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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want the GP or someone to do something for my son

26 replies

Tonsiltroubles · 18/11/2013 20:09

This year alone he has had 10 bouts of tonsil trouble.

Antibiotics every time.

He gets very unwell and is sick with it, hence me keeping him home from school.

The GP has said it normal, but I don't think it is.

Aibu to insist he sees an ENT doctor and push for the damn things out.

OP posts:
Mogz · 18/11/2013 20:15

Poor little guy! I'd be wanting a second opinion and pushing for a referral if its that regular and impacting on his schooling.
Hope you can get him some better treatment.

HettiePetal · 18/11/2013 20:16

A bout of tonsillitis a month, needing antibiotics every time is absolutely not normal, no.

He must be missing a lot of school. Can they write to his GP or something?

Definitely think you should push for a referral.

Poor thing. The only time I was ever really ill as a child is when I had tonsillitis. And that was every couple of years.

Original poster
Tonsiltroubles · 18/11/2013 20:19

Some months he gets it twice, and he had it February 1/2 term Easter. He has changed school and this will be the 2 nd time off since he started in September.

OP posts:
OddFodd · 18/11/2013 20:19

Tonsillitis is horrid. I know nowadays they don't whip tonsils out as much as they did in the past but I have to say that my life has been much happier without them. Definitely see another GP and/or push for a referral.

10 times a year is not on. Poor kid :(

trashcanjunkie · 18/11/2013 20:21

six times in a year is the requirement for removal where I live. Get a different GP! Poor you guys

WooWooOwl · 18/11/2013 20:22

YANBU.

Go back to the GP and insist on a referral, and if that doesn't get you anywhere then go private.

WhoNickedMyName · 18/11/2013 20:23

I would insist on a referral. Your GP should have done something by now anyway, I'm sure it's something like 4 episodes in a year should automatically trigger a referral.

IamInvisible · 18/11/2013 20:26

No it's not normal to have 10 lots of tonsillitis in a year. Insist on a referral to an ENT surgeon.

If they keep giving him antibiotics he's going to build up a resistance, surely?

MrsAbernethy · 18/11/2013 20:28

Insist on a referral, our son had similar problems and I had to really push to get the GP to let us see the ENT specialist. So many bouts more than meets the requirements for a referral.

Original poster
Tonsiltroubles · 18/11/2013 20:28

DC doctors are crap, been meaning to change it for a while.

I used to be with that doctors but got removed from there register for failing to attend appointment ( I was suffering from depression) contacted pals and the manger wrote a letter inviting me back.

DH going to take him in the morning and demanding a referral.

OP posts:
LaGuardia · 18/11/2013 21:28

The GP is doing something for your son; he is giving him antibiotics. Ask for a referral. Easy.

Original poster
Tonsiltroubles · 18/11/2013 21:31

Thanks, I don't know when I am over reacting

OP posts:
Laurel1979 · 18/11/2013 21:59

Our local guidelines generally recommend referral for tonsillectomy if a child has had 6 or more episodes per year for 2 consecutive years, but these are guidelines only and I will generally refer if parents request, even if there have been less episodes than this (I'm a GP).. I think many people underestimate the potential complications of the surgery, but the ENT surgeon will discuss all this at clinic before making a decision. I think you should ask your GP for a referral.

Bettercallsaul1 · 18/11/2013 23:34

Sometimes doctors have a tendency to wait and see if a child "grows out" of tonsillitis to avoid having surgery.

However, ten infections per year is very disruptive to your son's life and education - and very painful and unpleasant to suffer - so I would have thought, on balance, it would be better to have the operation, in his case.

Amy106 · 18/11/2013 23:39

Oh dear. It sounds miserable for ds and you too. Time to see a new doctor and hopefully get them out.

SchroSawMargeryDaw · 19/11/2013 00:28

I was blue lighted from one hospital to another (ENT place) with tonsillitis after having it for weeks, not eating for that entire time apart from drinking lucosade sport (when I could drink) and being on numerous different antibiotics. My heart rate was going mad mad and I ended up on IV antibiotics and fluid drips and all sorts.

