To be upset at the GPs comment

[Element4056]

A month ago I noticed a rash forming on my now 17 week old son's forehead. I applied organic coconut oil twice daily to see if it would help. After a few days of this it hadn't cleared, so I called my GP.
GP asked me to bring my son in and after checking him over, prescribed some cream to apply for a week. After a week I noticed that the rash hasn't cleared and in fact spread down his face and across his cheeks. I called and spoke a different GP, and again was prescribed different cream to apply for a week.
Yesterday I noticed that he has a rash all over his back. Clusters of this and different to the rash on his face. I also noticed a rash on his stomach. This morning I called the GP and also mentioned that my son is restless when feeding (he is EBF). We have had issues with feeding for the last two weeks of which I have been in touch with my health visitor. GP asked to bring him in.
My husband went in to see the GP with my son and the GP made a comment towards the end that I feel was unfair. He told my husband in an annoyed voice that he has seen our son plenty of times in such a short time. Suggested that I called often about him. My husband commented that as a new mother I do worry about our son.
I feel really annoyed the GP commented this. As though I've been ringing in for a common cold or a sniffle! I've been made to feel like I shouldn't be calling in and I'm wasting their time.
Any parent with unexplained rashes on their 4 month old would also call their GP for advice. Especially rashes all his back, stomach and face.
Sorry for the rant. It has made me upset and questioning myself.

It could be anything

It could mean I've seen this baby quite a few times, this is perhaps more complex than I thought. Or poor thing, we've had to see him a few times.

Or it could be to assess PND as PP have said. Or it could be the GP being a knob. Either way you have done the right thing talking to them about your babies rash

My son used to get serious sepsis infections that could be picked up early and dealt with avoiding hospital IF the GP read the specialist letter and prescribed correct antibiotics prior to sample results returning from lab (the issue was always the same bacteria as stated in letter). GPs STILL often made me feel like I wasted their time and sometimes refused to read the letter at all. It was a battle just to get the urine tested to confirm infection. Don’t take it personally, some GPs have a terrible bedside manner. Your husband also should have supported you and told the GP they were being unnecessarily rude.

@Element4056

I will try to put the comment aside, but now I feel like I will be questioning myself. I really did think I was doing the right thing instead of guessing (googling) and trying to treat it myself.

If you can Google well, sometimes it's a very good idea. GPs are not the font of all knowledge, unfortunately.

In your shoes I’d be irritated with DH - his response sounds like he agrees with the doctors implication that you’re an over anxious new mum.

For future reference the best way to respond if a dr makes a similar comment is to ask “were any of the visits unnecessary”

The GP has broken guidelines and could be reported for that.

Could it be allergy to your washing powder?

I wouldn't worry about the moaning GP. I once took my baby to a dermatologist for nappy rash after quite few GP visits. The GP was just very curious about what the dermatologist had prescribed which had worked and quizzed me about it while carefully noting it down for future use. The GP had previously been busily telling me he was giving the correct treatment but as I pointed out if it had been the correct treatment it would have worked.

GPs actually are very bad at skin complaints. One tried to freeze off what they thought was a basal cell carcinoma on my early twenties son. (If it was, freezing probably wasn't the right treatment anyway.) It grew back and my son got very worried. The dermatologist told my son it was not surprising it had "grown back" as it was actually eczema. Then there was my husband's fungal infection that the dermatologist said was actually ring shaped eczema irritated by the GPs' confidently prescribed antifungals. If your baby's rashes persist you could try a dermatologist - privately I guess in the UK given the state of the NHS.

@Butwasitherdriveway

The GP has broken guidelines and could be reported for that

What guidelines?

[quote PegasusReturns]@Butwasitherdriveway

The GP has broken guidelines and could be reported for that

What guidelines?[/quote]
Confidentiality.

You have my sympathy OP - I saw five doctors in total about my son’s worsening rashes (between him being 2 months to 4 months old) and I got the odd arsey comment too. It’s generally due to arrogance I think.

