To be pissed off with Drs

[Sleepycat91]

8 week old DC, reflux is getting worse, more so over this weekend. I dread every feed, it takes an hour and a half of her screaming, going rigid and fighting me OR she falls asleep after 30ml and wont take any more. Either or is then usually finished off with her projectile vomiting on everything. To say this is wearing me down is an understatement. I called the DRS this morning desperate for just anything to help. Got told to call HV. Called HV, mine is on AL again and someone would call me back, no one has called me back. Dc had her jabs, so tried again for an appointment, got one in a week.. i dont think i can manage till the end of today, let alone another week. I just feel like giving up and no one gives a shit!

@Cdl14 ive tried, twice. I called up this morning and went in and asked again when i took her for her jabs

What bottles are you using? We used tommee tippee to start with was horrendous, switched to Mam never saw a bit of milk sick again!

Here's how you do this: 1. Get your child weighed (I know it is inconvenient but you have to) and make sure there are records of weight. If she is losing weight or failing to thrive, you advance one step on the scale of importance for the medical profession. 2. Make a record of every episode of projectile vomiting, and as someone above suggested, if possible video it happening (I know someone else will have to do this but it is useful). You move another step along on the scale of importance. 3. When you have this documentation, present as an emergency case using the words "suspected pyloric stenosis". You will be seen. I am not saying your child has this - but the magic words will trigger a medical professional to take notice and they can at least rule it out.

If she had bowel surgery ?5-6 weeks ago, is she still under the care of a paediatrician / hospital team to follow her up? I work in paeds and I'd probably recommend phoning that team or even the ward and asking for support as to whether this is related to her surgery.

Told by who to phone the H/V - the GP themselves after assessing your baby or the receptionist after telling them you think your baby has reflux?
If it's the latter then you are passing your assumption onto someone who is simply trying to decide who doesn't really need to have an emergency apt.
So try ringing back and saying that your baby is at risk of dehydration and although passing urine, needs an appointment today to reduce the risk of being admitted.

@washinglinewench29 thats a coincidence, shes on tommy tippee too 🙈 ive just steralised the tommy tippee anti colic ones see if that helps and asdas little angel ones she used to have aswell and got on well with

Poor you OP, I had poor support from HV & GP at such a time too.
Please hang on in there. Can you phone? Get your Dh to Phone on your behalf? I know he shouldn't need to, but I've found the health care support for women in your position severely lacking.

Do you have anyone to come and help you? A mum, sister, friend?

Sympathies.. Oh I am shuddering at the memories of projectile vomit. We didnt go out for months as thought no home/toddler group would welcome the tsunami of vomit.

Have you got any following up appointments with the hospital following the operation or the consultants details? I would contact them.

Also continue to phone the Dr's etc.

Interestingly enough they brushed off my worries for my baby's health. But after several visits from me, they called the HV to say they thought I had PND and I became priority so got seen. And then we got help for my baby. He had some gastric issues and is diary-free. But he's 10yrs old now and doing brill.
Maybe go in screaming "I've got PND." to the surgery

Your instinct is right, don't give in. Can yor baby's father phone the Doctors - sadly I found they took my partner more seriously.

If she gets congested it might be CMPA...

She needs to see a GP. The receptionist isn't qualified to say whether your baby needs to be seen today or in a week.

If she commits that much she is at risk of becoming dehydrated or not gaining enough weight.

This is a serious issue and any decent GP would see your baby.

Interestingly enough they brushed off my worries for my baby's health. But after several visits from me, they called the HV to say they thought I had PND and I became priority so got seen.

That makes me so angry. Yes, PND absolutely should be taken seriously, but so should a parent's concerns for the health of their child. How bloody patronising.

CMPA?

Cows milk protein allergy

How prem was she?
We were advised to use the tall, slim cheap bottles from Asda or Tesco for the first 6 months.

Oh OP I feel your pain.

