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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think dr was wrong?

102 replies

lucie333 · 10/05/2023 22:12

My son who is 3.5 came home from nursery with a temp, crying in pain whenever he tried to pee, he was ago sick when he got home had a temp of 39.5 & very lethargic- never seen him to unwell actually. I took him to dr who requested we did a urine sample- I tried my best but he was crying in too much pain he just couldn't do it, he then examined him and his boy parts seemed okay, no signs of infection or anything like that. He told me to go him and give him regular calpol, I said I wasn't happy to get sent home with nothing as I'm positive he has urine infection but he said it's too early to tell, he also said he can't prescribe without pee sample and I asked if it was possible to get sent to hospital for them to do one and he said it wasn't necessary, I trusted his word and left... I'm now thinking that possibly wasn't the right thing to do. I tried my best to get him to pee for me when we got home but he was crying saying please no mummy😢 he eventually let one out when he was in the bath ( yuck I know but it seemed more comfortable for him)

I guess my question is, was the dr right with not prescribing antibiotics?

OP posts:
Original poster
lucie333 · 10/05/2023 22:14

Sorry for the spell check mistakes 😅

OP posts:
MaltedCow · 10/05/2023 22:16

Can you not just collect a sample and drop it to the surgery? I don't understand where hospital comes into it.

Anothnamechang · 10/05/2023 22:16

I recall getting the tiniest of samples from my then 6month old after 4 hours in the hospital. Apparently all was well& we were sent home.
There was actually a urine infection there and she took a febrile convulsion 3 days later resulting in multiple convulsions and a 2 week stay in hospital.

If you’re not happy definitely seek another opinion!

Ponoka7 · 10/05/2023 22:17

I think that they now hold back on giving antibiotics well too much, but others won't agree.

Original poster
lucie333 · 10/05/2023 22:17

MaltedCow · 10/05/2023 22:16

Can you not just collect a sample and drop it to the surgery? I don't understand where hospital comes into it.

He's in too much pain to pee into the sample pot, the dr is refusing antibiotics without a sample so I requested if the hospital could put a catheter in to sample is pee If that's the case

OP posts:
Ponoka7 · 10/05/2023 22:18

MaltedCow · 10/05/2023 22:16

Can you not just collect a sample and drop it to the surgery? I don't understand where hospital comes into it.

Probably because you can wait three days to find out that the sample was corrupted etc and meanwhile the child is left distressed.

Theunamedcat · 10/05/2023 22:19

Do they want a sample for the Dr's? It's tricky but I sat with ds on a towel on my lap sterile bowl at the ready TV distraction and waited him out

Itcouldhappenabishop · 10/05/2023 22:19

Well he couldn't diagnose without a pee sample so not sure what else he could have done really.
Perhaps some guidance on what to do if things got worse, or advice to give more water or whatever would have been helpful.
TBH after 10 years of parenting I generally already know what is wrong with my DC by the time I see a GP. I just need them to confirm the ear infection or whatever and prescribe as needed. You will find you need to arm yourself with all the information and be pushy to make sure your kids aren't fobbed off. Try to get a pee sample in a sterile container asap and you can probably drop it off at the GP.

Original poster
lucie333 · 10/05/2023 22:20

Theunamedcat · 10/05/2023 22:19

Do they want a sample for the Dr's? It's tricky but I sat with ds on a towel on my lap sterile bowl at the ready TV distraction and waited him out

Yes they won't prescribe antibiotics without it. I have the sample pot at home I will try again in the morning! Thank you for the tips

OP posts:
Qazwsxefv · 10/05/2023 22:21

Using a catheter (tube into the bladder) to get a urine sample is a really invasive procedure and can actually . The hospital would first of all try having your son naked waist down for hours and you following him around with a pot waiting for the magic moment. If your son is well (alert, responsive no red flag signs) that might be more comfortable at home to get a sample. Red flag signs meaning a child should be in hospital on the link https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng143/resources/support-for-education-and-learning-educational-resource-traffic-light-table-pdf-6960664333

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng143/resources/support-for-education-and-learning-educational-resource-traffic-light-table-pdf-6960664333

Itchyfleet · 10/05/2023 22:21

Ponoka7 · 10/05/2023 22:17

I think that they now hold back on giving antibiotics well too much, but others won't agree.

