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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Another A&E thread

534 replies

MyOtherCarIsAPorsche · 12/10/2023 21:53

AIBU to take granddaughter to hospital this evening or will it wait?

She's been having headaches regularly this year. She describes pounding and pain in eye. GP said eye test - optician immediately said that she could see a large prescription. DG had glasses then three months later had another checkup and a stronger pair prescribed. She's due back in December. So I'm assuming that they're increasing the strength of the glasses in increments.

Her headaches have persisted. This current one she's had since last Friday. I picked her up from school on Monday and could tell that each footstep was making her wince with pain. She couldn't sleep Monday night because of pain and feeling sick. We've been alternating paracetamol and ibuprofen for pain relief. Saw GP on Tuesday who said it was nothing sinister but was referring her to paediatrician. This evening she was complaining of eye and nose pain and appeared to be light sensitive. She's woken in pain a couple of hours after she went to bed and her eyelid is drooping.

Is this worth a trip to A&E?

We're very worried.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
13
Poppsidoppsi · 14/10/2023 20:15

@MyOtherCarIsAPorsche you need to
go straight back to A&E now and demand a CT scan. I don’t want to frighten you but my dad was diagnosed with a brain tumour after months of headaches and the GP dismissed it as “getting old”. You are your granddaughter’s advocate. No one can tell it’s nothing serious WITHOUT a scan. Go now and refuse to leave until she has a scan.

Mirabai · 14/10/2023 20:19

MyOtherCarIsAPorsche · 14/10/2023 20:15

@Mirabai

Hospital said it was migraine.

I know, but without a scan they can’t be sure.

Somuchgoo · 14/10/2023 20:21

I really don't want to be the scaremonger of doom here as the overwhelming likelihood is that it's something minor.

But

On my kids brain tumour ward guess how many of us were told 'it's nothing to worry about' . Answer: all of us.

How many of us were fobbed off repeatedly by doctors (especially GPs). All of us

How many of us only finally got our answer when they did a scan. Also all of us.

The wait meant that one girl is paralyzed. Her parents had been nagging doctors and waiting for many months.

Immediate surgery was required for my child to save her life. I'm quite glad I didn't listen to that last GP...

NICE guidelines and the Headsmart charity guidelines as day that imaging is required. Its really important to push for it, however precautionary it might be.

Obviously the are many other things a scan might also show that need immediate treatment, some more sweetie than others, but none of which can be diagnosed without a scan. It could be a bleed or raised pressure, excess fluid, a brain abnormality that's only now causing an effect, a thousand things. And it may well show nothing, and it's just a migraine, in which case at least you can sleep at night.

But I probably would wait until morning personally.

TeenLifeMum · 14/10/2023 20:25

I would want a scan. My cousin was diagnosed with migraines at age 9. Turned out she actually had water on her brain which needed a simple stent. By the time it was picked up she was 16 and she died after the operation. If they’d picked it up at age 9 it would have been a simple operation. I was 14. The hospital that found it was different to the original hospital, who never did a scan and just gave strong migraine tablets. They paid out due to negligence but it hardly replaces a dc. While that’s rare, how they can diagnose without a scan baffles me.

That said, dh gets eye lid drop with migraines.

Poppsidoppsi · 14/10/2023 20:25

Please OP, listen to the many people here telling you to act now and go back to A&E. Do not keep waiting for the glasses to solve a problem that is very much likely not connected to them. @Somuchgoo is so right and you need to Do something.

Toomuchtrouble4me · 14/10/2023 20:29

Only read pg 1 but can’t understand why you’re waiting! Droopy eye, head pain, change in pupils, visual disturbance…
What are you waiting for?

TheShellBeach · 14/10/2023 20:31

I was very concerned after you took her the other day and they didn't scan her, as she met the criteria IMO.

She meets the criteria even more now, OP - please take her back and advocate for her.

Shantayyoustaysashayaway · 14/10/2023 20:34

@MyOtherCarIsAPorsche Has your dgd been tested for hemiplegic migraines? My adult niece has them, the first time left her mute for a few days & she had to use a whiteboard to "speak"

need2findwork · 14/10/2023 20:42

your DGD is 7. She cannot self advocate. She only has you and her mum. I do not understand how you can be so calm and satisfied with the migraine diagnosis which is just a medical opinion in the absence of diagnostic tests. I absolutely would go back now.

