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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to go to OOH with tingly boy?

183 replies

stealtheatingtunnocks · 25/09/2016 11:31

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?

OP posts:
ThumbWitchesAbroad · 26/09/2016 15:16

He needs to have a scan. Hopefully you'll get a very rapid referral to a neurologist if they really won't do a scan without one's say-so.

VERY good idea to film him. If my sister had filmed my niece, she might have got her sorted quicker - luckily, niece was fine once a diagnosis and appropriate treatment was forthcoming.

KittyKrap · 26/09/2016 15:26

Crikey, hope he's ok Flowers

BastardGoDarkly · 26/09/2016 15:34

God, what a worry, I'd be freaking out!

I hope the GP can get you seen by a specialist today op Flowers

ammature · 26/09/2016 15:53

Hope your boy is OK

GloGirl · 26/09/2016 16:03

Good luck today at GP, hope he can go straight to peads.

Not sure how long you're waiting for a neurological appointment but we were besides ourselves worried about epilepsy and paid for a private appointment. We live near a big town and managed to get an appointment with someone very senior within a week and it cost us £250 for the appointment which very muh put our minds at rest.

Just in case. But I'm sure the NHS will see you right Flowers

TheTyrannyOfMAGENTA · 26/09/2016 16:14

Filming is a great idea. Hope he is ok.

BirthdayBirthday · 26/09/2016 16:20

Good luck!

AmysTiara · 26/09/2016 16:22

My friend recently was very similar to this. Had a Cat scan and an MRI which both showed nothing so doctor thinks it is the remains of a virus. She can't walk at present but is slowly starting to improve. Has DS had a cold at all?

HeyNannyNanny · 26/09/2016 17:01

Hope you're all ok, OP

ShtoppenDerFloppen · 26/09/2016 17:26

I sure hope the appointment today is productive - not knowing what is going on when symptoms are so unusual can be very scary.

ChestyNut · 26/09/2016 17:42

Hope he's getting sorted and your ok Flowers

ScarlettDarling · 26/09/2016 19:51

How did the appointment with the gp go? Hope you're feeling that you're being listened to. There's nothing worse with being fobbed off when you can see something odd is happening.

ILoveMyMonkey · 26/09/2016 20:12

Hope the GP appointment went ok and you're starting to get some answers.

Fraggleyourock · 27/09/2016 10:27

Hi Op, just read through your thread, how is your son today?

squirre1 · 27/09/2016 10:30

How are things?

Original poster
stealtheatingtunnocks · 27/09/2016 11:53

Saw GP yesterday, again, not much to find objectively.

He did see the film and that helped, but, the symptoms had all but gone by the time we were seen.

He was very reassuring, though. Talked through what would be an emergency - so, not intermittent symptoms. Explained why he didn't think there was a need to expedite a neuro review, and then asked whether I felt fobbed off. He's a good GP, very thorough and I trust him.

Kid's got no weakness today at all. Lots of weird tingling and random pains , but is walking normally.

Suspect it is a viral thing. Would make sense, there's been a bug in the house and he may well have been under the weather last week - I was in hospital with our other son so have no idea, really. Poor, neglected third kid, right?

Thanks for the advice and flowers. We'll see what happens over the next few days, but, I am less worried about him today - he looks like himself again, you know what I mean?

OP posts:
JinkxMonsoon · 27/09/2016 12:22

That's good. Sounds like you have a good GP. Not feeling fobbed off is important.

Farmmummy · 27/09/2016 12:45

So sorry you are going through this with DS for what it's worth and I'm not a medical prActicionef just a seasoned sufferer of several types I also suggest migraines especially the hemiplegic as a possible. I suffer several kinds and thankfully have only had a few hemiplegic episodes but they are scary for those watching and interestingly don't present with the the head pain associated wth other types.

Farmmummy · 27/09/2016 12:45

Sorry for typos got killer migraine now

Original poster
stealtheatingtunnocks · 27/09/2016 12:46

Yep, I was impressed he asked, actually.

GPs get a hard time on here but, he was very careful and considered and took me into account too. Nice.

kid's doing ok, if not quite right, school have called to say he's still tingling, pale and tired but seems ok. So, he's going to stay for the afternoon.

OP posts:
Original poster
stealtheatingtunnocks · 27/09/2016 12:47

blooming heck, Farm - migraine with hemiplegia and no headache? That's rough. Hope you feel better soon.

OP posts:
PenguinOfDeath79 · 27/09/2016 19:47

I don't want to keep banging on but my friend's daughter had a (benign) brain tumour that was only discovered because someone put the various vague symptoms together.

Have a look at the www.headsmart.org.uk/what-to-do-if-you-are-worried/

I think you may need to be a bit persistent

childmaintenanceserviceinquiry · 27/09/2016 20:11

I'm sorry but in your OP you wrote "Gets double vision in the mornings for about a year, and "wobbly eyes" in class - nothing found by optician, waiting for hospital optician appointment."

So the very recent virus wouldn't account for the above.

Please get him seen again. I am not a medic but I do have a child of a similar age and I would be very worried. These are not normal symptoms.

smellymelly316 · 27/09/2016 20:44

Hi stealtheatingtunnocks - someone brought this thread to my attention and I just want to say - please read the Headsmart material that someone else has already linked you to. My daughter had a brain tumour 7 years ago now, hers was characterised by intermittent middle of the night vomiting and clumsiness, that went on for about a year - ultimately diagnosed via the optician who spotted swelling on the optic nerve. She was in surgery in Alder Hey less than 48 hours after that!

Brain tumours are really rare, but they do happen, the problem with GP's in this instance is that very few have ever seen one. The fact that your son's symptoms are intermittent does not mean that they are not serious.

I would keep going back to whoever will see you - A&E, GP, OOH, everyone, take the Head Smart material if you need to and get a brain tumour ruled out before anything else. The only way to do that is with a CT scan.

There's a bit in the more detailed description of visual disturbances from the Head Smart page that says "If they have visual problems that are accompanied by one or more other symptoms from the HeadSmart symptoms list, an urgent appointment should be made."

The chances are given their rarity, that your boy does not have a brain tumour, and I have everything crossed for you that that is the case, but getting it ruled out would be my first priority if I was in that position again.

I'm sorry, that I am not sufficiently skilled with words to say this to you without being alarming. I really do hope that it is not as serious as this, but getting it checked out is not at all neurotic IMO.

smellymelly316 · 27/09/2016 20:47

sorry even with previewing my post I missed out something. I should have said that the only way (afaik) to rule out a brain tumour is with a CT scan - I do need to add the disclaimer that I'm not a Health care professional, just a parent of a child who has actually had a brain tumour.

Oh and - my daughter's neurologist and oncologist asked many times if she had absences - post op, but also filling out history, as it happened she didn't but it's a symptom for sure