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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask for second opinion from different GP

7 replies

Cloudsandrainbows · 07/11/2019 13:30

Sorry in advance, long post, thanks for reading. So my son, 10 months old, has always been a sicky baby. BF for first 5 months exclusively then weaned onto formula by just over 6 months, but made no difference to his sickness, although his runny bum improved. He eats well, fussy with texture, but gaining weight fine and generally happy. He had a sudden reaction at 5 months old to, we think, to grass. He rolled off a towel in the garden onto grass and his face was red blotchy, puffy and eyes red squinty and watery. Took him straight to GP who said he's allergic to grass, offered blood test, which I declined, as DS was unhappy, but was referred for allergy testing and told to avoid grass, and given piriton to use in emergency. Hospital refused to accept referral as didn't meet criteria??? Went back to GP with the constant sickness, his regular screaming fits with tummy pain and wind, as well as concerns about the reaction he had. Second GP said probably wasn't grass, no need to avoid it, the sick is just reflux and gave gaviscon. After using gaviscon about 6 weeks, he was still sick daily but less often, and his weight has jumped up a percentile, making me think, although he was still healthy, the sickness was impacting his growth. However regularly we get red blotchy face when he's eating, done food diary and cannot find one thing linking the episodes. So went back to GP again and this guy said he's not calling me a liar, but how is he meant to believe the sickness unless he sees it?!?! He agreed the blotchy face is a reaction to food, and his solution was to give gaviscon before food rather than after, and give 2 doses of piriton every day regardless! The piriton is not recommended for under 1 year, and the other GP said only use if really needed.
I'm at a loss, he's sick every day, I'm always up to my eyeballs in washing, and I'm not comfortable giving this piriton everyday. Would you not think the sensible thing to do, would be to find out what he's reacting to and avoid it? WIBU to ask for a second opinion from another GP. If this guy wasn't so rude I may have been more inclined to accept his suggestion.

OP posts:
DeathStare · 07/11/2019 13:33

I'd ask for a referral to a paediatrician

NoCleanClothes · 07/11/2019 13:37

I'd want to see a paediatrician personally. Could you afford to go private?

Sillydoggy · 07/11/2019 13:55

Absolutely try a different doctor. You don’t even need to phrase it as a second opinion just go to a different GP and explain the symptoms. GPS can be terrible about anything they think is ‘just reflux’. Keep trying different GPs until someone takes you seriously.

You might also find help going onto allergy forums to see if you can find some help there. Specialist forums can give you useful guidance on how to describe symptoms to a doctor so that they won’t just dismiss them.

Cloudsandrainbows · 07/11/2019 14:08

Thank you all,I've looked into private allergy testing and it's too expensive. I will try a different GP and if joy, will consider s private GP with the hope of being referred back to NHS for further tests.
Has anyone had experience of a child with allergies? How did you find out what they were allergic to?

OP posts:
randomsabreuse · 07/11/2019 14:37

I'd look for a private paediatrian. Was about £250 for consult plus allergy testing although CMPA (cows milk protein allergy) seems possible too.

PseudoQuim · 07/11/2019 16:06

My DS had CMPA, severe GORD and DGE. He would also get a red blotchy face while drinking milk (literally his whole face went bright red) but then he had other more severe symptoms too (breathing affected amongst other things). You can ask the GP for a referral to an allergist but we had to wait over 3 months for ours and that was with multiple issues.

Sosososotired · 07/11/2019 17:23

DS used to get a nasty red rash around his mouth and had really angry eczema. Despite keeping a food diary, and correctly guessing he was allergic to egg he was still getting reactions. Turns out we weren’t being careful enough with cross contamination. Keep pushing with the gp, and when they write the referral make sure they explain the link with food.

To be honest I’m surprised at your gp suggesting daily piriton use. Repeat exposure to allergens can make subsequent reactions worse, so you need to find the cause! If possible find a different gp!

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