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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu about DD and calling 111

166 replies

Brandysnapfoxylady · 19/10/2021 20:32

Sorry for long post - Am I just over reacting? DD started with a cold on Wednesday (runny nose, temperature etc.) by Friday night it had turned into vomiting and bad cough. We monitored her over weekend, and no improvement. Phoned Dr on Monday and was told just a virus but Dr was very funny about why we hadn't taken her for a PCR test. (We had done a lateral flow as soon as she seemed under the weather that was negative). Dr was unaware that guidance says only take under 5s if absolutely necessary or Dr says to. Took her for PCR which is negative. We've been giving her fluids but she's refused all food since Friday afternoon. We've tried juice squash, smoothies, only thing she will have is milk or ice lollies. DH is concerned but not as much as me! I'm very worried but I don't want to over react.

We've been giving Calpol and ibuprofen but they don't seem to be doing anything.
Symptoms include (Dr was made aware of all of these):
Cough
Temperature
Refusing food (even ice cream/chocolate/crisps etc)
Runny nose
Ear pain (she keeps rubbing her ear and flinches when you touch that side of her head)
Sore throat (won't eat anything, when she gets distracted and eats a snack she is sick when she tries to swallow and will start crying)
Vomiting
Mottled skin
Very clingy
Cry is unusual, very high pitched.
Not active or interested in doing things.

I'm worried as she hasn't eaten since Thursday and it's now Tuesday. Do I phone 111?? Do I phone Dr again? Or am I panicing over nothing??

OP posts:
Habbyhadno · 19/10/2021 21:49

Hope you're on your way to A&E OP, don't mess about with those symptoms.

Fallelujah · 19/10/2021 21:49

My little boy had the exact same thing last week, only difference was that we’d already started antibiotics 2 days prior because we’d noticed the ear infection. Doctor on phone advised a&e due to sepsis risk, we went and it was confirmed as just a bad ear infection and antibiotics should kick in the next day (they were right!). Was so glad I took him to get checked out though as his behaviour really worried me. Fingers crossed for you and LO too.

TheViewFromTheCheapSeats · 19/10/2021 21:50

I see you are sorting her out, but in case you come back. Trust your instincts and go to A&E. maybe an ear infection now, but the bottom line is whatever it is or isn’t she does need checking. Sometimes you need to ignore being bounced off and go in. I once did this for chicken pox, A&E despite being told not to 3 times on the phone. It was the correct choice as my son was very ill.

Clevs · 19/10/2021 21:51

A high pitched cry and mottled skin are both red flags for sepsis. Get her seen ASAP.

BeeandG · 19/10/2021 21:51

Hope your dd is okay. And that you are too. Hope you get seen quickly too x

Fimilo · 19/10/2021 21:53

My daughter was like this 2 years ago and had encephalitis. We were in hospital for 2 weeks and she was on steroids. I would go to A&E x

Standrewsschool · 19/10/2021 21:55

A and e. The high pitched cry and mottled skin would concern me.

DeepaBeesKit · 19/10/2021 21:56

A&E. Definitely. 4 days with no food is too long at that age.

Mummyoflittledragon · 19/10/2021 21:58

It is outrageous the GP wouldn’t see your dd yesterday. I hope she’s ok. Flowers

peachesarenom · 19/10/2021 21:59

I would go to A&E, she needs to be seen

Tee20x · 19/10/2021 22:00

A&E, reading the symptoms towards the end gave me goosebumps. Never doubt yourself. The worst that will happen is a wasted trip & you'll feel miles better for getting her checked out.

MadeForThis · 19/10/2021 22:02

It's never a mistake to get them checked out. Sounds like she needs antibiotics at least.

LowlandLucky · 19/10/2021 22:02

Needs to be in A&E now

PurpleDaisies · 19/10/2021 22:03

The op has said she is getting her seen.

Did people miss this or is this a lot of pretty unsubtle place marking?

Newpuppymummy · 19/10/2021 22:06

Take her to A&E

peachesarenom · 19/10/2021 22:06

I'm glad you're on your way. I hope she gets better soon xxx

Wondergirl100 · 19/10/2021 22:07

Hope she is okay OP, took my 5 yr old in similar circs she turned out to have severe pneumonia - although tell tale signs there were shallow rapid breathing.

Porcupineintherough · 19/10/2021 22:07

I also think you need to have her seen - out of hours doctor or failing that a&e. Sounds like she might have a nasty infection liķe tonsillitis. However, if she is drinking milk (more than a few sips) then I wouldnt be so worried about the lack of solid food, mine always reverted to milk whe they wee small and poorly.

Wondergirl100 · 19/10/2021 22:08

btw as people are commenting about A and E, I have to warn having been twice (bad luck) in two weeks, the queues are insane - if your child isn't 'urgently' sick - ie. needing to be admitted overnight - you will wait several hours and there were a lot of very distressed tired kids.

Rainbowsew · 19/10/2021 22:09

Hope you've got to ED now, she needs seeing and could severely dehydrated. Weird cry and mottled skin could be sepsis.

Hope she is ok. Depending on what they say I'd be having strong words with GP surgery? Did they not have her in and examine her?

Hankunamatata · 19/10/2021 22:11

Is she drinking lots of milk?

Itsokay2020 · 19/10/2021 22:12

A&E, take her now, she needs to be assessed ASAP!

PinkiOcelot · 19/10/2021 22:12

Hope she’s ok OP.

rrhuth · 19/10/2021 22:13

Gosh yes definitely A&E with those symptoms.

I once was calling the GP about a child with high temp etc., when I mentioned he had mottled skin they said I had to hang up and phone an ambulance.

Flowers hope all is OK

Redsquirrel5 · 19/10/2021 22:17

Agree mottled skin, unusual cry, vomiting and temperature can be meningitis symptoms. I called a out of hours GP years ago and secretary asked him, he told me to bring her in in two hours. Symptoms I listed were lethargic, not liking light on, temperature within half an hour stiffness in her neck, crying. I packed back and she walked to the car with me. Decided to take her in sooner and if he wouldn’t see her straight to A& E. GP wasn’t our practice but on the way to the hospital. 20-25 minutes she couldn’t walk and his driver carried her in for me. She was 5. Saw straight after the patient in there he got a shock and sent us straight to hospital and said he was ringing them.
She had a lumbar puncture once Consultant arrived. She was in hospital for a week or so and was very poorly for several days, delirious etc. Several days later it was confirmed although the Consultant nearly sent her home but a sister who knew us spoke up and the Consultant later said because I had noticed so much initially that it hadn’t developed. Mother’s instinct.

Seven years latter my niece was delayed overnight by a cottage hospital but when she was worse the next day put her to a major hospital who put her on life support and sent her to Edinburgh Sick Kids who saved her life. She fought for her life for a month and was in hospital for seven months then return visits. I was there for the first three weeks to look after my sister. My niece had 24 hr care from three doctors. I can’t praise Sick Kids hospital enough. The staff there were fantastic and we heard it again and again from other parents. They also arranged accommodation for us at the hospital.

Doctors are human and sometimes despite all their training they don’t always know. They asked if student doctors could see her briefly so they would recognise the rash. Once you have see it you won’t forget. The first doctor in the small hospital saw the rash yet didn’t think to send her immediately. The doctor at the large hospital had just completed two years at Sick Kids.
Send a photo if there is a rash. It is quite different to other rashes.

OP I hope your little one is alright but don’t be frightened to ask questions and question if your gut feeling is different or ask for a second opinion.