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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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To take DS to A&E today

118 replies

VoldemortsNipple · 25/07/2015 11:22

A bit of background. DS (16) has been having dizzy spells for a while now and they seem to be getting worse. He will become dizzy, his breathing becomes laboured and he gets chest pains. If I'm honest, it looks like a panic attack. However DS is naturally not a worrier and they don't seem to be brought on by anxiety. We have been going to the GP to get to the bottom of it since the beginning of the year. I cant fault the GP as she's been brilliant.

DS went for an ecg back in March, which showed a slight problem? We were told it was probably nothing and just down to DSs build. As a precaution the GP asked for a second opinion from the cardiologist. Next thing we know, DS had to have an echocardiogram. I really wasn't worried at this point, I just thought they wanted to rule things out.

When we went back for the results GP said the echo identified that DS's heart muscles were weak. She had spoken to a cardiologist who recommended an MRI scan. She also told DS to take it easy and don't take part in vigorous exercise.

So when we turned up for our appointment which we thought was for an MRI, we find out we were just there to see a Cardiologist. He asked us for a brief history and decided that he wanted to start again from the beginning as from what results he could see, he didn't think DS had a heart condition Confused but did think it needed investigating. He told DS he could exercise and to carry on like normal. He sent him home with a portable heart machine on to record any symptoms. That was 4 weeks ago and we haven't heard anything back.

So for the past week DS has been at a cadet camp. The camp was for higher level cadets and was physically tough. DS took a letter with him from myself explaining that he was undergoing tests but was okay to carry on as normal. During the week, DS has had at least ten attacks, which is way more than normal. Twice the instructions took his to hospital because he was taking a long time to recover. The hospital were happy to let him return to camp as DS was determined to carry on and finish the course. On the way home yesterday, DS had another attack on the minibus and he momentarily blacked out.

He is supposed to be going on another cadet trip in a weeks time for ten days. I can't get an appointment with his GP next week and we still haven't heard from the last hospital appointment. So do you think it would be unreasonable to take him to A&E and see if we can get some answers? I'm not convinced that he doesn't have a heart condition. The Echo results obviously showed there was something going on and the NHS website says panic attack type symptoms can manifest in some heart conditions. I really need some peace of mind before sending him off to another camp.

Sorry for the long post, I didn't want to drip feed.

OP posts:
SaulGood · 25/07/2015 14:29

Is this army cadets? Or similar?

Hope you don't mind me asking. My DH is a detachment commander and takes his cadets on camp and exercise very regularly. Your DS would have been sent home following the first hospital trip. I'm a little bit worried about their duty of care tbh.

It sounds like a very worrying time for you and I genuinely hope you get it sorted asap. It sounds like it's escalating and warrants immediate attention on Monday.

Todayisnottheday · 25/07/2015 14:49

I'm quite stunned that any of you are happy to tell the op to ring 111 (who would just call an ambulance by the way) or to just wait and see or similar.

The child has sudden and severe worsening of the symptoms of a potential heart condition.

A&E would be happy to see this and reassure you, the consultatant would be happy to get a call on Monday morning explaining the worsening symptoms and asking advice. A child with a potential heart condition under cardiology care is always high priority, no one in a hospital will be in the least upset that you contact them - regardless of being in an active attack or not.

The gp can only go on the cardiologists last letter which won't account for the new information so they will just phone the secretary. A&E will do some testing to check everything is okay in the immediate term and contact the secretary. Basically, if you want assurance go to a&e if not call the secretary. Everything else is time wasting and simply being polite.

Mumsnet has a horror of anyone using the health service, it's reached dangerous levels though when posters can advise "ooh wait for the gp" about a potential heart condition in a child fgs Angry

Lightnessofbeing2015 · 25/07/2015 14:58

I think you should go to AE as he has blacked out and that is more serious. Judging from what you have put I would not recommend cadet camp or rigorous exercise until this is sorted out and either ruled out or diagnosis made.

Lightnessofbeing2015 · 25/07/2015 15:02

They need to put him on a heart monitor as an inpatient imo.

plecofjustice · 25/07/2015 15:03

Oh I'm sorry voldemort, I misunderstood. I think the letter confused me, I thought it was from the cardio clinic.

Clearly there is an issue as the problem exacerbated with exercise. This will help cardiology as it adds detail to the clinical picture. It wouldn't surprise me if they saw him earlier than originally planned based on the new info.

Verbena37 · 25/07/2015 15:07

todayisnottheday is completely right. This was the point I was making yeoldetrout. It's dangerous telling a poster on mumsnet not to go to A and E or that her child's illness isn't serious enough to go etc. or even that A &E is only for ' life threatening life and limb' stuff.....do you know nothing about SADS?

OP, as his mum, you know him best and you're doing the right thing by taking him in if he has any more episodes. I hope you get him seen soon and that he is okay Smile

intheenddotcom · 25/07/2015 15:10

If he is currently having symptoms take him to A&E. If he has symptoms again take to A&E.

If he is currently not showing symtombs stop any vigorous activity (including camp) and call consultant Monday.

