To take 1yo DS to the docs because I have a "bad feeling"?

[Hmmmmminteresting]

I wish I knew why I have this awful gut feeling all the time that something is wrong with my 1 year old. I feel terrible even writing it - like I will make it come true.
Ds is 16 months and up till 4 months ago was a perfectly happy healthy boy.
Gradually he has changed and now hes like a different child. He cries all day every day. He has gradually stopped eating pretty much anything. Refuses most meals and snacks even things he loves (today he pushed away the handful of buttons I offered). He will drink cup after cup of water.
He was a fantastic sleeper, now he cries for over an hour at bedtime and then is up through the night sobbing.
He has constant high temperatures. Usually between 38-39.5 at least 3 times a week. We can bring it down with meds.
He has repeat chest infections and is now on daily medication to open up his airways (no history of anything in our families chest related and we dont smoke) and is under a paediatrician but isn't due back for 4 more months.
Developmentally he is switched on. He recently started to walk and will copy a lot of what we say.
I just miss my happy child. I feel like something is wrong but I have no idea what. I feel like if I go to the docs and say this they'll just laugh me out as this is just a grumpy baby.
What do I do! I'm at a loss. It's really getting to me now.
Just to add, I have a 3yo who is perfectly fit and healthy and have never had concerns about him.

@ChiaraRimini we were also surprised at the early diagnosis of asthma (just over 12 months when he got the diagnosis).
He was born with breathing difficulties after a planned csec and was in neonatal. He ended up on IV antibiotics for sepsis caused by suspected chest infection. Since then hes been on antibiotics on average every 6-8 weeks for repeat bacterial chest infections.
The paediatrician we saw said based on this info and the fact that I'd said his cough was so much worse at night (would often vomit phlegm through the night) it was all pointing to asthma. His plan of action was 8 months of montelukas and if its working, keep him on it till age 5 then review.

What struck me from your post OP is you saying he will drink lots of water, I have no knowledge of childhood diabetes but it could be worth investigating if he has abnormal thirst?

Good grief OP don't blame yourself!

Can he be taken straight off it or is it a drug that needs weaning down?

cookiemonster5
That’s an absolutely ridiculous comparison. Giving someone a link to a study that has researched the side effects is not scaring someone. She should know, especially as her dc is displaying some of the side effects.

I bet none of us can tell a story about someone who has reacted to it
There’s quite a few people of this thread who do know someone who has displayed the side effects, myself included.

@ponderingpanda I'm not too sure but I'll be taking him to the doctors tomorrow to find out as I do feel now like my concerns are justified. I actually really hope it is the Montelukast because at least that will be a simple fix. I'm not convinced it would cause the high temps though

Paracetamol is really nothing like montelukast! My ex-prem ds was on it and had horrific side effects. It can be a wonder drug for lung issues but its definitely not the case that it's risk-free, as a brief read of the 1000s of posts about it on online forums will show. If you can show me threads on the equivalent pediatric side effects of paracetamol i'll eat my hat!

PLEASE don't stop an asthma prevented in such a young child without a plan or alternative treatment

But a trip to the go is also worth it for eliminating=investigating other issues such as anaemia, UTI, diabetes auto immune, or other issues.
I hope you get some answers

I am quite shocked that there are posters on this thread urging a mother to abruptly stop her son's asthma treatment without medical supervision.
It sounds like you need to take him back to your GP to be assessed, and discuss your concerns about his medications with them before doing anything. I cannot think of any mechanism by which montelukast could cause recurrent fevers.

My DD age 7 had stomach ache, nausea and vomiting from Montelukast. Stopped taking it after three weeks.

I had a banging headache for four days before giving up on it. I was thoroughly miserable for those 4 days.

I'm also surprised that they didn't try inhalers first.

@PapaShango I meant paracetamol not montelukast.

It is a very fair comparison to make when they are both very widely used.

I can reel off at least 10 friends and family members who have been on montelukast or their kids have and not heard a single bad report or side effect.

Anyway picking apart my posts isn't helping the Op.

