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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Drs today

22 replies

Brumbies · 19/12/2023 16:24

My 5 year old grandson has been coughing, runny nose for 5 weeks now. Saw a dr who said it's normal for kids. Gave him an inhaler! He's very weak, underweight, and not eating much.

Aibu to expect more?

OP posts:
velvetoptions · 19/12/2023 16:27

underweight recently or always underweight?

ghostyslovesheets · 19/12/2023 16:29

Well it is fairly normal for kids to have cold after cold this time of year.

But did you mention the weight loss etc

allyallsorts · 19/12/2023 16:32

Perhaps, its really difficult I went into my GP last winter with the worst sore throat I'd ever had. GP said it was oral thrush and didn't even look. I took the medication and just got worse and worse over the next few days until my DH took me to out of hours where they said I clearly had strep and needed antibiotics urgently. A Friend also went to her GP with pain in her abdomen and was sent away being told it was just her ovaries but was later rushed into hospital with a burst appendix and required a 10 day stay in hospital.

I don't want to scare you at all but I do think some GPs just assume the most common probability is the case all the time and that expectation leads them to miss more serious cases sometimes. Its also to do with how the NHS works in that they have these treatment pathways so first do option one, if that doesn't work on to option 2 if that doesn't work perhaps refer to a specialist or order additional tests. It probably does work well most of the time but it can lead to things being missed.

You know your Grandson so if you really are worried get another opinion.

JoyeuxNarwhal · 19/12/2023 17:07

Has he always been underweight or lost weight in the last 5 weeks since he's been ill?

If he has the inhaler and it relieves the cough, maybe he'll feel up to eating more

Have you got a follow up booked? Asthma nurse maybe? Or did they give you advice for if it doesn't improve/gets worse?

velvetoptions · 20/12/2023 06:48

odd to post such concern about your GS

and then not be arsed to engage

Original poster
Brumbies · 20/12/2023 07:44

velvetoptions · 20/12/2023 06:48

odd to post such concern about your GS

and then not be arsed to engage

Really?

I have to respond within a certain time frame?

OP posts:
Original poster
Brumbies · 20/12/2023 07:45

ghostyslovesheets · 19/12/2023 16:29

Well it is fairly normal for kids to have cold after cold this time of year.

But did you mention the weight loss etc

Yes and the dr seemed to think that was normal too.

OP posts:
Original poster
Brumbies · 20/12/2023 07:46

JoyeuxNarwhal · 19/12/2023 17:07

Has he always been underweight or lost weight in the last 5 weeks since he's been ill?

If he has the inhaler and it relieves the cough, maybe he'll feel up to eating more

Have you got a follow up booked? Asthma nurse maybe? Or did they give you advice for if it doesn't improve/gets worse?

Edited

He's never been overweight, but it's noticeable how skinny he has become over the last few weeks. I'm just letting him eat what he wants at the moment just to get food inside him.

OP posts:
Original poster
Brumbies · 20/12/2023 07:47

allyallsorts · 19/12/2023 16:32

Perhaps, its really difficult I went into my GP last winter with the worst sore throat I'd ever had. GP said it was oral thrush and didn't even look. I took the medication and just got worse and worse over the next few days until my DH took me to out of hours where they said I clearly had strep and needed antibiotics urgently. A Friend also went to her GP with pain in her abdomen and was sent away being told it was just her ovaries but was later rushed into hospital with a burst appendix and required a 10 day stay in hospital.

I don't want to scare you at all but I do think some GPs just assume the most common probability is the case all the time and that expectation leads them to miss more serious cases sometimes. Its also to do with how the NHS works in that they have these treatment pathways so first do option one, if that doesn't work on to option 2 if that doesn't work perhaps refer to a specialist or order additional tests. It probably does work well most of the time but it can lead to things being missed.

You know your Grandson so if you really are worried get another opinion.

Thanks, might have to do this.

OP posts:
Mindymomo · 20/12/2023 07:59

If the inhaler isn’t working or helping I would go back to GP, constant coughing is exhausting for a 5 year old. Lack of energy would also be a concern to me. Was he given a blue inhaler which give relief of wheezing or a brown steroid inhaler which opens up the airways.

velvetoptions · 20/12/2023 09:40

Brumbies · 20/12/2023 07:44

Really?

I have to respond within a certain time frame?

Show quote history

i knew that would get you back! 😂

Original poster
Brumbies · 20/12/2023 14:57

velvetoptions · 20/12/2023 06:48

odd to post such concern about your GS

and then not be arsed to engage

If you came on here to cause trouble and not contribute, just go away.

Merry Xmas

OP posts:
Raxacoricofallapatorian · 20/12/2023 15:00

velvetoptions · 20/12/2023 09:40

i knew that would get you back! 😂

Show quote history

Ah, manipulative as well as twatty.

helpme5 · 20/12/2023 17:31

I think it's pretty normal op, especially if he's in school or mixing with other children?

FrownedUpon · 20/12/2023 17:39

Sounds normal really. Every kid I know has a permanent cough at the moment.

mumda · 20/12/2023 17:57

Weigh him and measure his height. Repeat at a timely interval as to not worry him. Maybe weigh yourself and write that down too so it's not just him.

Then you can go with a weightloss figure if he doesn't perk up.

Original poster
Brumbies · 20/12/2023 21:11

Mindymomo · 20/12/2023 07:59

If the inhaler isn’t working or helping I would go back to GP, constant coughing is exhausting for a 5 year old. Lack of energy would also be a concern to me. Was he given a blue inhaler which give relief of wheezing or a brown steroid inhaler which opens up the airways.

The blue one. It's not helped at all.

OP posts:
Original poster
Brumbies · 20/12/2023 21:12

mumda · 20/12/2023 17:57

Weigh him and measure his height. Repeat at a timely interval as to not worry him. Maybe weigh yourself and write that down too so it's not just him.

Then you can go with a weightloss figure if he doesn't perk up.

Great idea. I've started doing that!

OP posts:
Edinburghguy · 20/12/2023 22:40

Sadly most GPs do not have the time or inclination to investigate anything in detail.

Their modus operandi is to just hope it goes away or give the patient something in the hope that it’ll work. Classic is GPs prescribing antibiotics with no evidence that the infection is bacterial.

If you do your own research and suggest a possible cause, a lot of GPs will stare at you blankly and mention something about Dr. Google.

It’s a dire situation and throwing more money at this disgraceful system won’t help.

I hope your grandson gets well soon.

Floralnomad · 20/12/2023 22:42

Does he have a spacer with the inhaler and know how to use it properly ?

Original poster
Brumbies · 21/12/2023 08:04

Floralnomad · 20/12/2023 22:42

Does he have a spacer with the inhaler and know how to use it properly ?

They gave us a mask with the inhaler.

OP posts:
Original poster
Brumbies · 21/12/2023 08:04

He ate a bit more yesterday but is very week, says his legs hurt him.

OP posts:
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