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Original poster

NHS direct still haven't called me back after 5 hours, is there anyone around who can give me some advice?

74 replies

HeadFairywithacapitalHandF · 07/01/2013 06:52

ds started throwing up last night at midnight. Initially I though Norovirus. Not nice, but he'll be over it in a couple of days. But he's had no diahorrea and no temperature. What made me call NHS Direct was that he has tenderness in his lower abdomen, specifically to the right hand side, which gets worse when I gently press it. He's been throwing up every 20 minutes since midnight. I'm relieved he's got no temperature, but the abdominal tenderness worrys me. What are the chances it's appendicitis?

He's 5 btw.

OP posts:
TanteRose · 07/01/2013 07:53

well, your mum and nanny must take him in - now

that is too long with no proper fluids

doublecakeplease · 07/01/2013 07:56

Seriously - will people die if you leave work or hadn't gone in? He's gone a long time with no fluids :-(

Original poster
HeadFairywithacapitalHandF · 07/01/2013 07:57

doublecakeplease can't shut up the shop... 24 hour 365 day operation. You would most definitely notice if I shut up shop with no cover.

TanteRose she's there now, she's no doctor but she's pretty sensible, plus my sister had appendicitis at 8 years old and my mum had it in her 50s so hopefully she'll have an idea what to look for.

OP posts:
dorapeppageorgenoddy · 07/01/2013 07:57

Just ask your mum to take him to a and e, she can update you after triage and you can then come home if required - Granny doing it is fine, I think the nanny taking him in is the least desirable but if the only way - I would skip gp and just go - they will ask about bowel movement as that can cause pain and sickness if he has a blockage -
Hope he is ok -

Original poster
HeadFairywithacapitalHandF · 07/01/2013 07:58

doublecakeplease yes... and it's not like he's on his own. He is being cared for. Just not by me. I will rectify that as soon as possible.

OP posts:
Welovecouscous · 07/01/2013 07:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Happypiglet · 07/01/2013 08:00

Don't take him to GP. take him to A&E or get your mum to. Seriously. My DS had appendicitis in June it's not funny. It sounds like a classic case. He had dry heaving, no temperature, tummy ache which started in the middle and moved to the right hand side. It should feel awful when pressed but worse when the pressure is released. Please do not delay any more. Burst appendix is very very serious. just get him to hospital. Would your DHs work seriously sack him because he had to take his possibly seriously ill DS to a &e?

Original poster
HeadFairywithacapitalHandF · 07/01/2013 08:03

happypiglet if dh missed this meeting then yes, he'd probably be out. As soon as I can get someone to cover me I'm going home too, emergency ring round is being done now but obviously people have to get here as well. I'm hoping I can go by 10.

OP posts:
Original poster
HeadFairywithacapitalHandF · 07/01/2013 08:05

welovecouscous I didn't think Norovirus would involve so much vomiting too. Plus he's had no diarrhoea so I'm not convinced it is. It could be just some other horrible tummy virus, but whatever it is is making his stomach really sensitive. Between spasms of pain he's pretty comfortable. He's even managed to sleep a bit this morning. He's currently on the sofa watching cartoons.

OP posts:
Mytwobeautifulgirls · 07/01/2013 08:06

the right sided pain could be just muscle tenderness from wrenching so much. appendicitis is accompanied with diarrhoea?
perhaps nhs have wrong contact details they usual are not that bad.gte sleep will do him good.
good luck keep us posted Smile

landofsoapandglory · 07/01/2013 08:07

Headfairy don't panic about the lack of fluids yet. Obviously he needs to be seen and sounds quite poorly, but my DS1 has gone a lot longer without fluids in his time as he has cyclical vomiting syndrome and can be sick 40 times a day, for a week. Before he was diagnosed and we were told it was just a tummy bug, we were often kept at home for 24 hours or more to see how he went.

It could be appendicitis, it often starts as tummy pain by the belly button and moves over to the right hand side. It is usually very painful though. I know when my brother and DS1 had it, they were both writhing around in pain.

I hope he gets better soon.

Happypiglet · 07/01/2013 08:08

OK but can your mum go to A&E? My DS started feeling ill at 4pm completely randomly one Monday after school and by 11pm was under general anaesthetic. So it's good you are getting cover because if it is appendicitis they will prob want to operate asap. It's better to be wrong than to risk sceptasimia from a burst appendix. Sorry to sound alarmist but it was really vey serious with my DS despite it just seeming like a virus to me initially. Luckily I had had the same op as a teenager so recognised some of the symptoms. BTW boys of this sort of age are the most likely to get appendicitis apparently.

