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Oh my little baby is poorly and the out of hours GP was, imo, rubbish

19 replies

hobbgoblin · 04/01/2010 00:13

Poor DD is only 5 months and has a horrendous cold. It is just a cold but I thought that as we are now 5 days in and she is getting worse I needed to get some advice. Was thinking about calling GP in morning to get her checked but then she started getting very hot indeed despite calpol (3 days of calpol and nurofen) and then began kind of choking and vomiting absolutely LOADS of phlegm and stopped being able to feed so we called the out of hours service.

I made an appointment at the EmDoc thing at local hospital and she was seen but the doctor was utterly dismissive despite me apologising in advance if I was being all precious4thborn.

He told me he spoke to me on phone and I said it was my DP and my DP had omitted a few details such as her fever, but NO, he was adamant he spoke to me. Okay then, whatever then he told me she was not feverish and told me to buy a thermometer and stop bothering with calpol so I said, sorry I just use my judgement having nursed 4 sick children over the last 10 years on and off. To this he said 'well obv. you know better' so I said no, I don't know better than you, I'm just saying I know she was hot, everyone who held her today said she was very hot.

Moving on... he failed to feel fontanelles, he looked at ears but she wriggled so he didn't get a look and so he didn't bother checking both properly and he said she's fine. No advice about struggling to feed, no support nothing.

She is now hot, wailing and continuing to vomit mucuous and is retching almost all the time with a hacking cough. She is also hoarse.

I accept it is a cold but I was worried it might be turning nasty. I asked what to look out for and he said 'if she starts coughing and looks pale' I left in disbelief at this point.

Am I mad? Is it me?

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 04/01/2010 00:17

That does sound concerning to me - I would seek a second opinion if possible.

Did he not listen to her chest? That is what they did when I took DS in after he had a temperature for 3 days at 11 months, and he had a chest infection.

displayuntiltwelfthnight · 04/01/2010 00:20

not you - that out of hours doc sounds useless but IME most out of hours docs are useless.
I second Bertie's thoughts that chest should have been checked - ds3 had similar retching up of phlegm when a baby but the out of hours doc did at least listen to his chest (sent me home saying nothing despite gp a day later diagnosing chest infection after ds took turn for worse )
Hope she recovers quickly

Awassailinglookingforanswers · 04/01/2010 00:23

Doc sounds a bit crap - I'd take her to the GP in the mornig (which I'm sure you were going to do anyhow)

display - ime chest infections often aren't picked up at their earliest. DS1 used to get one every time he got a cold (that was fun ) and it got to the point where I was recognising the signs before the doctors could actually pick them up. Numerous occasions I'd take him one day, to be told "chest clear" - and then the next day take him back and it was picked up. They can go from "nothing" to horrid chest infection very quickly.

hobbgoblin · 04/01/2010 00:28

He did actually listen to her chest, but he didn't take her temp.

I hope I can trust his assurance that she is fine. He didn't comment after listening to her chest, he only did so for about 5 seconds and only on the back but maybe that's normal? He said she was fine at the end but not a word to me throughout as he was listening to her breathing and halfheartedly poking her ears.

I don't know if she was A-ok or borderline ok. I felt really silly but now we're home and she is worse rather than better I just feel cross that even if she was ok he didn't do more on the reassurrance side of things. It is no mean feat getting to the hospital when the other 3 DC are not particularly well either.

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BertieBotts · 04/01/2010 00:32

I think go to the normal GP in the morning, definitely. It is quite a long time until morning though and she is very young. I would definitely keep an eye on her and if she keeps going downhill or she won't feed at all (have you tried a syringe?) just go to A&E.

NHS Direct website just advising you to call their helpline, they will probably just direct you to OOH doc though.

BertieBotts · 04/01/2010 00:33

You could always ring NHS Direct just to query the doctor's advice. I don't know how helpful they are for that kind of thing though.

hobbgoblin · 04/01/2010 00:43

Thanks BB. It's that rubbish situation of not feeling sure about your judgement on the 'it'll be fine stance' but also not feeling that it has reached The Point of Seriousness yet.

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treedelivery · 04/01/2010 00:55

Ring NHS direct. They are lovely and usefull and will either make you feel safer or tell you what needs doing.

ood luck. Poor you!

ThatVikRinA22 · 04/01/2010 00:56

most ooh gp's also seem to work full time in practice so probably arnt aversed to being arsy and knackered as well as some being useless...(one of ours springs to mind here)

id make that appt first thing tomorrow with your own gp.

and if bubs gets any worse in night and your worried call OOH again or if youve a quietish minor injuries nip there. (we have no A&E here - just an MIU but on the plus side its often really quiet so no massive waiting times)

and its not you. that GP was a knob. some are.

hobbgoblin · 04/01/2010 02:01

I guess maybe he was having a tired and swine flu infested day?!

She is asleep now so will see how she goes through the night and if better in the morning than this morning will leave it, but if worse I'll see our usual GP instead just to be certain she is recovering as opposed to worsening.

Thanks all.

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duende · 04/01/2010 12:44

hobbgoblin, how is your DD today?

hobbgoblin · 04/01/2010 13:02

hi

she is really unwell so i called my own gp, saying not sure if appropriate after seeing OOH doc yesterday but, blah blah... and they could hear her in background and said she sounded wheezy and that i must bring her in so i am taking her later.

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duende · 04/01/2010 13:04

please post when you get back. I really hope it's nothing serious but you get some help for her.

frumpygrumpy · 04/01/2010 13:10

Keep pushing until you feel satisfied. You are not satisfied with these answers and neither am I just reading it.

I had a very, very ill DD1 a few years ago and I kept taking her to the doctor. Severe temp, deep, hacking cough etc etc etc. It went on and on and they made me feel like I hadn't a clue. The doc listened to her chest over and over, told me Calpol/Nurofen was fine even though it had been going on for 10 days. In the end I took her back to the doc who said she was fine.....she passed out in the car on the way home.... I tearfully took her straight to hospital and the nurses were shocked. Massive chest infection, huge dose of ABs, dehydrated so on a drip, and other more serious issues (she had developed Stevens Johnston Sydrome) but the fact is that she was horribly, horribly ill and the doctors said she was fine.

Go with your feelings and trust you. Hope she improves very soon xxx.

OrmIrian · 04/01/2010 13:15

Hope you get some help for her soon. Poor little girl

hobbgoblin · 05/01/2010 00:59

Sorry I'm a bit late updating...

DD has had a rather awful morning but became a little better as the day wore on.

I phoned my GP mid morning when she was at her worst and they made her an appointment at 3pm but she was slightly better by the time we saw him to be honest. Still sounded awful and with hacking cough but she was a little brighter in herself.

Anyhow, he was brilliant as ever (thank you Julian Godley, I am a FAN!) and watched her bare tummy as she breathed, listened to her chest, asked me what my main concerns were and then answered them. I love my GP .

He then told me that for a 23 week old baby there was ALWAYS an appointment and gave me a sympathetic arm squeeze and assured me that she was not in need of any antibiotics or anything despite the fact she was probably suffering quite a bit with a horrible cough and blocked nose.

I was totally reassured by his words and examination so I am confident in just keeping an eye on her now.

thanks for all who advised and asked after her.

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treedelivery · 05/01/2010 09:59

Glad she is feeling better, and don't you just love people with the touch? Yay for great GP.

AnyFucker · 05/01/2010 10:02

ah, a GP who takes the time to listen to your concerns is worth their weight in gold...

glad dd is ok, hope she continues to improve

frumpygrumpy · 05/01/2010 22:31

glad for a wonderful GP! Hope she goes from strength to strength. And much sleep to you all x.

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