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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I've just been fobbed off, haven't I?/Tight Dr

46 replies

BobblyGussets · 03/05/2013 10:58

Ds2 vomiting and fever overnight. His legs feel wobbly and his skin is tender to touch.
I've been giving him little sips of water, but thought he might be more comfortable with some paracetamol suppositories. I wouldn't put Calpol suspension near him as he'd refuse and then if forced, would barf it up.
Just been on the phone to the tight arse duty doc, who "wouldn't be concerned about the fever, just keep his fluids up". I agreed politely and pressed the request by telling him how I thought he would be more comfortable as he has the sore skin flu-like thing.
"Well, maybe look at giving him some Calpol when the vomiting stops".

I didn't phone for advice, as I work for NHS and can "manage" an illness like this, but I accepted what he said politely.
Fuck off Doc! Those suppositories are £20 for a tub of ten. He was being tight, wasn't he?
I have asked a friend to go and buy us some now, but I do feel like ringing the surgery back and insisting.
We are not hard up, more like the "squeezed middle" the press loves to go on about, but really? We pay fucking thousands in tax and NI each year. I know I am a bad Socialist for feeling like that, but that is unnecessarily tight . It's not as if I was asking for a £3 bottle of Calpol FFS.

AIBU to feel like this?

OP posts:
Original poster
BobblyGussets · 03/05/2013 10:59

This is my first "proper" AIBU, so line up and get your steel toe caps on Grin

OP posts:
Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 03/05/2013 11:01

Drs can't prescribe over phone unless they see the patient can they?

CloudsAndTrees · 03/05/2013 11:11

Yabu. You can't just phone and expect the doctor to prescribe you whatever you want. It doesn't work like that.

I think it's you being tight if what you want is available over the counter.

FrenchJunebug · 03/05/2013 11:11

YABU Doctors can't prescribe any medicine over the phone! How would they know if you are genuine or not!

GetOrfMoiLand · 03/05/2013 11:14

Of course they can prescribe over the phone - I have spoken to a dr on the phone, described my symptoms and had medicine prescribed and a prescription ready at reception for me to collect.

That said I don't think the dr was being mean. He probably just assumes that suppositories are not needed (rightly or wrongly).

NotTreadingGrapes · 03/05/2013 11:18

I think you were being mean rather than the doc no? You have self diagnosed what your child needs but don't want to pay for it?

only really posting here to say hello to getorf and see if she recognises me

NotTreadingGrapes · 03/05/2013 11:18

Oops, cross out fail.

WhenSheWasBadSheWasHopeful · 03/05/2013 11:20

Well you wouldn't expect to get calpol on prescription so I guess that's why the dr wouldn't prescribe the suppositories either.

Thumbwitch · 03/05/2013 11:21

(you know you can do mass crossings out now, don't you NotTreadingGrapes? you only need the dashes at the beginning and end of a whole line Grin)

MousyMouse · 03/05/2013 11:23

when I last bought them they were 5£ for ten.
go to a different chemist maybe?
suppositories are a goodsend with poorly dc who don't want to eat...

Original poster
BobblyGussets · 03/05/2013 11:28

I have had stuff prescribed over the phone, so that's a moot point.

If suppositories are available over the counter, along with calpol and ibuprofen, you could argue, why have them on prescription at all? What about expensive IVF drugs? No-one wants to pay for them, but some people have to and some don't.

I was onto the suppository idea because a nice doctor suggested them for DS1 many years ago when he had a vomiting bug, saying, "they are really expensive over the counter, because demand is so low, so I'll prescribe him 20". I was expecting that kind of attidue I suppose.

I have not "self diagnosed" anything Hmm. One would normally treat a fever.

OP posts:
Original poster
BobblyGussets · 03/05/2013 11:30

Thanks Mousymouse, I will have a ring around and see if anyone has them in. A couple of the local pharmacies don't have them in stock, so I will cast my net wider.

OP posts:
Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 03/05/2013 11:33

What about tesco? Or morrisons ? Might have own brands that will be cheaper?

KobayashiMaru · 03/05/2013 11:37

They aren't that pricey OTC. If you want them, buy them.

TwinkleTits · 03/05/2013 11:41

OP I have exactly the same problem with my son. He is 2 and a meds refuser, he's been forces fed horrific meds since he was 5 months old so he has the art of refusal spectacularly weighed off.

I feel your pain.

When a doctor refuses suppositories I ask another if I literally dont have £26 for the pot.

The last time I got some, I did have the money, I went to buy some and the pharmacist refused to give them to me. Hmm which did me a favour I suppose because I ended up with a prescription.

NotTreadingGrapes · 03/05/2013 11:42

Thumb! Noooooo. Really?!!!
Gah, they tell me now't.

having a play around

NotTreadingGrapes · 03/05/2013 11:43

Well, I'll be jiggered.

NotTreadingGrapes · 03/05/2013 11:43

They only need to start sending me the roundup again and I'm sorted.

Sorry for hijack.

Blending · 03/05/2013 11:49

Not useful now, but if you or someone you know goes abroad they are really cheap. I always stock up, they are only a couple of Euros a pack in Holland and Spain as they are considered normal there. I don't understand why they are so bloody expensive here.

£26! Flipping heck!

ryanboy · 03/05/2013 11:51

You are being ridiculous.You ate expected to buy OTC medicines for your children, not get them on prescription!!

Original poster
BobblyGussets · 03/05/2013 11:55

Too late, but thanks Wheresmy, I just ordered 10 for £19.17 from LLoyds Pharmacy and feel more grateful to them than the GP and the NHS. Lloyds are delivering it quite quickly as well, this afternoon.

I used to be really pro-nhs, but it is so worn down. I work in a part of it where I see so much waste, from lots of people demanding ambulances for convenience, to "consultation meetings" to change policy, then change back again. We are being told some staff are being made redundant with site closures, then next month, woops, no they aren't...Confused Sad

I had a procedure done at an "NHS Treatment centre" last year. This was a private company, and although I couldn't fault the facilities, staff and results themselves, I felt uneasy. I thought, "what's the difference to going private?" £20 is a drop in the ocean: hardly anyone uses them and if they did, the price would be alot lower.

OP posts:
Original poster
BobblyGussets · 03/05/2013 11:58

"Ridiculous"? Yeah, I am a fucking outrage Wink

OP posts:
cinnamonsugar · 03/05/2013 12:06

Yep, another suggestion for picking them up in Europe where they cost next to nothing. We have always been able to have them prescribed here though. I don't have no idea how the manufacturers in the UK can get away with charging what they do for them.

Iteotwawki · 03/05/2013 12:10

Latest suggestion is that we shouldn't be treating fever routinely with paracetamol or ibuprofen - pain yes, but fever no - and that we might be causing more harm than good by treating it.

There are many non pharmacological ways of lowering body temperature which I'd suggest trying before reaching for any medication for it.

Paracetamol supps are still the best way of getting pain relief into a vomity child though.

ArgyMargy · 03/05/2013 12:10

Suppositories? Blimey what will they think of next?! (Are you French, OP?)