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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To get him checked by the GP anyway?

36 replies

Hurty · 18/12/2021 09:09

My son has had a temp for a week. It's not getting any better and if anything seems to be getting more frequent so I had booked him a GP appointment but ended up not actually making it because his temp rose to nearly 40 and he went blue. An ambulance came and he was taken to hospital. By the time we got there he'd returned to normal colour thankfully and seemed a bit chirpier and we waited for 5 hours to see the doctor who basically just said "virus, give Calpol and ibuprofen for 4 days, you can go home".

I'm so worried they've missed something. His temp was again up in the high 39s last night even 2.5 hours after his most recent dose of Calpol, he's always topped up with Calpol/Ibuprofen but by the time he's due his next one he's already got a fever, he's constantly without clothes at the moment and it just doesn't seem to be going anywhere.

I asked if it could possibly be bacterial and need antibiotics (no one else in the house is ill) and he has no symptoms except the temp and sleeping more but he waved that off, they did no tests for anything just stated it was a virus and that's that.

I know it probably is but I'm so worried. I have an amazing GP who actually works at the children's hospital 2 days a week, she's so good and I know she'll take more time to properly check him over. Even though I've been to the hospital I'm thinking of getting him to see her on Monday anyway if things don't improve? I wish I'd just gone to see her anyway!

I've not slept because I'm so worried about him.

OP posts:
Mumdiva99 · 18/12/2021 09:14

No one on the Internet can ever offer the best advice as we can't see the child. So if you are worried always get a second opinion.

For me I would think how many days since the doctor said 4 days? If that was yesterday then I would do what they said. Carry on with the dosage....paracetamol and ibuprofen at the right intervals.

You can't get an appointment with your doctor until Monday morning presumably...so that isn't an option today or tomorrow.

Kids viruses can linger - and if he I OK apart from the temp that is what I would do. But as I said at top....any concerns he has gone downhill.then get emergency advice.

Original poster
Hurty · 18/12/2021 09:18

@Mumdiva99

No one on the Internet can ever offer the best advice as we can't see the child. So if you are worried always get a second opinion.

For me I would think how many days since the doctor said 4 days? If that was yesterday then I would do what they said. Carry on with the dosage....paracetamol and ibuprofen at the right intervals.

You can't get an appointment with your doctor until Monday morning presumably...so that isn't an option today or tomorrow.

Kids viruses can linger - and if he I OK apart from the temp that is what I would do. But as I said at top....any concerns he has gone downhill.then get emergency advice.

Thank you.

It was only yesterday yes so I do appreciate I've not really given it time but I had already been doing the Calpol/ibuprofen they'd suggested for nearly a week and it hasn't got any better (worse if anything).

The lack of sleep isn't helping. I just feel in panic mode now and seeing him go blue yesterday and looking all confused, god it was horrible and I'm terrified there is something more going on that is being missed because the hospital is too busy.

Obviously I can't see the GP until Monday anyway so by then it'd be a further two days.

OP posts:
WaltzingTilda · 18/12/2021 09:18

I definitely would. I hope your ds gets well soon Flowers

Doggydreaming · 18/12/2021 09:20

The turning blue is worrying. I woyld go back. Was it mottled sort of blue or lack of oxygen sort of blue? I would want answers/blood tests.

Original poster
Hurty · 18/12/2021 09:20

Oh I forgot to mention his age, he's only 10 months old so can't tell me what's wrong either which doesn't help Sad

OP posts:
Olliesocks · 18/12/2021 09:21

Ring 111 for advice.

SmellyOldPartridgeinaPearTree · 18/12/2021 09:22

I'd be off to children's A&E this morning if I were you.

Original poster
Hurty · 18/12/2021 09:22

@Doggydreaming

The turning blue is worrying. I woyld go back. Was it mottled sort of blue or lack of oxygen sort of blue? I would want answers/blood tests.
It was mottled, like he was very cold (but obviously had a fever too), but his lips also went blue and he seemed to just be staring ahead and not looking at me which is what made me call
OP posts:
Original poster
Hurty · 18/12/2021 09:23

@SmellyOldPartridgeinaPearTree

I'd be off to children's A&E this morning if I were you.
That's where I was yesterday Sad they just sent us home.
OP posts:
chipshopElvis · 18/12/2021 09:27

Go with your instinct. You are still worried. Your child is a baby, take him back to A and E. He shouldn't have a temp for that long. It's better to make a fuss and for it to be nothing than to wait quietly and for there to be a problem .

BunnyBlanket · 18/12/2021 09:38

Go to the doctors. My DD had a raging temperature and kept falling asleep. Was sick, saw the GP who said vital and sent us on our way. Was sick as soon as we got home.

