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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

MousyMouse · 03/05/2013 12:12

argy has a vomity child ever vomited pink calpol all over you?

ArgyMargy · 03/05/2013 12:14

Yep! But I can't imagine him letting me anywhere near his bum (well, he is 18 now...)

Floggingmolly · 03/05/2013 12:17

They haven't been prescribed... If you want them, you buy them, it's as simple as that.
Fuck off Doc indeed

finickypinickity · 03/05/2013 12:18

We have to rely on suppositories for DS as he has oral sensory issues alongside his other probs and i would say you have been fobbed off. We get them easily prescribed at the G.Ps and hosp. Its far more cost effective than a trip to the childrens ward when a temp gets out of control which we have had before.

Its strange that other countries have suppositories as standard for young children whereas here its frowned on and they are seriously over priced if you buy over the counter

YANBU

SoupDragon · 03/05/2013 12:21

One would normally treat a fever

Not necessarily, unless it was prolonged or very high. I thought there was a good argument for letting mild fevers run their course.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 03/05/2013 12:21

How would your son react to a tepid/cool bath, BobblyGussets (not cold, because that would make him shiver and would be counter productive)? Or being sponged with tepid water - to help bring his temperature down? That might make his skin feel less tender too, just by cooling it.

You could also give him ice chips to suck, or an ice lolly, if you happen to have some in the freezer - cool him from the inside out, if you see what I mean.

I'm sure he's not wearing much, and you have him somewhere reasonably cool.

AnyoneforTurps · 03/05/2013 12:23

What Iteotwawki says: there is no evidence that treating fever improves outcomes or reduces the risk of complications such as febrile convulsions. Fever is a normal part of an immune response to infection. Unless the child is in pain, Calpol is probably doing the parent more good than the child - it's awful when you see your DC burning up and comforting to feel you are doing something but that's not a good reason to prescribe.

So yes, YABU, and - if you work for the NHS - you should know better.

AnyoneforTurps · 03/05/2013 12:26

Its strange that other countries have suppositories as standard for young children whereas here its frowned on and they are seriously over priced if you buy over the counter

Agree but it's supply & demand. When I suggest suppositories to parents, they normally react as if I'm Jimmy Saville . Most British parents won't consider them. If more people used them, prices would come down.

NotTreadingGrapes · 03/05/2013 12:26

Whilst my 44 yr old Italian handsome swain likes nothing more than a suppository. Reached into the cupboard for a paracetomol the other day for my shoulder and thought blimey, these are a bit big.....

scaevola · 03/05/2013 12:28

They don't recommend paracetamol for fever in children, unless the fever is accompanied by pain.

If he's in pain, then he probably need to be examined by a doctor rather than seeing phone advice.

SarahAndFuck · 03/05/2013 12:29

They can prescribe over the phone, although my experiences of this have never been good (two elderly relatives left in pain and thinking the doctor wouldn't see them in person, both with quite serious things wrong in the end. Me ending up in hospital with a life threatening infection that would have had me admitted to hospital three days earlier than I was if the doctor had actually seen me).

Glad you've managed to track something down to help him OP.

Original poster

BobblyGussets · 03/05/2013 12:43

We are off to France in the summer. I will get some then thanks.

Iteotwawki, I guess NHS policy hasn't caught up then, because we always recommend lowering a fever with meds and lighter clothing and never by cold sponging or fanning. I'd be grateful for some pointers for lowering the boy's fever please?

OP posts:

tangledupinpoo · 03/05/2013 12:44

YANBU.

I took my vomiting DC to the GP this week with slight fever and she told me to give him Calpol. Was quite surprised as it hadn't occurred to me to give him any drugs with a sick bug and not much of a temp. Suppositories possibly would have been better.

(Anyone know how to get a pink Calpol stain out of a carpet?)

Metbird · 03/05/2013 12:50

Yes, you can get prescriptions over the phone. Yes, paracetamol suppositories are expensive. Yes, I've had them prescribed for my sick and vomiting child. However, it all depends upon the doctor who is doing the prescribing. I didn't know you could get the suppositories over the counter - couldn't when my children were small, which is why I ask the doctor for them...things change. Still, I hope your DS2 gets well soon, and give him a hug from me.

Original poster

BobblyGussets · 03/05/2013 12:54

Thanks Metbird. I think I have slightly accepted that I may be somewhat U, but I am still smarting.
To add insult to injury, I had to borrow the money from DS2's money box to pay for them.

OP posts:

AnyoneforTurps · 03/05/2013 12:58

Here is the NICE guidance for parents on managing fever. As you will see, paracetamol & ibuprofen are not part of basic management and tepid sponging is no longer recommended.

Paracetamol & ibuprofen are used when a child is becoming more unwell or is in pain. But there is no need to use them automatically every time a child has a fever.

ArgyMargy · 03/05/2013 13:01

Bobbly, I suspect you are only a little bit U for suggesting your GP was being tight. No-one likes to think their doctor has more regard for the cash than for our DCs... And he probably has no idea they are so expensive.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 03/05/2013 13:10

- I recommended tepid sponging. Can you tell I did my nurse training back in the dark ages?

Chunderella · 03/05/2013 13:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

valiumredhead · 03/05/2013 14:27

Doctors can prescribe over the phone, I was prescribed anti b's for an ear infection once

I'm laughing a bit at Argy's comment about him not knowing they were expensive - that's exactly why I have to beg for epi pens for my son as they are expensive and they don't want to prescribe them the hits!

I'm with you OP on this one.

valiumredhead · 03/05/2013 14:28

the gits not hits!

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