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?

I have 3 with asd and arfid

You definitely need to go to an and e. Children with arfid are so medically vulnerable

good luck

How is he today?

@Ddvmum26 oh poor you, the strain of having to to Google. ARFID is hardly unusual anyway, but even if it was, the OP is worried about her DS. If people explained everything people might not know about we'd never get to the crux of the matter.

@kege How was your night? It's a bit early to know how DS is doing today, but hope he's over the worst if it. Personally I'd try to find a Drs open today or an out of hours etc. the wait in A&E would be awful, but IF you're going to go I'd wake DS & go as soon as possible before the sports accidents start arriving!

When you don't eat for days, eating again or even drinking can be overwhelming and food all looks/seems revolting. Try making half a sandwich (one slice) cutting that up into about 8 pieces and only giving him 1-2 pieces along side tiny pieces of a couple of other things (teeny tiny bite size) and a very small drink.

best wishes.

If he cannot keep anything down then he may be admitted for rehydration. Has happened twice to my 20 year old since covid. No-one suggested he was wasting time. Not eating doesn’t matter, not Drinking does. Try and get some fluids down him.

why are you giving a 17 year old calpol though?

Oh just saw calpol because of ARFID

when he is well I would work on swallowing meds. My eldest son could not swallow meds for a long time & had to have liquids - it was a nightmare. He now takes all his in yoghurt, so much easier (he has to take a lot). The issue with being stuck using calpol is you have to give a lot as they get older.

ds1 used to eat no fruit, veg, meat, fish or dairy so I sympathise with the problems.

I think he needs to be seen by a doctor immediately, trust your instinct op as you know best.

Agree about the volumes of calpol required for teens. That's what pushed it for my kids. When they felt ill they couldn't handle large volumes of fake fruit sickly medicine!
I know it's not easy for some with eating and sensory challenges

I don’t think I would take him to A&E as it doesn’t sound like life and death and waiting 9+ hours in a busy waiting room sounds like hell when you’re constantly sick.

However, you need to try and get him seen today.
Ring the gp or walk in clinic and explain what’s happened.

I would get some of that diarolyte drink you can take after D&V which helps with dehydration and replacing electrolytes.

Consider meningitis, he is the right age............ Definately keep an eye....

you can definately buy soluble paracatamol

did you go to A & E op? @kege

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

Yes, the reason is that very young children that remain unwell should be seen by a doctor. There's no reason whatsoever that the OP should've withdrawn paracetamol after Wednesday - he began feeling worse after that incidentally.

I would think at 17 Calpol is not strong enough.

It’s fine as long as you give enough.

it’s a long time since I purchased liquid paracetamol (I have the opposite issue with a child who won’t take any liquid meds but will thankfully have tablets) but I think they even have the adult dose on the bottle

You have to take loads of it. My son used to only he able to take calpol & had to practically drink it by 17. Getting him able to take tablets in yoghurt was such a relief.

I hope he is feeling better this morning. I think it might be helpful if you just don’t care what he drinks or eats as long as he eats something.
So all the sugary ‘bad’ food and drink is better than no food or drink.
Nutella on everything, full sugar fizzy drinks, hot chocolate, ice cream, chips, pancakes - anything calorie laden.
It doesn’t sit right I know. But just get calories into him any way you can. Just make what he wants and try not to care.

I think the Calpol 3 day rule is aimed at children and as pp have said extended use for an adult is fine. ( I have chronic pain, 6-8 paracetamol pd, every day is my norm)
Will your son drink SevenUp ? I remember a dr recommending this to replace electrolytes in d&v so might perk your son up. Or full fat Coke?
I hope he feels better soon. 7 or 17, it’s still a mum’s role to worry when they’re ill.

I am a 44 year old woman and I take calpol and children’s neurofen, its very good and works very quickly. I much prefer it to 2 paracetemol/neurofen tablets and find it works just as well.

Would he not take soluble paracetamol in his Fanta? Surely he would have to drink LOADS of calpol to get an adult dose?

I wouldn’t do this, especially not for someone with arfid who is struggling with fluids as it is. Changing taste and consistency of a safe food is a risky move.

Did you crush the tablets in yoghurt. My

My dd can't swallow tablets so we still use calpol - and an alternative would be useful!

No we don’t crush as my son has to take things like epilepsy meds which can’t be crushed. At our of tablets do start to dissolve in yoghurt tbh

You can get liquid paracetamol (oral suspension) with adult dosages from pharmacy.

Hope your soon feels better soon x

He would be fine to have paracetamol.
Are you really concerned that a 17 year old can't have paracetamol on Friday because they had some on Mon and Tues?

I hope he's feeling better today. My autistic son doesn't do well with illness either.

This isn’t A&E - it’s not an emergency and he’s still having fluids. Call 111 or try a walk in clinic?

Have you been giving him enough calpol? The adult dose is about half a bottle at a time - 4 or 5 syringes!