The oral anti-biotics I had been getting for it had stopped working Confused. I still get it about once a month but not to the point of needing anti biotics every time (so it is possible to grow out of it some what).

If he wants them out then push for it and get a second opinion as it can get very scary if the anti-biotics stop working right, I didn't realise it could before it happened!

I think I was told 5 times in a year requiring anti-biotics at the time but that was after the hospital suggesting that I could ask the GP for referral.

hottiebottie · 19/11/2013 01:28

I've known two similar cases, both friends of DCs, and in both the parents really had to push to get something done. Things much better after tonsillectomy, in both cases. Anyway, I thought constantly prescribing antibiotics was discouraged? Hope your DS gets the treatment he needs.

BlameItOnTheBogey · 19/11/2013 01:50

I had this growing up. It happened to me about once a month. The GP kept saying I would grow out of it and that tonsils did an important job and if they took them out I would probably just end up with an infection elsewhere in my throat. It took until I was 24 and kicked up a major fuss before they took them out. I've never had another throat infection since then (12 years ago). It annoys the crap out of me that it was allowed to go on for so long and that I missed weeks and weeks of my education because they had a stupid theory that I would grow out of it. Even one year of that was too much.

OP I say go for it and be pushy. Tonsil infections are awful and shouldn't be dismissed so easily.

candycoatedwaterdrops · 19/11/2013 08:31

While I do think YANBU, the reason why they aren't so tonsillectomy happy is because research shows that if children are prone to throat infections, the infection will just move further down the throat if there are no tonsils. Regardless, you do need an ENT referral.

hashtagwhatever · 19/11/2013 08:33

5 times in 12 months is a referral for a tonsillectomy where I live. poor boy tonsillitis is horrible.

superzero · 19/11/2013 08:38

Definitely warrants an ENT referral.Although they tend to do fewer tonsillectomies these days he is having frequent tonsillitis so a specialist opinion is justified.Can you see a different GP?You could also ring the secretary of the ENT department and ask if they would accept a referral,then go back to the GP.

eggsandwich · 19/11/2013 09:22

From my experience I would say you need to push for a referral, at the age of 22 years old I kept getting tonsillitis as soon as the antibiotics finished I'd be fine for a week then would get another bout of tonsillitis, in the end I said to my gp it was affecting my work and quality of life I could'nt plan anything like holidays as my bouts of tonsillitis were so frequent he agreed and at the age of 23 I had my tonsils out and have had no problems since, I'm now 49. Hope you get it sorted.

Original poster
Tonsiltroubles · 19/11/2013 10:20

Back from the doctors and he seems to think that is a mind allergy to something, so go medication for allergies.

When he does get it he don't get unwell with it.

Hopefully now this medication works if not he will refer him to the ENT.

Thank you all for your help

OP posts:
BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 19/11/2013 10:29

Yes, insist on ENT. I did with DS who had repeated ear infections despite my doctor telling me 6 ear infections within so many months was normal. My DS had problems with his ears and nose and the doctor was telling me that it was because his nasal and ear canals hadn't widened properly yet. However, I took him to the doctors and saw a locum who admitted, no it wasn't normal and I told him I wanted a referral.

Since he had his appointment, we got some better treatment, and touch wood, no infections since.

So yes, demand a referral, be quite forceful or they will just put you off. I literally stood over the doctor and made him look up on his computer how many times in the last year DS had had an ear/throat infection.

DeWe · 19/11/2013 10:40

Just from the other side. I had loads of tonsilitis until I was about 6 or 7 and was on the removal list. An error was made and I got put to the bottom of the waiting list-and rarely had tonsilitis again.

I would also suspect that "6 a year" probably means 6 over a winter season (ie more like a school year), so to the doctor's mind you will have had 2 this season, and 8 last. So if he wants 6 a year over 2 years, you may need to get 4 more.

I would go on the missing loads of school, effecting his social and academics (possibly behaviour) etc. which often gets them moving quicker!