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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Another one of those shall I go to A&E threads...

131 replies

QueenArseClangers · 13/01/2017 08:42

DD who's 11 has had tummy ache since Monday eve. Thought it was period pains (she has horrible ones bless her) but she was sick Tues morning twice.
Thought it was a bug so kept her off 48 hrs etc. No diarrhoea or any other sickness.
Last night her pain increased, it's near belly button and radiates to right lower side Shock Abdomen tender upon pressure and she felt quite warm.
She's been off food for days which is not like her at all and not had a poo for 2 days.

So, rang 111 last night. Sent her and DH to OOH where GP palpates abdo, tests urine and does obs.

Diagnoses bowel pain and gives her Buscopan and says to give it 24/48 hrs to let it work.

She's still sore this morning and not at school.

Actually, reading what I've written, I've come to the decision that I am going to take her today. Very worried it's appendicitis.

OP posts:
Alwaysfrank · 13/01/2017 10:18

Sorry I was being facetious - someone upthread referred to being in A&E waiting room "with all the stubbed toes". But there was a girl there who had fainted, and that surprised me as having fainted myself and have had my daughter faint, it wouldn't have occurred to me to go to A&E.

Alwaysfrank · 13/01/2017 10:20

Green - that's exactly what happened to us (London). We were given a referral letter by the GP but it made bugger all difference to the whole dreadful experience

mumto2two · 13/01/2017 10:21

I still remember the vague tummy ache I had at 11, after 2 days it suddenly worsened and I was rushed in for an emergency appendectomy. Then the exact same thing happened with my DD when she was 13. I guessed it was appendix and took her to gp. He sent her straight to paeds and she was operated on within a few hours.
Incredibly..DH had vague tummy pains for weeks on end..and his gp kept sending him away with buscopan etc.. until they burst and he was seriously ill. It's a difficult one to call..but I'd say trust your instincts. That doesn't necessarily mean hot footing straight to A&E..but do let your gp know you are concerned. Hope everything turns out well

Avengerhart85 · 13/01/2017 10:21

I had my appendix removed aged 10 I remember feeling ill & being sick but not doubled over in agony, our GP did a middle of night home visit, diagnosed appendicitis & sent me by ambulance. On arrival because I didn't seem in 'enough pain' I was force fed orange juice to rule out a urine infection for 24 hours. When a different doctor saw me they sent me to theatre where my appendix had perforated & I was in theatre for 4 hours removing the mess & a week in hospital on antibiotic drip for infection. Not everyone feels pain the same way.

EstelleRoberts · 13/01/2017 10:22

OP make sure you tell GP the pain is 8/10. If your DD is acting untypically with the pain it could throw them off the scent if indeed it is apoendicitis. Most kids would be writhing around screaming with it, so the GP may be looking for that.

hellsbells99 · 13/01/2017 10:22

Both my DD and my friend's DS ended up very ill with a ruptured appendix despite several visits to GP. Appendicitis is an emergency but can be hard to diagnose. If you cannot see a GP in the next hour and the pain is still in the same area, go to A&E.

mumto2two · 13/01/2017 10:26

Same experience here GreenTureen. It really does depend on the case. Yes some cases are such that the GP will type a letter for presentation to A&E..but if there are serious concerns, they will contact the paediatric ward directly. Most wards have assessment units that see the children before either admitting or discharging them home.
My other DD has had more than 20 hospital admissions so I came to know this process very well. Thankfully she now has open access to the ward and we no longer see A&E or Gp (unless it's a minor issue unrelated to her condition)

Reality16 · 13/01/2017 10:27

Definitely push to see GP ASAP. If they can't see her this morning, go to A&E.

Christ. No. A&E isn't there for 'if the GP can't see'

mumto2two · 13/01/2017 10:28

And yes the 'doubled over in pain' comments are highly misleading.
Neither myself, DD or DH were ever doubled over until they had burst!
The vague pain that precedes this is very hit & miss and can literally rumble on for weeks

LilithTheKitty · 13/01/2017 10:31

My DS's appendicitis was misdiagnosed by the gp as constipation. A few days later the walk-in sent him to the hospital with suspected appendicitis. It has burst and there was a lot of 'mess' adhered to his bladder. He was in surgery for quite a while because of it. He was only 4 Sad. I'd get a second opinion from a gp or even a nurse practitioner. That's who spotted it in DS's case.

