Is this appendicitis?

[FruitTwistandShake]

Hello all, I am feeling pretty worried at the moment as I don't feel like medical professionals are listening to me so I thought I would get some perspective you MN.

My DD is nearly 4 (in Jan). She has been complaining for 2 days of tummy ache. Had a dramatically reduced appetite...couple of bites here and there. temperature of around 39 and complains her tummy it is painful when she lays on her back.

This morning she started to cry saying her tummy was really hurting. I gave her calpol and 30 minutes later she said she felt better but kept pointing to the right side of her belly button telling me it still hurt.

I called the GP - was told by the receptionist that if it was appendicitis, she wouldn't get any relief when given medication and it wouldn't go on for days. I am not sure how true this is. I pushed for an appointment but was told that if I was worried, I should take her to a walk-in clinic.

Called the clinic and they tell me they only have nurses working today and that if they triage her and she needs to see a doctor that I would have to take her to another facility.

My DD is so sad, she is watching Disney on the tab whilst laid in bed and I don't know what to do. I am an older mum with another daughter who is 8 and usually I am chilled, but something doesn't seem right.

What can I do?

Is she still drinking fluids?
Is pain meds taking the temp down? Because at 39 alone at her age, that's a number not to ignore.. clearly meaning something isn't right. How long has she had the temperature?
Is she emptying her bladder OK? Is it hurting her to wee? I was just thinking of UTI possibly kidney infection?
I'd demand she is seen. If you can't get her to a walk in and your GP isn't willing to give you an emergency appt at most for her to be seen then I'd try 111, explain everything, and that you can't get in to your doctors. I wouldn't leave it.
Receptionists are just that, receptionists. Not medical professional so IMO she had no right to say that.
I hope she feels better soon.

She is drinking and not complaining when she urinates, she has had the temperature since about 2am but been complaining about the pain in her tummy for 2 days. Usually, I am having to ration the snacks throughout the day as she has a very healthy appetite, but she has not eaten more than a couple of bites of a meal since Saturday. I am on hold to 111 now. Thank you for taking the time to respond.

What a silly thing for the receptionist to say! How are you going to know whether it is appendicitis or not?

Are her symptoms getting worse? It could be mesenteric adenitis, which is similar symptoms to appendicitis. I think you should trust your instinct and insist on seeing a doctor. X

@FruitTwistandShake bless her heart. It's a worry when they're so little isn't it.
Keep pushing to get her seen, it's better to be safe than sorry. I hope she starts to feel better soon for both your sakes. Keep us updated with things x

111 have just told me that because my GP is still open, I have to wait until they close before they can give me an out of hours appointment. The outcome of the assessment they did stated she should be seen within 2 hours, so they have contacted my Dr Surgery and I am on hold waiting to speak to them.

@FruitTwistandShake ideal, that might just give them the kick up the bum they need, mainly the receptionist 😊 x

@Adeleex They are all very opinionated at this surgery. We moved to the area 6 months ago and on the odd occasion I have had to call them they have always tried to diagnose the issue. I usually just ignore them and keep calling at 8am until I get an appointment but today, I am fuming.

Just got through, and I am told that they will have to refer it to a GP as they are the only ones that can issue emergency appointments. I reminded her that my DD needs to be seen within 2 hours and she told me that those timelines are guidance, and I should expect for it not to happen.

If they won't see her today I'd take her to A&E. Pain can come and go with appendicitis, the temp and loss of appetite would have me worried. Having had my appendix out two weeks ago, as an adult I completely lost my appetite, lots of pain that did fluctuate, but no temp. Better safe than sorry OP. Hope she's ok.

I would get your daughter seen

@FruitTwistandShake our GP is very similar. I had to ring 288 times this morning just to be told they have no appts available and he doesn't warrant an emergency appt, then I admittedly got blunt back (our receptionists are known for being rude and blunt) and he was given "5 minutes with a GP".. that appt topk the GP 15 minutes and he's now being tested for diabetes and a UTI and another face to face appt booked for Thursday regarding other things.
Receptionists have no right to say what it can and can't be, yet still seem to think they know more than you do!

As for being guidance I'd ring again in 2 hours if you haven't heard. And if they're still being shitty then, either tell them youll take her down and sit in the waiting room until shes seen, or you take her up to A&E. She's 3/4 fgs, what are we supposed to do with little ones if it doesn't warrant A&E but needs to be seen that day?! How is she? Is the temp still there? X

Thank you all, the receptionist just called back, i have an appointment at 4.20pm. She actually had the audacity to say that 'young first-time mums can be overly worried and she is sure it is nothing to worry about'.... I bluntly responded that I was 41 and this is my second child. I am going to make a complaint to the GP once my DD has been seen.