I hope you get some help tomorrow and your little one is better soon.

I would suggest keeping a diary of food and activities. There may be an allergy or intolerance to something too which could link everything from the grumpiness and wheeze to the drinking large amounts of water.

MN is truly wonderful for shared knowledge. I hope it works out well OP.

Good grief, I wish everyone would stop trying to freak out the OP. No one can make a diagnosis on the basis of a few MN posts. The sort of symptoms she describes are not uncommon at all in young children and most have simple explanations. The advice to stop Montelukast is totally irresponsible- asthma is a serious condition and drugs should never be stopped abruptly. Like any drug, Montelukast can have side-effects but it is also a lifesaver.

OP, please try not to worry. I am a GP with lots of paediatric training. I have seen thousands of children with symptoms like your son's and 90% (at least!) of the time, there is a really simple, easily treated explanation.

Anyone who gives you a diagnosis on MN is highly unlikely to be a real HCP because we know better than to diagnose without seeing the child. Don't listen to all the scary stories on here and definitely don't stop any of your DS' medication. Talk to your GP.

My GPs have a very simple mantra: if a parent is worried - then they want to see the child!
Because parents can spot things that GPs never will. And they'd rather see a well child and reassure the parents than miss a sick one.

And if you have lots of little "niggles" keep some kind of diary of them - it could help with a proper diagnosis.

The water thing can be a sign of diabetes. I would take him to the doc and highlight this and ask for a glucose test. The behavioural changes along with I'm guessing slow weight gain if hes barely eating can all be signs of diabetes.

Please follow your instincts and go to the gp. I had a feeling that something wasn't right with my daughter many years ago. I kept getting told it was a virus and that I was being neurotic, it turned out I was right all along and my child had a very serious illness. I think because it was rare it just wasn't considered.
I hope your little one is well soon.

Yes, go to GP and get everything checked out. I did wonder if a food allergy could be causing it. Just a feeling. Anyway, good luck. You are a great mum.

Signature says Len at number 7. It’s a neighbour who signed for it at 14.49

Just wanted to add, in my experience, Drs usually take a mum's "bad feeling" seriously as they know no one knows your baby like you do.

Sorry wrong thread

Definitely take him to the GP - you know him best & any decent doctor worth anything won't dismiss you - you have real signs of illness & distress - you're not being neurotic or over reacting. Hope all goes well. X

Definitely go back to the GP (I'm a GP). And I think your thread title is misleading - a 'bad feeling' implies you feel like something is wrong but your child is happy and healthy. It suggests that the problem is with your own health anxiety, rather than with your son. But in your case, your worries are clearly justified - you have an unwell and unhappy child experiencing a multitude of symptoms.

I see tonnes of children each month whose parents have far less reason to worry than you. I've had people seeking an appointment because their child sneezed or had hiccups twice in one day...

I'm surprised he's been diagnosed re asthma.
My youngest had 4 hospital admissions Oct - mar with wheezing and other episodes in between. He has a blue inhaler and brown inhaler and montelukast waiting in the wings if he needs it.
(Although I'm very reluctant to go down that route)
His paediatrician has said they won't say whether he has viral induced wheezing or asthma as he is too young (he was 2 in May) and we have family history of asthma!

youatenitkiddibgme My So has been on montelukast for YEARS and it has helped tremendously with his asthma

Just to update - we've been to the gp this afternoon. She's taken all of my concerns seriously.
Agreed he should be taken off Montelukast immediately.
She did a finger prick test and his blood sugar was 5.4 so she wasn't worried about diabetes.
Had a slightly raised temp of 38.2 while we were there (no sign of infection in throat, ears or chest) so she's ordered blood tests to be done and we have to take in a urine sample to be dipped Friday morning and even if it's normal shes getting ot sent off regardless.
I couldn't really have asked for more.
Thanks so much to everyone for all of your opinions and advice.
Hoping that it's the Montelukast to be honest that is the root of the issue but I guess time will tell!

I’m so glad, I hope your baby feels brighter soon.