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I can't trust my own judgement - is DS unwell?

12 replies

sleepcrisis · 30/10/2013 19:55

I'll start by saying I suffer from severe anxiety and have real trouble knowing whether I'm imagining illnesses or whether they really exist. I get particularly anxious about DS's (pretty good) health.

He's not been himself at all the last few days, thats a certainty. He's been very grumpy and tantrummy. He's 2.4mo but still, this is very unusual.
He's had quite a bad cough, for about 5 days, he's not coughing all day and night but every 30 mins or so he has a really big hacky cough, and is generally quite croaky all day. Mild cold symptoms but not really congested, just a little runny nose today.

He is usually a big food lover but he is not eating a thing. Today he had a few raisin wheats at breakfast, a smoothie and some grapes. Usually he polishes off his 3 meals and 2 snacks. Sometimes more. And ALWAYS asks for lunch/dinner about half an hour before its due, and hangs around at my feet waiting. He wouldn't eat one mouthful at dinner and didn't even ask for fruit, which is his favourite thing in the world and wants to eat fruit all day every day. I honestly can't decide if this is behavioural and he's suddenly become a difficult eater, but based on his previous appetite I don't really believe he would sacrifice his food just to test me. Not for 48 hours.

He's exhausted. Between meals/sleep he is happy enough, playing as usual, but he's asking for his nap which he usually resists, and when he wakes up he is hysterical for about an hour, screaming and crying, not telling me what is wrong. When he eventually snaps out of it (330pm today) he says he wants more sleep, but by this point I decided its best keep him up a few more hours til bedtime. He'd be more than happy sat on the sofa all afternoon watching tv (he usually gets bored after an hour)

In his high chair at dinner time today he sat there slumped in his chair saying 'not well, not well. Me tired. tired. not well'. He keeps asking me and his toys to 'kiss it better' and when I ask where he points to his mouth. Haven't seen anything suspicious inside. Let me brush his teeth no problems. Oh, and he has bad breath. also a new thing.

He sometimes says 'it hurts' pointing to his throat/chest. Been giving calpol at bedtime but he's sleeping through as normal so he's obviously not waking up in pain. He's full of energy at 7am.

Anyway. My anxiety and OCD is running away with me and I just have no idea if he's ok or not. He's so difficult to handle these last few days and just not himself, but I look after him day to day on my own so I have no one else to look at him and tell me if he's ok or not.

What could be wrong with him, if anything? Could he have a chest infection or something? Will a GP think I'm totally wasting his time? He doesn't even have a temperature. I just don't know what to think.

Thanks so much in advance, if you've got this far.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
adagio · 30/10/2013 20:10

Personally, I would go to the GP in the morning. I dithered today and in the end took my LO (age 10m) - waited almost two hours to be seen Shock and have a diagnosis of hand, foot and mouth disease. Sorry for the baby, but kind of relieved I wasn't being neurotic mum.

In your shoes i would go in as an emergency appointment (i.e. get seen tomorrow not in 6 weeks!) but be slightly apologetic to doctor - explain the baby is not right (OK toddler but still your baby) and can they just set your mind at ease.

Flowers
pudseypie · 30/10/2013 20:13

My 2 year old ds has been the same last week with a bit of a temperature and a rattly cough. He had it for a week but then it went away. I suspect it's just a virus doing the rounds but if you are still worried can you get him checked at gp? My ds also lost his appetite and was generally clingy and grouchy with it.

missnevermind · 30/10/2013 20:30

I tend to find with mine the bad breath means they are unwell. Usually tonsillitis in this house.

sleepcrisis · 30/10/2013 21:08

Thanks for the replies. I just feel like I am unable to rationalise anything when it comes to health and sometimes need an outside point of view, so I think I will take him to the Gp tommorrow. I feel bad for doubting him but on the other hand I've had so many years of anxiety that I am scared of getting it wrong and appearing even more neurotic.

Do you get a temp with something like tonsillitis? Because he hasn't had one... HFM is a possibility as he has been asking me to kiss his mouth better, and also his hands a couple of times although I haven't checked then, it didn't occurred to me. I'm sure I would have noticed blisters on his hands though!

OP posts:
Bunbaker · 30/10/2013 22:11

I would take him to the GP tomorrow. I remember DD telling me when she was two that she didn't feel well. I thought at first she was making it up, but she wasn't.

gwenniebee · 30/10/2013 22:14

Oh definitely go to the gp and just explain like you have done here. I'm sure they will be sympathetic and even if there is nothing wrong your mind will be set at rest.

FWIW, I get hideous breath when I have a bad sore throat Blush

ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged · 30/10/2013 22:19

It sounds like tonsilitis to my totally unmedically trained brain, but you would be absolutely reasonable to go to the doctors tomorrow (or to phone overnight if you're worried)

sleepcrisis · 31/10/2013 14:53

Thank you all for restoring faith in my sanity. He does indeed have tonsillitis, poor little man. He's still off his food but he did have some fruit this morning. He's having an epic nap which is his longest ever!

OP posts:
adagio · 31/10/2013 22:06

ahhh bless

Get Well Soon LittleSleep

I liked Heinz Tomato soup with soggy bits of white bread in it when I had (lots of) tonsillitis as a nipper

Flowers
sleepcrisis · 01/11/2013 13:08

Well he's still off his food and I don't think soup will entice him - but yes heinz tomato is definitely my own sick food of choice!

It's going to be hard to get back into being quite tough with food when he's better as you spend the whole time they are sick offering choices to get them to eat! He's going to get too used to skipping meals and just eating fruit!

OP posts:
Pobblewhohasnotoes · 01/11/2013 13:22

Are you giving him calpol other than at bedtime? You can give nurofen too. Either with the calpol or stagger it. If his throat is sore I'm guessing he won't want to eat. As long as he's drinking and not getting dehydrated I wouldn't worry too much about food.

tweetytwat · 01/11/2013 13:25

Glad he's got diagnosed now.

Your judgement was totally right, you know [pins gold star]

Regular paracetamol, lots of drinks/ice lollies, picky bits to eat when he wants. Don't worry about the rest for now.

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