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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be a tad annoyed with a&e

122 replies

elf0508 · 19/12/2015 18:38

Yesterday around 7, my son started throwing up. Very unusal as he's normally a well baby. This continued until 8 so I phoned NHS 24, they told me as its only been an hour they won't do anything. Que loads of changes of sheets etc. By 10.30 he was still being sick, had a temp but also shaking. Phoned them again, they finally said to bring him in. After an hour wait, he was seen as said he either has a tummy bug or a urine infection Hmm he has a tummy bug before, it didn't make him spew eight times in 5 minutes! Still spewing today and now he has got a rash. Phoned NHS and they said "I realise you are both distressed but if he's not got a stiff neck we can't do much" why won't people help!!

OP posts:
TaliZorah · 19/12/2015 18:41

Go back to A&E and refuse to leave until someone takes you seriously

Note all your sons symptoms down in a book, at what time and what occurred

Note down when you rang and what they said. Ask for names of who you're talking to.

Sorry you're having this

hiddenhome2 · 19/12/2015 18:45

It'll be a virus if there's a rash.

Get some rehydration sachets from the chemists.

If a child can't put its chin to its chest or its knees to its chest then that's the time to worry. Also, if they're difficult to rouse and very pale and floppy.

Sirzy · 19/12/2015 18:46

Is he still taking fluids? Having wet nappies? Well in himself?

Tummy bugs can easily make someone vomit a lot, and 2 hours of it although not nice isn't a major worry normally.

If you are worried get him checked again but it doesn't sound like you have major grounds to be annoyed with a and e,

thelouise · 19/12/2015 18:46

How old is he? Is he keeping anything down?

Sallystyle · 19/12/2015 18:47

Sounds like a virus to me as well.

Have you done the glass test on the rash?

A high temp and a rash without any other meningitis symptoms is most likely a high temp with a viral rash- very common.

AliceScarlett · 19/12/2015 18:48

What did you want them to do? They assessed him within an hour and told you what was wrong.

Doublebubblebubble · 19/12/2015 18:50

I agree with pp as long as he is taking in fluids and weeing he should be fine. How old is he? You don't sound very happy so perhaps a trip up might help to calm you x

Original poster
elf0508 · 19/12/2015 18:51

Not just two hours of it, all night and today still being sick. I don't know what I expected, I was half hoping to get some medicine to stop being him sick, he's not keeping water down and have only changed his nappy once today, it's not been wet enough to change

OP posts:
Doublebubblebubble · 19/12/2015 18:51

There are quite a few viruses around at the moment, as always x

Mistigri · 19/12/2015 18:52

It may not be a virus. My DS used to vomit violently and repeatedly when he had a strep infection (and a strep infection can cause a rash too).

The first time it happened, a locum put it down to a "virus" - even though his sister had just had scarlet fever. He was hospitalised with complications the following day.

Use common sense and get him checked if you are worried.

Caravanoflove · 19/12/2015 18:53

Did they test him for a urine infection?

Doublebubblebubble · 19/12/2015 18:53

Xpost id take him up now. That's not good. Take that nappy with you so they can weigh it xx good luck x

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 19/12/2015 18:53

Different tummy bugs cause different symptoms, and different else verity of symptoms. And you can gat a mild dose of something or a more severe one - which would explain why he was only sick a bit last time and is vomiting a lot now.

Watch him for dehydration - symptoms include:

  • lethargy
  • depressed soft spot/fontanelle
  • producing less wee than normal
  • pale, loose skin (doesn't ping back if you gently pinch up a bit and let it go)

Give him his normal milk, but add extra fluids - I'd say water.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 19/12/2015 18:53

Different severity of symptoms - not different else verity - bloody autocorrect.

Sirzy · 19/12/2015 18:54

But when you took him yesterday he had only been being sick for a couple of hours so they could only judge on that.

If he isnt having wet nappies then I would get him checked again tonight, that doesn't mean they were wrong yesterday though as they can't see what will happen the next day,

goodnightdarthvader1 · 19/12/2015 18:54

Forgive me if I'm being thick, but how are you supposed to know if he has a stiff neck or not? Have you done the glass test?

SchnooSchnoo · 19/12/2015 18:55

Whether it's a 'just a virus' or not, he sounds dehydrated if he's not wearing and can't keep water down. I would go back.

Sirzy · 19/12/2015 18:56

Also try syringing 5mls of water into him every 10 minutes he may tolerate that better than large amounts at once

Doublebubblebubble · 19/12/2015 18:56

I agree with other pp dont gauge what they did yesterday on what they'll do tonight. Get him checked soon x

VoldysGoneMouldy · 19/12/2015 18:57

How old is he? Is he breastfed, FF or both?

Booking · 19/12/2015 18:58

The real concern for me would be not the vomiting and suspected virus, but the sheer fact he's obviously dehydrated!

If a child is really all that dehydrated, they need fluids.

Bloody NHS, don't even start me off about them, it's been a bumpy road from start to finish Angry

Teenagecrisisagain · 19/12/2015 18:59

Did they check his urine

Did they check his blood sugar ?

Take him back OP and ask them to reassess

Original poster
elf0508 · 19/12/2015 19:00

No he started being sick at 7, this continued even in a&e last night, think I'll phone again and see what they say Blush

OP posts:
user789653241 · 19/12/2015 19:02

My ds was admitted many times when he was a baby(he had health condition, so simple infection can be fatal) , but there's nothing really they can do if it's a viral infection, I think. They just monitored him, that's all.

As others say, do the glass test on rash, make sure he is hydrated(we were told to force him 5 mil of rehydration drink every 15 mins, if he's not taking any drink).
Go back to A&E if you are worried.

Doublebubblebubble · 19/12/2015 19:02

Dont phone just go.