Posting on MN in the event of a health emergency

[malmaman]

Can someone please explain to me the rationale behind this to me:

If your child has just had an accident or appears to be developing a potentially life-threatening condition why would you post on MN to ask others opinions on how ill they think your child might be, whether you should act on it etc. as opposed to actually getting your child off the the hospital/dr/walk-in centre?

I understand that there maybe doubts that the condition needs that level of care and so perhaps reassurance is needed but surely your very first action would be to seek immediate medical advice? It terrifies me that some poster come on MN with seemingly dire emergencies that they are right in the thick of regarding their children and then stay on MN's for ages discussing it. Surely, in the case of say, meningitis every second counts?

I'm not having a go, but I really can't understand. When I have been in this situation myself (when my dd went limp and blue a couple of years ago now) my last thought would be to log on MN and see what everyone thought about it (no disrespect intended)

ps sorry if it's a bit convuluted - brain working slower than fingers today

I suspect people don't generally post on MN in the case of their child being suddenly very ill - it's more when they seem okish, but with some worrying symptoms, which may or may not be anything. Sometimes you need the confidence to take the child to A&E (particularly if out of hours).

I get that it's just that they generally seem to be in the throes of it so to speak? It seems almost like they want to share the drama. I mean if it happened to me I know I would phone an ambulance/jump in the car and take her - logging on and discussing it would not be an option

Agree with tortoiseSHELL.
Mums feel so much mummy-anxiety whenever their child is a bit unwell, there is so much on news etc about inappropraite use of A&E/out of hours etc and sometimes people have contacted gP/NHS Direct and are unsure that they are happy with their advice and need reassurance. Personally I worry I might be over-reacting.
Most posts of this time I've seen the poster leaves quite quickly if they are advised to call 999 or go to A&E.
Think it is support-seeking not attention-seeking.

I think that especially first time round you're not always sure what constitutes a crisis, and in fairness not all of us are that close to a hospital that we can just pop along to A&E to see if there is anything to worry about.

Here's my one from a few year's back