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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

...to not agree with GP's diagnosis? MN wisdom needed here.

69 replies

abbierhodes · 12/12/2011 13:05

Sorry, this is quite possibly going to be long.

My DS2 (4) has had stomach pains since last monday. He had a tiny bit of diahorrea that day but nothing else. I put this down to nerves about his school nativity play. On the wednesday (after the play) he came out of school and got a very tiny bit sick. By dinnertime he was writhing in pain and groaning. I was worried as it didn't seem like a bug so took him to ooh doctor. They said possible water infection but as DS couldn't seem to produce a wee sample the doc said to take him home and see our GP in the morning.

Later that night he started being sick. He was sick about 4 times, all the time writhing in pain with his tummy. DH took him to the GP in the morning who diagnosed gastroenteritis.

The problem is that EVERYTHING I have read, including the leaflet the doctor gave us says that the main symptom of gastro is lots of D+V. DS has only vomitted once since that first night. Other than that his only symptom has been the pain.
The pain is not constant. Last night it was so bad at one point I was ready to take him to A+E. Now he's happily playing a computer game with his brother. He's been up and down like this all weekend...the pain is worst at night, but seems to ease in the day.

We now have the added complication that my other two children (and DH) have come down with a pretty bad stomach bug over night. I feel like my GP is just going to say 'see? I told you it was a bug!' If I go back and mention this. But DS2 has completely different symptoms.

I'm really at a loss for what to do next. I don't want to make a fuss over nothing, but I'm his mum and I know he's not right. If ii took him to A+E now though they'd think I was mad, as he's perfectly fine. But I know at any given moment he'll go back to writhing in pain.

Does anyone have any experience/ ideas?

OP posts:

zeno · 12/12/2011 21:58

Abbierhodes, thinking of you and your ds. Can you update when you get a chance?

marriedandwreathedinholly · 12/12/2011 22:10

Take him to a&e and get a second opinion from a paediatrician. If there's any hint it might be appendicitis get it sorted. My bf's little sister (she was 7) had symptoms like this, the hosp said it was a grumbling appendicitis and sent her home, she caught a cold during the following week, a few days later the appendicitis flared and she developed peritonitis and then pneumonia. Her family never recovered.

A second professional opinion might get make them think you are an over anxious mummy; it might also provide an accurage diagnosis and help your little boy to recover.

I hope it turns out to be little or nothing but there is nothing at all wrong in making sure.

annoyingdevil · 12/12/2011 22:18

Definitely sounds like a bug, almost certainly comfirmed by the fact you've just got it. You can absolutely have them without vomiting. DH never vomits with them - just suffers horrendous stomach pains.

I wouldn't go to A & E and spread it around.

zeno · 13/12/2011 09:47

Any news? Hoping to hear that all is well, but I'm worrying for you.

banana87 · 13/12/2011 10:08

It sounds to me like he had the bug and there's something else going on. Perhaps gallstones? Don't know if he's too young for that though. I agree with the others to get him to ooh dr or a&e next time he's in a serious amount of pain.

OldMumsy · 13/12/2011 11:57

A&E if(when) the pains return, you have a mothers instinct and it'd better to be safe than sorry. Doctors can be wrong, they work on the balance of probabilities.

Original poster

abbierhodes · 13/12/2011 12:53

Thanks for all the advice so far everyone. I took him to A+E last night and the doctor there has diagnosed constipation. He checked him very thoroughly and is adament it's not his appendix or anything like that.
So we've given him lactulose and as many 'natural' remedies as we can persuade him to take.

He's has weetabix and orange juice for breakfast, followed by raisins and orange segments. He won't touch prune juice unfortunately and the bowl of liquorice allsorts I've put out as 'Christmas Sweeties' hasn't yet tempted him. He's also had a warm bath.

He felt like he needed the toilet at one point but it passed...I took it as a sign of movement though so I'm feeling a little calmer.

He was still awake all night with pain though, and DH and I are both exhausted. The paediatrician agreed with me that it is not a bug. Hopefully we'll have some 'movement' today and we can start getting back to normal.

OP posts:

valiumredhead · 13/12/2011 12:54

Lots and lots of fluid OP - I mean LOADS!

zeno · 13/12/2011 13:06

Thanks for updating. Hope he feels better soon.

startail · 13/12/2011 13:13

I'm glad to hear you got a a sensible answer. I get exactly your DS symptoms with constipation and it's absolute agony.
It's ridiculous that something so apparently trivial can have me doubled up and unable to move. Much more painful than contractions, I hate it. I also hate taking anything for it because then I have the opposite problem.
Give him a huge hug!

festi · 13/12/2011 13:32

I would not push the weetabix or bulking fibre too much op untill he has been to the toilet as If he is not going it can, as it does in my case add to the pain as the fibre swells. definatly lots of warm fluid.

Glad he is doing ok now and you are assured it is nothing too serious.

festi · 13/12/2011 13:33

I would also keep him mobile, wrap up warm and go for a walk or play in the park.

valiumredhead · 13/12/2011 13:37

When he sits on the loo, have you got anything like a stool or small bathroom bin he can put his feet on - in the position it is much easier to push. Sorry to be so graphic!

Almostfifty · 13/12/2011 13:41

Ahh, lactulose. The wonder drug.

It's marvellous stuff and should work by tomorrow. Hope he feels better soon.

MissBetsyTrotwood · 13/12/2011 13:42

I'm so glad you had some advice and reassurance. We use Movicol (a stool softener) and after the first two doses he had no recurrence of pain.

Also - and I'm sure they told you this:

-Soak a dessert spoon full of linseed in boiling water, then when the water has cooled dispose of the seeds and drink the warm water (if he'll do this!)
-Take him to the loo at a regular time each day, like after breakfast. This can encourage a regular bowel habit;
-Drink LOADS.

And of course all the dietary stuff. We were told that this would be an ongoing thing we'd have to manage and keep a close eye on... Hope he manages to pass something soon.

HeadsRollingInTheAisles · 13/12/2011 17:59

Can mix prune juice with yogurt too!

bubby64 · 14/12/2011 16:36

Dried apricots are brillient at getting things going, oh, and dates too, plenty aroung at this time of year! Glad you have a diagnosis!

whackamole · 14/12/2011 16:41

I've had a virus like this on several occasions. Very very painful abdominal cramps, but in my case not vomiting. Can't remember if I had diarrhea.

I would say no to appendicitis, as the belly would be hard and painful to the touch. When I had it the second time, I was 20ish weeks pregnant and worried enough to go to OOH docs who sent me to hospital to rule out anything serious. In the end literally all he could tell me to do was take painkillers. I was ill for more than a week and lost 10lbs.

minceorotherwise · 14/12/2011 16:42

My son had similar symptoms a few years back after we had come back from holiday. Weirly GP said the same as your GP. But it got worse and we ended up in a and e with him. Turns out it was a bacterial infection that he had picked up from France..there were millions of flies. Not sure if that helps, it just rang a lot of bells

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