Would it be silly to take photographs to a hospital appointment?

[ElizabethWakefield]

DD has had an odd skin condition since the summer and as my GP wasn't sure what it was he referred her on to the children's hospital to see a dermatologist. And the appointment is on Thursday.

The rash after initially lasting for weeks and weeks comes and goes and varies from being really bad to fairly mild, but there is always a pretty much constant itch.

Last weekend it was horrendous and she was scratching until she bled, today it looks only like goose bumps.

Would it be crazy to take photographs (just 2 not a full packet or anything) of what the rash looks like at it's worst? Is that an ok thing to do, or will the Dr think I am a bit mad?

I would just really like to get to the bottom of what is causing it and if there is no flair up between now and Thursday I feel that the dermatologist wont get a proper idea of how bad it is.

No not silly at all. They will be glad of them I reckon if it helps them make a diagnosis. Hope you get to the bottom of it, the poor love.

I don't think that's a silly idea at all. You will have to explain the symptoms verbally and I think the doc would find it helpful to see a photo/s too. Great idea!

It sounds sensible to me, it can't do any harm anyway and may help them. I hope you get it sorted!

definitely do it
my eldest had breathing problems as a baby, but it wasn't always so noticeable, and it seemed every time we went to see the GP he would be ok

eventually we recorded it and took it in and they referred him straight away and we got it sorted

I think it would be a really good idea.

Rashes are so hard to describe and you can put money on it that it won't be at its worst when your appt comes!

sounds like a good idea to me

i once had a wart type growth on my face (eww) and was advised to take pics of it to see if it was getting worse or better over time

i think your doc will think you sensible

Fab idea and the dermatologist will be chuffed if you have soemthing to SHOW him rather than a verbal description.
Makes life SO much easier im sure.

Yes, of course take photos if you have some of when things were bad.

Dermatologists are v familiar with the fact that skin rashes come and go, so will not think you silly at all!

Excellent thanks everyone you have all reassured me that it is ok to do. I was all set for doing it, then mentioned it to someone earlier who gave me a face and I then though, maybe it was a mad idea!

I really hope we can get it sorted or at least get to the bottom of what it is as she is just so uncomfortable most of the time.

My DD has lovely voice recordings on her mobile of her awful and persistant cough, which as she would never cough in front of the various docs she saw, proved a great help to them.

Go for it and i hope she feels better soon

Thanks, technology is a great thing!

I'll print them off tonight and take them along tomorrow!

Definately do it. When DD1 had food poisoning she was pooing blood but obviously I didn't know if it was fresh/old whatever so I took photos on my phone and showed it to the docs.
Without the pics they wouldn't have been able to zero in on a diagnosis and she would have been subjected to a lot more tests than she was.
I actually had students (teaching hospital) sent in to see the photos as it is a classic sign of campylobacter that they don't get to see often!

I took photos of my sons bowel prolapse because once it has gone back inside, his bottom looked normal. The GP and consultant was fine with it otherwise they wouldnt have been able to diagnose it.

Its a good idea. DS has severe atopic eczema. He can look clear one minute and a little while later be covered from head to foot and he swells up.

I took photos to show dermatologist and they really helped. I also took photos of his allergic reaction when he came in from the garden with a huge face.

I keep them in his 'family file' because a lot of medics have no real knowledge of how bad eczema can be and tend to disregard it without proof.