GP won’t see 4yo for 2 weeks [Title edit by MNHQ - Please read beyond the OP before responding]

[trombolese]

Hi, just need to get an opinion on what people would do in my situation.

Some background on my 4yo - severe silent reflux from birth which meant awful awful sleep and feeding. This went undiagnosed for 7 months which then led mega tonsil problems, golf ball size which then caused severe obstructive sleep apnea. Tonsils out at 2.5. Grew back 5 months later to full size, if not bigger (didn’t think possible, consultant at Evelina said she’d never seen it happen that quickly) - constantly infected, had them out again at 3.5. Never weaned properly due to feeding issues, always bad with food. Quality of life crap due to tonsil problems. Since having them out it has only very mildly improved to be honest. He has also suffered with constipation the past year due to poor diet.

Since beginning of October he has had a fever at least once a week, sometimes explained, sometimes completely unexplained. The longest he has had fever for is 8 days with no other symptoms. GP not interested and said these things happen (we have 2 other kids…it doesn’t happen). So many lots of antibiotics, a couple of long lasting chest infections and since November an ear ache that hasn’t gone and he is still suffering with today. Yesterday he spiked another fever of 39, no other symptoms but sent home from nursery. He barely eats a thing, some days he will only eat 2 squares of toast. The rest of the day he drinks like a fish, just water other than 1 x cup of milk before bed and sometimes 1 x in the morning. He’s lost about 3kg so far. He’s so so unbelievably pale, puffy eyes and big bags under his eyes too. He’s recently taken to crying a lot. A lot, a lot. Over things very trivial to the average person but these crying episodes can last up to an hour. He’s extremely irritable and sad. He seemingly can’t walk longer than about 15 minutes without complaining his legs are hurting loads (to the point where he will just crawl along the floor instead if we let him!) and more recently he is waking in the night complaining of itching. His tiredness and lethargy some days is another level.

Seeing as this is his 10th fever in as many weeks (I am keeping a diary now) I contacted the GP with a massive list of his symptoms as I am now actually really concerned. They can’t see him for 2 weeks and have told me to “contact the HV” for advice in the meantime. What advice can they possibly give?! I am really concerned he is lacking something important in his diet or god forbid, something even worse.

AIBU to call 111? Do I take him to a&e?! This just seems crazy now. He has missed so much nursery and it just breaks my heart that his QOL is so shit.

[Littlecatonthefence]

AIBU to call 111? Do I take him to a&e?! This just seems crazy now. He has missed so much nursery and it just breaks my heart that his QOL is so shit.

Yes please do this.

[enchantedsquirrelwood]

Not sure it's an A&E thing but it sounds like a receptionist is fobbing you off.

Call back and insist on a call with a GP or a face to face with a nurse. They can triage you and decide if they want to see you in person/a GP should see you.

GPs are under pressure, but receptionists are experts in fobbing you off. And they are usually good with children.

Although I've said it's not an A&E thing, if you have a children's A&E that might be worth visiting. Or if you have a drop in centre within easy reach.

[CCLCECSC]

Call back and insist on at least a telephone consultation with a medical professional.
If no joy you need to escalate to the practice manager.

[qpaloejab]

Did they have emergency appointments available? I'd ask for one of those today. It's likely they will need to refer him to a more specialist team anyway but waiting two weeks for a referral seems wrong.

[SchoolQuestionnaire]

@Littlecatonthefence

AIBU to call 111? Do I take him to a&e?! This just seems crazy now. He has missed so much nursery and it just breaks my heart that his QOL is so shit.

Yes please do this.

Agree.

Please don’t wait. Your GP is useless but someone else will help.

[Jinglesomeoftheway]

I don't want to worry you but please, please take him to A&E or get a GP appointment today. The not wanting to walk alongside multiple fevers can be a sign of something very serious, and it's worth going to get checked out asap.

[thedementedelf]

I would take him to A&E and loop your health visitor in too.

[Frederica145]

He needs to be seen as soon as possible. Call 111 or take him to A&E.

[2024givemeabreak]

I disagree with the no a&e
i would take him to a&e
Mutiple unexplained fevers
sore legs / tiredness
can all be signs of something quite serious which needs evaluation very quickly.

[Pygtrail]

Take him to A and E the itching is a bad sign. He needs a full set of blood panels immediately. He may need a feeding tube. Don’t wait 4 weeks. Insist at the least he has full blood tests. Get it sorted today whatever way you can. Hope he feels better soon x

[peachgreen]

Yes I think at this stage I would be taking him to A&E.

[Missingmyusername]

@Littlecatonthefence

AIBU to call 111? Do I take him to a&e?! This just seems crazy now. He has missed so much nursery and it just breaks my heart that his QOL is so shit.

Yes please do this.

^This

Sounds awful, hope all will be ok.

[peachgreen]

I’d also be changing GP surgeries. These are potentially serious symptoms and to refuse to see him is shocking.

[mynameiscalypso]

My DS is a similar age. I would absolutely be taking him to A&E with those symptoms (and I'm absolutely not someone who would go to A&E lightly).

[Megifer]

4 y/o? A&e no question.

Ignore anyone who says this isn't a&e worthy. Sometimes you've just got to do what youve got to do.

I took DC to a&e a few weeks ago with something that yea, probably could have waited a couple of days tbf, but gp expected us to wait 3 weeks when it could have turned serious, so I figured we'd end up at a&e anyway (which they confirmed was likely). He only needed antibiotics ffs and id told GP I was 99% certain it was an infection, they said no, its viral and to wait. How they could tell it was viral via an online form is anyones guess.

Go and get him seen x

[alltootired]

I have no problems getting an appointment with my current GP/
With my old GP I would just say if you can't give me an appointment I will have to go to A and E. Always got an appointment then.
It sounds like the receptionist thinks you are just over anxious.

[Doteycat]

The itching would be the last straw for me. Id take him to a and e. He needs checking.
You don't itch for no reason.
How's his wee and poo? Colour wise?

[lunarleap]

I'd phone back and insist a doctor speaks to you or you'll have to go to a&e

[TheGlitterFairy]

Trip to urgent care / A&E i think would be best.

[ApolloandDaphne]

You certainly need to do something. I would say A&E but be prepared for a long wait.

[maryberryslayers]

The HV can actually get you an emergency appointment with a GP. So calling them might not be a bad idea.

If not go to A&E today, his symptoms are really worrying.

[Creatureofhabit87]

Please go to A&E and insist on bloods. None of this is normal and GP is awful!!

[tealweasel]

Would definitely go to A&E with this.

[Dalriadanland]

You could see an online GP privately who could then inform your own NHS GP of their findings - if they think it's an emergency and and we want blood tests the GP might be willing to treat as an emergency.

[Littlebelina]

A&E or urgent care if you've got one near by