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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Wibu to take ds to a&e?

156 replies

PrettyPictures92 · 21/09/2014 00:12

Ds 3yo has a sudden temp of 38.9° having gone up from 38.7° at 6 pm, calpol hasn't helped any and he isn't fully waking up but he's been throwing up while half awake and sort of choking on it. He's really pale and hot to touch, shivery but not clammy.

Phoned nhs24 and they said to monitor him over night and arrange an out of hours visit to hospital tomorrow. But he's not waking up properly to be sick, I'm petrified he's going to choke and kill himself if I fall asleep and his temp is climbing.

Wibu to take him to a&e even though the nhs24 doctor person said not to? His not being able to wake properly is scaring me, he's never had so much as d&v before, apart from colds he's always very healthy so i might be over reacting?

OP posts:
TaliZorahVasNormandy · 21/09/2014 09:56

I'm glad he's ok and you did the right thing to take him.

My DN died at 11 months from meningococcal septicaemia, so I know the symptoms and wouldnt hesitate to take DD to hospital or tell anyone else to if they had some of the symptoms.

Tipsykisses · 21/09/2014 09:57

Oh bless him ( & you! Thanks)

Lots of TLC for you both today & hopefully you'll be able to have a bit of sofa time & Brewwhen you get home !

Tipsykisses · 21/09/2014 10:02

Tali I'm so so sorry about your little niece xx

Original poster
PrettyPictures92 · 21/09/2014 10:08

Tali that's awful Sad Flowers

OP posts:
LEMmingaround · 21/09/2014 10:08

Am quite cross that the ooh doctor told you not to go in. Id be tempted to make a complaint.

Glad he is on the mend xx

Original poster
PrettyPictures92 · 21/09/2014 11:08

I won't make a complaint LEM, it must be really difficult to assess how serious something is over the phone, and likely many times it is only a bug and not anything life threatening. I think if he'd had any worse symptoms than being really drowsy and difficult to wake and a high temp they would have sent an ambulance. They'd asked me if he'd had cold hands and feet (no), if he was stiff or had a rash (no), if he was breathing ok (breathing was a bit heavy but not laboured or shallow/fast) etc. And he is fine, the doctor will be around soon and we can go home :)

OP posts:
ByeByeButterfly · 21/09/2014 11:35

Great news :)

MrsGeorgeMichael · 21/09/2014 11:41

brilliant news
i've been checking this morning :)

Original poster
PrettyPictures92 · 21/09/2014 11:49

Doctor has just been around, they want to keep him in a bit longer to monitor him some more as he's still a bit dehydrated despite the drip, and still really drowsy and not eating and his temp has spiked to 38.9° again Sad If he's any better by 6 then they'll let him home but atm it's looking like he's really taking a toll with this ??

OP posts:
LondonRocks · 21/09/2014 11:50

Glad he's ok

AnotherStitchInTime · 21/09/2014 12:07

That is a shame Pretty, but good they are keeping a close eye. Antibiotics take a while to start fighting off the infection.

It is worth getting some probiotic powder to add to his food whilst on them, like this. They have recently done some studies on the link between the gut, the immune system and allergies article here and here. My dd2 was given strong antibiotics after being admitted with tonsilitis and after the course finished developed allergic responses to several foods, since giving her probiotics she has stopped having hives and breathing difficulties even with those foods.

Nishky · 21/09/2014 12:30

Sorry to hear that. Hope you get some rest - although I know how hard that is when you are there.

LEMmingaround · 21/09/2014 12:44

Aww poor wee thing. Hes in the best place. He'll be better soon x

jellybelly701 · 21/09/2014 12:52

Poor thing, I'm sure after a few more bags of IV he will perk up a bit. He's in the best place and I'm just glad you took the advice on here and took him in. I hope he starts to feel better soon Flowers

SlicedAndDiced · 21/09/2014 12:54

Take him.

I don't trust nhs direct at all anymore.

They made me an out of hours doctors appointment when I was screaming in agony.

I went to a&e. I was in full blown premature labour and the baby was stuck in my cervix.

HattieFranks · 21/09/2014 12:58

Blimey, what a fright for you PrettyPictures. I'm really glad you took him. Poor little chap, hope he is on the mend soon.

giraffescantboogie · 21/09/2014 13:01

I don't trust them either, they have changed recently here imo. I wonder if they have actually changed from nurses to call handlers only.

They didn't know what a nebuliser was.

Last 2 times I have phoned with chest pain and breathing issues - and been breathless and wheezing down phone I have been given a 4 hour call back.

Previously I was always sent right up.

Thumbwitch · 21/09/2014 13:05

Giraffes - someone up thread said they've been downgraded from medical personnel to call handlers who have an algorithm to work from - so yes, they're not as good as they were.

Thumbwitch · 21/09/2014 13:06

Bugger - pressed post too soon!

Pretty - very glad they've admitted him and are looking after him; I kind of hope that you get to go home this evening but only if he's right enough! If he's not then he needs to stay put.

Tali - so very sorry to hear about your DN, that's tragic Thanks :(

SauvignonBlanche · 21/09/2014 13:12

Bless him!

iK8 · 21/09/2014 13:21

Glad he's ok op and they're looking after him. Hope he's better really soon.

For whoever asked up thread about my post regarding drunks in A&E, at my local one pediatrics A&E is only open for business hours. The rest of the time you're triaged and possibly dealt with in normal hellish A&E unless you're lucky enough to get fast tracked to pediatrics. The early pregnancy unit is also closed so you can have a miscarriage with the drunks in A&E too. Grim.

An out of hours doctor is not the same as NHS24/NHS Direct and in some places you can still call your OOH services and speak to and be seen by a qualified GP. They can also fast track you through to pediatrics here. But I appreciate it's different everywhere and you use your judgement and make your choices based on the information and resources available to you at the time. After my experiences of dealing with NHS Direct if I was debating A&E or not I wouldn't bother calling them because it's often a pointless exercise. I'd want to speak to or be seen by OOH GP or just go to A&E.

TeWiSavesTheDay · 21/09/2014 13:23

111 is awful compared to old nhs direct. Very difficult because its the only way to get on ooh appointment here, so you're left with wait and hope it's not actually an emergency or a&e

TeWiSavesTheDay · 21/09/2014 13:26

Hope your DS starts to respond by tomorrow Pretty - I know it's scary Flowers but he's in the right place.

Aeroflotgirl · 21/09/2014 13:42

No I would not dial any over the phone people, they cannot see you, they do not know. If in doubt always go to A&E especially with children.

TimeForAnotherNameChange · 21/09/2014 13:57

I have been convinced for some time that all 111 will do is actually increase A&E traffic as people come to (rightly imo) distrust the process and call handlers. Luckily for now we still have a good OOH service in my area, but when that goes it'll be straight to A&E for most people.