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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to have taken DD to A&E

47 replies

GloriaMumble · 02/04/2008 19:30

DD had been happy as larry all day. As i was doing her pre-dinner nappy change she seemed a bit hot so I took her temp, was 38.2. I gave her some calprofen and then I noticed a rash on her tummy, not much of a rash but a rash nonetheless. I did the glass test and what rash there was didn't go away. She also seemed a bit dopey so I took temp again - 39.5.

So I freaked, loaded her in the car and took her to A&E. When we got there, triage nurse examined her said its just a viral rash, its not "worth" seeing a casualty doctor so go and see the out of hours GP (luckily just down the corridor). He couldn't find any evidence of infection so sent us home to try an get a urine sample (from a 16 month old!) to rule out UTI.

Don't get me wrong, I v happy there's nothing seriously wrong, I just feel like a bit of a numpty and I get the impression the nurse thought I was wasting her time... was I too pfb? it was the glass test thing that freaked me...

OP posts:

Janni · 02/04/2008 19:31

If it HAD been serious and you'd not acted, you'd feel a lot more than like a numpty. You did what you thought was the right thing at the time, that's all anyone can expect of you

WowOoo · 02/04/2008 19:33

Would have done exactly the same. hate it when they make you feel like that.

MrsTittleMouse · 02/04/2008 19:34

Better to do that 20 times and feel like a bit of a numpty than to miss something important. I can't think that anyone would call you unreasonable when she failed the glass test.

naturalblonde · 02/04/2008 19:35

I've done exact same thing, any kind of rash and i freak out. better that than miss something serious.

mylovelymonster · 02/04/2008 19:36

You were right to take her, and I'm glad it wasn't anything serious.

princessmel · 02/04/2008 19:36

I would have done the same thing.
Whenever I've taken dd or ds to the docs or A&E and it turns out to be not too serious, they always say we did the right thing in coming.

anynamewilldo · 02/04/2008 19:39

I did exactly the same with my ds a few weeks back, (and he is my 3rd) it was just a viral rash too, but always better to get them checked over.

RustyBear · 02/04/2008 19:40

A triage nurse told DH he'd just badly bruised his elbow when he slipped on a wet floor & it probably 'wasn't worth' waiting three hours for an x-ray, he should just go home & take ibuprofen. She made DH feel like a total wuss, but luckily he did wait for an x-ray, as his arm was broken in two places, each side of his elbow & he spent 3 months in plaster.

StarlightMcKenzie · 02/04/2008 19:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

chocbutton · 02/04/2008 19:44

no YANBU, you are a worried parent doing what you think is best. I bet if you'd called NHS direct and told them about the rash they would have said the same thing. We've taken DS to A&E with a rash before and it was also a viral infection, but they said we'd done the right thing, and better to be safe than sorry etc.
When it is your precious child you are worried about, I think it is more unreasonable of the nurse to make you feel silly.
Hope your DD is feeling better.

Original poster

GloriaMumble · 02/04/2008 19:45

whew - I was expecting a slew of responses saying how dare i waste the hard-pushed NHS's time... will definitely keep a close eye on her this evening/night though.

anyone any ideas how I get a urine sample from a 16 month old? Apparently i should do it in the morning and take it to my normal GP, do I just follow her round with the bowl the doctor's given me (joy)

OP posts:

princessmel · 02/04/2008 19:46

Did they not give you one of those bags with a hole in, that has a sticky section to stick onto her vulva?

BrassicMonkey · 02/04/2008 19:48

YANBU

sarah293 · 02/04/2008 19:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

CaptainUnderpants · 02/04/2008 19:49

No way a numpty. .

Re urine sample - ypu can usually get something that goes in the nappy to collect , I has to get a sample off by Ds when he was just a couple of months old.

I am surprised that the nurse didn't give you one even if she had to gp to paeds to get it .

Do you have a late night chemist open that might have something , if not why not phone your A & E or local childrens ward to see if they have something and get someone to collect it for you . Just a thought .

Original poster

GloriaMumble · 02/04/2008 19:50

nope, no bag with a hole in it. I just got given a sterile bowl and a sample container as apparently that's "how they do it in a & e".

OP posts:

CaptainUnderpants · 02/04/2008 19:52

Prinessmel has explained what I was trying to explain about the device to collect urine . .

CaptainUnderpants · 02/04/2008 19:54

Phone your local childrens ward , explain your situation and see what they can advise.

BarbaraWoodlouse · 02/04/2008 19:55

I learned the hard way that stick on bags are no longer in favour. The new protocol asks for a "clean catch" . Less chance of contamination.

Must admit that having followed DD (then 11 months) round the house for many many hours with nothing to show but a splash in the bowl and a couple of wet patches on the carpets I begged my GP for some stick on bags which they did eventually hand over.

Good luck!

PS YANBU - glass test failed = automatic referral to medical help IMO

WinkyWinkola · 02/04/2008 19:57

Yeah, you'll get a urine sample. They'll test it for a UTI, then they'll tell you it's not conclusive anyway because you may have inadvertently contaminated the sample. Pointless. I always make the staff take the sample.

Never ever feel neurotic about taking your DCs to be checked out further. And if someone suggest you are being OTT, then just shrug and tell them you pay taxes and if you are worried, you're entitled to get it checked out.

BarbaraWoodlouse · 02/04/2008 20:00

Or as in my case they'll spill the sample in the lab!

mrsleroyjethrogibbs · 02/04/2008 20:02

yanbu . better be safe than sorry

Madlentileater · 02/04/2008 20:02

YANBU! would have done exactly the same. Good luck catching wee.

kitbit · 02/04/2008 20:03

For getting a sample from ds I put a normal tissue inside his nappy so when he weed it got wet and I could wring it out. The docs here seemed to be ok with that, worth a try?
And fwiw NO you are NOT being unreasonable! I'd have been down there like a shot if it were me. You can never be too cautious with a little one and your instinct was to go, so you did the right thing. Hope she's feeling better soon

Original poster

GloriaMumble · 02/04/2008 20:28

Thank you all so much, DH is home and he doesn't think I'm a numpty, he's just settling DD now. I've reread all replies and had a little cry and I'm feeling much better

Will try "project wee-catch" tomorrow (sigh) luckily we have wipeable floors so I'll try the approved method first and then go for the tissue in the nappy when i get to the end of my tether

OP posts:

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