Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

DS overdosed on paracetemol - it's been the most frightening day of my life

54 replies

dejags · 23/01/2006 19:20

I am a crap mum - I left a bottle of Calpol equivalent in reach of DS2.

He drank approx. 75ml - it was incredibly frightening - the Poison Control Centre was involved and there was talk of irreversible liver damage.

He has been in hospital all day - at last the final blood tests came back to give him a clear liver function so we were allowed to bring him home. He has had an IV "antidote", they induced vomiting and gave him charcoal orally.

What a crap mum I am

OP posts:
MarsOnLife · 23/01/2006 19:22

No you're not a crap mum. Shit happens.

It's amazing what they can do and how quickly.

I'm sure that the whole experience will make you ultra aware of where the "calpol" is.

I'm so glad that it all turned out fine.

But please believe me.... YOU ARE NOT A CRAP MUM!

meggmoo · 23/01/2006 19:22

Thank god he is ok.
It is so easily done, don't beat yourself up - he's fine and you will never do it again!

QE2 · 23/01/2006 19:22

Very scary. Doesn't calpol have a kid-proof lid?

Glad ds is ok now though.

starlover · 23/01/2006 19:23

you aren't a crap mum! the main thing is he is ok... it's calpol who are stupid for making the blimmin stuff taste so good!!!

we all make mistakes, these things happen.. doesn't make you feel any better i expect though

doormat · 23/01/2006 19:23

dejags it was an accident babe, sometimes we just leave things in reach without realising it and not meaning to
I think us mums have all done it at one time or another
you are not a crap mum
glad your ds is ok
hugs
xxx

Original poster
dejags · 23/01/2006 19:24

No kiddy proof lids in South Africa I am afraid .

I feel so awful, at one point they were putting a tube down his nose to induce vomiting, I had to walk away and leave him with DH, I just couldn't stand to hear him scream, knowing it was my fault.

I feel like crap.

OP posts:
Heathcliffscathy · 23/01/2006 19:24

just to echo...you're not a crap mum, there but for the grace go we in countless ways everyday....

really good he's ok

brimfull · 23/01/2006 19:24

don't beat yourself up about it,it can happen so easily.atleast you found out and got him treated.

I let ds tumble down an escalator backwards like a stuntman when he was 2.5yrs

Hausfrau · 23/01/2006 19:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

starlover · 23/01/2006 19:25

why no kiddy proof lids over there? that's bad!

cupcakes · 23/01/2006 19:26

I drank a whole bottle of calpol when I was 4 or 5 (I was upstairs sulking because I had been told off and apparently found mum's shopping in the bathroom). I remember drinking it - I loved it.
When mum found m (on the floor) I was rushed to hospital and had my stomach pumped - however nothing came out as (luckily) I'd already been sick at home (unbeknowst to my mum). Must have been terrifying. And I really remember the stomach pump (shudder).
Touch wood but am sure he'll be fine.

Original poster
dejags · 23/01/2006 19:27

Thanks all, I am fine - I was terrified this morning but DH was with me all the time. I couldn't have coped on my own with all the vomit and uncertainty.

Liver damage is silent i.e. there aren't any real symptoms to look out for, that's what makes it so scary.

OP posts:
Original poster
dejags · 23/01/2006 19:27

He's 16 months btw

OP posts:
cupcakes · 23/01/2006 19:28

How old is he?

cathyspam · 23/01/2006 19:29

I left a bottle of calpol on a high shelf and my acrobatic 2 yo climbed to get it, opened the 'child-proof' cap and drank the contents while i was making tea - luckily there was onlu about 30ml left in the bottle and he was fine but i too felt like a terrible mother - we all make mistakes and DS is okay so there is no point beating yourself up about it. Even worse - my mum left her bright pink migraine pills in my reach when i was 3 and i popped the whole lot thinking they were smarties or similar - was hallucinating and had stomach pumped etc and I am now perfectly healthy 26yo.

cupcakes · 23/01/2006 19:29

How long between him drinking and being sick?

Dizzymama · 23/01/2006 19:29

Bless you hon, it sounds terrifying.Glad all is ok though. As the others have said, you aren't a crap Mum. If you could second guess every move your Ds was going to make you'd be a god. Sending big hugs, have a cuppa, go to bed early and start with a new day tomorrow. Absolutely NO beating yourself up over this one.x

chjlly · 23/01/2006 19:29

Dejags - exactly the same thing happened to me last year - although ds (3 at the time) drank at least 250ml
I took him to casualty but they couldn't do anything for 4 hours until it would have got into his system. they then took blood and found that the levels were clear & sent us home with no treatment. poor you for having to go through all that treatment with your ds.
I felt a crap mum too but was told that these things happen we learn from it & I know that my ds wouldn't do it again as he has unpleasant memories of the blood tests he had!

Highlander · 23/01/2006 19:29

oh jeez Dejags. Please don't feel crap; it's a mistake anyone could have made.

does he have t go back for more tests in the future?

chicagomum · 23/01/2006 19:33

Oh sweetheart, what an awful day you must have had. Hope you a;; have a good night's sleep and feel better in the morning. NOw plaese tell me what other goodies I can bring for you in a couple of weeks, (and what colour socks did you want?) .

chicagomum · 23/01/2006 19:34

a;; = all (obviously).

Original poster
dejags · 23/01/2006 19:34

Thanks everybody - I think I am going to head off to bed.

You have made me feel a bit better

OP posts:
Original poster
dejags · 23/01/2006 19:37

Thanks CM - I'll CAT you when I go back to work on Wednesday.

PS: any boy colours will do, thanks!

OP posts:
chicagomum · 23/01/2006 19:40

You have to pay now to CAT. I've got your email address (not sure if you have mine) so I'll send it to you later tonight so just email me on Weds. Oh I can't wait to get over there .

BudaBabe · 23/01/2006 19:41

You prr thing. What a nightmare. But it's not your fault - these things happen.

It will make you doubly vigilant in future.

Hope you are all OK.