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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:
WaterAndRichTea · 20/10/2021 00:19

Mottled skin and a unusual / different cry is always A&E

EmilyEmmabob · 20/10/2021 00:52

My DS used to have these symptoms when he got tonsillitis and ended up with a hospital stay each time. The good news is that once you're in A&E they won't mess around. It's so scary OP and I used to second guess myself all the time, your instincts are rarely wrong. I hope your DD is being seen now.

Vispa · 20/10/2021 00:55

If I hadn't "panicked" my daughter would not have survived - if I had taken her to A&E just one hour later it would have been too late. There is no timeframe for meningitis to develop by. Yes it is unlikely to be meningitis, and I hope with all my heart it's a false alarm, but for those of us who unfortunately have seen it happen, we can't read those symptoms and not mention it. Someone with meningitis DOES NOT ALWAYS HAVE A RASH. My dd had mottled skin and a high pitched cry, but no rash. Raising awareness is so important and saves lives. It's not being panicky. Apologies OP, I really do hope your dd is OK and its a false alarm Flowers

EmeraldShamrock · 20/10/2021 01:02

I hope she is okay, you're doing the right thing going to the hospital.

Beeziekn33ze · 20/10/2021 01:29

There must be many of us thinking of you tonight and wishing your precious daughter well.

Colouringaddict · 20/10/2021 01:31

I hope your DD is being treated and feels better very soon

IHateCoronavirus · 20/10/2021 01:46

Good luck op Flowers

Xx1d1xX · 20/10/2021 02:17

So glad to see as well you are getting her checked over tonight. Hope she is doing okay and getting any treatment she needs. Such a worry when you are told one thing and your gut is telling you another. Always side on your gut instinct and if it ends up being an unnecessary check up by GP/hospital at any time in her childhood then so be it. Better safe than sorry.

Mottled skin is a def red flag and something I would always want checked fully by someone. My Dd had that along with other symptoms which resulted in emergency surgery at 4 months old. She had a very unusual blockage which baffled doctors at the time and took days for them to diagnose while in hospital. If we hadn't been on top of her symptoms to report I can't bear to think of the outcome. We noticed changes which pointed them in the right direction eventually. Every small piece of info is helpful. Naturally I've been a bit insistent ever since then that I want her seen if I'm worried about her in any way.

Thinking of you tonight x

TasteTheMeatNotTheHeat · 20/10/2021 02:45

I don't want to scare you but those symptoms are very similar to when my daughter had sepsis. I would go to a&e

LibrariesGiveUsPower45321 · 20/10/2021 07:54

How is she OP?

Anyone moaning people are shouting meningitis has never seen how quickly meningitis can take hold. Better to overreact in such situations.

Vispa · 20/10/2021 08:03

How is you dd OP? Hope she is doing better Flowers

WLAH · 20/10/2021 09:37

Hope your LG got seen to quickly

CocaColaTruck1 · 20/10/2021 09:42

My DS had these symptoms and turned out to be tonsillitis and a urine infection.
We also took him to a&e.
Hope you got some answers

Goawaymorningsickeness · 20/10/2021 10:12

The skin and the cry alone would have me making to a and e. She sounds really unwell. Your instinct is there for a reason, you mustn’t ignore it. I hope she’s soon feeling better 💐

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 20/10/2021 10:15

A 2 year old with symptoms of meningitis? I would be calling 999. You could be in A&E for hours before even being triaged.

Please update us when you are able to. Very worrying and I hope she is OK.

PandoraP · 20/10/2021 10:16

So many children dismissed by GPs only to end up in hospital when the parents have to take matters into own hands and go to a&e. Never listen to your GP, but trust your instincts. I also say this from personal experience.

Hope your DD is ok OP Flowers

Goawaymorningsickeness · 20/10/2021 10:22

@Vispa

If I hadn't "panicked" my daughter would not have survived - if I had taken her to A&E just one hour later it would have been too late. There is no timeframe for meningitis to develop by. Yes it is unlikely to be meningitis, and I hope with all my heart it's a false alarm, but for those of us who unfortunately have seen it happen, we can't read those symptoms and not mention it. Someone with meningitis DOES NOT ALWAYS HAVE A RASH. My dd had mottled skin and a high pitched cry, but no rash. Raising awareness is so important and saves lives. It's not being panicky. Apologies OP, I really do hope your dd is OK and its a false alarm Flowers
Your post made my hairs stand up. I hope your daughter is ok now.
SummerHouse · 20/10/2021 10:33

Don't ever worry about overreacting. Hopefully you are overreacting. Everything crossed for your DD. Flowers

Original poster
Brandysnapfoxylady · 20/10/2021 11:20

Thanks everyone, took her in and we spent the night in a&e, it's a bad ear infection and respiratory infection. She responded well to meds and fluids so we've been allowed home this morning. She's a little better now she's keeping fluids down and her temp is under control. Staff in a&e were fab and we didn't have to wait long to be seen.

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 20/10/2021 11:20

Great news. Hopefully she’ll be better soon. Flowers

MindyStClaire · 20/10/2021 11:24

Great news Brandy, delighted she's feeling a bit better Flowers

Withthemonsters · 20/10/2021 11:24

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy

A 2 year old with symptoms of meningitis? I would be calling 999. You could be in A&E for hours before even being triaged.

Please update us when you are able to. Very worrying and I hope she is OK.

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy It doesn’t work like that. Ambulance patients and A&E walk ins join the same queue. If you walk off an ambulance and are fit to sit even with a child, you’ll be shown the waiting room. If you turn up at A&E with a seriously ill child having made your own way in, you’ll be seen straightaway. It’s hard to judge in the OP’s case, even though meningitis is a possibility, it still could be a lot of less serious stuff, especially considering how long the symptoms have been going on for. That’s why I’d suggest taking her up to A&E yourselves. You’d be waiting hours for an ambulance with that call in my area anyway.
Withthemonsters · 20/10/2021 11:25

Cross posted with the update, glad she’s doing ok now and it wasn’t anything more serious xx

Vispa · 20/10/2021 11:27

**Goawaymorningsickeness
Thank you Flowers she was left with a lot of permanent after effects, but the doctors said she made a miraculous recovery given how ill she was. She is now 12, doesn't let it stop her living a full and happy life, and raises money and awareness for her Meningitis Charity. She is our (now not so little) miracle Smile

Vispa · 20/10/2021 11:30

OP that's such great news! I'm so relieved for you and your dd. You made the right call taking her in. Hope she is all better very soon Flowers