6 year old had barium swallow now I'm absolutely cacking it help please.

[overmyhead]

Went to a private gastro paediatrician because of my ds's tummy pain and occasional vomiting. I thought we'd talk about food intolerances or something but he ordered an abdominal x ray straight away, which I wasn't happy about but went along with it, and then he rang and said my ds urgently needed a barium swallow the next day as he suspected a malrotation in the gut. I immediately wanted a 2nd opinion, but short of going to A&E, didn't seem to have much time to lose, so against my better judgement went along with it. It was inconclusive, when it should have been conclusive, and now it seems he has to have a laparoscopy.

I have convinced myself my son is going to get leukemia from this barium swallow and two abdominal x rays. I am absolutely beside myself with worry about it. I am so angry with myself for going private and not going to the NHS.

I don't really know if anyone can help, but I am absolutely miserable with worry about leukemia. Don't know what to do.

Which country are you in? Most countries follow the same principles. And the radiation risk is trivial. No matter what country you are in

It sounds like you may be feeling a bit anxious about things. I'm sure you're an amazing mum. Can you seek some support for the way you're feeling?

X-rays are fine for kids! If they need them they need them.

Deaddeadgood thanku for ur replies i m living in a middle east country for last 8 yrs and here that ent dr was indian n he requested and i went for those useless xray coz if there were some positive findings in xrays even then the treatment wud hav been the same that was without xrays , no surgical imtervention was req with or without any findings n fracture of mandible one can judge from physical examination but ignorant lady i m , i didnt say no n just let my kid get irradiated. I think i need some psycologist help to get out of it otherwise i ll lose myself,
I had a ct abdomen 2 yrs back for intestinal obstruction n i know it has 10 msv radiation but i m not guilty for that,
My kids xrays give me guilt all the times n i want to get out of it but i m unable to do so.

Momoftwohearts have you thought of maybe seeing a doctor and talking to them about how you’re feeling? You sound very low about something that is really far from the end of the world. It sounds like you could use some help to manage your mental well being.

Kids will get sick, and over their life we will fail them in several different ways 😬 no one is perfect. Taking them to get x rays is really NOT a problem!! You’ve done nothing wrong, and your kids will be fine!

Onemoremommy u r such a sweetheart u tried to make me feel better n really i m feeling better , i know guilt will never go but u made me feel better thanku i should see a psychologist once coz i want some help to get rid of these fears n should move on, daily i start my day with reading articles on radiations and all the incidents happened in japan and outcomes when those children grew and the fate of radiation scientists who played with radiations back in 1880 n onwards. Thanku once again for ur Reassurance i need it the most

By reading those articles you’re bringing into your life a problem which is NOT yours! I’d strongly recommend cognitive behavioural therapy, it helped me immensely with my anxiety and I hope it can help you too. You sound like a very loving mum!

I agree w previous posters. The point at which your mental health issues are interfering with your child receiving proper medical care is the point at which you need to seek help for them.

Onemoremommy thanku dear n yes i love my kids more than anything else in this world n i need a break from this radiation story, u shares ur experience n tried to reassure me when i was feeling miserable so may God bless u n u stay happy ever
Barbarianmom i started feeling depressed after getting my small kid got x rayed 5 films (neck )in a go before that i was fine n those 5 film were not required actually so i feel guilty n i feel v low that i wish i wud hav not visited hospital for a small thing n that stupid dr didnt care about a small kid

Without sounding insensitive, you really have to put this in perspective. There are some of us whose kids have had massive amounts of radiation, for treatment for cancer, tumours etc. It's horrifying to have to deal with. That's not to say smaller amounts of radiation for other minor procedures should be taken lightly, but when it's necessary or advisable to go though with it, you just have to get on with it, for your child's sake.