Antibiotics are still ridiculously over prescribed.
We now have several multi resistant strains of bacteria that cause significant morbidity and death and this is compounded by over use.

Qazwsxefv · 10/05/2023 22:21

*can actually introduce an infection where there isn’t one already

Notimeforaname · 10/05/2023 22:22

Your son only peed once today in the bath? Give him more drinks and wait, he has to pee at some point.

Flowertight · 10/05/2023 22:24

Boy parts? Do you mean penis.

Tiredsotired23 · 10/05/2023 22:24

I was fobbed off before and my son had a horrible urine infection that went to his kidneys. You need to get a sample asap and go straight back. Trust your instinct

Original poster
lucie333 · 10/05/2023 22:26

Flowertight · 10/05/2023 22:24

Boy parts? Do you mean penis.

Yes🤣 sorry I didn't know if I could say it haha

OP posts:
justanothernamechangemonday · 10/05/2023 22:28

Catheterising a 3 year old would be incredibly traumatic. Of course the Dr needs a sample to see whether there is infection present.

Pyui · 10/05/2023 22:35

The doctor can’t just prescribe antibiotics based on that history.
it’s much less common for boys to have a UTI than girls and children can say it hurts to wee if they have a tummy ache for example- they are not very good at localising pain
Calpol, fluids, and sit with no bottoms on as above !
it is rubbish when your kid is sick but broad spectrum antibiotics are more likely to give him the squirts than to treat anything…

Original poster
lucie333 · 10/05/2023 22:37

justanothernamechangemonday · 10/05/2023 22:28

Catheterising a 3 year old would be incredibly traumatic. Of course the Dr needs a sample to see whether there is infection present.

I know that, but my son has done 1 pee in the last 18hr, it seems cruel to leave him this long. I'm a carer and they prescribe antibiotics for uti for my patients without a sample, I know its different for elderly people though but it seems unfair to leave my son in this discomfort when its obvious there's some sort of infection there

OP posts:
FairAcre · 10/05/2023 22:37

Try sitting him on the potty in a bath of water. The warm water around the feet helps them pee.

Original poster
lucie333 · 10/05/2023 22:38

FairAcre · 10/05/2023 22:37

Try sitting him on the potty in a bath of water. The warm water around the feet helps them pee.

That's a great idea thank you! I'll definitely try this in the morning

OP posts:
Devonshiregal · 10/05/2023 22:39

Take him up to a and e. Sit him on your lap with a pot under him and iPad. They can test right away. If he’s in that much pain and has a high temp he sounds sick and in need of antibiotics. I wouldn’t wait. What’s the point? Don’t give it a chance to go to his kidneys. Give him a tonne of juice and prepare yourself for some physical endurance holding him and the pee pot.

Greengold123 · 10/05/2023 22:43

The doctor wasn't wrong, you just need to collect a urine sample and they'll be able to test with strips immediately to determine if there's infection.

Suggestions of going to A&E with this when your child is otherwise ok and you haven't even got a urine sample is everything that's wrong with the NHS.

Daisy95 · 10/05/2023 22:43

Your son has done 1 wee in 18 hours?! How much fluid intake has he had today?

Cm078 · 10/05/2023 22:46

Try to give as many fluids as possible & pee on a potty? Then you can tip it in the sample pot.
Does sound like uti but dr can't just diagnose without the evidence unfortunately. Really hope you manage to get one and get it sorted, horrible when they're in pain and you feel as though no one is taking you seriously. Been there many times