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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...to take my DD to A&E?

56 replies

cattypussclaw · 12/04/2015 10:59

Bit scared of posting in AIBU as it can be a bit scary but here goes...

So, have an 8 1/2 year old DD. She's been having tummy cramps on and off for several months. Not just tummy ache but curled-up-in-a-ball-crying pain. No other symptoms other than one occasion when she said she felt dizzy and hot. No sickness. No noticeable pattern to when it comes on (could equally come on on the way to school as in the middle of a fab weekend away). No medication seems to help, we just have to wait for to pass. We've been backwards and forwards to the doctor, who mostly say that "little girls get mysterious tummy pains" or that it is stress-related (possibly, school has its ups and downs, but nothing major, and nothing going on at home). She's not constipated, nor does she have a bladder infection. She's not "developed" at all so not girl-related. A blood test showed nothing (although not sure what they were actually looking for). GP requested a hospital scan, which was refused by the hospital (no need, they said). GP has referred us to the hospital but I've no idea how long an appointment will take to come through.

This morning, she is yet again curled up on the sofa, not interested in anything, saying her tummy hurts. I'm torn between being a hysterical Mum who whips their children to A&E at the first sign of a sniffle and a Mum who doesn't take their child to A&E when it's something serious because she doesn't want to bother them. I'm so aware of the pressure that A&E are under but really getting quite upset and feeling very helpless that my DD is clearly in so much pain so often and Mummy can't fix it.

So AIBU to just put her in the car and take her to A&E to get checked out or should I just call the GP to chase our referral?

OP posts:
Original poster
cattypussclaw · 12/04/2015 11:24

Cabbages - did your daughter have symptoms from birth? Or was it something recent, like my DD?

Sirzy - hadn't thought about filming her, thanks.

ah - appendicitis (the grumbling variety?) was my thought but doc says symptoms would have escalated by now.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 12/04/2015 11:26

It feels awful doing it, but with things like that the doctors often don't get to see it at its worst. I filmed ds (different problem) and it helped the doctor realise what was happening.

Original poster
cattypussclaw · 12/04/2015 11:28

popalot I hear what you're saying and I was hoping that any trip to A&E would mean she'd get the scans and tests she needs but more quickly but I think it's more likely we'll be sent back to our GP. I think I'll wait and speak to doctors surgery tomorrow about her referral.

OP posts:
PeachyPants · 12/04/2015 11:31

Poor DD, that sounds awful I suffered with terrible tummy aches intermittently through childhood which only stopped when I had appendicitis and an emergency appendectomy at 19. I wouldn't take her to A and E, it's not a great place to be for a few hours when you are feeling ill and the staff there are generalists. I'd be more inclined to push GP for a referral on to a gastroenterologist.

itsnotmeitsyou1 · 12/04/2015 11:32

One of my siblings had this for two years, it turned out to be an infected appendix. Is her eating habits normal?

Imnotaslimjim · 12/04/2015 11:37

I would suggest keeping a food diary, and seeing if anything equates to the pain.

Has she any other symptoms? Nausea, diarrhoea etc?

Micah · 12/04/2015 11:39

Can you have coeliac disease "as a child"?

Genuine q, I thought it was a lifelong condition. Unless the O/p means it was diagnosed as a child? I read it as having the condition as a child and not an adult though.

My sister went through something similar. My mother put her through batteries of tests and procedures. It was psychosomatic.

Icimoi · 12/04/2015 11:40

Does this happen at school? Do they have any thoughts on it?

mariamin · 12/04/2015 11:43

Yes my brother had something similar as a child, it was psychosomatic. When he left school, the symptoms suddenly disappeared.

0ellenbrody0 · 12/04/2015 11:43

You don't ever outgrow Coeliac disease, it's a lifelong condition. You can become free of symptoms with strict adherence to a gluten free diet though.

It sounds very much like trapped wind, which is excruciating.

However, if your sister is coeliac, your daughter (and you) are much more likely to have it than the general population. I would push for a test to check for this, explaining the family history so they take your concerns more seriously.

unlucky83 · 12/04/2015 11:45

In the short term the best advice I was every given for 'tummy pains' was when I had an ovarian cyst at 17 - sent from college to GP to hospital. Apparently it had twisted - it was agony - if it wasn't on the wrong side they would have thought it was appendicitis. (And it disappeared of its own accord Hmm) Anyway waiting for the ambulance in the GPs, the GP said get yourself in a comfortable position - either side, back, front, legs bent/straight, all fours etc and stay there until it feels better...result was when the ambulance arrived the pain had gone.
I find with wind etc (for me and DCs) it usually take less than 10 mins.... really worth trying.
Then chase the referral...these things do get forgotten...
In A&E, (or even EMU - emergency medical unit you may be sent to by OOH GP) you will get a general doctor, not a specialist, who probably will be no more knowledgeable than your GP.
(My last experience (not the cyst, a long running health problem I have) involved me having to remind the EMU Dr to do the full range of blood tests before starting medication or it would be too late - and they failed to get a specialist to see me so when I eventually got my referral appt I was told the scan etc they did was a waste of time Sad...)

Original poster
cattypussclaw · 12/04/2015 11:46

Yes itsnotme, eating habits normal, we aim for healthy, there are the usual lapses for bad things but nothing excessive.

Food diary being kept in anticipation of hospital visit Imnot.

OP posts:
DarthVadersTailor · 12/04/2015 11:47

OP if your daughter is in agonising pain, the type that is so bad all she can literally focus on is that pain, then yes you've every right to take her to the A&E. Abdominal pain can be common but if it's constant and she's in unbearable pain then it needs assessing. If however the pain is less severe, coming and going then I'd probably try to self manage it or at the worst maybe call 111 and try to speak to the OOH GP.

