Feeling really cross can you tell me we did the right thing?

[Berrie]

DH's family are horrified that we have not taken our children to the Doctor's for a bad cold that we've all got. They've been pretty poorly it's true but nothing has made us worry that it was anything more than a bad cold. We all had a temperature for a couple of days then began to slowly improve. We've been vigilent for signs of secondary infections but although we're all pretty miserable we're not getting worse.
I'm getting really fed up with the comments and am beginning to doubt our decisions. Do you take your children to the Doctors in case the cold is something worse?

I don't. There's not usually much the gp can do. I would do as you are doing and watch for signs that things are improving or not. If there was a dramatic deterioration or if I thought things had gone on too long then I would call the gp. No point having them sitting in a waiting room when they could be resting.

My SIL and MIL would be at the doctors every five minutes. I think SIL went for proctically every cold /fever etc her 2 had when they were younger. I'm sure they think I'm a bad mother for not doing the same but I'm not going to drag them to the surgery and expose all those elderly people in the waiting room to a cold which could have far more serious consequences for them than it will either me or my children only to be told by the GP to give them plenty of fluids calpol and rest I think you are quite right.

How long is too long? ds started 6 days ago and is better though not fully better.

Never go to DR's for cold and flu for self and only for DS if he's showing no signs of improving and has a raging temperature. Always get tutted at by MIL when she asks have we seen the doctor yet and i tell her no.

I almost never go to the doctor with DS, I think apart from vaccinations he has been once since he was born.

My mum was the same, we had to be practically dead before we got an appointment (or indeed time off school). I am a great believer in trusting your instincts, you'll know if it's serious/weird enough to warrant medical attention.

Wouldn't dream of going to the doctors with a cold! Has to be something more serious and on-going.

Only cos he is asthmatic otherwise no and I don't take DD unless she is really poorly.

Thanks for those comments...I'm not really sure why I can't brush these comments off. Probably something to do with feeling rubbish while trying to look after 2 exceedingly grumpy children!
I knew being a sahm was a sometimes tedious badly paid job but it took until now to realise that not only are there no days off, there are no sick days either!

Berrie, you are absolutely right and if we all took our children to see the GP with every cold, then nobody would ever get an appointment! Colds usually last between 7-10 days - having said that, my lot have all had one lasting more than 2 weeks!

2 weeks - yikes! We've been ill for 3 weeks now, they both had a vile tummy bug right before the cold - I've not been out more than 2 or 3 times in that time (by out I mean outside!)

Only consolation is that if you have a run of bugs you do seem to get a 'free' period before the next lot. Hope it's that way for you and once this lot clears you're free for the spring/summer

d colds that have lasted for weeks in this house. I would only take ds if he had a temp taht wouldnt go.

Let's hope so!

should read Weve had colds

Berrie,

i have had the same from my aunt my dd has had a bad cold since the 26th jan my cousin who is 10yrs old has cought the same cold from dd (her birthday party).

My aunt has taken her to the dr incase it was

a) chicken Pox - She had when she was 4yrs

b) Measles - has has mmr

c) Tonsillities (sp)

When she asked me if i has taken dd i said no it a COLD!.

My Aunt takes dd to the dr if she sneezes twice in a row.

To be honest you've done exactly what I've just done for my DS and DD. Doctors won't give out antibiotics for cold or flu (unless, of course you have a secondary infection), so the main thing is to keep them comfortable.