To take dd to A&E or wait to see GP

[Dewdrops1]

Hi all?

I know you can’t diagnose on here but concerned I may be wasting A&Es precious resources instead of waiting to see GP tomorrow.

we’ve just come back from holiday in Europe. 2 days ago DD who is teenager woke with a big egg sized lump on one side of forehead. No injury. She said she did squeeze a spot gently but not sure if that did it. Nothing obvious seen other than swelling. Yesterday the lump went down but the swelling spread to center of forehead and in between eyes and top of nose. The swelling has ‘flattened’ out but over a larger area and makes her forehead look slightly distorted. There’s no redness but is slightly warm to touch and tender. Dd said it’s giving her a slight headache and uncomfortable feeling.

Im worried it could be some sort of infection and it’s going near her eyes, or could it be a bug bite and I’m overthinking. So would you take her to A&E or go to GP tomorrow? The swelling isn’t massive but never experienced swelling spreading on forehead like that before (moved away from original lump) so not sure if it’s something I need to be concerned about (also nothing similar on google).

thanks for your advice in advance 🙂

I wish I could take OP's child to A&E. Yesterday. Or the day before that.

I really hope the correct diagnosis is not Pott Tumor (the delay in treatment could have the most awful consequences) but it ain't a "burst cyst" for sure. I wouldn't entrust my pet hamster to the "cyst" doctor.

I had all the visual signs of cellulitis and resulting septicaemia, I was in an incredible amount of pain (in my leg) screaming down the A&E. And yet, the arsehole doctor I saw, diagnosed me with... Flu. Because "aches, pains, chills and swollen glands".
I questioned his diagnosis and he refused to further engage and walked out of the room in a tizz without even having seen my leg and without reviewing the blood test results.
Upon seeing the bloods, a concerned nurse sorted out a pack of antibiotics for me and in a conspiratory sort of way told me to take them despite the doctor's orders as she's worried for me. And so I did.

However, overnight I deteriorated further, now both of my legs were triple the size and the pain was upto my groin. I walked (or stumbled I should say) into Boots in tears and asked where do I go for medical attention as there was none in A&E and now it's Sunday. One look at my leg and the pharmacist there called me an ambulance. I was incredibly ill in the hospital for 2 weeks and according to ward doctors - on borrowed time.
My legs, though I'm grateful to have them still, never did completely recover - the lymhatic system and the veins are shot.

I wrote out my experience to discourage blind trust in doctors. Sometimes Dr Google is the only smart one in the room.

P.S
There was no evidence of me having attended the A&E the first day or any record of my blood test or the antibiotics issued. The doctors tried to find out who had seen me that day but came up with nothing. Sometimes it's mistakes... sometimes it's just evil.

What an awful experience @QueenCamilla and devastating that you are left with permanent lymphatic issues. I have also learned the hard way that our blind trust in doctors is sometimes misplaced.

I won't go into the details here as I don't want to derail, but if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, don't necessarily believe a GP who tells you it's definitely not a duck.

I really hope OP has gone back for a second opinion.

Anything visible should go to A&E. You arrive, someone sees it, you get seen. It could be an insect bite. Anything like that which comes from being on holiday can be anything, and hospitals see more like this than an ordinary GP, unless your daughter has had something similar in the past.

It is things that are not immediately visible, and confusing symptoms that can usually wait for GP.

If she still has a headache and the swelling has not gone down with antibiotics you need to go to A&E today. If it is PPT you’re risking severe, life threatening complications not getting her seen today.

Going back to the GP is a stupid idea, as they do not have the specialised knowledge. I’m not sure why you are so reluctant to get your child proper medical attention?

I bet 100% of us who have taken a child to A&E when in retrospect it wasn't necessary had a doctor tell us they'd always rather see a child and it be nothing than a parent not bring them in and..

How is she this morning, OP?

We've three A&E experiences.
DD asthma - I took her in, thought they all looked serious/grumpy as I was wasting their time. Turns out DD heart rate was 250bpm, she was fast tracked, and pumped full of steroids. They gave it 15 minutes to work, then ICU. I wasn't sure her coughing was bad enough so felt embarrassed taking her in as it was sudden and she didn't have a fever or anything. Several days in hospital.
DSD - had a boil on her back. GP said it needed lancing, so to go to A&E. She wasn't fussed but decided to go in that evening as she had a busy work day the next day. Within 5 hours she was in surgery for sepsis. Took her weeks and weeks to recover as it was an open packed wound.
DD - insect bite that looked swollen. Went pharmacy as DD is allergic to a lot of insect bites and antihistamines weren't taking the swelling down within 24 hours. Sent directly to hospital by pharmacist after she drew a circle on DD's leg to show where the swelling was for hospital to see the spread. Massive doses of antibiotics needed.

Lesson - don't wait if you've any doubts. And ignore all the 'don't waste NHS resources' types.

I agree. That’s a great post.

I absolutely third this! Please go back!

Morning OP. How is your daughter this morning?

External. But if you are correct, why is mum pissing about on MN?

She sought medical advice, has a treatment and is continuing to monitor it. Should she not use mumsnet in the meantime?

She used it before contacting a professional, didn't she?

Honestly @Kjpt140v give it a rest. No need to constantly put the boot in to a mother worried about her DD

@Dewdrops1 how is dd op?. On the road to recovery?

@QueenCamilla I had a very similar experience to yours but with facial swelling. Sent home TWICE from A&E on two consecutive days despite huge swelling around one eye and in so much pain I passed out on the floor of the hospital. Apparently the doc thought I was being dramatic! Went in again on the Monday and it was orbital cellulitis, spent a week in hospital on iv antibiotics and steroids. Was told I was "lucky" not to lose the sight in that eye. Three months later I have loss of feeing on that side of my face and loss of smell where it infected my sinus. I am waiting for an apology after a formal complaint was made through PALS.
For the OP, I was told any significant swelling or redness on the face warranted an immediate urgent appointment or A&E if the weekend. With blood tests and possibly CT scans.
I hope your DD is on the road to recovery and the antibiotics did the trick.

She’s much better, swelling has almost gone. Thanks for asking 😊

That's good news. Fingers crossed she continues to recover.

Lovely update

That's exactly what happened to my DS and by the time it got taken seriously the infection was putting so much pressure on the eyeball that the they had to do an emergency operation to drain it manually, along with a week in hospital on IV antibiotics. He also was lucky not to lose his sight but luckily made a full recovery with no lasting ill effects. I'm sorry to hear you are suffering ongoing problems due to failure to take this seriously.

Watch out though, when I told this account earlier in the thread I was accused of over dramatising and laughed at by posters who didn't believe me. I'm sure you will know all too well that the "frog eye" description really isn't an exaggeration!

Great update, OP. And just goes to show that Dr's do get it right.... no need for dramatic dashes to A & E.

Great news op. No eyes popping out of heads or triangles of death after all.

They dont always get it right tho, that is the point

Great she is doing well OP

Glad she's doing well!

A&E urgently