Original poster
HeadFairywithacapitalHandF · 07/01/2013 08:08

My mum said the same thing about muscle pain mybeautifulgirls, but the pain is below his tummy button. I thought the stomach was higher up. But I guess the muscles all have to work. I do hope that's the case.

OP posts:
LovesBeingAtHomeForChristmas · 07/01/2013 08:09

Couldn't the nanny take him?

Happypiglet · 07/01/2013 08:11

Nope no diarrhoea with my DS appendicitis. And the pain builds. It can be gradual or quick. Once DS and got rid of food in his tummy he was dry heaving every 20mins with not much being produced if that makes sense? Has your mum done the pressure test?

landofsoapandglory · 07/01/2013 08:12

As the pain is that low down, HeadFairy, I wouldn't risk it. I would take him in now. Bear in mind if it is appendicitis he will need to be nil by mouth for a while too before they can operate, so the sooner he is seen the better IMO.

Original poster
HeadFairywithacapitalHandF · 07/01/2013 08:14

landofsoapandglory thanks for the reassurance... the initial contact at NHS Direct did say to keep going with the fluids because even if he brings it up, some of it may be absorbed. He's not really writhing except during the spasms he gets. They're about every 10 mins or so. I asked him during the night if it hurt when I pressed gently inbetween spasms and he said it did, though not as much.

My nanny has just texted to say she asked him if he wanted a drink and he got all panicky, because he now thinks it's going to make him sick. Poor love. She's going to give him a straw. My mum is there now too so hopefully that'll make him feel a bit more comforted. He loves our nanny but there's nothing like granny to make him feel better - I hope!

happypiglet yes, my mum has her car with her, can easily take him to A&E if she thinks it's the right thing to do.

OP posts:
Original poster
HeadFairywithacapitalHandF · 07/01/2013 08:14

happypiglet what's the pressure test?

OP posts:
Happypiglet · 07/01/2013 08:15

Ok said my bit! Hope he feels better soon.

chocolateistheenemy · 07/01/2013 08:17

My DS was hospitalised at 2.5 with ?Noro? (we never found out which nasty he'd had). Began throwing up every fifteen mins for around 12 hrs. Couldn't keep down water. No temp until 36hrs later and the diarrhoea didn't start until 48+ hrs later. We saw 4 docs (and I spoke to another 3 on the phone) before he was finally sent to A&E 48hrs after it all began. Needless to say, he was severely dehydrated and needed to be admitted and put on a drip overnight.
It was bloody scary.
Go to A&E and save yourselves the worry. It is probably Noro or similar, but you won't get much out of NHS Direct over the phone and you're better safe than sorry.
Hope he's soon on the mend.
Flat coke is great if you don't have Diorylite.

Happypiglet · 07/01/2013 08:19

X pOsted! A classic test for appendicitis. Press down firmly on the right hand side where his appendix is above and just to left of hip bone. It should hurt. Hold the pressure on then let go. It should hurt even more when the pressure is released. If he feels any difference in the pain then it is possibly appendicitis. I would take him to a&e anyway personally though. BTW I am not a medically trained person but have had appendicitis and so has my son and this test worked on us and the dr in A& e did it too. I guess it doesn't rule out appendicitis either if it doesn't 'work'.

CabbageLeaves · 07/01/2013 08:19

Aw headfairy you poor thing. I appreciate the job thing and you do have all sorts of cover arranged. It's a conspiracy of events meaning you and DH have work issues. I suspect you're hesitant to risk work for what might be tummy upset and I really understand that difficult decision. It does sound like he needs to go to A&E. Hope you can join him

3littlefrogs · 07/01/2013 08:21

Your mum needs to take him to A&E now.

However, it is worth knowing that ice lollies are excellent for a sicky child, or one with tonsillitis. (for future reference)

Original poster
HeadFairywithacapitalHandF · 07/01/2013 08:24

Thanks cabbageLeaves

chocolate Your poor ds :( Interesting to know noro (or similar) presented itself like that. Not what I would expect at all.

happyPiglet thanks for that. I will ask my mum to try it.

OP posts:
PureQuintessence · 07/01/2013 08:29

Both me and ds1, who had an appendectomy when he was 4 had high temperatures.

If your mum is still at home with him, she could try let your ds lay on his back, and lift his right leg up so it stands at a 90 degree angle from his body. If this gives your ds a sharp pine in his right abdomen, you might be closer to an answer.

So scary and frustrating for you.

(My bet is on tummy bug)

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