@Adeleex her temp is down to 38.2 but been over an hour since I gave her medicine. I keep taking the covers off because she is hot but then she is shivering and putting them back on and crying. Been trying to get her to drink (which she was doing fine this morning) but now she is struggling with having little sips. I hope the next 2 hours go by quickly. Thanks so much for the help and encouragement.

This receptionist is probably the worst I have encountered. I have a family member who is a GP receptionist, so I always try and be kind because they get a lot of grief, but this one has used up all my kindness today!

@FruitTwistandShake eeee. What a silly comment to make on her behalf. We know our children and when they're not OK! 100% complain. She has no right at all!!!

@FruitTwistandShake oh love her. Still high even after paracetamol!
If she's shivering and now struggling with fluids then it speaks for itself - you've 100% done the right thing today.
I really hope she's OK and it's nothing too serious. Please keep us updated. Thinking of you xx

Argh GP's receptionists are the worst! I can't believe she said that to you. Definitely make a complaint, how many people haven't got the right medical treatment because of people like her? 😡

Mothers intuition is a powerful thing and it's better to be safe than sorry with children.

I hope your DD is okay and it turns out to be something simple and easily fixed x

It sounds like constipation/bowel impaction.
Has she been regular recently?

My ds has dealt with this for 6 years so I know the signs well.

I'm not even going to begin to diagnose over the internet but one of my children's appendicitis came on over a matter of hours and we were in A&E pretty quick. The other one grumbled along for about a week with trips to and from the GP before his inflamed appendix was removed (not by the GP!).

GP receptionists must not under any circumstances give anything hinting towards medical advice and anyone who has medical training knows that pain responses and the efficacy to pain killers varies wildly.

They are also not entitled to opinions on your anxiety or otherwise when you are worried about your child's health.

I hope your daughter is ok and when the dust has settled raising with the Practice Manager might be useful.

This old bullshit.

Honestly when are "professionals" going to stop accusing mothers of being anxious. I've heard it so many times over the years "Is this your first?"
Mothers have an inbuilt instinct so they know when something is wrong.
There was a case not too long ago about a mother whose child died because multiple doctors at the hospital refused to listen to her concerns.

Re your daughter - two people I know who have had appendicitis had it for several days before diagnosis.

My son had suspected appendicitis and I took him to A&E and it turned out to be a severe urine infection - still needed seen pronto though.

Hope you get to the bottom of it and that she feels better soon.

@EnterHere thank you - she has had normal bowel movements up until today but she has not eaten anything substantial since Saturday so I put it down to that.

@sandytoesallsummer I usually quite a relaxed mum mainly due to my 8 year old being a poorly child in her early years so I feel I am prepared for most things. But this is all new symptoms to me and have a feeling that something is not right.

@bakerstreetbus74 I totally agree with you. I always give the receptionists reasons for my call as I know they have to prioritise but to be so flippant over a 3 year old is really bad!

@legophoenix thank you - I have been ignoring my thoughts because people kept telling me that appendix pain is not relieved by calpol or nurofen and it cannot be too bad if she is getting relief from it. But I am hearing so many stories that disagree with that theory. She perks up for like an hour or 2 and is then back to crying and holding her tummy!

I hope the appt goes well xx

How did you get on OP?

Hi all, I am so frustrated I can cry. They found the smallest amounts of Leukocytes in her urine so have said it is a urine infection and they gave me anti-biotics. As we left the Dr's she started shaking uncontrollably and her temp was 39.7. They told me to get the anti-b down her asap with some calpol. 10 minutes after taking the medicine she vomited it all up. Now has a raging 40.2 temperature and I am back on the phone to 111. What do I do when she cannot keep the medicine down?

@FruitTwistandShake I can't help but feel they've fobbed you off all day leaving her to get to this state. It really is shocking and if anything that receptionist has a bit to answer for. I know they're under pressure but we're talking high temp of a bubba here and now this has happened.
I wouldn't be surprised if they get her in to monitor her especially with a temperature that high. That high of a temp can cause seizures. Along with the fact she isn't keeping medicine down. Also antibiotics don't work straight away, so them telling you to get the medicine down her wouldn't of helped either way, it takes a good couple of days, I would of thought this was common sense tbh.
Keep calm, I know it's easier said than done. But be firm with them on the phone, tell them everything you've told us, and the fact you've been fobbed off royally today. Xx

Go to a&e