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Original poster

Nursery are very concerned about DD's health

86 replies

nutcracker · 01/04/2004 16:58

Have just got back from dd2's parents meeting at nursery. Her teacher started the meeting by saying that herself and the head nursery teacher are very concerned about my dd. They said that she seems to be constantly tired and lethargic, and that it is affecting her work.
When she said it, i wasn't really all that surprised as i had thought the same thing about a week before. They said that she just sort of sits there with a tired, glazed look on her face like she's on another planet. To demonstrate to me what they meant they showed me two pictures that they had asked her to do. They asked her to draw something(can't remember what but something she new) and then left her for half an hour to do it (she wasn't on her own, other kids were drawing too). All there is on the page is two lines and thats it. It was done at 11-11:30.
I am now very worried and slightly confused too. She goes to bed no later than 7:30 and gets up at 7, so she's getting enough sleep. Her diet isn't particularly brilliant as she's quite a faddy eater but that has only just started really, she used to eat well. She has a multi vitamin every day, and will quite happily eat the fruit bowl if you give it her.
I know that what they are saying is true as i've had her complain of being tired at 10am when she's done nothing. She's definatly not an active child and is quite content to lie around all day.
She got up at 7am today, and apart from walking to school, she hasn't done much, but she's just fell asleep on the settee.
If i take her to the doc's what will they do ????
They will probably think i'm over reacting but she shouldn't be like this should she ?? What could it be.

OP posts:
JJ · 05/04/2004 20:43

It will take a month for them to take a blood test? WTF? That's just insane. It's a nurse drawing blood and then sending it to a lab, ffs.

Sorry I didn't see your earlier question about hypothyroidism. My aunt is the one who would know about the symptoms in children. Email me and I'll ask her what she thinks. She's v good about stuff like this -- runs a daycare training center in the US and she's my favourite aunt.

Original poster
Nutcracker · 05/04/2004 21:08

Thanks Stripymouse and JJ. I will email you JJ thanks for that.

I am going to speak to dd's nursery again after the hols and see if they will write to g.p, and then ask for blood test to be brought forward.
I am also going to ask them to get all members of staff to clarify exactly what the problem is. Is it that she is tired or that she is seeming vacant and daydreamy. They did say, that it's like she just switches off so i'm not sure what to think.

OP posts:
Freckle · 05/04/2004 21:16

I can't believe that they would make you wait a month for a blood test. Possibly wait a month for the results if cultures are needed, but to actually take the blood?? Absolutely ridiculous. Call the surgery and ask for an immediate appointment with the practice nurse. Explain when you get there (drs. notes should be up to date) and demand that the test is done immediately.

Original poster
Nutcracker · 05/04/2004 21:18

I'm not very good at things like that, i always get touunge tied and let them talk me round.

OP posts:
Freckle · 05/04/2004 21:26

Well, you don't have to explain when you book the appointment. If they ask what you want the appointment for, just say a blood test. Then, when you get there, ask the nurse to check dd's notes and take it from there. They are much less likely to fob you off face-to-face. Be strong.

Original poster
Nutcracker · 05/04/2004 21:29

Yeah but if i book a blood test appontment it will still be in may. She said that they are really busy, and it's got to be the nurse that does it not the phlebotomist because of dd's age and the fact that she will struggle alot.

OP posts:
Freckle · 05/04/2004 21:31

Not a pleasant option, but you could always take her to A&E. Explain your concerns and that the gp surgery won't take any action for a month. You'd probably get all the tests you want there and then. Depends on whether you think you can live with not knowing for a month.

eddm · 05/04/2004 21:57

Hi Nutty. Having to wait a month for a blood test must be really frustrating ? sorry your doc is so useless.
I posted a link to Epilepsy Action below.. on my last but one post on this thread I think? Have a look if you want to find out more about absence seizures.

Flip · 05/04/2004 22:08

Nutcracker, I think a month is far to long to wait. I also don't think that the practise nurse will find it easy taking blood from a child. Having witnessed the children's ward nurses taking blood from my baby I know just how hard it is to watch, never mind do. But they are so proffesional and reasure you as much as the child. I'd definitley concider A&E. Also having a thyroid problem myself I know that it is usually at least ten days before the results come back and with every day you feel worse and more strain is being put on your body. If you think it's likely to be a thyroid problem then you should push this sooner rather than later.

juniper68 · 05/04/2004 22:14

My Ds had to have a blood test when he was 5 and I was given 'magic cream' from the doc to numb it. I left it on for ages covered in cling film to make sure it was numb. He only had to wait a day or so for it too. Get them bl told lass, they've no right making you wait. In fact if you lived near me I'd come wiv ya!

Original poster
Nutcracker · 05/04/2004 22:22

G.p never mentioned the magic cream but luckily the receptionist did. She is going to get the doc to write it up and i can pick upo the perscrition on thursday.

Oh i'm not sure what to do now. She doesn't seem ill at all which is why i'd find it hard to demand anything.

eddm - I have had another look at the site, it's very helpful. Just hope i don't need it iykwim

OP posts:
stace · 05/04/2004 22:40

Nutcracker, glad to here ds's bum is better, incensed at the gps go to nursery, get them to write a letter immediately signed by the teachers and make another appointment asap for the doctors take the letter in and tell them you really think it is imperative that this is dealt with immediately not in a months time!!! If they still wont help tell them you will hold them responsible and go to A & E.

