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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask for a home visit from dr.

37 replies

foxeeroxee · 26/03/2012 12:38

Just wanting to seek some opinions on this really.

Sorry if the following is a bit long and 'waffly' il try to keep it brief.

Am stuck in the house atm due to ds1 having chickenpox, he has had it for 3 days and still has spots appearing.
This morning was getting ds2 (15weeks) dressed and found a hard lump in his groin about the size of a 10p piece.ds2 has been very grumpy, not feeding properly , which is very unusual as he is a very placid baby.
Rung the drs surgery and asked for some advice and whether a dr would be able to come out. receptionist got very snotty and said 'home visits arnt just for anybody' and seemed shocked that i had asked.
Aibu to ask for a home visit??

I have no family/friends available to watch ds1 while i take ds2 to the drs.....
I am not usually a fussy, hyperchondriac type of parent....
I did not expect dr to come out and understand that their time and resources are limited...
But recpetionist left me feeling like a nutty ott mum!! Angry

Thanks for reading all that!!

OP posts:
Scholes34 · 26/03/2012 12:41

In that case, make an appointment at the doctors. Then say you'll need to arrive with a child with chicken pox and ask what you should do.

DaisySteiner · 26/03/2012 12:42

YAB a bit U I think. I don't think your situation really warrants a home visit as you are physically capable of getting to the surgery. If your ds2 needs to see a doctor then really you need to either take them both and let the receptionist know that ds1 is infectious. Your ds2 doesn't sound that bad tbh - probably coming down with chicken pox!

DaisySteiner · 26/03/2012 12:42

forgot the or get a babysitter - do you have a partner? Why can't he/she take time off work to watch ds1?

squeakytoy · 26/03/2012 12:43

Can your DP/DH not come home from work to look after the eldest child, or take the baby to the doctor?

Original poster
foxeeroxee · 26/03/2012 12:43

I did that and the receptionist got a dr to speak to me who then if i have nobody to watch ds1 then i would have to wait unril his chickenpox had gone Shock
He seemed to have the same attitude as receptionist..

OP posts:
redskyatnight · 26/03/2012 12:43

Home visits are for those who physically can't get to the surgery though. Which isn't you. Is there really no one who would sit with DS1 for a short time? (if genuinely not, you might want to think about a backup plan as this won't be the last time you have an issue like this). Could he sit in the car while you take DS2 into the surgery (depending on his age, temperment, location of car park to surgery etc)?

eurochick · 26/03/2012 12:45

Sorry, but I don't think not being able to sort childcare for your other child warrents a home visit. And you younger son's problem doesn't seem like the kind of emergency situation where you need to get to the drs asap. Can you get someone to watch the chickenpox victim later/tomorrow and take the baby to the drs the?

AnyFucker · 26/03/2012 12:45

I don't think that warrants a home visit

there was no need for the receptionist to be snotty with you though

I would make an appt and take your other child with you, everybody knows GP's waiting rooms are dens of viruses and bacteria Smile

millyrainbow · 26/03/2012 12:46

I had a similar problem. I told the surgry that I would have to bring my chicken pox covered child with me. They were fine about itand just sat us in a side room while we waited. I even got a cup of tea!

Original poster
foxeeroxee · 26/03/2012 12:47

I figured i might get flamed for this...
I didnt expect to get a home visit, was really just enquiring.
I also think its probably the start of the pox and oh could leave work, just wondered if it was not 'the done thing' to enquire about home visit??

OP posts:
TheRhubarb · 26/03/2012 12:47

Take your ds with chickenpox with you to the surgery.
Once the spots break out they are no longer infectious.

Or ask for an evening appt when you are able to get someone to keep an eye on him.

Doctor's receptionists have to pass an exam in how to be rude, everyone knows that! But in this case, you should really make arrangements to get your ds there yourself. Home visits are sadly a thing of the past and if the surgery is fully booked, they'd have great difficulty in sparing you a doctor. Most home calls are made to seriously ill patients.

ClaimedByMe · 26/03/2012 12:48

I had to take my ds covered in chicken pox to dr surgery as he also had an ear infection, i warned the recptionist on the phone but they werent too bothered.....

this doesnt fill me with confidence for asking the nurse to come out on wednesday to my dressings tho

AnyFucker · 26/03/2012 12:49

nobody is flaming you

Original poster
foxeeroxee · 26/03/2012 12:50

A cup of tea!?! Wow. the surgery seemed to not want to entertain the idea of my poxy child been there.
Probably a good idea to think of a back up plan though Blush

OP posts:
Seona1973 · 26/03/2012 12:51

TheRhubarb, you are incorrect as chicken pox is infectious until the scabs have scabbed over which is normally 5-7 days after they start to appear.

Original poster
foxeeroxee · 26/03/2012 12:51

Was just thinking out loud that i might.... this aibu after all!!

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 26/03/2012 12:52

it was a serious question, OP

I think you will only get flamed if you get arsey with the people who come on to say you cannot expect a HV Smile

Katz · 26/03/2012 12:53

you've provided your own solution - your OH could leave work.

StripyMagicDragon · 26/03/2012 12:54

I had to go to the docs this morning and my dd has chicken pox, and they took me to a separate exam room to wait with her. Just let them know you have a pox ridden child, it won't be the first time.

Original poster
foxeeroxee · 26/03/2012 12:55

But i wouldnt want to be reliant on oh leaving work as we dont have a car and takes bout 1.5hrs travel, which probs aint that good in an emergency iyswim, katz

OP posts:
TheRhubarb · 26/03/2012 12:56

Seona - I was told different, oh well!

If the doctor came out to see you OP then you would be taking the place of someone who was seriously ill and bedridden. If you are able to make arrangements to take your ds then really you should not be asking for a home visit.

scrablet · 26/03/2012 12:56

Sometimes you need to take chicken poxy children to the DR's BECAUSE of the pox. My surgery cordoned me and my two poxy DD's off, and I heard one of the receptionists ask the other 'Is Mum ok?' probably because my two poorly ones made me so sad I was a bit leaky eyed.
You should be able to ask tho, usually you are told there is no harm in that.
Hope your wee ones better soon Smile

lancaster · 26/03/2012 12:56

As a GP on call for home visits this am I would have politely asked you to bring your children at end of surgery to limit contact with other patients. If the receoption staff were rude I would complain.

3littlefrogs · 26/03/2012 12:57

They are infectious until every single spot has completely scabbed over and no new crops are appearing. three days in, DS1 is still infectious.

I would be very worried about the possibility of a pregnant woman being in the vicinity of the surgery or waiting room.

The answer is getting someone to sit with ds1 while you take the baby to the GP.

OTOH, it is quite likely that the baby has caught chicken pox from the older one, in which case there isn't much anyone can do.

The lump in his groin sounds like an enlarged lymph gland, and is probably a response to infection, so I would be inclined to watch and wait.

DinahMoHum · 26/03/2012 12:57

just take them both, and then tell them hes got chicken pox when you get there and they should let you wait in a seperate room. Its not usually a problem