Alwaysfrank · 13/01/2017 10:35

Reality - that is wrong advice surely if appendicitis is suspected!? Appendicitis is an emergency

hellsbells99 · 13/01/2017 10:36

Reality - A&E is for emergencies and appendicitis is an emergency

EstelleRoberts · 13/01/2017 10:37

Reality yes it is, if the condition is potentially life-threatening, which appendicitis is.

What would you rather the OP do, just stay at home with her DD and risk a burst appendicitis and peritonitis?

Much of the problem with the A&E crisis is lack of funding, particularly of GPs and social care, rather than people turning up for spurious reasons (though I am not saying that never happens), much though the government might like you to think so.

123bananas · 13/01/2017 10:37

Worked in two hospitals where that has been the case, must be different depending on area. Most childrens wards I have worked on do not have an assessment unit, no space or staff to run one.

HarryPottersMagicWand · 13/01/2017 10:38

I had a bad pain in my right side whilst pregnant. The emergency doctor came out (was 6am and had been getting worse since 6pm the night before). He touched my side lightly and I almost hit the ceiling. He said appendicitis and sent me up the hospital. Turns out it wasn't as I was hungry and apparently that doesn't happen. They were just about to operate though!

I'd phone 111 and ask for advice whilst trying to get through to GP.

Reality16 · 13/01/2017 10:38

Reality - A&E is for emergencies and appendicitis is an emergency. I wouldn't disagree, but in this case the GP has diagnosed something else, given medication and suggested that things will start to improve within 24-48 hours.

HarryPottersMagicWand · 13/01/2017 10:40

Doctors are often wrong. When they thought I had appendicitis, they arrived at the end of my bed to take me to theatre. If I hadn't asked when I could eat, they would have operated and it wasn't even appendicitis.

Reality16 · 13/01/2017 10:41

Reality - that is wrong advice surely if appendicitis is suspected!? Appendicitis is an emergency but it isn't suspected? Certainly not by the GP Confused

This is a if GP diagnosing and person thinking they should carry on and go to A&E because it is still sore. It's a bowel problem. It's going to hurt. The GP has already clarified that detail.

If the OP isn't happy then the GP should be the first port of call. A&E don't do magic.

Fibbertigibbet · 13/01/2017 10:41

Fits the picture for appendicitis. Take her to A&E.

Reality16 · 13/01/2017 10:41

*a case of

Earlgreywithmilk · 13/01/2017 10:48

Appendicitis is excruciating, I think u would know if it was that serious by now. Sounds like she needs a big poo!

ItsLikeRainOnYourWeddingDay · 13/01/2017 10:52

Welsh

I had no idea that was the procedure. If that was well known it would definitely reduce A&E visits. Do you know why it isn't well known or advertised?

TheFairyCaravan · 13/01/2017 10:54

She's going to be sat in A&E for 5 hours or more. I don't get why you'd do that when the GP is open. Confused

And what does all this "doctors are often wrong" mean? Are we meant to be going off to A&E for a second opinion just in case?

The OP has not said the child is getting, or is any worse since last night. If it were me I'd be giving chance for the medication to work.

PerspicaciaTick · 13/01/2017 10:55

My GP diagnosed a virus and said lots of fluids and bed rest. I actually had sepsis and spent time in ICU and another 6 weeks in hospital.
My GP diagnosed cyclical abdo/thigh pain as being caused by my weight and told me to go away. Two months later I was having surgery for an ectopic pregnancy caused by my (undiagnosed) endometriosis.
A different GP at my surgery sent a child home twice with advice to use Calpol to get her temp under control, the child died of pneumonia hours after the second visit. The GP was found guilty of misconduct but was allowed to continue working.

GPs can be brilliant, but they aren't infallible. However, A&E may not be the best place to get a second opinion.

PerspicaciaTick · 13/01/2017 10:57

Just to clarify - I'm not saying the GP missed an ectopic, but if I had any indication that the pain was gynae I would have taken a break TTC until it was resolved.