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?

An adult does of paracetemol is 1gm 4 timed a day. Depending on the concentration it is perfectly possible for an adult to take the appropriate dose of a preparation designed for children.

What are you talking about?! Of course you speak to medical professionals, of course they don’t just tell you to go to A&E. I did a 111 e-consult on Boxing Day, was called back within half an hour by a GP who discussed my symptoms, prescribed me antibiotics and had the prescription sent to the nearest open pharmacy for my husband to collect for me.

Headache and photophobia? For pity's sake tell us he doesn't have a stiff neck or a rash!

The first person you speak to is a call handler!

Calpol 6+ has an adult dosage on the bottle.

Not if you do the online consultation. And I called 111 many a time before I started using the online version, and always ended up speaking to a nurse or GP after being triaged. I’ve only been sent to A&E once, in fact, when DS was having trouble breathing.

Genuinely don't understand why your DP doesn't take him..or does he just gives instructions?

Sounds like covid to me, we've all had it since the week before Christmas

Sounds like Covid to me. I had the same symptoms. Slept for two days. Have you done a test.

This is the smarmy phrase that stops people from accessing timely help. This is what gets people ICU and limb amputations instead of a few days of IV antibiotics on a ward.

People get so afraid to ask for help that they wait until they haven't peed for 24 hours and their lips have turned blue, and they can't stay awake.

It doesn't help anyone. Emergencies are only ever emergencies once someone recognises them as such.

I'm not saying this young man is in an emergent state - I wouldn't be stupid brave enough to judge. But other people will read this thread at some point and may decide not to get help because people copy the 'is it an accident or is it an emergency' line.

Honestly, it sounds like covid. I slept 20 hours a day for about 4 days when I had it.

My 5 year old is just getting over a virus similar to what you've described (negative for covid) seen the doctor and was told there's something like that going around at the moment.

If you're worried start with 111

They can get you appointments the doctors say they don't have.. as I found out recently

I’d ring 111 or take him to A&E. I don’t mean to scare you but I had meningitis when I was not much older than that. I thought I had a virus and went to the doctor to get signed off sick and got sent to A&E instead. Spent over a week in hospital and several weeks recovering. I wouldn’t risk not going to A&E with your son. There are some simple tests they can do to rule it out in the first instance and it is something that can progress very quickly. The headache and eyes hurting would worry me. It is also something that often presents in people of that age.

When I last had Covid (in October), I was exactly as you described for about 48 hours. It was the most unwell I've ever felt, by far. I slept for almost the entire first day and only got out of bed to fill up my water bottle (and promptly fell asleep again on the sofa... then woke up and went back to bed!) but once that time passed, I was just very lethargic and mild cold symptoms. Hopefully that's where he's at and he'll soon be much brighter!
I'd pick up a test for him tomorrow if knowing is likely to ease his anxiety.

You don’t always get a rash with meningitis. I didn’t have one.

Believe me, I know. The rash is more common with meningococcal sepsis (or, for that matter, I've also seen it with pneumococcal sepsis, and group B strep sepsis). I was just trying to make a point.

You know him best how do you feel he is? My asd ds is very disconnected from his body doesn't feel aches and pains in the same way most people do. For example damaged a ligament in his foot continued to play football his foot was like a balloon and near impossible to remove his boot. Never complains of head or stomach aches yet his colour and mood change dramatically when he's ill. You need to know him and notices the signs mine can go downhill very quickly and we have needed emergency help on several occasions. Please listen to your son and yourself. You need to advocate for him usually quite loudly to be listened to.

Sounds like a virus definitely wouldn’t take him to a&e.
plenty of fluids would he accept dissolving paracetamol?

How is DS now OP? Any update?

This is exactly why it is worth calling them. Often it is the ONLY way to get a gp appointment.

Does he usually ask you to take him to a doctor when unwell? That's the only part that would worry me. It sounds like a virus but him being concerned would put me on high alert.

Unless there is multiple medical complaints- he's an 18yr old adult who has been unwell for 24hrs. I would say that sounds like an A&E job- call 111 for advice at most.

@RaininSummer It doesn't sound like the sort of thing which should be taking up A and E time to be honest. Let them concentrate on the life threatening stuff

I worked A&E for decades and I would take this seriously. 18yo boys are notoriously healthy and basically the only time we see them is sporting injuries, injury due to being a drunken idiot or vehicular incident. They don’t tend to present as just ‘sick’. In the main they have fantastic immune systems. So if they are sick with the symptoms OP describes I would be concerned, my antennae would be twitchy, and would want to rule out a meningococcal infection. You have to get in so quick with these or the consequences are devastating. Generally, once they arrive it’s often too late for assistance to make a meaningful difference.

Will he take ibuprofen instead, my 12 yo can take the sugar coated ones fine as they don’t stick in your throat and taste nice when they are in your tongue.

have you tested him for Covid? Maybe he would feel better if you could confirm he just has a virus?