To hassle the doctor for appointment re ds cough

[ChloesFurball]

Took 20 mins to get through to surgery, had to insist. DS has had a hacking cough for 2 days, otherwise seems ok, temp normal, off food a bit. Got told they were very busy, however I insisted. Last time I waited 45 mins after my appointment time to see doc. All that with a bored 2 year old.

If ur really worried try going to the pharmacy 1st I find they can offer good advice and treatment without having to wait on docs app try not to worry a cough at this time if the year is pretty common a good cough bottle some nurofen and mummy cuddles should help!

YABU - if yougo on to NHS direct website the information about WHEN to request a doctor's appointment is there. A non-blanching rash, temperature of 38degrees for over 48 hours, severe vomiting etc need a GP to call but for a cough you just need rest and fluids.

Seriously - people rushing to the doctors for nothing is what makes it so so hard to get an appointment when something is wrong.

You are being unreasonable, selfish and the reason people who genuinely need an urgent appointment struggle to get them.

OP What do you want/expect from the Dr?

Do you really think your DS needs to see a Dr or are you just worried that at some point in the future he might?

OP can you not see the irony in you complaining about how long you have to wait to see the Doctor when you want to see him/her about a toddler with a cough, who is otherwise well?

Steaming works well for a cough esp if it's worse at night.
widwww.argos.co.uk/static/Browse/ID72/33013098/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CHome+and+garden%7C33005908/c_2/2%7C33005908%7CHeating+and+cooling%7C33007608/c_3/3%7Ccat_33007608%7CHumidifiers%7C33013098.htme choice here

not sure what happened!
www.argos.co.uk/static/Browse/ID72/33013098/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CHome+and+garden%7C33005908/c_2/2%7C33005908%7CHeating+and+cooling%7C33007608/c_3/3%7Ccat_33007608%7CHumidifiers%7C33013098.htm

2 days ??? Ffs yabu!!!! Rule of thumb here is a visit to GP is warranted if cough has been going on for 2 weeks, not days! You are totally U.

News flash, kids get colds and coughs in winter!! Learn to deal with it yourself, keep him warm with plenty fluids and some steaming and also vicks on soles of feet overnight works wonders, go on NHS website, see a pharmacist but don't take up an appt for a cough!

Chances are your Ds will catch something much nastier by hanging around in a germ/virus/bug filled surgery waiting room than if you just kept him at home anyway.

two years ago at this time my then four year old had a cough was off his food would hardly drink and for a week i could nt get him a DR s appointment and they kept fobbing me off with walk in centres insisting there would be a dr to see him of course there was ent just advanced practioners [ nurses] i,m a nurse before somebody comes on saying nurses know as much as DR,sa we dont. And they would nt do anything just insisted it was perfectly normal for a four year old to not eat ,drink sleep all the time after a week i finally got him in to see our dr he had a nasty chest infection after a couple of days of antibiotics he was fine and my dr said if either of the kids were ever ill like that again just insist on an emergency appointment

There are zillions of posts on here at the moment with everyone experiencing a hacking cough thats often making kids sick etc. we've had it since dd's birthday 4 weeks ago.

Most are being told its a viral respiratory thing and if thats what your ds has then nothing a doctor can do will shift it. My dd1 is 4 and been coughing for 4 weeks although hers is much improved. Ive had it for about two weeks and dd2 who is 10 months is on day 6.

Honestly what do you expect the doc to do? Listen and say yes your right its a cough. If he had a fever, lethargic, confusion, sickness etc you may have cause to demand to be seen but after 2 days i'd say get ready for the long haul!

and i would nt bother with nhs direct they are a useless pointless service in my opinion one good thing to come out of the government cuts is to get rid of this pointless service they once insisted my husband get an ambulance for a migraine!

Go to Boots, ask pharmacist to advise on cough mixture. YABU to take up a dr's appointment for this.

YABU if no other symptoms. Waste of an appointment that could have been used by someone who really needed it.
You are being even more unreasonable to add on a moan about having to wait 45 minutes with a 2 year old. Maybe they were busy. Perhaps they would be less busy if people like you didn't 'insist' on appointments that are unnecessary.

Ummm...well I have been known to go just before Christmas for ear-ache, they gave me a prescription to only use if it didn't get better after a couple more days; but only because it was better, easier, cheaper than using OOH for that kind of thing.

But a bad cough for 2 days is not worth the GP in the UK. After a week and not improving at all and bad, might be.

An emergency appointment? For a cough? For 2 days?
Please tell me this is a GP doing a reverse AIBU.
Otherwise I am actually speechless.

YABU.

Why do some people thing GPs are magic folk who can cure all illnesses?
He has a cough, it's not serious. Lots of fluids, vicks on feet and cuddles should do the trick.

Pippintherain why put vicks on their feet? I'm not sure I read that right or not!

Catsrule, it gets absorbed into the body, and helps breathing, eases coughing. Rubbing garlic on feet helps for all sorts of things too, you can taste it after about 20 mins!

Have we been invaded by disgruntled doctors' receptionists, by any chance (suspicions of RAIBU)? If so, let's offer them some mince pies and mop down their fevered brows. (and perhaps some Vick on their feet)

Ah I might try that on my ds then. I had been putting it on his chest but I didn't realise feet would absorb it better.

Is your DS a PFB by any chance? I've literally never heard anything so ridiculous.
You are undoubtedly being totally unreasonable.

YABU.

I took my DS (age 3.1) in for a cough after 2 days BUT his temperature was raging and he was totally off food and water and very sleepy.

GP was very nice, and just said "cold virus, Calpol, steamy bathroom, warm bath".

Half the school and nursery have had it and all that's required is as above^^ Calpol, steamy bathroom, warm bath, drop of Olbas in it and of course, YY to Vicks on the feet.

As to complaining about how busy the Doctor's surgery is with running late and taking 20 minutes to get through- well it is the middle of winter! This is their busiest time.

MissCellania, did you get out of bed the wrong way? Thanks for all the comments. He has an infection. Sure he will be ok. Just a first time mum.

Ds is 3 and has severe asthma. He has been coughing for 3 days and going to the GP hasn't crossed my mind. He is starting to wheeze a bit today so I have upped his inhalers and if that doesn't work then I will consider seeing a GP.

A cough for 48 hours does not warrant a GP appointment

I work with A&E and this week we have had queues going out the door - most of whom are not A&E cases. It seems that people want a pre-Christmas MOT or something, because their reason for presenting at A&E is nearly always 'well, you'll be closed over Christmas (erm, no we won't!) so I thought I'd get this seen to now and I can't get a Dr's appointment' ....

And in the meantime the people who do need A&E services are waiting longer and longer to be seen :(