AIBU? Low platelets, hospital admission, sample error?!

[LucyV28]

I think im still in shock as I write this, so apologies for any mistakes or repetition.
Yesterday afternoon my daughter had some repeat blood tests after a slightly raised level on something back in April.
At 7.30 we received a call from the out of hours GP telling us to get straight to hospital; her platelets were 17 and neutrophils 0.3
Obviously this was a complete shock and we attended hospital ASAP - we had been told the registrar knew we were coming.
We then spent around 3 hours in Paeds A&E where obs etc were taken. They then applied some emla cream, before removing it around an hour later.
We were then admitted on to a ward where we waited another hour before bloods were finally taken. Not sure if the cream had worn off by this point but to say my daughter was traumatised by the experience would be an understatement. My daughter is 3.
we were basically told all sorts of things and bone marrow biopsies were discussed.
Daughter finally fell asleep and stayed asleep until around 6.30am.
I did not sleep a wink.
Around 7.30 the Dr we had seen for rhe
bloods entered our room very casually telling us bloods have come back totally fine, previous ones most likely a ‘sample error’.
He then told us we could go home. No discharge summary or paperwork given. I don’t think I was fully processing properly at the time, I just wanted to get us out of there.
Upon coming home, the severity of the last 12 hours has hit me and I have a lot of questions. I’ve contacted my GP as the original out of hours call and corresponding notes are logged on my daughters NHS app. Nothing from our time at the hospital is on there yet.
AIBU to think things went from incredibly serious, to just nothing and billed as a mistake? Is this normal?
I am also spiralling as we essentially have 2 lots of bloods results; one being very awful and serious and one totally fine. How do I know what is correct / error?
Like I say, it was absolutely awful and terrifying and the way we were just told to go home with so much as no explanation / nothing has left me with more questions than answers.
Ive been shaking all day and think I am still in shock.

That must be so upsetting. Can you ask for a repeat of the bloods or ask the gp if they are planning on doing one? They can't just take another set and say 'actually, they're fine' because what if that sample is also wrong 🤔

That sounds awful for your daughter and you. I would definitely press for further bloods to be taken.

Why were bloods taken in April? What was the abnormal result?

How frightening! Does your daughter have any symptoms? If not then it is likely that it was an error and I'm not sure I'd push for further bloods in that case.

Id want a 3rd set of bloods doing.

they did the right thing taking it seriously, but it's not an unheard of sample problem. There are often clues that there's a spurious result but you can't assume that until the next one comes back normal (it's not usually an error in the sense that someone did anything wrong, but just that the result is an error).

Thank you all. Like I say, I think I’m just processing everything that’s happened in the last 24 hours and I have lots of questions.
Back in Feb she kept having random periods of high temps (39.9) with no real symptoms to go with it. Lots of yawning, pale, very heavy under the eyes. We were seen in Feb and request for bloods put out at the local Children’s unit.
6 week wait for these bloods, so finally taken in April. It was actually the creatinine that was high, and the GP then requested more to see if an isolated event.
Again, another lengthy wait and the follow up bloods were taken yesterday afternoon.
Then everything else transpired.

This is really poor on their part and should be followed up, at least to understand what happened

Probably a clot in the blood sample. That can really bugger up the results. Especially if by any chance the first sample was taken outside the hospital, and therefore hung around in transport. They absolutely had to take it seriously, in case it was for real, as that could have indicated a serious problem. But thank goodness it didn’t. The cream usually lasts 4 hours, so should have been okay, but I am sorry your child still found it traumatic. I am sorry that this was a very difficult day for you, but honestly feel they were right to act as they did, as for another child it might be lifesaving.

Is she still having any high temps or tiredness? If so then I would ask for a final blood test.

I think their mistake was worrying you about bone marrow samples etc without repeating the sample first. Seems strange they did that. Sounds like poor communication. You could contact the PALs team at the hospital and speak to them. They can arrange a meeting for you with the doctors to speak about what happened. Not a complaint as such but seeking clarification.

I would ask for another blood test thats just been done and a repeat crenanatine also to make sure its come back down

Poor child. Sadly the cream often doesn't work but I would ask for another test.
Could have been mislabelled as sometimes happens . Maje sure its labelled before you leave

Neither of my DDs found EMLA helpful at all, but the spray was perfect - didn't even know it existed until we got to an appointment and DD2 piped up that the cream was rubbish and they might as well not bother. The phlebotomist reckoned that anywhere dealing with children should have the spray as well.

Rona cream make to veins constrict do mire difficult to get sample
never bothered with think it was offered once

Elma not rona

@LucyV28 How are things ? x