to embrace my neuroses and take Middleykid to OOH at the weekend?

[gussiegrips]

So, MiddleyGrip's got a long history of asthma drama - the kind that makes consultants weep. He's had 4 life threatening episodes this year, and I'm aware that my concept of what is "normal" has changed. In that, situations that would previously have been terrifying are now "not too bad this time".

He's on a heap of meds, including 10mg of prednisolone (steroid) daily, and has been really well for 9 glorious weeks (ie, no hospital admission, huzzah!)

For 2 weeks he's been complaining of a tingling right arm. All of his meds cite paraesthesia as a side effect.

I assumed he'd just wrenched his neck wrestling with his brother - but, it's not any better. He's consistent in describing where it is, it's worse with neck movement and he's started to lose a bit of power in his shoulder and elbow. It's not worse than when it started, apart from the weakness thing which started today. It's a subtle weakness, he can play normally, but can't push up on his arm.

Now, in my Neurotic Fog I have decided that he's got bone thinning which has caused a stress fracture in his neck and that's why his arm's tingling. Or that he's got something even more nasty pressing on his nerve.

The chances of that are zero. Well, one off zero.

He's just been up complaining that "the stinging in my arm woke me up".

Is it valid to use OOH because you are a worrywart and there's an eleventybillion risk to one that there's something nasty going on? Or, should I just get a grip and take him to GP on Monday and probably spend the next 48 hours wondering if he's going to be tetraplegic because I didn't do anything timeously?

With our OOH service we're able to ring and speak to doctor over the phone and then they decide whether you need to come in/go to A&E or wait until the normal gp is open - could you do that and explain his history and ask their advice?

Listen to your inner voice, you won't rest without going. Good luck.

If it's waking him up, I don't think YABU. Plus you'll have a horrible 48 hrs if you leave it. There may be some medication he can have that will alleviate symptoms, and he can get a better night's sleep. I'm sure you're right and nothing's wrong, but you're not being frivolous or time wasting.

Nothing wrong with being a worrywart. Listen to your gut and listen to your DS. If it's bad enough to wake him up then perhaps it's bad enough to call OOH, at least, for some advice.

Good luck OP. May well be nothing but best to get it checked out

That's a relief - I'm not an overconcerned type of mum (positvely kack handed most of the time), but, who's ever heard of a kid with nerve signs in an arm that didn't lead to a hand-wringing-photo-in-the-Daily-Mail?

You're right. I'm only going to poke the poor kid constantly and drive him crazy.

Will call NHS24 ramorra.

Thanks.

How did you get on Gussie?

Honestly, with kids it's usually better just to get them checked out. :)

Btw prednisolone used to cause me tingling as well, I believe it's quite a common side effect. Still would get him checked out though! That said, just to reassure you, it's usually longer-term use of steroids that cause bone thinning, so it is highly unlikely.

Thanks for the messages. I discussed it with DH, who raised his eyebrow...so, I chickened out of OOH as, am clearly, neurotic.

However - Middleykid's just been back up, crying with the same thing.

I don't really have a "sad face", and am quite fond of a kid with voluntary use of all 4 of his limbs - so, am going to OOH tomorrow. for fear ofBeing Shunned By Mumsnet...

Added info - he's been on pred for about 18 months. Varying doses, but, average about 10mg/day. Asthma. Not always a quick sook on a blue inhaler.

I blame his Daddy. Lovely bloke, dodgy genes.

You're not being neurotic! Call them. Your sons been distressed for the last two weeks and now it's disrupting his sleep. It's not as if you're taking him with a light sniffle. Hope it all goes well.

Is he taking a big dose of calcium with vitamin D? When I was on prednisolone I took Calcichew. It's to help stop any bone thinning effects.

Good luck at OOH today.

How old is he?

If he's waking up in the night crying with pain he needs to see a doctor.

Sorry to take so long to update, have been snowed under with Life.

He's ok. OOH sent us straight up to A+E at the sick kids who were great. There are definite neuro signs (altered sensation, loss of power, loss of reflexes and slight clumsiness) but all the nasty things have been ruled out.

So, it's all a bit odd. We're for respiratory review on Wednesday, and then back to clinic the following week for whatever comes next.

Thanks for your reassurances. The medics are all just lovely, huzzah for the NHS!

Glad the nasties are ruled out,hope he can be pain free and in good health soon.

What other drugs is he on?
Singulair is known (in other countries, sadly not the uk to have neurological and neuropsychiatric side effects.

gussie, stupido q, please feel free to ignore/make waspish comment:

monteluekast/aka singulair - has he been tried on this med? marvo stuff for a lot of peeps.

hah faverolles x post

OK slightly bizarre question - did he get anything for Xmas that has meant he holds his arms in a fixed elbows bent position? e.g. X box controller, 3DS etc.

I find if I hold my phone and type for too long I start to get pins and needles or throbbing in my arm that can last for hours. I'm typing with the phone flat on a table now. In my case it's caused by muscles in my back and just under my arm going into spasm and compressing the nerves.

I used to get really worried until I saw a physio who pressed on the muscles next to my armpit and nearly made me weep. Just another possibility for you to consider.

:)

Singulair can indeed be marvelous, but it can rarely cause horrendous, life changing side effects.
Unfortunately, in this country, the general reaction from medics is a swift eye roll and mark you up as a neurotic parent.
If he is on singulair, don't discount this as having an effect on your ds.
If you pm me, I'll send you a link to a FB page where there are far more knowledgeable people than me who might be able to advise you better.
(Of course, he may not be on singulair, in which case ignore me :o)

Hope you get to the bottom of this and he's feeling better soon.

That's interesting, he's on singular, 5mg a night and has been for about 2 years. He had dreadful nightmares initially, but, they settled after about 6 months.

ALL his meds cite paraesthesia as a side effect - though, I suspect that all meds of any type at all do as standard...

There's certainly not any localised tenderness/pain on resisted movement/restricted movement - only lateral neck flexion reproduces his pain, night time and otherwise totally random episodes.

It's weird. But, at least we know there's no fracture/bone thinning/infection/inflammation. So, that's good.

Having said all that, he's been up again with pain. Poor wee thing, he puts up with a whole heap of crap already.

Anyhoo, we're at respiratory clinic on Wednesday so I'll ask about he singulair/pred side effects - thanks for the suggestions.

So, working diagnosis of an idiopathic brachial neuritis. Treatment is steroids, which he's already on, and we've got some codeine just incase.

And, for pharmacy review - he's possibly to start a trial of xolair which is a Big Deal, but, would hopefully get him off some of the steroids.

Thanks for your help and advice, always good to be told you're not a bampot...

Best of luck for him. I hope it improves soon and good luck with the xolair if it goes ahead.