Was I U? DH makes me feel like I'm a hypochondriac....

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DT1 was not himself at all yesterday .

Pre school called to tell me he had a temperature and was crying for me , so I collected him .

By about 5pm , he had fallen asleep (he never naps) , and he was quite drowsy and difficult to wake .

He still had a temperature , and I noticed his hands and feet were cold - he had socks on and the house was warm .

At this point I wanted to call the dr just for some advice , but DH was reluctant saying he's just sleeping .

I mentioned that I was concerned about his cold hands / feet and he was still reluctant saying he will be fine .

So I called the dr anyway and she said to keep an eye on him .

She called back about 40 minutes later and said she was going to come and check on him at home when the surgery closes .

At this point , DT1 was in bed .

The Dr. came and I woke up DT1 when I brought him downstairs ....

To my embarrassment , he was absolutely fine ! he had cooled down (calpol?) and his hands and feet had warmed up.

He was wide awake and giggling. Dr checked him over and said probably a virus .

I feel so embarrassed that I wasted her time . But I was concerned .

WIBU?

She called back about 40 minutes later and said she was going to come and check on him at home when the surgery closes

You rang for advice, the doctor decided to come and check on him.

The question is why do you feel embarrassed for a professional making a professional decision?

It's fine. The Dr wouldn't have come out to do a home visit unless she also had some concerns (I'm very impressed she did though). It's very difficult with young children to know how ill they are sometimes.

Well the GP tought it did warrant her coming over to check him. That in itself tells me that
1- you were right to ring for advice
2- you were right to be worried. Yes it happens to be a virus but the GP clearly thought it COULD also have been something more serious (GPs don't do home visits for a virus!)

So wo any problem, you were right to ring and ask for advice. And you were not overreacting.

Btw, your DH IBU to make you feel like a hypochodriac when the GP thought, in her profesional opinion, it did warrant a home visit.

Does he not trust their professional judgement?

Not BU at all. You were concerned, rightly so IMHO. Always best to check. And it sounds like the GP agreed otherwise they wouldn't have called.

I don't think GPs make home visits for the fun of it, I can't remember the last time I heard someone getting one. So she must have felt it sounded serious and warranted checking him over. Isn't a temperature with cold feet and hands a possible sign of sepsis?

I think your answer is in the fact the Dr popped in her her way home; they don't do impromptu house visits for things that aren't a valid worry, at least not round here. There has been a lot about meningitis and sepsis again in the news recently, heartbreakingly; cold hand and feet and drowsiness were some of the lesser known symptoms they are trying to make people more aware of, drs included.

It's a tough call sometimes, but you don't wait for a rash if you suspect something serious earlier.

I've had call to take my ds to docs and a&e quite a bit in his 5 years, sometimes warranted, sometimes he was fine. Always been told the same - they'd rather see a healthy giggling child they can happily send home, than miss one who has something more serious.

Cross-posts with just about everyone!

Not at all OP. The symptoms were worrying and it's better to get these things checked. Better to feel a bit silly than to feel a lifetime of regret. Glad your DT is better!

well the dr did not think so.

I agree with the others, OP. The doctor made a professional judgement to check your DC, so your DH is the one BU to make you feel as if you were a hypochondriac.

Nope not at all hope little one is OK today

My son had a cough and fever and was sleepy. I took him to the doctor who said the sleepiness was the concern. Checked his blood oxygen levels and they were dangerously low. Rushed to hospital. Better safe than sorry.

My dd had a basic viral infection and high temp, 36hrs later she died of sepsis. Better to be safe than sorry, healthcare professionals don't mind seeing children.

cathpip I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter

Thank you all for the replies . I feel less embarrassed now .

DT1 still has a temperature but is bouncing around happily .

I'm glad to hear DT is getting better. You did the right thing getting him checked though.
If it helps to know you're not alone, my ILs still insist my son's recent paediatrician referral and subsequent tests were all because I googled his symptoms. I repeat to them what others have said here-I sought advice from my GP. Everything else was the result of medical professionals exercising their judgement.

YANBU!

I had Meningococcal Septicaemia at 20. The one we are all signing the petition about.

A little more than two hours after being driven to A & E after having a temperature, flu-like symptoms, and noticeably cold hands I looked like that poor poor little girl in the picture.

This is why your doctor paid you a house visit. It was her informed decision based on her knowledge. Nothing whatsoever for you to feel embarrassed about

I've just taken DS to the GP for similar symptoms. He was shivering with a temp and sore throat, headache, stiff neck and cold hands/feet. He was crying for more medicine after having Calpol.

I rang doc who said come in immediately or go to Sick Kids Hospital which freaked me out. I rang three local taxi firms to no avail and two neighbours before getting a lift from one to docs. Of course he's much better by the time we arrive. Throat infection apparently.

I try not to overreact and swan off to the doctors for nothing but sometimes you can't chance it. Glad your DT is getting better and you did the right thing.

YWNBU. Not at all.

It's always better to ask for help if you are worried.

When my DS was about 6 he was ill in the evening. Had a high temp, coughed lots, vomited (likely from the coughing) impossible to to rouse and had the rash. I am generally not a worrier but did call NHS direct and they insisted on sending ambulance. (despite my protests that I could drive me and DS to hospital).

Turns out he was fine. Just a chest infection. Heat rash.

But the staff at A & E were wonderful and didn't feel like we were timewasters.

Your DH is out of order. Your GP sounds fantastic!

Glad DT is well.

My ds gets like this.. To the point that his lips and nails go blue...

Scared the life out of me (and school) the first time it happened!

The problem with small children is as quickly as your dc improved, they can go dramatically downhill. The Dr was worried enough to pop in, that says to me that you made the right call.

Yanbu at all. We've all been there.

I wonder how the ever increasing awareness of the symptoms of meningitis/sepsis (obvo a good thing!) is going to impact on the nhs.

Obviously saving a child's life is vital (!) , but given the symptoms of meningitis/sepsis at the beginning present as typical viruses, I wonder what the impact will be.

OP, as a GP I can tell you categorically that in this scenario I'd much rather be met by a bouncing child I can go home and forget about, than a sick one that I realise needs to be blue-lighted to hospital. You did the right thing, don't worry any more about it.

When DC one was very poorly and in hospital the consultant brought medical students round to show them how a very poorly baby could appear perfectly happy and chatty. Ywnbu at all.