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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

wibu to rush kids to docs with these symptoms?

73 replies

SophieofShepherdsBush · 18/08/2016 20:55

Out on a forest walk with friends. Ds1 and 2 climbing on roots, logs, trees, log stacks. Suddenly ds2,5yrs starts spitting and clawing at his mouth, saying his mouth, Luo's and tongue hurt so so much. He is hysterical, sobbing, bawling, spitting and bubbling at the mouth. Then DS 1, 6.5yrs starts doing the same. I assume either allergic reaction or poisoning....toadstools, berries msybe squashed on the logs they were climbing on.

I leave DD with friend and tear off down the hill with two hysterical spitting frothing red faced boys.

At car I give each a spoon. Of antihistamine and dash off to docs, about 12 mins drive away. By the time I get there thry are a lot better.

Doc checks both, they both have slightly dilated pupils and rapid heart rate, but he decides they are ok. Not sure what has caused it, possible pesticide poisoning, except the pupil dilation doesn't fit that. The kids insist they didn't actually eat anything other than an apple wr gave them.

DH arrives, alerted by friend. He thinks I rushed them to docs unnecessarily and should have just given antihistamine and waited snd watched to see how they were doing. I feel like a dick for taking them to doc, as I wsd there yesterday with ds about something that turned out to be nothing. Am i an overanxious hypochondriac? I'm not, I know im not.

More to the point has anyone any idea what could have caused it? Googling not much help.

OP posts:
SophieofShepherdsBush · 18/08/2016 20:57

Lips not Luo's

OP posts:
Ohb0llocks · 18/08/2016 20:59

I would have promptly shit my pants and phoned 999 if my kid was foaming at the mouth. YANBU.

WhatTheActualFugg · 18/08/2016 20:59

slightly dilated pupils and rapid heart rate

And your DH thinks you over reacted?!

How long before they recovered?

bigredtractor · 18/08/2016 20:59

Yanbu - they could have eaten something harmful to cause a reaction like that. You know your DC best - whether that type of a reaction is really out if the ordinary for them. But my experience with HCPs is that they always prefer to err on the side of caution with children.

neolara · 18/08/2016 20:59

I think your response sounds entirely reasonable given the circumstances. Glad they are better. Sounds very alarming. No idea what could have caused it I'm afraid.

Trooperslane · 18/08/2016 20:59

No fucking way.

I'd have done the same. No idea what might have caused it and they might have been at it, but wtf is the point of taking a risk?

I think you need wine.. you must have been terrified.

Sassypants82 · 18/08/2016 21:01

Fuck no. I'd have probably gone straight to A&E. Well done, sounds like you handled it perfectly.

DearMrDilkington · 18/08/2016 21:01

I'd have done exactly the same and I only do doctor trips if something's really wrong. Well done for reacting quickly though, sounds terrifying! How are they now?

SophieofShepherdsBush · 18/08/2016 21:02

Thank you, I knew I wasn't overreacting. We were in a remote ish area, quickest medical help was family doctor in local town.

OP posts:
summertimeandtheweatheris · 18/08/2016 21:05

It's easy for your OH or others to comment after the event, you saw what was happening & chose to take them to the GP - nothing wrong with that at all. Trust yourself & your choice & I am glad your children are ok.

SophieofShepherdsBush · 18/08/2016 21:07

They were fine very soon after that, went home, ate lunch, no complaints about sore mouths. I wish I knew what had caused it and whether it was an allergy or not. Have epipen and allergy meds for ds peanut allergy anyway but would be nice to know! I'm still shitting it a bit having googled mushroom toxicity and seen that terrible lethal symptoms can be unseen for days.....

OP posts:
AnnieOnnieMouse · 18/08/2016 21:10

I think your reaction was quite tame. I would have been straight to A&E or dialled 999, depending on distance to nearest ED.
You were there, it was your call, DH should wind his neck in and be grateful to you. The risks to your DC had the antihistamine not worked would have been dreadful.

humblesims · 18/08/2016 21:12

YWNBU

LoserDust · 18/08/2016 21:14

As a parent I know I would regret being under cautious a hell of a lot more than being over cautious. I would have done the same. Couldn't give a shite how hysterical anyone thought I was. You did the right thing

gonetoseeamanaboutadog · 18/08/2016 21:17

YANBU

gonetoseeamanaboutadog · 18/08/2016 21:18

Your DH obviously doesn't realise that disasters happen slowly. I live by this.

WhooooAmI24601 · 18/08/2016 21:20

I'm pretty cautious when it comes to unwell children but wouldn't have hesitated to phone 999 for any child with those symptoms. Your DH is being a plum.

DecaffCoffeeAndRollupsPlease · 18/08/2016 21:22

False alarm or no, I wouldn't mess about when it comes to someone possibly losing the ability to breathe. If I thought that might be happening I would go for emergency medical attention. Tell your dh better safe than sorry.

FuzzyOwl · 18/08/2016 21:24

So what symptoms do children have to have for your DH to worry?!

It's possible they touched a poisonous plant or mushroom and then touched their mouths afterwards, which caused the reaction. Either way, YANBU and I would have done the same thing. Always best to be safe than sorry.

Hockeydude · 18/08/2016 21:25

I'd have called 999
Your husband sounds complacent.

PovertyPain · 18/08/2016 21:25

I wonder if you should contact whoever runs that land and let them know? I imagine they would take it very seriously in case of an even worse reaction.

Mummaaaaaah · 18/08/2016 21:26

Ywnbu. Hope they're still ok OP Flowers

DecaffCoffeeAndRollupsPlease · 18/08/2016 21:26

Reading again I think your response was amazing. I might have fallen apart with fear and lost all common sense. You should feel proud of yourself for keeping your shit together when faced with a child foaming at the mouth.

bakeoffcake · 18/08/2016 21:26

Was your H cross because he'd had to rush from his obviously very important job/hobby, thinking their was an emergency?Hmm

Whatever his reasons he's a dick!

searchingfortheanswer · 18/08/2016 21:27

I would probably still take them to A&E now, even after docs said all is ok am totally neurotic

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