To think I wouldn't be overreacting if I took DS to A&E?

[kege]

DS is 17, he struggles a lot every winter with illnesses etc, he has ARFID which makes getting vitamins etc into him harder, he's supposed to take a vitamin supplement but I've tried everything dietician has suggested to give it to him but he knows and it makes him vomit.

He's been unwell since Monday although he seems to have gotten worse the past few days, on Wednesday night I was working and he refused to have any dinner and was in bed for about 6:30/7 DP says, I woke him up when I got home and gave him calpol as he had a temp and he threw it up not long after and went back to bed until 10am yesterday when he got up took his meds and went back to sleep and was asleep on and off all day, I tried to give him some toast last night, he took 1 bite and was nearly sick again. He was asleep early again last night and woke up today at about 12 and hes not had much to drink today apart from a bottle of water and a can of fanta (not ideal but I use this as a bribe for his meds) he seems very lethargic and is complaining he feels sick as he has what seems to be a chesty cough and he just looks poorly in his eyes etc.

DP has said I'm overreacting and to let him sleep as much as he wants as he'll sleep it off etc.

AIBU?

[Shittytittybangbang]

Is he seeing much? Lots of symptoms of diabetes here.

[kateandme]

@kege

Yes, he is underweight

Ok this eating disorder is just as dangerous and fatal as any other.please take him to get help.hes serverly malnourished and dehydrated by now.his electrolytes therefore potassium will be through the floor.this can bring on sudden onset heart failure. Please please take this eating disorder serious NOW.he can't get out of bed.hes lethargic and now chucking up food which could be refereeing syndrome after so long not eating.he needs seeing and sign post I g as yo what next.this is an emergency.

If this was an anorexic or bulimic not eating or drinking and unable to get out of bed for this long an ambulance would have been called and they'd be on a ward.

Bless him he needs help.he must feel so weak and in turmoil.

Has anything triggered the ed spiralling?

[TheOriginalEmu]

@Mamai90

I thought the same? Sorry I'm unfamiliar with his illness so not trying to be rude but I had to reread he wasn't 17 months when you said calpol.

I started using adult pain killers when I was 12. I thought that was the norm, I wouldn't expect calpol to suffice for a 17 year old but again if it's to do with his illness then I apologise.

Well you could take 5 seconds to Google what ARFID stands for and how it affects people before making this unhelpful comment-
avoidant restrictive food intake disorder. Now have a little think as to why he may not be able to take tablets.

[RosieRooster83]

@slowquickstep

Calpol ! Why on earth are you giving a near grown man Calpol ?

In all fairness, I'm 39 years old and I have to have liquid paracetamol as I can't swallow tablets that are too big.

[Threelittlelambs]

I also think this sounds like diabetes and you need to get him seen as soon as possible.

Sound alike high blood sugar and it can be dangerous.

[Nat6999]

He is better drinking drinks with sugar in them than plain water, the sugar helps the body absorb the fluid, plain water will more than likely bounce straight back. Would he eat something like jelly or ice-cream? It sounds like he needs to be getting some calories from somewhere. Would he eat anything like porridge or cereal, even dry cereal? He needs some high calorie foods when he starts to eat, maybe offer him toddler size portions of things he can nibble, could you leave him a snack at the side of his bed in case he feels hungry later on? I wouldn't worry too much until he hasn't eaten for a week, the ARFID may have frightened him with him being sick & he may need to build his confidence in eating back up.

[Dreamwhisper]

OP off topic but could you maybe find him a supplement that doesn't have iron in it? Even regular multivitamins that have iron in induce nausea and vomiting in me and I don't have any sensory issues. Liquid iron works fine though

[HairyKitty]

OP look up the dosage of paracetamol in msg for your sons age (prob 1000?) and convert that into the correct dose of calpol. Then give it to him as regularly as the 17yr old dose is allowed (I don’t think there’s any time limit mentioned on the box, not sure how you don’t know this.
This will cost a small fortune but there maybe an adult version available otc for future use

[Anunusualfamily]

@amylou8 please be careful regarding the advice you give as it would likely cause someone to overdose on paracetamol. Liquid paracetamol comes in 2 strengths. Under 6 is 120mg or 125mg in 5ml. Over 6 is 250mg in 5ml.