Original poster
MyOtherCarIsAPorsche · 14/10/2023 20:44

My daughter is chatting to her now.

She's woken with headache and asked for painkillers - she usually avoids painkillers as she hates the taste.

She is seeing things side by side - so that sounds like double vision.

OP posts:
Username82y · 14/10/2023 20:44

Go back to the hospital. Either tonight or first thing tomorrow once you're all rested.

pashminadreamer · 14/10/2023 20:47

MyOtherCarIsAPorsche · 14/10/2023 20:44

My daughter is chatting to her now.

She's woken with headache and asked for painkillers - she usually avoids painkillers as she hates the taste.

She is seeing things side by side - so that sounds like double vision.

Another symptom of raised ICP. Please take her back to A&E tonight.

StSwithinsDay · 14/10/2023 20:49

I would be petrified that she has a brain tumour if that was my child.

pphammer · 14/10/2023 20:53

Definitely A&E, out seems there's more there than just getting used to glasses
Most GPs nowadays are health secretaries. She needs to be seen by a team doctor.

nocoolnamesleft · 14/10/2023 20:55

I am seriously uncomfortable. If I were hearing this story from one of my junior doctors I would be 1)seeing the patient myself, and 2)wanting a scan. Yes, it may well all be migraine, but I wouldn't be happy to stick that label on in these circumstances without imaging. In your shoes I'm afraid I would be going back to A&E, and requesting paeds review.

Original poster
MyOtherCarIsAPorsche · 14/10/2023 20:57

She fell over in Home Bargains today when she looked up at the top shelf.

OP posts:
thaegumathteth · 14/10/2023 21:04

Tbh OP I've no idea why you're still posting here with more and more worrying info but not literally insisting she's taken seriously at A&E

Dita73 · 14/10/2023 21:04

You’re being far too complacent and need to get back to the hospital immediately

Grmumpy · 14/10/2023 21:05

What an amazing woman you are. I’m a granny looking after two young grandchildren with my husband’s help this evening and tomorrow and I’m ready for bed. I truly wish some comfort to you and your family.

Mydogmybestfriend · 14/10/2023 21:05

Get private health care for her. It's the only way to go she will get a scan straight away

whateveryouwantmetosay · 14/10/2023 21:06

This doesn't sound like a simple migraine. I agree with others that it sounds like you are being fobbed off. At the very least, I would expect they treat the migraine rather than sending her home in pain. As others have said, you have to advocate for your kids. I find the louder I am, the further I get.

nocoolnamesleft · 14/10/2023 21:10

Mydogmybestfriend · 14/10/2023 21:05

Get private health care for her. It's the only way to go she will get a scan straight away

Bollocks. A child with this description turning up at my hospital would either get a CT scan over the weekend, or an MRI on Monday, depending upon examination findings.

Original poster
MyOtherCarIsAPorsche · 14/10/2023 21:13

thaegumathteth · 14/10/2023 21:04

Tbh OP I've no idea why you're still posting here with more and more worrying info but not literally insisting she's taken seriously at A&E

I'm worried sick this evening.

I'm chatting to my daughter online.

I'm a 3 hr drive away from home.

I've also just received another photograph. Since DGD woke up in pain her eyelid has drooped again.

I cannot go there tonight. There are two other little grandsons with her and no one to watch them. One of them is zonked on melatonin until he wakes - usually until 11pm - 1am.

We're stuck for this evening.

I couldn't believe they sent them home early hours Friday - and I was dubious that it was migraine. I've had migraines for 51 yrs and I've never had a nine day headache.

The system is wrong ....

OP posts:
Lougle · 14/10/2023 21:13

@MyOtherCarIsAPorsche I don't want to add any more stress to you, but I have to agree that your DGD needs a paediatric review. I used to be a neuro nurse and I can't imagine someone with that history being denied a scan. There's just too much going on to rule out conditions that need intervention.

Lougle · 14/10/2023 21:14

X-posted with you @MyOtherCarIsAPorsche .