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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think people take their DC to the doctor too often?

139 replies

MrsTawdry · 06/03/2015 22:04

AIBU? So many people I know are always off to the docs with their DC. "Oh he's been coughing and sneezing for the last two days"

Or "Oh she's not eating her dinner and sleeping badly..." that one was about a teething toddler by the way.

I didn't even take my DDs when they had Chicken Pox!

Was that bad of me? I just gave them some over the counter medicine and applied calamine and some other stuff the chemist gave me for the bath.

Should I have taken them? Am I lax?

The DC I'm talking about don't have impaired immunes or asthma or anything...

OP posts:
wanttosqueezeyou · 06/03/2015 22:11

YABU.

I don't know anyone like you describe.

I don't know anyone who took their child to the Dr with chicken pox. Why would you?

timeforabrewnow · 06/03/2015 22:11

You must be very robust and an excellent mother. Keep the good work up - leave others to do what they feel is right for their kids.

Caff2 · 06/03/2015 22:13

Almost every time (often) I've taken my DS2 (aged 2) to see a doctor, he's been referred to hospital. It's astonishing the things he's had (including meningitis and pneumonia). DS1 has visited the doctor about twice in his 14 years of life.

Backtobedlam · 06/03/2015 22:13

The problem is young children can go up and down very quickly, so it's often a lot harder to gauge how 'ill' they actually are. We have all had times when the really poorly and sleepy child, suddenly makes miraculous recovery and is running round the waiting room happily! If I'm worried Id always take them though, just not worth the risk with small children.

BigEyedOwl · 06/03/2015 22:15

Yanbu. People that bother the doctor with every little thing need shooting! My mum and sister are the worst culprits "oh Rebecca is at the doctor this week, she stubbed her toe 2 days ago and it's still bothering her". Give me a fucking break.

Writerwannabe83 · 06/03/2015 22:16

YABU

A parent who is worried about their child should always seek medical advice.

It doesn't matter if you think a GP visit was uncalled for but you aren't the mother to that child and at the time the decision was made then obviously the mother felt her child needed to be seen.

I would rather there be a 100 unnecessary visits as opposed to one occasion where a child doesn't get seen and there is a bad outcome.

traindrops · 06/03/2015 22:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

clairemum22 · 06/03/2015 22:18

I took my dc to doctor with chicken pox to check that's what it was!

gamerchick · 06/03/2015 22:20

Calamine is one of the worst things you can use for chicken pox btw.

plannedshock · 06/03/2015 22:21

I'm not a gp therefore I would never diagnose my child. I leave that to an actual gp. I've also left something because I thought it was a cold and had a very poorly baby on my hands very quickly. If anyone is unsure they should go to the drs. You Abu

Charlotte3333 · 06/03/2015 22:21

DS1 went quite a lot when he was small as he was forever suffering ear and throat infections. He's had quite a few operations, now, so rarely needs to go. Last time was around 6 months ago when he had a bad flare up of eczema that I couldn't get under control.

DS2 is 4 and doesn't go often, either. He was like DS1 with ear/throat infections for the first couple of years but seems to have grown out of them. He last visit was before christmas when he had tonsillitis (he'd been seen 4 days earlier and locum had refuse antibiotics) and was referred to A&E as GP realised it was quinsy. He does have asthma reviews every 4/5 months though.

None of my friends seem to overuse the GP from what I know.

JamesAndTheGiantBanana · 06/03/2015 22:24

Yanbu, I know several mothers who take their kids to the docs every time they vomit or get a cough. I could count on two hands the number of times I've taken all three of my kids to the doctors, combined. I'm not going to take them for colds and bugs (unless it was severe, chronic, worsening, becoming dehydrated, really high temp etc) If I'm not sure whether to go or not I ring and speak to the triage nurse. Or the local out of hours service. Or nhs direct. It's what it's for!

PekeandPollicle · 06/03/2015 22:24

I think you forgot to say 'some' in your title.

sosix · 06/03/2015 22:24

Probably but isn't it better to do thst than not if you are worried.

kilmuir · 06/03/2015 22:25

YANBU, i have 4 children and rarely take them to Drs. in fact middle 2 not been since they were babies and now 12 and 8.

CheshireSplat · 06/03/2015 22:25

OP, up you asked whether you should've taken them with CP. I didn't. It was clearly what they had. In regards to other people taking DCs too much, I'm inclined to agree. But I shouldn't really judge as my dad's a retired GP so he triages me...

The thing that bugs me is that it's virtually impossible as an adult to get an appointment but it's so easy for the DCs. So when I'm in agony and can't get an appointment I get cross with people taking their DCs in for a sniffle. But maybe that's as much my drs' fault as their parents?

BarbarianMum · 06/03/2015 22:28

When my two were small we pretty much seemed to live at the doctors (or A&E) and l can only think of a couple of instances when (in retrospect) medical attention really wasn't necessary. These times were balanced out by the couple of "why did you not bring this child in sooner" lectures I also received during this time.

Now they're older (9 and 7) we don't go near the doctor bw 1 year and the next. I think it's just a phase most people go through.

KnockMeDown · 06/03/2015 22:31

Surely too often is better than not enough? Err on the side of caution, I think!

My GP I'd always happy to see a little one, regardless of how unserious it turns out to be.

sometimessunshine · 06/03/2015 22:32

Because some people worry about things more than others or maybe some people have had horrible experiences with ill children/family/friends? Who knows but why would you take your DC to the GP for chicken pox? (unless there were complications)

naughtylist · 06/03/2015 22:36

YANBU. I used to work as a GP receptionist and I remember being surprised by the amount of people that wanted to be seen with cold, coughs, vomiting etc. I remember people bringing their children to the GP for vomiting/diarrhoea and then they would call back a few hours later because they still had the symptoms. People don't seem to know how to self care for minor illnesses anymore. In my opinion, that is what caused the winter nhs crisis.

BadPoet · 06/03/2015 22:36

YANBU. I almost never take mine. Really don't understand the need to take them for tummy bugs, minor fevers, colds, mild coughs and sore throats. You are going to be told rest/plenty fluids/Calpol for discomfort. So I'd rather do that first and only go when really necessary. I am fairly confident in my ability to judge that though. If you don't feel you can judge then I suppose you have to get another opinion.

landrover · 06/03/2015 22:37

Well Mrs Tawdry, I can understand your frustration. Often parents just want to be reassured that they have done the best for their child. Unfortunately, all 5 doctors that i took my 14 month old to, thought the same that I was wasting their time! Sadly my daughter died a few days later. I would say to any parent that is concerned to make sure that they are checked out properly.

landrover · 06/03/2015 22:38

And while I am on this thread, every doctor said that she had a virus, because its easy to say that when they don't know whats wrong!

edwinbear · 06/03/2015 22:42

I once neglected to take ds to the dr with a nasty cold which had been lingering for 3 weeks. I did take him when he turned blue and started shaking with cyanosis, he was rushed into the GP who called an ambulance. I wish I had taken before it got to that stage.

Lovelydiscusfish · 06/03/2015 22:44

My gp surgery would rather give an adult their own (collective) kidney, than an appointment, or so it often seems. Perhaps quite rightly - I'm sure a lot of adults, myself included, would like to waste gps' time with their Dr Google engendered health paranoia. But they never, ever, ever, refuse an appointment for a child. I presume, because the risks are too great. So yes, I think yabu.