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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU - 2 year old I’ll for over a week. A&E?

154 replies

IAmADancer · 09/01/2018 20:39

I have two year old twins who came down with chickenpox on NYE. 1 twin had a few spots and hardly any symptoms and is now fine whereas twins 2 has been ill for nearly 10 days.

He had a temp of over 39 for 5 days and I took him to the gp on Friday who said it was chickenpox and not too worry. By Saturday night I was getting concerned as he wasn’t eating, barely drinking, high temp and sleeping constantly. Rang 111 and they decided to send ambulance. Paramedics checked him out and said it’s just chickenpox but I could be referred for out of hours doctor at hospital which I agreed too. Took him to out of hours on the Sunday at 12pm as this was earliest appointment I could get. GP saw him and straight away said he has an infection on top of the chickenpox and also an ear infection and put him on antibiotics. His temperature has now come down and he is starting to eat a little bit more but he is still sleeping quite a bit, 6 hours today, not eating very much and just generally not himself. I still feel concerned but don’t know what to do. He has also had diahrrea and has had some nose bleeds. I did tell the doctor all of this.

So I suppose I’m asking if I it would be unreasonable to take him to a&e and get him checked or is he just recovering from a nasty infection? Advice please.

OP posts:
Mrscog · 09/01/2018 20:41

Call 111 and get out of hours or see GP in morning - not a&e.

Singlebutmarried · 09/01/2018 20:42

Ring 111 and they can get you another out of hours appt.

The runs will likely be from the antibiotics.

If he’s eating, drinking and still going to the loo with no temperature I wouldn’t go to a and e.

Original poster
IAmADancer · 09/01/2018 20:42

But I have already gone through 111 and the GP and feel like I’m being fobbed off. My biggest concern is sepsis as it’s so hard to spot.

OP posts:
bettydraper31 · 09/01/2018 20:42

I would call 111 x

CommunistLegoBloc · 09/01/2018 20:43

111 or walk-in? It doesn’t sound like an accident or an emergency but it doesn’t sound very nice for any of you either! Flowers

bettydraper31 · 09/01/2018 20:43

P.S sorry you are all having to go through this, your poor little ones. And you must be shattered too. Hugs to you Mama x

SylviaTietjens · 09/01/2018 20:43

Call 111 again. The last thing LO would need is a 10 hour wait in A and E just to be sent home again.

BarbarianMum · 09/01/2018 20:44

Unless you think he's deteriorating right now I'd suggest out of hours again rather than a&e, or your gp tomorrow. But yes, if you really feel that he needs to be seen tonight and OOH doctor can't then go to a&e. I have insisted that OOH see my ds before when they tried to fob me off, so its worth trying be very firm with them.

Original poster
IAmADancer · 09/01/2018 20:45

Runs started before the antibiotics as did the nose bleeds. The antibiotics have bought his temp back to normal which is great but it’s just his general being. He just seems a bit not with it and also really grumpy. He keeps shouting which is unlike him. He was screaming at 4am this morning and when I went in to calm him down he lost it at me. Screaming no mummy. I put him in my bed and he conked out but it’s unlike him.

OP posts:
Marcine · 09/01/2018 20:46

Call 111 for an out of hours appointment, you don't want to spend hours in a&e with a poorly toddler.

Royalcoronation · 09/01/2018 20:46

But I have already gone through 111 and the GP and feel like I’m being fobbed off

Why? Why do you feel you are being fobbed off? Your child is unwell, they have been seen and given treatment. They need time to recover.

A&E isn't a magical token to get better.

I would however phone 111 and see what they advise.

Crumbs1 · 09/01/2018 20:48

No that really isn’t an A&E situation. The diarrhoea is probably because of the antibiotics. He’s had an ear infection and chicken pox so he’s bound to not be quite himself. If your still worried go back to GP in the morning.

