Quick question for mums about whether you'd go to a and e or not for this-

[quirkyquerty]

My son has recently turned three, he had an op recently for an undescended testicle and he had a little incision on each side of his tummy and one in his tummy button. It healed well, the op was five weeks ago now, and he hasn't been in any sort of pain for at least three weeks.

Last night he was complaining that his tummy was sore, and this evening the same thing. He has been charging about as usual all day at the childminders, and was happy and playing with his brother this evening. When he went to bed he let me feel his tummy, and there's a noticeable hard lump that has developed just above his tummy button.

After some googling I'm concerned it might be a hernia? I've got a six period day as a teacher tomorrow and setting cover now is going to take me absolutely ages. I have called 111 and I'm waiting for a call back, which will be within the next six hours.

I can't decide what to do- take him to a and e straight away in the morning and take the day off work and set cover now? Or go to work and take him to a and e after work?

I'm not putting work before him, he just seems happy and unless being poked and prodded he doesn't seem in too much discomfort.

DH can't take the day off to take him as we'd lose a days pay that's worth far more than mine, and also the logistics wouldn't work out with picking out other son up from school etc.

What would you do? Thanks

Well to be honest I find it so tricky to get a doctors appointment or phone call with my doctors surgery, as I said, if I didn't go to a and e I'm not sure where else to go to. Will see what 111 say anyway when they do eventually call back

And try not to be confused about why people come on here asking questions, most of us are mums and sometimes when we're tired and and stressed it's nice to get opinions from other mums, too.

Coming back to this, so soon after surgery I think the worry is that he will suddenly get much worse. That would be a very difficult situation for the CM if she has other children to care for too. But again, hopefully 111 will give you the info you need, that we can't.

I know it's easy for me to say when it's not me having to set cover, but I don't think you can be confident now you can be in work all day tomorrow. Therefore you have to assume you might not be, until you hear back from 111.

Your GP practice sounds poor but that's not a reason to attend A&E, realistically a well child with normal obs and mild pain (enough to be happy in himself) will be at the bottom of the queue to be seen post triage so you would be sitting in the dept for hours and hours. The people you need to see probably won't be in out of hours so you may end up home with instructions to contact Gp or wait in overnight to see the surgeon am.

If my DS was in that situation and eating and drinking well, passing urine and moving bowels, pain managed with calpol and not vomiting then I would either call GP, walk in clinic, or try and get seen at the surgeon who completed the op's clinic by getting a hold of their secretary. There may be a number on any old letters you have from pre op? Does DH have a job that would allow him to do the calling of GP/call back (I understand it would be difficult to keep phone on you in class) and answer the questions and then come up with a plan to get him to an appointment if required? I work in thr kind of job that makes in incredibly hard to leave in the middle of the day but if my kid needs to go to the doctor then my boss is just going to have to come up with a plan to cover me, there always needs to be a backup plan in place and it's a once off.

Is he alright OP? Were you able to get him seen?