Have you tried any medication? If so just stick to paracetamol and try to keep her fluid intake up. I'd suggest she tries to eat normally too. Keep an eye on her tummy - try to note where the pain is localised, note if her tummy is tender to the touch, if it's hard to touch, does the pain radiate anywhere else, any other symptoms etc.

If you're unsure and want reassurance then call 111, it's what they're there for but again if it's truly a 10/10 kind of pain then go and get a physical assessment ASAP.

Hope she's ok Smile

NynaevesSister · 12/04/2015 11:49

Go to a and e. I really have no problem with doing this for children. Or to a drop in. See a doctor other than your GP for another opinion. Fight on this. My friend had ovarian cancer at ten. My son's friend was diagnosed with Crohns at 8. A family member had bowell cancer at the age of 11. There are so many things it could be, some scary. Some not so scary. I hope/assume the GP did blood tests to rule out cancer etc.

Original poster
cattypussclaw · 12/04/2015 11:52

I've never been able to get to the bottom of the coeliac thing, opinion seems divided. All I know is my sister was diagnosed with coeliac disease as a child (in the '70s) and had a gluten free diet for a good few years (fuzzy on timescales now, even our Mum can't remember exactly) but gradually reintroduced various foods and is fine now. Having said that, she eats very little bread and perhaps unconsciously eats more carefully than she realises. Whether she was misdiagnosed or simply has reduced symptoms now, I don't know. My sister and I aren't exceptionally close so she doesn't discuss anything "private" with me.

OP posts:
Original poster
cattypussclaw · 12/04/2015 11:57

No pain not constant, it def comes and goes. No medication helps so I've given up giving it. She has a hot water bottle on her tummy. Thanks for tips on noting details about pain Darth, I'll do that.

She's feeling better since I first posted and is playing Minecraft with her step-brother (although says tummy still hurts). If it gets worse again, I'll call 111 and get back onto GP tomorrow in any case. Thanks for everyone's advice, all very helpful and not as shouty as I expected in AIBU Grin

OP posts:
Spotifymuse · 12/04/2015 11:58

I don't think A&E is appropriate but I would see your GP again to chase up the referral. Food And poo diary are definitely a good idea. If she is otherwise well , no weight loss, normal energy levels etc I would try not to worry too much about some of the more severe things referred to. I would also link in with the school nurse. It may well be anxiety related and that needs to be identified and addressed if it's the case.
With regards filming her, I actually wouldn't. It's quite invasive and although it's becoming increasingly common, it's actually raising a lot of ethical questions amongst health care professionals about consent and the appropriate use of filming as a diagnostic tool, especially on young or vulnerable patients.
Hope you get some answers soon.

Cabbagesaregreen · 12/04/2015 12:05

Yes, symptoms since birth but always dismissed by healthcare professionals. Going to a and e never helped.

Sidge · 12/04/2015 12:05

My friend's son had similar and it was mesenteric adenitis.

All settled down now but he had intermittent abdo pain for a couple of years.

Hope you get some answers soon.

CheapTrickster · 12/04/2015 12:17

Has gp looked into IBS?

GraysAnalogy · 12/04/2015 12:21

I don't think A&E is appropriate, unless the pain becomes extreme at this stage.

Can't you ring the OOD?

ragged · 12/04/2015 12:22

Would an MRI or CAT scan show if the girl had a soft tissue problem? How frustrating that only way OP can get them is by threatening her surgery with a trip to A&E (but that threat might work).

I fear the only solution could be exploratory surgery. I'd be baulking at that myself.

lithewire · 12/04/2015 12:22

Do you know the name of the doctor she has been referred to at the hospital? If so, call their secretary directly to check she has received it and it's being actioned. It'll take a little less time than the GP asking his secretary to ring the hospital when she has a moment etc. They should be able to tell you how long it will take for you to be sent an appointment, or they might even have a cancellation slot they can offer you.

unlucky83 · 12/04/2015 12:33

Sorry also wanted to say - can't see anyone else has picked up on this but Calpol is just paracetamol in (weak) solution rather than tablets. It is a painkiller - it does not generally irritate stomachs in normal doses. It is the safest painkiller.

Its a totally different drug to ibuprofen (Calprofen, Nurofen etc). A different painkiller (a NSAID - also acts an anti-inflammatory) and is well known for causing stomach irritation/problems.

DeeWe · 12/04/2015 12:36

DD2's been like that since September.

We were sent twice to A&E by the GP. We waited a number of hours for a dr to come in ask dd2 if she'd eat chocolate? She says "yes" they say it's not appendicitis and go back to the GP, or they could do a blood test... at which point dd2 says loudly "no" and they say "well I won't then". Hmm

I have suspicions on being coeliac, but it hasn't shown up yet in blood tests.
One thing I'm questioning is that "my sister had coeliac as a child"-I assume you mean diagnosed as a child? Because you don't grow out of it.

What the GP has said is that there was a tummy bug going round that "was lasting much longer than any tummy bug had the right to" and he thinks she had it, and for some reason it seems to be continuing much beyond what it should do even then. However he said this in December. We're back on Monday to discuss yet another blood test result, which doesn't seem to show anything much.

What dd2 has found is that it has changed:
We have times when it comes on in attacks.

Times when it's always getly aching.

Times when it's by the tummy button (that's when she gets sent to A&E generally)

Times when it's much below.

And we had one day where she came home (having had about a month of it being constantly there) and said "it stopped! During maths!" Unfortunately it started again a couple of weeks later, but she said there was a ctually one moment it hurt, next moment it stopped.