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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be freaked out after farm visit

149 replies

Janel85 · 26/04/2018 19:10

Went to petting farm yesterday with three-year-old son, was religious about hand washing due to e-coli and various infections, signs up everywhere warning to wash hands. Son is very accident prone in the sandpit he managed to jump forward and somehow get loads of sand in his mouth. I tried not to go into worry overdrive and washed his mouth out best I could with water. He has been complaining of tummy ache all day and I’m now very worried. No upset tummy today, but I’ve read up on it and it’s normally 3-4 or as many as 14 days after. What has me crazily worries is that I saw sandpits at farms are often a source. I want to take him gp tomorrow but I don’t know if that’s over reacting and if they could even reassure me this early?

OP posts:
chandlersfraud · 27/04/2018 22:20

ok hadn't seen that update. In the light of that I think it would be reasonable to phone GP for advice in the morning and to see if they want a sample. Unless he becomes very unwell overnight of course.

Ansumpasty · 27/04/2018 22:22

The vomit could be unrelated, op. It could also just be a little bug and nothing more.

I also worry like you but the more it happens, the less you can worry without driving yourself crazy. My 3yo found a marshmallow in the little drain area on the farm the other day, right outside where the pigs/horses are. She took a bite of it and I was concerned she would get ill but she didn’t.
Those signs are so the farm owners can over their own backs. I took the kids to hold newborn lambs the other day and they were children holding them and then eating with their fingers right afterwards.
I hope your child feels better in the morning. Invest in a good children’s probiotic, will make you feel better Smile

Buglife · 27/04/2018 22:26

My son went to a farm and fed the sheep, then he had the runs for a week. I phoned the GP after a couple days but he said as he was eating and drinking he was fine and while they could test to “see what interesting thing was in there” there isn’t any treatment to give for a bug except to make sure the child isn’t dehydrated during it. He said it was probably something picked up from the farm but obviously wasn’t serious. Hope your boy feels better soon.

SingingTunelessly · 27/04/2018 22:27

Is he picking up on your anxiety?

Original poster
Janel85 · 27/04/2018 22:33

Are you actually being serious pp? Are you really suggesting that I am somehow hounding my child into being sick through my own anxiety?

OP posts:
LadyDuplo · 27/04/2018 22:43

singing that's a ridiculous question! Hmm

babyface · 27/04/2018 22:47

My son used to regularly eat goats poo as a toddler. He thought my reaction was hilarious and would make a bee line for it. He's now a strapping 20 year old working in agriculture! (Who gets mortified when I tell that story!!)

Nogodsnomasters · 27/04/2018 22:48

How worrying for you op, I would be worried too in your shoes but I am however diagnosed with health anxiety so I'm not sure how reliable my opinion is. It could be a tummy bug, or it could be just an upset tummy from ingesting some sand (that may not be infected) or it could be exactly what you're worried it is. Either way all you can do is keep an eye on the situation and use your intuition as a mother as best you can and if you do need to get in touch with a doctor then of course inform them of all the info. Good luck x

SingingTunelessly · 27/04/2018 22:57

Janel85, I only suggested that as it seems an over reaction. Sorry I didn’t mean to offend you. I was bought up on a farm and touched all sort of stuff. Hopefully all ok with Ds.

EllenRipley · 27/04/2018 23:01

OP I think it would be perfectly fine and sensible to call nhs24 for some advice and tell them you're just concerned because you visited a farm.

He could have a mild tummy bug or norovirus which he could've picked up during the outing, before or after. But I also think it is reasonable to be concerned - moreso if the vomiting worsens and is accompanied by diarrhoea. My son picked up E. coli 157 in Greece and he was actually over the worst by the time they'd identified it more than a week later (he only had diarrhoea) but he was very closely monitored. Tho he was fine in himself It took a month before they'd let him go to school because his stool samples weren't completely clear. So while it can be a very nasty bug for kids, it doesn't mean all will become very ill.