Good Luck sweetie you really dont need the stress for a month its outrageous.

juniper68 · 05/04/2004 22:46

Awww nutcracker, i feel you're pain hun we never know what to do for the best. Go with your motherly instincts and b*** the surgery. You know your child best and if it's niggling you and you think there's something (which may be nothing to worry about) then stick up for yourself. find that tigress which we all have in there somewhere
And if it's nothing at all then so what?? I'm sure if the nurses/docs were worrying about their kids they'd get seen sharpish

eddm · 05/04/2004 23:32

Juniper, there's an old wives' saying along the lines of 'cobbler's wives go barefoot and doctor's wives die young'!

misdee · 05/04/2004 23:32

nutcracker, does you local hospital have a walk in pathology lab to do blood tests? dh walks in to clinic at whatever time of certain weeks he gets sent for appointments, maybe has to wait a while, but they do the blood work reakky quick and he usually has his anti-coagulant book by post within 2 days. if your doc will give u the blood work sheets that need to be done, then u could possibly attend the clinic and get dd blood work done there. be a damn site quicker than a month.

robinw · 06/04/2004 06:24

message withdrawn

SoupDragon · 06/04/2004 08:00

At the risk of being shot down, I'd go back and badger my GP rather than go to A&E. Unless your DD deteriorates suddenly, it's not really an accident or emergency and they're hideously over worked in A&E already or at least always seem to be

If your GP doesn't take you seriously, I'd ask for a second opinion or make a complaint. A month is a ridiculous length of time to wait to have a blood test, let alone the wait for the results afterwards. I don't understand why they wouldn't send you to have the tests at a hospital clinic rather than wait.

luckymum · 06/04/2004 09:53

Hi Nutty, you seems to be beimg bombarded with advice but I'll add my twopence worth too .

Agree with misdee, ask your GP if you can take dd to the path lab at your local hospital.. They are all phlebotomists so will be more experienced than your usual practice nurse at taking bloods and it'll be less traumatic than A&E. Most of them have walk-in clinics for people on warfarin and the like. You just need to get the blood request from your GP.

Good luck

Sonnet · 06/04/2004 10:17

Just come accross this Nutty.
Sorry to hear about this - dosn't rain but pour eh!.
My sister is a nurse in a GP's surgery - I spoke to her about this and yes, they are busy BUT she suggests going back to the GP with letter from nursery, and "lay it on a bit thick" - they should then get the nurse to take the bloods there and then. She also agreed with whoever said that the delay is as much to do with it possibly being a virus than a busy appointment book!
Good luck - hope you get some answers soon...

Clarinet60 · 09/04/2004 13:04

Hi Nutty, I agree with this advice, go back and lay it on. Hugsxxxx

Original poster
Nutcracker · 10/04/2004 21:13

Thanks for the advice guys.
I have decided to wait until dd goes back to nursery and see what they say. If they think she needs it doing urgently then i will go back. Whilst she has been at home for easter, i haven't really noticed a problem at all. She has been tired a few times, but dare i say it, she is quite a lazy child and would rather lie about then do anything else.
I now have the 'magic cream' but no plaster. Can i use a normal one ?? The description seems to suggest it's a special plaster.
TBH I am more concerned about getting nursery to confirm wether it is tiredness or abseces they are witnessing. She doesn't go back to nursery until 21st april so, i'll just have to wait and see.
I have been extra careful with her diet now, although the doc said she tought it was unlikely that it was anemia and especially not diet related.

OP posts:
JJ · 10/04/2004 21:16

the white cream for the blood test? I think you could use ordinary plastic wrap -- anything to keep it on there while it does its job.

Still can't believe it takes so long for you to get a blood test. Outrageous!

roisin · 10/04/2004 21:33

The magic cream - put loads on in a big lump on the inside of the elbow - then wrap it up with cling film making sure it stays in place. ... Worked like a dream for us - hope it does for you too.

Original poster
Nutcracker · 21/04/2004 10:09

Dd was back at nursery today, so i got a little notebook to give to the teacher. I told her that i'd seen the doctor and that dd is going to have a blood test. I then asked if they would mind filling in the book anytime they feel she is especially tired or having absences. I explained to her teacher that the g.p wants to try and establish if she is having absences. Her teacher then said that tbh she had thought right from the start that it could be absences as her daughter is epileptic and the things Dd is doing were quite similar to her dd's behaviour. She said she didn't really want to maention it before incase it upset me.
I now think that they may of told me she was tired all of the time just to get me to go to the g.p.
I still can't remember ever seeing her having abcenses myself though.
They are going to fill her note book in every day anyway and her teacher is going to inform all staff that they need to make a note of any thing unusual.
If any more absences are recorded i will make another appointment with the g.p and she will then refer her.

OP posts:
Freckle · 21/04/2004 10:44

Well done. All positives steps and the nursery appear to be alert and cooperative, so you shouldn't have any worries there. Hope you get some answers soon.