to keep going to the gp?

[Verticalvenetianblinds]

Smallest ds has chronic ear infections. He also has a food intolerance. Both have similar symptoms, snot, pain, up all night screaming. They've stopped giving him antibiotics for the ears and there is no treatment for the food intolerance so Calpol and Nurofen are our friends. My aibu is should I go to the doctors to find out if its another ear infection? Its the same treatment but I like to know what I'm dealing with. This is day 2 of screaming so I'm thinking ears not accidental food consumption. He's calpoled up to the eyeballs but I'm umming and aahing about going to weekend gp just to be told it is what I suspect....
He's only 1 so can't say where it hurts.

My Ds1 had regular ear infections, he also didn't help by sticking a pencil in one and perforating an eardrum, he developed Cholesteatoma. Where a pocket forms behind the eardrum collecting skin cells and creating a breeding ground for infection. If left untreated it can eat away at the tiny bones in the ear and eventually into the brain. He had several ops to clear it and to have the ear bones rebuilt so i personally would never treat any ear infection lightly.

How is he today OP?

DS had a year of ear infections that became chronic. Augmentin was the only thing that worked and in the end he was given a low dose for several months as a prophylactic until he could have grommets at aged 2 and this fixed the problem overnight.

When an infection becomes chronic you do need someone to take a big picture look at the situation. I had to fight for the grommets operation and, as with whatishistory my child ended up with speech problems and he also still has speech therapy at age 6.9

It's very easy for GPs to refuse to prescribe antibiotics as it keeps their records looking good - and for the occasional ear infection I'd agree. But when the infection has become embedded you are in a different situation. DS spent literally an entire year on daily antibiotics but these were prescribed by the specialist.

Long story short, yes keep going back, and seek a referral to a specialist.

Went and he has infection on one side, dull eardrum, blood spots. Other side is completely sucked in due to pressure apparently.
Only solution is grommets.
Only 3 weeks to consultant appointment

Aww, such a little thing to be having grommets but sure they'll make a big difference. 3 weeks will fly by soon enough

If they'll put them in someone so small. But I'm hopeful if they'll see him they'll treat it. NHS wouldn't see him til he was 2 in some places!

My daughter had a series of ear infections that were repeatedly treated with antibiotics. Initially standard amoxy then various others after swabs. This went on for around two years or so. GP was fairly dismissive despite constant discharge and pain. Eventually she was given steroid drops which cleared the discharge up enough for a locum to realise that she had an unhealed perforation. He referred us to ENT who diagnosed her with cholesteatoma. She's had one surgery and requires two more. Her ear bones are beyond saving and she'll need titanium replacements. I'm really cross that she went so long without diagnosis. Now we have a year of keeping her ear totally dry before the next op and restricted hearing in that ear. Don't be fobbed off!

OP, in relation to his dairy intolerance or allergy, a stool sample test is only for lactose intolerance, not the protein in dairy. It might be worth joining the CMBA group on Facebook for some support? There's a linked CMPA for Breastfeeding ground that is good too as you said you're feeding.

PM me if you want to.

Sorry, CMPA not CMBA.

I'm not being fobbed off, just amazed how many nhs's wont touch it :(
In regards to dairy, I've been told to start reintroduction of it but tbh I don't want to, I want to fight one battle at a time!

Vertical you're DSs Mum. You do what you think is best. I was told by DSs Doctor to reintroduce dairy. Every time I did his gut issues flare up. So I refused last time. As they say in Mumsnet world 'No, is a complete sentence'.

Hope hes feeling better soon bless him and those three weeks will fly by.

yumscrum I'm sorry that happened to you. I had similar as a child. I literally have little to no hearing bones in one ear now.The infections quite literally disintegrates them ans yes I am partially deaf. I hope the titanium things help.

He has none in his diet but if I have some chocolate we're back to sick and rigid from tummy pain, plus the snot. But as he gets snot with the ear infections too it's hard to know. And every now and then it's not ears of dairy, he's just had a cold!
Calpol is our friend.
And I've just booked a cranial sacral therapy session - anyone have any experience of that?