VoldemortsNipple · 25/07/2015 15:23

bin85 you haven't alarmed me. I've read up on SADS and every heart condition that fits with DSs symptoms. To me, it fits with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy but after the dismissive attitude of the cardiologist, I presumed that maybe they were just panic attacks. Although as I said earlier, DS does not suffer from anxiety.

Im actually surprised that nobody here has said it's probably just panic attacks.

OP posts:
VoldemortsNipple · 25/07/2015 15:35

DS is just waking up and looking for food Grin so I can have a proper conversation with him now face to face and find out exactly what was going on and see if there was a pattern in what triggered them.

SaulGood yes it's Army cadets. He was on a CLC camp so wasn't with his detachment. As I said earlier, I had given him a letter explaining that he had been cleared to do exercise and that he occasionally had panic attack like episodes which DS usually recovers from within minutes. I think this is why they were happy to let him continue. In fact his end of course report stated how impressed they were with his attitude to carry on.

On reflection, it might have been better for him to stop but ds would have been devastated. He lives sleeps and breathes cadets.

OP posts:
Bin85 · 25/07/2015 15:41

It's your son that I don't want to be alarmed at this point
You should be
Maybe it isn't serious but what if it is?

VoldemortsNipple · 25/07/2015 15:47

I don't think being alarmed is in DSs persona unless Coca Cola went out of business Wink

OP posts:
knackered69 · 25/07/2015 16:25

Caffeine free coke I hope Wink

TheOnlyOliviaMumsnet · 25/07/2015 16:45

Hope your DS is okay Voldemort

Just a reiterating as this thread's in AIBU and not health that obviously
Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have any medical concerns we suggest you consult a relevant professional.
Thanks
MNHQ

VoldemortsNipple · 25/07/2015 17:36

Thanks OliviaMusnet. I just had a bit of a wobble this morning and honestly had one foot out the door to go up A&E. Thankfully the good people of mumsnet helped me put things into perspective.

Obviously, I would seek out medical treatment first and foremost if there was an immediate health risk. Smile

OP posts:
myluckystars · 25/07/2015 17:42

There are people who in this situation might lie and say he had just had an episode including a blackout....

bostonkremekrazy · 25/07/2015 17:49

and there are people who would put him on a monitor and read the trace and see that is totally not true - that no cardiac abnormality have occurred in the last few hours....and the son/parents would no longer be believed and then never get to the bottom of it.

not helpful advice at all.

chiruri · 25/07/2015 17:53

And these people would be idiotic assholes. Lying to and manipulating people trying to help you is awful behaviour.

ASorcererIsAWizardSquared · 25/07/2015 17:58

another one here saying please take him if he has another attack, my cousin dropped dead from SADS aged 28 after playing football a football match, his mates found him by his car in the car park.

Seriouslyffs · 25/07/2015 18:00

Please don't let him go to next weeks camp. Even if the blackouts are panic, not heart related he's at risk- he could fall off something.
Although I agree with the general 'avoid A&E advice' the stakes are so high here that I'd be rushing there at the first hint of anything unusual. On Monday morning check again for GP's appointments, ask for a call back to talk through his recent symptoms and also chase up the most recent hospital referral.

I'm afraid I would be worried if I were you!

Methe · 25/07/2015 18:03

I'd be at a&e today tbh. Some of the advice on here is shocking.

ahbollocks · 25/07/2015 18:04

Could it be tietzes disease I wonder voldemort?
That doesnt show on ecgs etc but when an attack of pain is under way your heart goes bonkers. Its actually not to do with the heart but the musckes between the ribs. They kind of swell and contort and the pain is unbelievable. Causes blackouts etc.
Mine is made much worse by stress, cold, physical activity.

Anyways, in your position I would call out of hours and cancel the cadets

Purplepoodle · 25/07/2015 18:21

You have been seen by cardiologist by pass the doctor and ring cardiologist secretary. If you do have the number just hospital switch board and ask for dr/Mr blahblah secretary. Explain what you have told us. If consultant thinks it's urgent he/she will ring u or send u an emegency appointment

Kayden · 25/07/2015 18:45

Am I reading a different thread to some of you? Confused Nobody has said that this is not serious nor that it does not need urgent medical investigation. Some of us have expressed concern that A&E will not aid the OP in obtaining the correct diagnosis and treatment. In a perfect world, it would!

Of course if he's in immediate medical trouble, he should be taken straight to A&E via ambulance if needed. I think it's good that he was checked at hospital after each episode but he was discharged. I don't think A&E are going to do much while the DS is relatively stable.

chiruri · 25/07/2015 18:46

Precisely what advice is shocking, methe? That she doesn't take a currently symptom-free teenager to A&E for a condition he is already under specialist care and investigation for? I agree that if he developed further symptoms then yes, he should probably be seen urgently, but currently that's not the case. What do you think would happen at A&E today?

zipzap · 25/07/2015 19:58

I'd also make sure that your ds doesn't go swimming until things have been sorted out properly - thought of him passing out, even for a few moments is terrible.

Likewise, I'd want to know when he was going to be in the shower or bath just to hover outside just to be on the safe side too...