I had a nightmare with DC2 and fibbed to get past the receptionist to see a Dr, Dr said I was over reacting and all babies do this... 2 weeks later we were in hospital as he was pooing blood. He has multiple allergies. Breastfed too.
Regaining weight now after quite a droop.
I would go to a walk in, it’s what I did and the only way we got help unfortunately.

Thats the same ones nicu told us to use when we were establishing feeding, i might go back to then x

I know it's a nightmare when everyone's saying try this, try that, as it's scary switching anything up through fear of making it worse! We had the exact same issue with our firstborn, and after trying several different bottles, medicines and formulas we finally found a magic combination.

MAM bottles, HIPP organic (helped with both reflux and constipation so win win) and a teaspoon of gripe water in every feed.

Ring up again and ask for a sameday appointment for your baby (they wont know you've rung before) if they ask what it's for say you dont know but shes unwell that's why u want to see a dr.Im confident you'll get in.I used to be a gp receptionist and we didn't mess around with babies,just got them seen.Shes prob got kids herself and trying to diagnose,which obviously she shouldn't do.Stick to your guns and if you dont get anywhere ask to speak to office manager.

Just in case no one has told you this, you are doing a fantastic job and it is absolutely no reflection on your abilities as a mum that this is happening to you. Nor does it have anything to do with you not breast feeding, please don't beat yourself up about this.

I had exactly the same situation with my son. His feeding became horrendous and he'd take 30mils, scream the house down and puke. No one listened to me. I started keeping a diary of his feeds in the end and then took it to a doctor and demanded she watch me feed him. We were sent to hospital the same day and he was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect. I'm not saying your child has this at all, I'm just saying DONT GIVE UP! Keep on at them until they listen and presricbe you some gaviscon or omeprazole or something that helps. These days will pass though and you will come out the other side. My son is now two and demolishes plates of spag bol.

Why does it need the threat of a sick baby or PND to be seen? Makes my blood boil!

Op may not have pnd. She may very well be just overwhelmed because of sleep deprivation and a difficult baby.

Which is what I had but I was left totally unsupported.

Let's try to make sure that what happened to me doesn't happened to this poor woman - poor op!!

I feel like driving to her house now! Just to support her!!
When I was really struggling a MN'er who lived in the next town came to help me!!

I’m thinking CMPA as well as reflux is a symptom of it.

I’d call back your GP surgery and insist on an appointment. Say you are worried about allergies and the HV told you to see the doctor if you need to or ask to speak to the practice manager. Unfortunately you need to be assertive here on your baby‘s behalf.

Call back and tell them she's poorly and showing no signs of getting better. If the receptionist Fobs you off again ask for a gp call and to speak to THe practice manager. The receptionist cannot claim this doesn't need a doctor as she's not qualified.

In short, get arsy OP.

Managed to get a different receptionist on the phone. Had to be a vague as possible despite her 500 questions as to why i wanted an appointment. I said i need an apointment, shes 8 weeks old, was 5 weeks prem and had bowel surgery at a week old and needs to be seen.."yeah but why, whats the reason" Told her i spoke to a pharmacist who had said she needed to be seen today or tomorrow at the latest (he was also disgusted we hadn't been given an appointment), she huffed and magically found an appointment for 5 tonight. This has caused so much more stress on top of what is already a stressful situation and just made me feel worse. Oh, and health visitor called me back 6 HOURS later and said shed been busy and couldnt do anything anyway because she finishes at 4🤨. I need to get her more milk powder tonight anyway so ill get more asda bottles as she got on okay with it a minute ago (only have 3). The more i look at it, the more i think the CMPA makes sense, but ill see what the DR says, no doubt ill just get fobbed off by her instead. And to make matters worse, found out my sister booked an appointment for something she ould of got sorted at a pharmacy so her and the other 400 people that needlessly take up appointments can fall down the stairs!

It sounds as if you need to clarify with the practice manager what training the receptionists have. A poorly 8 week baby needs to be seen by a qualified person, not be the subject of 20 questions over the phone with an unqualified person.
I hope the GP will be helpful.

How did the appt go?

And bloody good for you but the way!!