to go to OOH with tingly boy?

[stealtheatingtunnocks]

8 year old boy, fit and well.

Gets double vision in the mornings for about a year, and "wobbly eyes" in class - nothing found by optician, waiting for hospital optician appointment.

Went a bit deaf for a few days in one ear last week.

Said a few days ago "why does your body go fuzzy, mum?" described vague tingling and floating feelings in arms.

Today, since he woke up at about 7am - has pins and needles in both arms, both legs and is definitely weak. Is able to walk, but, slow and can't do things he usually would. Can't touch his nose with his finger. nystagmus tracking a finger. Is tired, pale, bags under his eyes but eating.

I know enough about neurology for me to now be properly concerned, but, am aware that I am also liable to being a bit neurotic as our other son has been very unwell for a few years with a different condition.

WWYD, he's probably a bit viral, there's been bugs going around the school - is it ridiculous to go to OOH? Am I that neurotic mum and just need to have a cup of tea and a cuddle?

Thanks for the advice, folks, he's home.

I phoned 111, who were, naturally, busy, nurse was going to call back. Whilst waiting he had a couple of absences - not unconscious, just vague, slow to respond, pale and nauseous.

I put him in the car and went to A+E, who were lovely. By the time we got there he was better - still had the tingling but his power was improving, he was alert and oriented.

Nothing to find!

So, we'll wait to see the OP neurologists. There was a virus in the house a fortnight ago, and he was bitten by some sort of beastie which was very inflamed (not tick).

I'm reassured, he's absolutely back to normal tonight. Absolutely himself. And, they've ruled out anything nasty - I was surpassing quite a wee panic earlier on!

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm still not sure if I've over reacted, after all, there's nothing to find, but, the staff were very reassuring that it was appropriate.

He'll be fine.

That's a relief, glad he is ok.

How weird. God, these kids are a worry aren't they?!

Hope that's the end of the worries for a while.

Glad he's ok

Glad he's OK.

So frustrating when there's something wrong but the doctor doesn't get to see the symptoms!

Me again.

School sent him home because he's "just not right". They watched him in the playground and weren't happy because he was "running unusually" and just seemed odd.

He's not as bad as yesterday, but, definitely off. Tingling is transient, but it's quite hard to get a straight story out of him. He can't find his nose with his eyes shut.

He's ok in himself, is mildly indignant that he got sent home because he feels fine apart from a bit of "fuzziness". No visual symptoms today.

I'm just writing things down as they appear to see if there's a pattern to it.

Or...would you go back up? Another mum mentioned that it was a Sunday yesterday, might be able to see a neurologist today via A+E. But, I don't want to waste their time, he had a heap of investigations yesterday and they said he was ok.

But, he's not really ok, and in some ways I'm glad that school have flagged it up, makes me feel less neurotic.

So, WWYD? Monitor and GP tomorrow?

Has he got epilepsy?

Can you ring A&E? I was once advised to call in the morning to speak to the paediatrician we'd seen the night before.

Hope he gets well soon.

I'm afraid that you need to be forthright here. I'd go to the GP this afternoon and ask them to write you a letter/phone ahead to the A&E to speed things up. I love the NHS, but you do need to be quite forceful sometimes and with neuro symptoms I wouldn't mess about.

Did they do bloods at the hospital?

As you say, the point is he really isn't OK, and you are now not the only one to have spotted it. I'd be tempted to go back to A&E, tell them he can't touch his nose with his eyes shut and he's having issues with gait.

I would go to GP and ask for immediate referral to Paeds and tbh I wouldn't leave until I got one. He needs seen by experts today.

I very rarely take my three young kids to the docs and I've only ever been to A&E once (broken leg) but I'd definitely seek immediate medical treatment in your case. Can you phone your GP and ask for some advice?

The fact school have noticed when they have hundreds of kids to watch would alarm me.

No epilepsy, Going. It was like an absence that he had, but, he was responsive - just like he had satellite delay. Lasted a couple of minutes, two in the space of about an hour. Not seen that today.

I don't think I can call directly to A+E, Faster - it has to go through 111. I think, I'll check, good idea.

They did do bloods, Julia - all good. Waiting for one set of results which will take a week, but, nothing at all to find in the inflammatory markers.

You're right, Patricia, if the school are noticing then it is a bit of a hint.

Feck.

Any chance of getting these episodes on video? The strange running gait, the absences? I think sometimes you get dismissed as an anxious mother until you can present evidence. Trust your gut.

Please get him seen again today. Don't wish to alarm you but those symptoms are really worrying. Be pushy and don't leave until you have some answers.

Sorry but did A and E do things like CT scans and MRI scans? I would be amazed if they did but hope so from you saying they have said there is nothing to find. With those symptoms an MRI is essential to exclude all sorts of things.

I'd go back to a and e

I get these symptoms! I've never got a diagnosis though apart from it might be related to migraines which I've had a few really disabling ones that have landed me in hospital. Does he every get migraines?

I'm no expert or medical person but this is ringing a lot of bells with the campaign to be aware of possible brain tumours. I'm not trying to scare you I promise but I would ask very urgently for some kind of diagnostic test to rule that out.

Get a print out of all blood results if you go back today (including reference ranges). You'll be amazed at how results don't travel between doctors/departments/hospitals.

I'm serious about taking charge of this a bit. You need to know what they're testing for and why. (And what the results are). My DM has a rare and complex condition and we see that many different doctors/departments that we have to manage the information and be the common denominator.

Good luck-hope your ds improves and you get to the bottom of it quickly.

Thanks, folks. Rang the GP, spoke to the receptionist, lucked out and got the lovely one.

She's got an emergency appointment this afternoon. She's away to talk to the duty GP who will call us if he wants us to go straight to A+E or be seen at the surgery.

He's a happy wee thing, very content watching Lego Ninjago. I'll away and film him stumbling walking, that's a top idea.

Oh, they didn't do a scan, said best to wait to see neuro who'd decide what to look for. Which makes sense, no point in ordering tests for the sake of it.

Curiouser and curiouser.

Really not to freak you out OP but a friends son had some similar symptoms, hospital dicked about saying it was probably viral, sadly ended up with him having suffered a stroke (childhood stroke is rare but not as uncommon as people including HCPs seem to believe). I would def push and push for scans to check and rule out all the big nasties (tumours etc). You know he's not right, be very clear on this.

So glad you are pushing to get him seen again op. Good luck, I hope they work out what is wrong.

Hope you get some more answers today.

can you find out if he has actually been referred anywhere? then phone the secretary of the consultant? what i would do
hope your son gets on ok