To take 16mo to A&E? In need of a hand hold …

[SingSweetNightingale]

Evening all,

I’m all over the place so forgive me for the the rush of information.
My 16mo has been ill since September, ever since beginning nursery. Virus after virus which I know is normal due to picking up lots of bugs from other children. She always has swollen glands which I’ve brought to the GPs attention each visit and have always been told they’re normal, not too big etc.

Last time DD was ill was beginning of December. Usual swollen glands and I was told to bring her back after Christmas if they don’t go down. She was given antibiotics for the first time at this appointment.

Fast forward to today and I realise the gland on the left side of her neck is visibly protruding. I’m an anxious person so I immediately called the doctor who asked me to go down this afternoon.
I honestly thought I would be told that yet again it was all normal but no… the GP seemed very concerned as the gland is about 1cm over what is regarded ‘normal’. DD is very small for her age so it appears huge to even look at.
Other than the gland, DD has very few other symptoms other than appearing tired and pale some of the time.

I was told by the GP that she needed an urgent referral and leukaemia and lymphoma can present in this way. Cue me having an absolute emotional breakdown in the doctors surgery.
I asked if anything can be done sooner than 2 weeks but apparently not unless she begins to show more symptoms.

AIBU to take her to A&E? I want a paediatrician to look at her NOW and tell me if anything is concerning. I don’t want to wait 2 weeks in absolute turmoil over the possibility something could be seriously wrong.

Any insights would be amazing or similar experiences. I’m an absolute wreck

[3luckystars]

Well that sounds absolutely mad to me. That’s the first thing that should have been done.

[SingSweetNightingale]

Just to also clear up the queries about the bloods.
No bloods were taken, the GP said as a first course of action if my daughter was older then she would have referred for bloods first. I suppose to immediately rule certain things out.

The consultant didn’t think it was necessary to take any blood as he never mentioned it. I will go with this as he seemed very knowledgeable.

[3luckystars]

Did they take bloods at the hospital?

[SingSweetNightingale]

@RandomMess - I’m extremely happy my daughter is well. I’m beyond relieved.

[SingSweetNightingale]

Oh wow, there are lots of comments about the complaint!
I haven’t acted on this, I was far too busy looking after my energetic toddler to give it any more thought today.

I agree, the GP referred me urgently which I am grateful for. However, I just wanted to raise some concerns with the practice manager as she did cause me huge amounts of stress, she failed to make the correct referral which means I wouldn’t have been seen at all within 2 weeks had I not chased the hospital myself, she palmed off my concerns about the referral with the comment “that’s the secretaries job now” and finally she obviously backtracked by writing the second letter to the consultant but failed to inform me of this knowing how utterly stressed and worried I was. I don’t think she has a very good bedside manner or communication skills hence why I wanted to raise this with the practice.

I know there is a very low threshold for referring children which of course their should be and this will obviously cause a certain degree of worry depending on why the referral is being made.

@MerryPoppings - I didn’t take my daughter to A&E so she was not fast tracked. I also didn’t cancel my operation. These points have been cleared up earlier in the thread. But please don’t try and judge someone, especially a worried parent, about how they handle a situation. It’s shows a lack of understanding and compassion.

[LapinR0se]

My DD had exactly this and her blood showed antibodies for Epstein Barr which is glandular fever. You should get her bloods checked for that

[RandomMess]

OMG I can't believe you are going to complain about your GP for being very thorough because it worried you.

🤦🏼‍♀️

Utter madness!!


I am so happy and relieved your DD is ok, why can't you be?

[Lennon80]

‘MWhen you’re on the 2 week pathway it’s clearly because there MAY be cancer and requires investigation. The GP can’t really hide that.’’

This - everyone knows a two week urgent referral is a potential cancer referral - even if they’d not said this you’d have googled it and known anyway! I’ve had cancer left in me because a GP didn’t take me seriously said I was too young etc etc - I’d be taking that GP a big bunch of flowers! They can be very reluctant to refer some GPs - I’d be very happy yours isn’t.

[KittensTeaAndCake]

So glad your DD is ok.

I wondered about the bloods too. Surely they'd take them just to be on the safe side?

I agree with the others, I'd prefer a GP who erred on the side of caution everyday of the week rather than one who dismissed your concerns out of hand.

You had two weeks of hell but better that than the alternative. Count your blessings

[decisionsincisions]

Glad your dd is well.

Don't be ridiculous in contemplating complaining. Fucking hell. Blame culture for everything these days.

[MyGhastIsFlabbered]

Please don't complain to or about your GP. They did everything right. I know 2 weeks can feel like eternity when cancer is mentioned but they really couldn't have done any more. I think you need to work on your health anxiety instead.