I'm very vigilant with hygiene now and would probably have the same concerns you do so don't panic, make a call and follow the advice from their. X

EllenRipley · 27/04/2018 23:03

From THERE. Not their. Sheesh.

LadyDuplo · 28/04/2018 08:51

How's your LO now OP?

Original poster
Janel85 · 28/04/2018 10:24

He’s got diarrhoea, I phoned 111 for advice and a doctor phoned back and told me to take him to a&e, this surprised me but I did anyway because I wasn’t going to ignore a doctor. Got there and they checked him over and said it was too early to tell what kind of infection it was and to bring him back if his symptoms get worse. I’ve given them a stool sample which is being sent off for testing.

OP posts:
OhFucko · 28/04/2018 10:45

What a storm in a teacup.

Is a child with diarrhoea who had sand on his lips a few days ago REALLY a legitimate case for A&E..?

OP, I say this kindly - it really sounds like you have some form of health anxiety. Maybe worth talking to the GP about that? In the nicest possible way.

OhFucko · 28/04/2018 10:47

Sent too soon....one of mine has had campylobacter before and if it's a serious infection you KNOW.
They pick up mild strains of E. coli all the time, but if it's a dose of something properly nasty it comes on quickly and there's not much ambiguity. You'd know.

jamoncrumpets · 28/04/2018 10:50

As somebody with health anxiety myself, I can still see that you're projecting onto your son here. I'm not saying that what you're doing is dangerous, or even wrong, but it's certainly what's happening.

A child with diarrhoea who is otherwise well is not a reason to panic or contact 111.

The fact that you seem to have fixated on this poisonous sand in your mind is classic HA, and therefore your mind is to some extent made up about what could be going on.

My DS has a vomiting bug (side note, there are a LOT of these bugs around still) last week, and believe me I had to summon all my strength to not freak out about it. But I just about held it together and sorted him out by myself.

Petalflowers · 28/04/2018 11:18

Thanks for the update.

Original poster
Janel85 · 28/04/2018 12:18

I appreciate what you’re all saying about health anxiety, yes you are probably right, but are you seriously telling me that when your child gets farmyard sand IN their mouth and lots of it, and the guidance tells you to ring 111 and thena doctor phones and tells you to take your child to a&e you wouldn’t take them?

OP posts:
Original poster
Janel85 · 28/04/2018 12:19

I meant to add and your child has three symptoms as a result.

OP posts:
Original poster
Janel85 · 28/04/2018 12:26

And for those convinced I am insane for focusing on the sandpit at the farm- www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/825544/childrens-sand-pits-warning-superbug-clostridium-difficile-infection

I don’t stop my children going in sandpits and I won’t do so after this, but if my child ingests dirty sand and has vomiting diarrhoea and stomach cramps, I will check if I need to do anything further with 111, they made the a&e call, not me.

OP posts:
jamoncrumpets · 28/04/2018 12:33

You could google pretty much anything and find a Daily Mail or Express article about somebody dying from it.

If your child had an incredibly high fever, or was floppy and difficult to wake then of course 111 and A&E is the answer. But if they've just vomited and had diarrhoea and are generally ok within themselves then care at home is absolutely fine. 3yos get bugs. All the time.

jamoncrumpets · 28/04/2018 12:34

You were sent home from A&E after very standard testing that would be used for any child with the symptoms that you describe. They're clearly not worried either.

Original poster
Janel85 · 28/04/2018 12:39

I’m not saying they are worried! I’m simply saying that I did not run to a&e the minute my son had a tummy ache, I was told to go by NHS 111 and as many of you are telling me to seek help for my anxiety I am interested to know if you would have ignored the advice of 111?

OP posts:
jamoncrumpets · 28/04/2018 12:44

I wouldn't have called 111 in the first place. They always send you to A&E, it's standard practice.

PinkSkyAtNightAngelDelight · 28/04/2018 12:48

I wouldn’t have called 111.