AIBU to be very annoyed that I can't get hold of some medication for my sick DS

[topsi]

AIBU ? My DS(3) has been unwell all week and has been suffering from croup for the last 3-4 nights. Yesterday he was wheezing badly during the day and DH and I decided to take him to see the GP.
We saw the GP at 6pm who agreed that DS had croup and needed some oral steroids to reduce inflamation in his air ways.
We then went to our local Tesco pharmacy, who after taking the prescription and letting us shop for 15 minutes, told us they had none of the steroid in stock.
I then dropped DS and DH back at home and went to ASDA, who also informed me that they had none, they phoned Sainsburys pharmacy who also were out of stock.
I then went to A&E who told me they could do nothing unless I bought my child in to see them.
I then went to the out of hours GP surgery located within the hospital and waited an hour and a half to see the GP there.
I was eventually seen by a nice Dr who found it unbelievable that no where had this medicine in stock.
I suggested A&E, they checked and came back saying that A&E had half the dose but wouldn't give it to us incase they had a child in with croup, ?? half a dose in stock what would happen in an emergency ??
I mentioned trying the childrens ward or ENT but both specialties had been moved to a hospital a fair drive away.
I then came home, got home at 9.30 empty handed and my son had to endure another night of barking cough and wheezing.
I am meant to be working today but have rung in sick because I now have to spend the morning trying to get hold of these steroids for my poor son.
AIBU expecting to be able to get hold of a basic medication in order to treat a distressing and potentially dangerous condition!!!

where are you?

don't you have proper pharmacies like Boots or Lloyds or independent ones? I've never found the supermarket ones any good.

Chances are if no-one has it in it is because there is a manufacturing problem, not because all those lazy pharmacies haven't bothered to top-up their shelves. You probably need to contact your out-of-hours GP service to get a script for an alternative.

Can't one of those places order it for you? I have one med I take regularly that it is not on the NHS, its private, so my chemist has to order it for me. He always has it within a day or less. And has told me more than once that he can rush it if I've messed up and need it now!!!

there is no alternative medication the out of hours GP checked.
Will try some independent chemists today, they were all shut last night the oly ones open late are the supermarket ones

oh how awful for you. DD aged 3 has had terrible croup since last weekend and needed steroids and a nebuliser. Bloody ridiculous the hospital couldn't/wouldn't help

I think my point is that it is a basic medication - dexamethasone that is often given in emergency situations and no one had any not even A&E

If it is dexamethasone and it is unobtainable then prednisolone would be a perfectly reasonable alternative, and far better than nothing. See NHS clinical knowledge summary here

what steroid was it?

I think, in your shoes, I might have asked NHS direct to phone around and find a pharmacy that had it in stock, if it was urgent last night.

It is prime croup season .

I guess his condition wasn't bad enough to warrant hospital though croup is awful and scary. Hopefully he is nearly over this bout now.

Also, dex tablets are very small. Would your DS be able to swallow them instead of syrup? The syrup is made as a 'special' though, so it is quite possible there is a manufacturing problem with the tablets.

yes think we have had prednisolone for this

A&E did have some but wanted to keep it for emergencies which I guess is fair enough.

Does sound very frustrating for you. Hope you find it or an alternative today!

Thanks every body for your messages. Have got some dex and pred now and DS has taken a dose so hope he will feel better soon.
Mumoverseas hope your DD gets better soon, it's such a horrible condition and seems to go on and on x

topsi - out of interest - does your job not give carer's leave? You shouldn't have to phone in sick when your child is ill. THat impacts on your own sickness record.

mears hadn't thought of that. First time I have had to take time off work for him being sick. I am not sure it makes alot of difference to me as I don't get paid any sick leave but then it would look better on my sick leave.

Yes it would. It may be that he becomes ill again and you need to take time off work. Manty areas of work have a policy of having formal reviews when there are 3 absences or more in the year.

Alternatives are to take annual leave or offer to work another day back if there is no carer leave policy.