To not take DS to A&E

[dghiggins]

DS is 18, he’s got anxiety but is on medication for it. He’s also got ASD.

Yesterday he was fine all day until about 5pm when he said he felt sick, he had a headache and his eyes hurt. He had calpol (won’t take tablets) which didn’t help and he said he felt weird and spaced out. He went to sleep at 8pm, woke up at midnight due to the fireworks. Had a drink and went back to sleep until 11am this morning. But still seemed really tired and went back to sleep for another 2.5 hours.

He said he still feels spaced out and sick, his stomach and head hurts and he's been sick once. He feels hot but I don't know his actual temperature

He hasn't eaten all day and hasn't drank much. He still seems tired after sleeping over 14 hours. He wants to me to take him somewhere but we don't have any walk in centres nearby and the GP aren't open. DP thinks I should take him to A&E to put his mind at rest that he's fine but I don't think they'll do anything.

AIBU?

I would keep an eye on his symptoms as it could be sepsis.

Agree with above, re calpol not being the best. You'd be using a bottle a day for the adult dose I think? The melts suggested above would be better. Def go speak to a pharmacy for advice.

How much Calpol did he have to take to get an adult dose? I assume you're using 6-plus solution, but even then, an adult dose must be multiple teaspoons. I don't have a bottle in front of me so I won't even try doing the calculations.

I've moved my own tablet-hesitant teen onto soluble paracetamol tablets. With those, you just drop a tablet into water, wait for it to dissolve, and mix in some fruit squash to give it a nice taste. It's cheaper and you don't run out so quickly.

Only issue is that the resulting drink is fizzy, which not all people appreciate.

Ah cross posted with @Beseen22 who at least did the calculations!

Cross-posted with everyone else!

111

A&E isn’t the right place - he hasn’t had an accident and it’s not an emergency. If he’s still feeling the same tomorrow I’d make a GP appointment then, and in the meantime fluid, rest and regular doses of paracetamol. If you’re worried his symptoms are getting worse or your gut feeling is that something is very wrong, phone 111. Just a thought, do migraines run in the family?

He is likely dehydrated and hungry, no need for A&E

It is if you give the correct amount. But that’s 20mls of the 6+.

Apolloneuro · Today 15:05
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Oh bless him. Let him see you ring 111. He’s probably scared. I don’t think 16 hours on a chair in a&e will help him”

This. If our youngest (20) was worried I’d at least call out of hours.

Sounds like the virus my husband and I have at the moment , I have a few chronic illnesses and wouldn’t dream of going to a&e with these symptoms

All these people who are always so happy to assure a poster that there is no emergency. How do you know?

Headache - could be a simple headache, could be a migraine, could be a brain tumour, could be meningitis, could be sepsis.

Hasn't had much to drink - could be because they aren't thirsty, could be that they have a virus, could be the start of an acute kidney injury, could contribute to sepsis.

Feeling sick/being sick - could be viral, could be a bacterial infection, could be meningitis, could be sepsis...

The point is that without someone properly assessing the person you can't tell. The OP can see her child. If she thinks it's sensible to watch and wait, it probably is. If she phones 111 and they decide it's sensible to watch and wait, it probably is. If random posters on Mumsnet decide that it's definitely not an emergency, they risk falsely reassuring someone that their loved one is ok, when they're not.

Over the years we have seen some truly life threatening situations on Mumsnet. All of them were posting fairly normally until someone said 'Why are you talking about that here?? You need to get seen!'

I looked after a patient who had visited the GP feeling a bit under the weather with an annoying little spot one afternoon. It was sepsis and within hours he was critically ill.

Call 111. I did this recently re my 18 year old and they responded quickly and gave clear advice which in her case was that we needed to go to A&E. They also told us where to go that was least busy at the time (we live in London) and theoretically "booked" us an appointment (though I'm not sure if that made much difference). She was seen quickly and given an initial treatment, though we were there in all about 6 hours as there were further tests she needed and then a wait for meds.

If you can get to a chemist you can get soluble paracetamol and codeine. If ordinary paracetamol isn't working then the codeine may.

It’s Covid

This isn't for a and e, but he is 18 so if he is saying he feels unwell enough to see a doctor I think you should call 111 for our of hours GP

What is the bloody obsession with 111 ????
All you are doing is speaking to a call handler who is following an algorithm! Never known them say anything else other than present to A&E

I recently took my actual child to A&E for a real emergency and we had to wait eleven hours so be prepared for the long haul if you do go.

If he 'wants you to take him somewhere' then I'd take him. You can't force him to take paracetamol or to drink so I don't see what choice you have. I don't know that I would wait with him though.

Is he normally anxious about his health?

If it helps, Panadol have a soluble paracetamol. I can't swallow tablets so that's easier to take. It's like drinking sparkling water

Do whatever your gut tells you. I always say we need to trust our gut

ny child was sick. They were screaming. Very high fever and I knew something was wrong. I called 999 who told me they would t come out. I called my doctors. They wouldn’t help. I rang 111 and they said she needed to be seen asap

turns out she had sepsis. I was truly horrified at the fact that no one wanted to help us.

@Cerealkiller4U

Jesus that's terrifying! I called 111 back in October for my 2 year old whose temp was through the roof and her breathing was rapid and she was more drowsy than normal, something was just not quite right. My gut told me to call. 111 sent a blue light ambulance for her based on my description of her symptoms. When they checked her oxygen sat level it was lower than it needed to be so they gave her oxygen and took us to A&E. Turned out just to be viral, but it was utterly terrifying. Thankfully nothing anywhere as serious as sepsis though - I can't believe 999 wouldn't help you!

I doubt he can take enough calpol to make it effective. Will he take any other medication? Maybe you can buy a liquid paracetamol at adult doseage?

Is it an accident or emergency?