[cultkid]

How much does he weigh have you given him max of ibuprofen and paracetamol for his weight
He sound like he needs an anti emetic and a review by a doctor, poor him poor you

[cultkid]

It's three days in a row but he's almost an adult not three separate days you need to give him more painkillers no wonder he feels so shit

[slightlyatsea]

OP, it's not what you asked directly, but I find some vitamin meds make me feel badly nauseous. It can make a huge difference what I take them with. Any kind of hot drink or fizzy drink is very bad, so is having them on an empty stomach. I need to take them with a small amount of dry food, e.g. a sandwich, and either no water or just the absolute minimum of water to get them down. And I take them in between bites of sandwich, not before or after. Just posting in case any of this helps your DS.

[slightlyatsea]

@Workyticket

Would he not be better taking adult OTC meds rather than calpol?

I'd go with flat full fat coke until tomorrow morning and re-assess unless he's unresponsive I think

Not necessarily, I was told (in A&E) that pain meds go by body weight, so if he's underweight then Calpol might be best.

[lannistunut]

@Skelligsfeathers

Right ok....i understand about the calpol i guess.
I think he is 17 and has a bug. If he wants to sleep, let him sleep. Make sure there is his preferred drink to hand- be that tango ir whatever. ( why are you using tango as a bribe? If he wants tango let him have it!)

Does he have special needs?

Did you read the OP's posts? The OP explains he has ARFID.

[olympicsrock]

He doesn’t need A and E. There is no limit to how long you can take calpol for. Many many people take paracetamol every day of their adult lives

[DontKeepTheFaith]

I think if you are really worried, take him.

There is a lot of misinformation about A&E on MN. If the triage nurse doesn’t think it’s for a&e they can redirect to urgent care.

I went with DH a couple of days ago. We had been through the Gp system for weeks, he’d been fobbed off, then bloods, then more bloods, when he started vomiting dark brown sludge I took him to A&E. He was seen within minutes, had loads of tests and actually had a bowel obstruction! He’s had surgery now. He had abdominal pain for weeks though, I really wish I had taken him sooner.

We went before 6am and it really wasn’t busy. It’s made me realise to trust my gut a bit more. GP service is broken with so much being done over the phone so I would go in and see what they say. Hope he’s okay.

[lannistunut]

@olympicsrock

He doesn’t need A and E. There is no limit to how long you can take calpol for. Many many people take paracetamol every day of their adult lives

The warning is on the bottle of Calpol for a good reason, no one should be taking paracetamol every day without doctor's advice.

[Explaintome]

@lannistunut

The warning is on the bottle of Calpol for a good reason, no one should be taking paracetamol every day without doctor's advice.

What good reason not not take it for 5 days instead of 3?

[Hairyfairy01]

Slightly concerned that no one has even mentioned sepsis here. OP please be aware of the signs of sepsis. Trust your gut on this one, not a load of strangers on the internet.

[Punxsutawney]

you do know that A&E stands for accident and emergency which AFRID and vomiting are not ?

It's actually 'ARFID' and it can be a medical emergency. If he is significantly underweight then it is no different to an anorexic that isn't eating. It's a serious eating disorder.
We had instructions from medical professionals to take Ds to A and E if he wasn't eating. As that's what you do when somebody with an eating disorder is very unwell, due to lack of food.

[Wheresmymoneytree]

@MbatataOwl

Your post reads as if he is 7 years old.

He is practically a grown man and has a bug/ virus. Get a grip.

Out of curiosity, Is it just the males with an eating disorder you would ignore because they are men? Or would you ignore a female 17 year old with anorexia?

[Sirzy]

I would focus on getting fluids into him today even if it’s via syringe every 10 minutes! Maybe phone OOH for some advice

as an arfid mum I would long term focus on moving away from the “I can only have one can a day” mindset as hard as that can be but especially when with fluids the rigidity can be an issue at times like this.

[LadyWithLapdog]

How is your son this morning?

[Mouk]

Sorry to hear he's unwell.

I would call 111, keep offering fluids to him. Let him rest.

He's too old for calpol, I'd say adult OTC meds would be more effective.

I hope he feels better soon.