I don't know what to do.
My son has had cold like symptoms for 3 months. He is 8 months old and he is teething, but he seems to be getting worse and worse.
It started early December (the cold, not the teething, thats been going since he was 3 months old) and he was generally just snotty and coughing. I took him to the gp after 2 weeks, and was told it is viral. Over christmas, it persisted, he dribbled through at least 5 bibs a day.
I took back to gp mid January because he was getting a rash on his face and chest. GP said it was viral and would clear up. His face started to intermittently (sp?) burn up bright red and he was tugging his ears, rubbing his face on the floor, pram sides, cot and his eyes were producing greeny yellow gunk. I bathed the eyes and kept them clean, and all other symptoms, snot, coughing, snuffling, raspy breathing and rash were still present. I went back to the gp again early Feb with the eye and ear issues. He rolled off that it was all viral and teething problems and that is will go, but as I am "insistent that it must be bad and has been going on a while" (gp's words) he gave a course of antibiotics.
Finished those by mid Feb, but he is STILL poorly. He coughs and splutters with his milk, won't finish half his usual intake, isn't eating his solids and can't seem to sleep for more than half an hour before he is coughing, raspy breathing and wakes himself up. He is miserable most of the time, doesn't want comforting, playing with toys etc. He does have times when he seems to be feeling ok.
Friday evening, he started to refuse all fluids, and didn't sleep for more than 10 minute periods through to Saturday. I managed to keep up his fluid intake, offering him anything and everything constantly. I noticed in the hours of constant crying, that his tonsils are swollen, red and spotty.
Battling over the weekend, I called the gp surgery this morning and was told there are no bookable appointments for 10 days. So I called 111 for some general advice. They did an assessment and told me to call gp again, he needs to see or have a phone consultation within 2 hours. (Seemed a little ott, but I tried anyway) Gp receptionist said they have nothing, so I said about calling 111, but she said that being seen within 2 hours is what they always say. I called 111 again to say I had no luck, and was told to insist that I speak to a gp or nurse, and if I was unsuccessful, to just monitor baby and call 111 at half 6 and they will send me to ooh.
Needless to say, they refused to let me speak to the gp or nurse, and I just feel like he isn't terribly, life threateningly ill, but he isn't well and I want him to feel better. But I am getting nowhere, I know it is only a few hours until he gets to see ooh, but I feel so sorry for him.
He hasn't stopped gurgly-crying this morning, and keeps dropping off to sleep, before gasping awake and crying some more, wearing himself down, dropping off to sleep again... and repeat.
AIBU in thinking he needs to be dealt with, or does all this sound common to teething and viral illness? As a kid, my mother was constantly taking me to gp and hospital, and I remember often I felt fine. She just seemed to love the attention of having an ill child.
I am worried that I might be over-obsessing and being like her, but my gut tells me he needs to be seen, I am just scared that they will think I am like my mother. I know I am not completely imagining his poorly-ness as people are always commenting that they can't believe he is still unwell. If the ooh doctor says he is fine and it IS all viral and teething, I am going to feel utterly ridiculous.
Is there anything I could do at home to help him in the meantime?