Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

To not quite trust what the Dr is telling me?

59 replies

Allinson2014 · 19/05/2015 20:20

DS2 (5) and DH started being sick on Sunday. DH recovered quickly and is now fine. DS though was sick lots that day and into the night. He stopped being sick around midnight. However he has almost continuously been complaining of pain or actually in tears. He's been on calpol four hourly and occasionally ibruprofen too when he's been hot/in pain.

He wasn't sick at all Monday but was very distressed. Today he was still in a lot of pain and then he was sick again several times. I phoned 111 and they advised to get him seen the same day by the GP.

I took him and the Dr looked him over and announced it was viral and he'll recover in a few days. He thought he might be a bit dehydrated so prescribed the rehydration sachets. Advised that DS continues to eat/drink as he feels fit to and to continue with painkillers.

I said that I have been giving him calpol but it doesn't seem to help and the Dr sort of brushed me off and said just to continue that. Also I've been getting him to drink but the Dr thinks he's dehydrated. I can't make him drink more than he already is and now he's being sick again he's losing more fluids still. I tried rehydration drink but he won't drink it, he says it's horrible.

I'm just not sure if I am panicing over nothing or if I should take him back again. I've three DCs and have dealt with this before but this time seems different. He just seems so unwell and I can't seem to help him. I don't know what I expect the Dr to do, can they give him better pain relief than calpol?

Thanks if you've got this far. I'm just so very worried.

OP posts:

TigerWhoCameForGin · 19/05/2015 20:48

Ring 111. They probably tell you to take him in. They do that. I know its a massive hassle, but 1 wee in a day is a risk.

When what and how much did he last drink/eat and when did he last vomit?

VivienScott · 19/05/2015 20:49

Go to A&E, and I work in hospitals so I know how stretched they are and I hate saying it, but unless he's better and holding down fluids and the pain has gone, please go to A&E. Even if it is just a bug, he sounds like he needs IV fluids which a GP can't do.

Having worked with GP's as well I can tell you of one who walked about for a couple of days with what ended up being a burst appendix (he was convinced he had constipation) and another who had previously been a paeds surgeon who had a daughter who had appendicitis for 12 days before she realised. So they do get it wrong from time to time, and I say that as someone who has a huge amount of respect for them.

Original poster

Allinson2014 · 19/05/2015 20:54

It was 111 who told me to take him to the gp. Right I've decided, I'll see how he is in the morning. If he's still just as bad we'll go to a&e. Thank you everyone for listening, everyone else has made me doubt myself today but I know he's not ok. Thanks.

OP posts:

PurpleDaisies · 19/05/2015 20:58

That sounds like a good plan op. Really hope you both have a good night's sleep. If he wakes up and you can get him to drink it doesn't matter what it is. All liquids will be helpful.

Kids often look dreadful then rally really quickly. Hope you have a better day tomorrow.

PurpleDaisies · 19/05/2015 21:00

And if things change during the night give 111 a call for advice. They're open 24hrs a day.

VivienScott · 19/05/2015 21:02

If he's bad in the night as well, please take him in and do check on him if you get up in the night. I know its a pain, but guts are tricky buggers, it's mostly nothing but if its nasty it's normally a surgery as they will not improve on their own. Hope hes OK.

MrsFrisbyMouse · 19/05/2015 21:02

Flat fizzy sprite/lemonade with salt in is also good for rehydration. (Or juice/pinch salt). Small, small sips.
Hope he's better soon, it sounds very worrying.

Original poster

Allinson2014 · 19/05/2015 21:02

Yeah he's got a drink by his bed. He's desperate for water, he's always drinking it, it's just coming back out so quickly. I feel so sorry for him. He likes to pretend he's a big tough 5 year old but actually he's still really just a little boy.

OP posts:

ChuffinAda · 19/05/2015 21:04

Get him to hospital. He's gasping for fluids, not keeping them in and not urinating. He needs a drip poor mite.