Returned the next day to see the nurse who diagnosed an ear infection. The GP completely missed it.

You know your child best.

BunnyBlanket · 18/12/2021 09:39

Viral!

Hibiscusroses · 18/12/2021 09:41

Take your baby back to A&E and ask them to rule out sepsis.

HalloHello · 18/12/2021 09:44

It is likely nothing to worry about but I wouldn't be sitting around at home if I was as worried as you sound, it's not fair on you. Take him back and get reassured, no one would begrudge you that with a baby.

LefttoherownDevizes · 18/12/2021 09:46

Did they do a urine samples? UTIs can make little ones really quite unwell.

If you are still worried go back to the hospital.

Theunamedcat · 18/12/2021 09:48

@Hibiscusroses

Take your baby back to A&E and ask them to rule out sepsis.
Yes to this
Original poster
Hurty · 18/12/2021 09:52

@LefttoherownDevizes

Did they do a urine samples? UTIs can make little ones really quite unwell.

If you are still worried go back to the hospital.

No nothing. They didn't do a single test, no blood test, no samples, didn't check in his ears/throat anything. Literally took his temp which was 39.5, gave him some Calpol, when they came back an hour later it had gone down again so they sent us home saying virus and to keep giving Calpol.
OP posts:
SmellyOldPartridgeinaPearTree · 18/12/2021 09:56

@Hurty go again - tell them you are really worried. Hopefully you'll get a different doctor.

timeforanewlife · 18/12/2021 09:58

Definitely go back to the doctor. They should check his ears and throat. I would not wait 4 days if he is 10 months old.

Doggydreaming · 18/12/2021 10:01

Go back/ call them up and enquire (politely but assertively) if they have considered and ruled out more serious causes of these symptoms (such as meningitis, sepsis, pims-ts or kawasakis). I'm sure a good Dr will be happy to explain whether/why these have been ruled out/why your sons symptoms don't fit with any of these. This will be reassuring.

Of course, if they cannot adequately explain why they have come to the decision that this is 'just a virus' (i.e they have just given you the old 'just a virus' fob off) you could push for more tests. Make sure you explain your concerns.

When my daughter was ill with a high temp that wouldn't go away I took her to the gp 3 times over 4 days (tje last time was after her legs and lips had turned blue) and was told 'just a nasty virus). I took her to the out of hours who told me 'just a virus'. I took her to A&E and they told me 'just a virus'. I took her to a second A&E where the receptionist rolled her eyes at me for bringing her in 'just because she had a temp' - we were triaged last and sent to the nack of a 7 hour queue. We saw a Dr who told me it was 'just a virus' but admitted she would have to do a blood tealst because she had haf a temp for more than 5 days (and informed me that if it was infact something serious, she would 'look much more seriously ill - tbf the little bugger was running around the waitimg room playing 😏). Bloods come back, Inflammatory markers were through the roof (crp was 221). So they initially treated for sepsis, then diagnosed Kawasaki's which we managed to get treatment for just within the treatment window.

I had an apology from the Dr at A&E wjo kept blathering about mothers instinct or some shit. It wasn't mothers instinct. My child was showing signs of serious illness. Temp 5 days plus, turning blue (this was brief, only lasted 30 mins) and experiencing changes to mental status (she kept stopping when she was mid-play, looking around in a lost, vague way like she had forgotten where she was, then crying).

TL:DR advocate for your child. Your they're mum - you know them best. You know how they usually respond to a virus and what is different this time. Communicate thos to the Dr. Tell the Dr's your concerns. Ask them to fully explain their decisions and diagnosis to you.

Good luck.

Babymamma192 · 18/12/2021 10:03

I would definitely take him back. They should at least have checked him properly obviously his temp would go down after calpol but the point is they don't know for sure what is causing the temp.

I can't believe they sent you home after he'd turned blue absolutely shocking!

Karma1981 · 18/12/2021 10:04

Ears throat and urine the 3 basic checks, I would get him looked at poor baby.
Phone nhs direct and explain the situation and they will hopefully get him seen today.

unfar · 18/12/2021 10:25

I'd take him back, blue lips and mottled skin should require more investigation than just calpol.

I agree about asking to rule out sepsis. There's a lady whose son died as the GP kept sending her away with a diagnosis of a viral infection.

MonicaGellerBing · 18/12/2021 10:27

Have you checked the symptoms of sepsis OP? I'd be really concerned and take him back

Theunamedcat · 18/12/2021 11:32

Do you have an eat thermometer? I check for ear infection by testing both ears see if there is a difference