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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To say thank you and to feel a bit guilty (very actually)

15 replies

Nicknameinvalid · 03/11/2013 22:12

My ds has autism.. For the past year he has been obsessed with his bottom.. Putting things in it, scratching it.. There was an incident with an electric toothbrush as well.. Hmm

Anyway he's been to the doctors etc and they have wrote it off as being part of his autism and him sensory seeking.. But having joined mumsnet and reading about worms it got me thinking..

I've just been and done the torch test and he's got them :( :( I feel absolutely dreadful.. My poor little boy has been suffering for months and I just listened to the bloody doctors and didn't think any more of it..

Chemist job first thing tomorrow and thank you mumsnet!

OP posts:
Bearfrills · 03/11/2013 22:36

Don't feel bad, even with the best will in the world we all miss things occasionally and it's only with hindsight that we think 'why didn't I realise?!'

I remember when DD was 6mo and 'teething'. I thought she was 'teething' right up until she had a fit and we ended up in hospital for a week (severe kidney infection). I felt like shit for not realising that she was actually quite poorly but it happens.

At least he's sorted now, and well done for doing the torch test - that is one parenting milestone I am not keen to achieve!

Strumpetron · 03/11/2013 22:44

I don't understand why the doctors didn't think of this straight away, very poor diagnosing. Itchy bottom instantly makes me think of worms.

This is a sad thing that's happening every day to people with disabilities. Their problems are often ignored and put down to their disability instead of being taken seriously. This is on a small scale, but one woman I read about now has a feeding tube because her problems were ignored and put down to her disability. :( there's a whole online movement for it.

Original poster
Nicknameinvalid · 03/11/2013 22:47

I suspect it's because he wouldn't/couldn't say that it was itchy.. He just told the drs he liked doing it!

OP posts:
MzPixielated · 03/11/2013 22:53

im feel I may regret asking but what is a torch test?

Original poster
Nicknameinvalid · 03/11/2013 22:58

The worms are more active at night as that's when they come out to lay there eggs :/ you look at your dc bum when it's dark with a torch and you can see the little fuckers wriggling around.

Now if you can excuse me whilst I go and bleach out my body and claw out my eyes lol

OP posts:
foreverondiet · 03/11/2013 23:16

I take the view with the worms medication that its not harmful to take even if you don't have it as it says to treat whole family. So if any DC complain of itchy bottom immediately give them worms medication, have never done any torch testing!

festered · 03/11/2013 23:27

Don't feel bad-we all make mistakes however, the Doctor should have thought to check and you wouldn't be unreasonable to be angry with them.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 03/11/2013 23:32

I agree with you, forever, any bad itching I just assume worms without further diagnosis.

Having said that OP you shouldn't feel bad for not thinking of it. It won't have done your DS any harm apart from being uncomfortable. We all live and learn :)

Bogeyface · 03/11/2013 23:49

I would be having words with your doctor. I know someone who's child had meningitis and was told he was just "playing on it", "it" being the virus the doctor diagnosed because he had severe behavioural and learning issues.

He almost died.

Pisses me off no end how one diagnosis in a child is suddenly the reason for any other symptoms they may have.

YesterdayI · 04/11/2013 00:04

Oh dear, your poor lad. Don't feel guilty though.

I remember getting irritated with my DD2 when see couldn't see the monkeys in the trees when we were on holiday, it seemed to me she was just being awkward.. Hmm

...until we got her eyes tested Blush She had really poor eyesight and when she got her new glasses expressed surprise at being able to see clouds and leaves. Shock We were overseas somewhere where they didn't routinely test kids eyesight and we just hadn't got around to doing it.

BeyonceCastle · 04/11/2013 00:15

Don't feel very guilty nicknamechange it is sortable now anyway.
As he may have had them for a while now though, he may have a large infestation/burden. In this case the ovex tablet (which effectively starves the buggers) may not appear to work effective immediately. It may take a few days. Also cutting down on sugar intake would be a good idea. If DS likes anything garlicky increase it.
Normally you would take one tablet then a second one two weeks later. I have done one tablet weekly for four weeks to no ill effects for an undiagnosed over-burdened child.
Or you can use in conjunction with pripsen - this does not starve them by affecting their ability to process sugar, it actually paralyses them and then the senna causes looser stools. But it tastes vile as a raspberry shake, he may not take it.
Short nails, pyjamas/pants on and daily fresh bedding, showering or washing the buttocks every morning, making sure all family members treated.

Good luck Flowers

Dayshiftdoris · 04/11/2013 01:00

It's so simple when you realise OP but honestly it's not and you couldn't have hoped to make the connection yourself without some other clue...

My son scooted across the carpet by his bum with worms because I told him if he scratched his bum he had to wash his hands and he didn't want to do that do he scratched it a different way Grin I figured it out because we had a note from nursery about worms but I've never met anyone who had a child that scooted like a dog across a carpet to relieve the itching

My son has autism too Wink

He can't really even tell if he's hot or cold. Can't tell if he needs a poo or wee until the last minute... It's just part of the condition - I forget how little he can read himself at times

Have to say though I admire your sons thinking on how to relieve the worm itch Grin Unique and yet perfectly logical - got to admire his mind.

DaddyThunder · 04/11/2013 01:08

I wish to god I could un-read the bit about the torch test... still better to know, just in case. thanks for the info and the disturbing dreams...Shock

marriedinwhiteisback · 04/11/2013 01:18

forever I agree. First scratch and mine were wormed - even DH. Never knew for sure but just one of those little tablets stopped all the itching.

But just put it down to experience OP. I had a nasty patch of eczema on my arm once and 1% hydrocortisone didn't do a thing. Took it to the chemist who took one look and diagnosed ringworm. I felt dreadful about it and unnecessarily unclean but the little tube of cream worked but it took ruddy weeks just like the chemist said it would.

blueemerald · 04/11/2013 01:28

Don't worry about it! My brother has Aspergers and one of his (special school) classmates nearly died from appendicitis as the doctor asked him to jump up and down and because he did (he's a literal boy) he couldn't have appendicitis Hmm

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