A one month old in danger of having a chest infection - but no doctor available to see him [shock]

[emkana]

I'm really upset by this. Receptionist just totally brushed me off saying there were no doctors available, but a doctor could phone me.

How is he going to listen to ds's chest over the phone then?

Don't know what to do now!

turn up at the surgery and ask the nurse to check him out. Or if you are really worried go to A&E.

How are you/he doing generally ?

Go in and burst into tears in the reception area.

Does your doctor know about DSs potential health problems?

ring again and say it's urgent or go to A&E and say no gp was available

Get to A&E if you're worried emkana.

He had pneumonia (IIRC?) at a few days old FGS.

(Bloody jobsworth receptionists.)

Doing okay generally, but with ds's history of possible chest problems I'm just concerned because he keeps coughing.

GP knows about ds, but doesn't seem overly concerned.

I took ds in last Friday and his chest was clear then. Spoke to doctor on the phone on Monday and he said if feeding okay and no temp, not to worry too much. But the cough is very persistent and sounds terrible so I am worried!

Hun, I would pop up to A&E to put your mind at rest {{{{{{Hugs}}}}}}

The thing is I don't know whether I should be worried or not. Ds is fine in that he is feeding okay, nappies okay, has alert and happy moments, isn't coughing all the time, but when he does cough it sounds awful
What to do, what to do?

Trust your instincts sweetie, If you are worried you need to see someone whether its the G.P, Nurse or A&E. You will sit at home worrying and thats not good for you or him xxxx

I would say that if he's not running a teperature and is happy in himself then he is fine. but of course you're going to worry when his potential health problems include the chest.

BabyDragon has had a hacking cough for about 6 weeks now but has been fine in herself and no temperature (until Monday when she got a high temp and a rash and I was convinced she had measles. She didn't, just a "virus") The GP listened to her chest and it's fine, she's just coughing and snotty.

I think you are justified in going to the GP and asking them to check him over - doesn't matter which gp - ans say what you said here - he seems fine generally apart from the cough - and given his age and chest history you need to know what you should be worried about and what you can be more relaxed about.

It doesn't matter whether you should be worried. You are worried and that's all that matters.

When you get to see a doctor, ask if there's anything you can look for to reassure yourself in future. IIRC, there's a different way the baby breathes when it is in respiratory distress through chest infection etc and you can see this.

hi emkana, I suspect he's fine. I'm sure the doc wasn't fobbing you off last week - dd2 had horrendous coughing when she was tiny - but you need to put your mind at rest. talk to the doc and be insistent, and if that fails go to the hospital. I always tell myself that I would far rather have some random doc in a and e think I was paranoid than take any risks.

There is a jobsworth Recpt at my dp's drs too. Dp had a serious ear infection and no appts were available for two weeks. When recpt told him he just said fine, but I'm now going to go to A & E and tell them that my gp wouldn't see me. (he had even offered to go to the dr's and sit and wait for someone else to not show up, even if it took all morning!) They phoned him back ten minutes later with an appt in an hour. We were later told that they get fined if someone goes to an a& E under those circumstances. Stick to your guns or go down and do a big, loud " Sorry why won't a dr see my MONTH old BABY who has possibly got a CHEST INFECTION?" I would just hold up the queue unitl they did something especially under your circumstances.

Hugs and thoughts though, em xx

I just feel paralysed with indecision atm, just don't know what to do.

A little baby should be first in the queue. I am shocked dr. won't see him. I always get appointments even for my older children. Even without any other health problems I would definatly see the dr. I would go to A&E if I was you. I am sure he is fine, but a little baby should always be checked out as far as I am concerned. Hope everything is fine!

take him down at the end of morning surgery and ask for someone to check him and talk to you about what you should be looking for.

Emkana (hugs) - have confidence in your own judgement.

If you think he needs the doctor, then take him. And bugger what the receptionist thinks or even the doc when you get there. You're on a steep learning curve with him at the moment, finding out all his little foibles, and you need them to help you with it, not brush you off.

You don't sound worried enough for it today but speak to your paed about getting open access to the children's ward. Then if ever you are really worried in the future you can bypass both GP and A&E and call them instead.

When are you seeing the paed next?

Surgery phoned back and I'm going in at 11.40.
Thanks for your answers.
I'm seeing the paed next Monday.

Thank goodness for that. I agree with others your ds is still so tiny (well not tiny but young in your case!) that you need the reassurance too.

Hope all is well, let us know later.

Hope it's all OK emkana. My baby is coming out next Thursday--I can't quite believe it!

Arabica - I was wondering about you! Good luck if I don't speak to you before!!!

Ds now on antibiotics for chest infection.
This has brought back all my worries about his underlying condition -
repeated chest infections are such a bad sign.

So - your mummy instinct was correct.

Sorry if that reinforces your fears though Em Hoping next Monday's appointment brings you some peace of mind, although I don't see you being more settled until you get a more definitve diagnosis. Is this a general paed or a skeletal person?

Arabica - good luck with your delivery. Will be thinking of you.

So you were right. Really glad you trusted your intuition, we have some fab dr's at our practice and they will always hear me out whenever I think they might be a prob, so far my worries have always proved right but I do think they would be good about it if they weren't.

Don't worry too much about the anti-b's remember that you ds is under a constant attack of bugs cos he has older siblings who are bringing all sorts of nasties home from school. My dd (1) has been much much poorlier than my ds ever was and I really do put it down to the onslaught from ds being at school.

Hope he is better soon...did you wave the precription at the bloody receptionist as you walked out.

Glad to hear you got some help emkana. Thanks for the good wishes, I am v anxious but on the other hand I can't stand to be pregnant a moment longer in this heat!