Glad your daughter is ok.

[Genegenieee]

I don't think I'd complain about the GP but if I did, I'd want to see the letter first

[Genegenieee]

@3luckystars

Did they take blood at the hospital?

That's what I was wondering, as there is some history and the GP had said bloods would be taken at the hospital.

The hospital doctor sounds unprofessional in critiquing the GP, it sounds unusual. You can request a copy of the GPS letter, our would have sent it to you as a matter of course. The letter also sounds unexpected.

[Donotgogentle]

Frankly I think you should be thanking your GP next time you see her for taking your concerns seriously and making an urgent referral.

When you’re on the 2 week pathway it’s clearly because there MAY be cancer and requires investigation. The GP can’t really hide that.

It probably won’t be the last 2 week referral you experience in your life op, I think you need to accept that it’s just a very stressful position. No one is to blame.

[3luckystars]

Did they take blood at the hospital?

[TheWaterNokk]

The GP did the right thing by referring of course but my issue is in the way the GP “managed” the OP. It sounds to me (although I might be wrong) that the GP got into a bit of a flap about the whole thing. Surely it’s not ok to tell the mother of a young child “that’s how cancer presents” or whatever.

I had tests for ovarian cancer recently, amongst other things. The C word wasn’t mentioned until it was clear that my lump was not cancer (it was endo)

[christmaskittenincoming]

Going to complain because the GP done job correctly and referred your daughter to a specialist

[DomesticatedZombie]

I wouldn't complain about a general practitioner laying every option out for me and then referring me to a specialist. Imagine if the GP had said "there's nothing to worry about" and you went to the specialist and the outcome was very, very different.

Yes. Your GP listened to concerns, got you referred, and made sure everything was okay. I know it's been a shock, but I can think of far worse things.

[Marvellousmadness]

A and e?? No!
Worrying seems normal
But a and e for this? No

[MrsR87]

I am really pleased your DD is fine and it must be such a relief to you following this very stressful time.

However, I’d rather be stressed for two weeks and find out it was nothing than not know about it until it was too late. Please don’t complain about your GP - I think she did the right thing by being cautious and would hate to think she’s be put off doing the same in the future as the next patient might need a referral. And there may have been a mistake in the admin but you were still seen within the referral time guidelines.
Take care.

[Hugasauras]

I'd far rather a GP referred us somewhere out of an abundance of caution than didn't and something got missed. Christ knows it must be difficult enough with the huge range of ailments they deal with day to day when so many things are also symptoms of cancer and other serious conditions.

Glad your DD is fine. Let it go and just be glad too.

[Pippa12]

Don’t complain about your gp? They have to tell you why they are making the referral, surely as a mother you’d want to know, regardless of the reasons? You weren’t ‘made to wait 2 weeks’ that’s the standard wait time of an appt if Ca could be a diagnosis, however unlikely that maybe.

I think the paediatrician was unprofessional re your GP, he is the specialist not them! The GP wasn’t sure so asked the specialist to check, it should be a happy positive day, not time to point the finger and blame!

[Bunce1]

Very pleased your Dd is fine.

Let it go now.

[Blake1981]

@SingSweetNightingale I'm sorry but if you had went into your GP that day and she told you everything's fine would you have listened, from your previous posts that's very unlikely so why complain. You're being very unreasonable in your response. I'm glad things are okay for your daughter but sadly many with similar symptoms the outcome would be very different. You should read back at your previous posts to realise how very unreasonable you're being now.

[MerryPoppings]

@CaMePlaitPas

I wouldn't complain about a general practitioner laying every option out for me and then referring me to a specialist. Imagine if the GP had said "there's nothing to worry about" and you went to the specialist and the outcome was very, very different.

I'm sorry you've been stressed out hope you find peace.

This.

I'm not really sure what you want. Of course it's really scary when you're worried your DC might have a serious illness but it was taken seriously, you were seen within 2 weeks, and you got the answer you wanted.

Talking about going to A+E because you couldn't cope with the worry or complaining because your GP worried you are not appropriate responses to this. Or even cancelling your own operation so that "you could concentrate on DD".

I totally get the health fears, having suffered from bad health anxiety myself, and also going through some very worrying referrals for both DC and myself, and having experienced cancer and physical disabilities.

But please recognise that you are being unreasonable in your responses to this. Stop being angry at your GP and please don't use A+E to try to jump the queue to relieve your anxiety. It's a waste of precious resources and could prevent someone else getting the care they need when A+E is appropriate for them.