursery or out and about.

However there's a horrible virus going around at the moment that his just recovered from. High temp that briefly comes down with medication and what looks like aches and pains all over. His had a really miserable few days. Hope your little one is feeling better soon!

How is your son? Wit those symptoms if i wasn't happy with my gp I'd go to walk in or a and e.

Hi - managed to get to the GP before closing. He did a proper check over, and ds was actually quite chipper and now saying the only paid he had was in his toe.

I've been told to take him back if he worsens.

That's a reassuring update. It did make me smile as kids are sooo unpredictable like that----

But always go on your instincts! You can never be too careful with children especially your own.