I remember being made to feel that I was a stupid pain and wasting their important time when taking young DC to see GP. On another occasion I was made to feel bad by the GP for not having visited sooner. Neither is good behaviour and it puts people off going when it could be something serious. If you do need to visit again, ask to see a different GP and if asked why, tell them! You don’t have to put up with arrogant behaviour.
Usually for a rash, they prescribed the basic aqueous cream as a first treatment. It contains nothing much other than oil and water and is cheap to buy. I found Oilatum junior and E45 junior ranges to be good, along with non-bio washing powder and natural fibres for clothing and bedding. More info on NHS website www.nhs.uk/conditions/emollients/
Wishing your DS better.

@HermioneMakepeace

Please don’t put coconut oil on your child’s skin. It is comedogenic and will block his pores, making the problem worse.

Was going to add this, but doesn't mean GP wasn't being a dick. It does depend on phrasing.

DH took our then 9mo to the drs with a cough. First question was where's Mum? (On shift on a critical care unit as it happened), but obviously as a mother you are failing dismally if an actual man has to take your baby to the Drs .

Hope the rash settles soon.

@Butwasitherdriveway whose confidentiality?

The OPs DH has PR for the child. There is no breach in confidentiality in referencing that the child has been see frequently.

[quote PegasusReturns]@Butwasitherdriveway whose confidentiality?

The OPs DH has PR for the child. There is no breach in confidentiality in referencing that the child has been see frequently.[/quote]
I'm not convinced GP should be discussing this conversations though. Happy to be corrected

Dairy allergy is a real possibility - if trying dairy free for a for a fortnight didn’t seem too bad then I would give that a go. Have no soya at the same time as it’s a common shared allergy with CMPI.

Also try the HV .....they may be more use exploring options such as allergies, diet, etc?

@Butwasitherdriveway You have been corrected. It is not a breech in confidentiality to discuss how many times a child you are responsible for has been to the GP.

I would actually count it as good doctoring skills as it opened up a conversation that Dad, if he had needed/wanted too, could have shared concerns about maternal mental health.

[quote OctupusObsidian]@Butwasitherdriveway You have been corrected. It is not a breech in confidentiality to discuss how many times a child you are responsible for has been to the GP.

I would actually count it as good doctoring skills as it opened up a conversation that Dad, if he had needed/wanted too, could have shared concerns about maternal mental health.[/quote]
Fair enough.

I do think it's hard to work out here the tone of it

My husband commented that as a new mother I do worry about our son.

TBH I'd be more annoyed at your husband for being so dismissive of you to the GP. He basically said 'ah aren't women silly'.

@Element4056

I will try to put the comment aside, but now I feel like I will be questioning myself. I really did think I was doing the right thing instead of guessing (googling) and trying to treat it myself.

Don't question yourself.

If you need to speak to a doctor about your DS, please do so. Maybe next time speak to a different doctor.

I can remember being a 1st time mum, my GP was very understanding, she said to contact the surgery anytime I was worried about LO and she would always speak to me.

As other people have commented that you and we can't be sure of the tone and therefore the intention behind the GP's comment, I just want to reiterate that I don't think it is unreasonable AT ALL to ring the doctor about a persistent - and spreading - rash on a 17 week old.

When they are little it's so nerve-wracking as they are so tiny and helpless, and there are SO MANY symptoms and minor conditions that you would brush off on an adult or even an older baby, but you are specifically told in all the leaflets and stuff to go to the GP urgently for a newborn baby (just one example off the top of my head is conjunctivitis - cotton wool and warm water for an adult, urgent GP appointment for a newborn). So no, it is not excessive.

ESPECIALLY since the treatment they'd given you hasn't worked! Also some babies do get ill more often than others (either by nature or because they lead a more active life. What would the GP prefer you to do, ignore something potentially serious because you've used up your quota of GP visits this quarter? I'm pretty sure that's not the official NHS advice, so just ignore the comment.

Same.

There is a difference between

Yes Jeans been here a few times about this how is she

And aw see Jean what a drama llama

The reality is probably somewhere in the middle.

Has he been tested for milk intolerance?

Rashes can come on quickly, so think you're right to take it seriously.

I'd just ignore the GP's comments.

As he said it to your husband - about you - your DH needs to contact practice manager to express his discomfort about the comment.

GP are there for unexplained medical issues that aren't an emergency that are worsening or not able to be treated OTC.