To think DH should not go to work

[MortgageConfusion]

I have D&V. DH due to leave for work at 2. I would manage then til bedtime with the aid of CBeebies. But DS2 (13 months) seems to have acquired an ear infection. He’s constantly screaming and pulling his ear. He is prone to them and has already had a perforated eardrum. GP can’t see him til later this afternoon - I can’t takr him because I don’t want to infect everyone else in the surgery, and can barely walk the length of the flat atm, never mind drive. FIL who would usually help is stranded at home waiting for a car part. AIBU to think DH just needs to not go in, at least til after he’s taken DS2 to the doctor? It’s not fair to leave a baby screaming in agony just because he doesn’t want to take any more unexpected time off (we recently had a major childcare issue that meant he took some very short-notice leave, and I had laser eye surgery this Monday so he took yesterday off - again was shortish notice as my date was moved, so he was scrambling a bit for someone to cover.) I do see where he’s coming from but DS2 is in absolute misery and needs to start antibiotics as soon as possible. Nurofen and calpol aren’t touching the sides!

Where is your country Salem?

Just north of the moon.

Why do you insist it's severe Salem? The OP has a sick bug that has made her feel weak. That's it. She hasn't said she can't keep fluids down has she?

If it is as severe as the OP is suggesting hers is

She hasn’t actually suggested it’s severe. She said she can barely walk the length of her flat. I have had norovirus (completely untreated, cleared up on its own within 24 hours) and could barely walk and certainly couldn’t drive, but it was no more serious than any other norovirus. I couldn’t walk because of aches/shakes/stomach cramps. I probably could have done if I’d really tried but lying in bed with a sick bowl was by far more comfortable, which I assume is what the OP is getting at?
I’ve lived in many (first world, progressive) countries and in none of them would it be normal to call an ambulance for D&V (actually my MIL did once in Spain and she got an eye roll and a cautionary word about wasting time)

Salem you know full well that anti emetic and anti diarrhoea mediation and saline drips are for severe situations. Don’t pretend you don’t.

To give you an example by grandmother had ambulances called for exactly that, many times, usually by her own GP.

She had terminal bowel cancer and anyone who has witnessed that knows what happens and the state she would’ve been in.

That is NOTHING like a D&V bug. But hopefully you’re reassured to know that this 3rf world country do send ambulances to deal with D&V when they’re actually needed.

Offs!
When you have d&v its exhausting, it doesnt mean you are at deaths door from dehydration.

Nobody needs iv meds through a canula for a normal stomach bug. Did you copy and paste that bit from a website?

OP is not suggesting she has it severely at all. Everyone feels shit and wobbly with d&v.

In 20 years of nursing I have never seen an otherwise healthy person being admitted for a run of the mill stomach bug! People who have other health issues yes, or who have had it for long term but a normal bug nope just never happened.

@glintandglide perhaps you don't know full well that severe diarrhoea and vomiting cause dehydration. And for that, rehydration therapy is necessary or at least, recommended.

As I said, someone barely being able to walk to the other end of the flat suggests that the stomach bug may be a severe one that may need looking at, if she couldn't get to a doctor. You have all misunderstood me. I do not suggest calling the ambos for just any reason. But to me, it sounds like the OP needs to get herself to the doctor, at least. That is all.

To be fair I heard that there's at least one ambulance per household in never never land

D&V is not an ambulance emergency in Australia, and contrary to your outburst Salem, people do worry about calling ambulances in Australia is not universally free depending on the state you live in. People get ambulance insurance to specifically cover the cost of potentially needing ambulances in Australia because it's fucking expensive if you need one and don't have insurance.

I wouldn't consider Australia to be any superior in terms of their healthcare to the UK, as I have worked in and used both and find them fairly comparable. The biggest difference I have noticed is I have to deal with a lot less stupid from other HCP in the UK than I did in Australia

Yes but you are wrong. Anyone with half a brain knows D&V causes dehydration. But they also know dehydration doesn’t require medical attention unless severe. FFS you’re dehydrated whenever you’re thirsty.

Yes I promise I’m not dying! Just wobbly and shivery, and very fed up of the view of the inside of the toilet.

you need some friends to help

Do you not have doctors that do house calls? We have an at home doctor service here for exactly these sort of situations

Yes, I’m pretty sure you’d get a home visit in my area in the circumstance you describe. It depends on your GP.

Doctors won’t usually make house calls during the day, they’d expect you to go to them at the surgery. Arrangements can be made for people who need long term support at home

To get to the surgery. That’s my area anyway. They may well do house calls for children though

Ours make house calls after lunch every day if the patient can’t get to the surgery. This is usually elderly people but I think the OP’s circumstances would count too (I used to work at our surgery in my holidays from uni and answered the ‘home visits’ telephone line)

Well you would manage to get through today (even though it may be horrible and heard) but would you manage if he lost his job?

You can say all you like about workers right but as a boss if you feel someone’s taking the piss you’ll slip them out the door one day on a different issue if you get a chance if if you can’t because their kids are always sick.

You’ll manage, tomorrow will be another day as grim as that may sound today.

There’s no country in the world where a normally healthy adult would call an ambulance for a brief, normal D&V bug!

It’s unpleasant and exhausting but self-limiting and can in 99.9% of cases be managed by replacing lost fluids and minerals with oral rehydration sachets which are available over the counter.

Of course people who are already vulnerable due to age or pre-existing conditions or who become severely dehydrated need medical attention.

The OP posted with most of her concern being for her son, which suggests she’s not in dire need of anything more than fluids and rest.

"Where is your country Salem?

Just north of the moon"

This really made me laugh! I won't say I spat my tea out though, because Salem will probably urge me to call an ambulance

If this occurs in future many doctors will do telephone appointments and prescribe particularly if this is a repeat illness.

Lots of areas have out of hours GP hubs now too so that people can go after work.

For the person saying she should have gone to the Dr's with D and V even if it compromised elderly or those with immune conditions you have no idea! Minor things to you can be extremely serious and require hospitalisation if there are immune issues.
And to answer your question those with serious immune issues avoid the GP unless absolutely essential and the person I know tries to book the first appointment of the day.