BigBairyHollocks · 09/01/2018 20:48

IT doesn’t sound like he needs a&e,just as if he has a really bad dose of the chicken pox and needs more time to recover.I know it’s worrying,but I think just keep watching and waiting and if he gets worse as in high temp again,or seems dehydrated then look for help from a medical professional.

Original poster
IAmADancer · 09/01/2018 20:50

I don’t remember suggesting at any point that A and E was a magical token. I think it’s just I feel I’m at that final port of call. The sepsis possibility concerns me because my friends daughter had it and she displayed all the symptoms my son is. They just thought it was a nasty cold and she ended up in intensive care and hospital for 10 weeks.
It’s because he doesn’t seem to be getting better, he has just kind of plateaued.
Maybe I’m being over cautious but he just seems off.

OP posts:
Marcine · 09/01/2018 20:51

Is he drinking now? I have had to syringe dioralyte into dc's mouth before 5ml every few minutes. Just try to get any fluids into him.

Iliketeabagging · 09/01/2018 20:52

I bet you wouldn't go to A & E if you had to pay for it. You would wait to see your GP tomorrow. Fobbed off? A GP has far greater experience of childhood ailments than any of us.

hannah1992 · 09/01/2018 20:52

When my dd has chicken pox she also had a high temp for a few days she slept a lot and didn’t eat very much either. Have you tried him with ice lollies those ones that are juice? Doctor said those are best things to keep kids hydrated when they’re poorly because the cold eases sore throats etc. Also his immune system will be down due to the chicken pox so he will be susesptable to other viruses. My dd didn’t have many spots but my friends dd has hundreds. Covered his whole body was in his mouth ears everywhere. Was awful for him.

I would go with trying to keep him hydrated and doses up with the antibiotics and calpol.

I don’t think you should worry about sepsis as he would have deteriorated by now and from what you’ve said he seems to be picking up slightly if he’s eating more.

Just to clarify as well my dd2 has had 2 ear infections (she’s 2 now) the last being when she was 18 months old and I’ve never seen her scream so much. She wanted comfort but didn’t want to be touched. She wouldn’t eat. She wouldn’t sleep apart from an hour or so intervals she was so poorly.

If he’s still as bad or worse in the morning take him to the gp.

They’re only little and can’t fight things as quickly as we can.

Original poster
IAmADancer · 09/01/2018 20:52

He is starting too. I think he’s lost quite a bit of weight as he has just point blank refused to eat. It’s been really hard to encourage him to have any food or drink but I’m constantly trying to get him to have something

OP posts:
Marcine · 09/01/2018 20:53

Call 111 now for advice then, better to get an ooh appointment than have to wait ages at a&e. Tell 111 you think he needs to be seen tonight.

Mrscog · 09/01/2018 20:54

It’s undersyandable that you’re worrying given your friends history. A&E will say the same as Out of Hours. If you’re really worried go back to out of hours, explain you’re still worrying about sepsis, and get them to double check.

Original poster
IAmADancer · 09/01/2018 20:54

Iliketeabagging

I would happily pay for A&E actually, I have no qualms about paying into a system that does the incredible work it does. So if I turned up and they said I would have to pay then I would without question.

OP posts:
Original poster
IAmADancer · 09/01/2018 20:56

Thanks everyone for the response, it’s helped. I think it’s always difficult with young children as they can’t really tell you what’s happening and so much of it is a guessing game.

OP posts:
Quartz2208 · 09/01/2018 20:56

What sepsis symptoms are you concerned about, does he have high temp with cold hands and feet, shallow fast breathing and heart rate, non blanch8ng rash and difficulty rousing him

If he doesn’t it sounds like he is still recovering from a horrible infection and chickenpox and it will take time, he is still not himself

NoStraightEdges · 09/01/2018 20:57

If you really think sepsis is a possibility then you should take him. But, 111 would help you decide if you're not sure. And like before they can send paramedics out.
So why not just call 111?

Hope he's better soon Flowers

KanyeWesticle · 09/01/2018 20:57

111 not A and E. If it's an emergency, they will know, and pass you straight to A and E themselves.

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