Original poster

Allinson2014 · 19/05/2015 21:06

I will be checking on him in the night. I keep waking up and worrying about him so I go in. The baby wakes a lot too so I go in then as well. If he is ill in the night I will take him in without a doubt, I just meant logistically if he's ok sleeping it will be easier to go in the morning. That sounds terrible doesn't it, I hope you know what I mean

OP posts:

goddessofsmallthings · 19/05/2015 21:11

Your 5yo ds has been sick and in pain for more than 48 hours? Don't wait until morning. Take him to A&E now.

steppemum · 19/05/2015 21:12

OP, ds had a bug last week, very very painful stomach. I nearly took him to A&E but got a GP appointment and she did thorough exam and said viral.

All week I was borderline about whether GP was right, as the pain was odd, and it went on for so long.

Ds pain was definitely slowing getting better. If it hadn't I would have taken him back in. It was not a nice bug and hard to distinguish from appendicitis etc.

Oh and ds is 12, if he was 5 I would have been back in.

VivienScott · 19/05/2015 21:15

Don't worry, no one wants a late night A&E run, just keep checking on him and it's always helpful to have a note of what he has through the nght and when (liquids, pain meds etc) when he was last sick, wee'd, what his temperature was etc as well if you do need to take him in. Nothing special, just if you see him drinking or when you take his temperature jot down the time and what it was. (I have probably spent a little too much time in hospitals!)

PurpleDaisies · 19/05/2015 21:15

Just re reading on light of your latest post op...when did you last speak to anyone with medical training? He sounds like he might need iv fluids.

TigerWhoCameForGin · 19/05/2015 21:17

If hes thirsty and not weeing A&E NOW. I'm a nurse.

All this publicity about people wasting A&E time is keeping seriously ill people away, not the regulars.

Your boy needs fluids tonight. (Take the baby and feed her there. Sort everything else out later)

MarmeladeMadam · 19/05/2015 21:23

I would agree - if he is still in pain he should be examined. Did the doctor examine his tummy or do any other of the 'tests' for appendicitis (hopping is extremely painful with appendicitis and I remember the doctor doing a test by pushing my son's leg, also checking to see if the pain 'bounces' from one side when pressing on the right hand side) the tenderness was really apparent on examination. My DD had her appendix out at 6 and my DS at 4 so although it is pretty unusual this young it does happen.

At A&E they can do a blood test for increased white cells which shows there is an infection both mine had this and the results were back very quickly.

My son's appendix had ruptured slightly as it wasn't caught in time and that can be really serious - so if you are concerned please do go to A&E.

Anydrinkwilldo · 19/05/2015 21:24

Doesn't matter how much water he drinks, he won't rehydrate. He needs salts and everything else provided by the rehydration drinks/saline drip. I'd recommend waking him to bring him in

ChuffinAda · 19/05/2015 21:25

If your baby is going to be up and feeding through the night then they're pretty portable and can be fed anywhere. Your 5 year old is very poorly.

It may seem like a bunch of wailing women going on at you and you do know him best. We can only say what we would do. If he were mine I'd be getting him seen

ToomuchChocolatemeansBootcamp · 19/05/2015 21:29

I also agree that from what you've said it sounds like he needs IV fluids to get him properly rehydrated. Can your DH take him in while you stay home with baby/other children? Even if not, I really think you need to take him to be seen, and feed baby while there if need be. One wee in a day and "gasping" for water but not keeping it down means he needs help.

cleanmyhouse · 19/05/2015 21:47

Ice pops are good for rehydrating and getting some sugar into their system.

Kids that age can just take much longer to get bugs out of their system, and the pain could just be cramps from it that calpol won't really help.

MiddleAgedandConfused · 19/05/2015 22:39

Trust your instinct - you know best.

2rebecca · 19/05/2015 23:06

I think letting him sleep is sensible. Paracetamol suppositories can be great for vomiting kids. Push fluids and more paracetamol if he wakes. A&E if not drinking and sleepy. You may find he's much better when he wakes

frankie001 · 19/05/2015 23:11

I would take him to a and e.

Kleptronic · 19/05/2015 23:19

He's 5, he's not kept anything down and he's not weeing. I would take him to A and E.

MrsKCastle · 20/05/2015 06:45

How is he this morning Allinson? Hope he's starting to feel better.

Flip

1 2 3