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Original poster

I am so, so worried about ds, please can someone help me?

148 replies

theUrbanDryad · 23/02/2008 18:58

he hasn't been well for about 2 weeks. first he had a chest infection, plus cough, plus vomiting. the chest infection's gone but he's still vomiting, he can't seem to keep anything down. tonight, he vomited at about half 5, and his lunch and tea came up. he's just vomited again, which was his evening milk.

he's hardly got any fat left on him, i can see his ribs and spine. the gp won't entertain the idea that there's something wrong with his tummy.

is there anyone out there who can help me? i'm so worried.

OP posts:
PurplePillow · 23/02/2008 19:02

Not sure if i'm much help but if you are that worried i think you should take him to A&E and get him checked out. how old is he?

Hopefully this has bumped it for you so someone with more knowledge will see it.

Good luck hope ds is better soon

3littlefrogs · 23/02/2008 19:02

I think if you are really worried, and the GP is not listening, then A&E is the best route to go. Sunday mornings are probably better than Saturday nights though. If he is not dehydrated then you might be better trying to take him when it isn't full of drunks etc.

Are you thinking that he might have a food intolerance or allergy?

Is he still coughing, and is that causing the vomiting?

Maybe he would be better with just icelollies to rest his stomach and then A&E in the morning.

how old is he, and where are you?

madmommy6 · 23/02/2008 19:03

Has he been vomiting for 2 weeks?
I think i would ring NHS or take him to a&e.
How old is he?
Sorry not much help.

tiredemma · 23/02/2008 19:03

take him to local childrens hospital A&E

NatalieJane · 23/02/2008 19:04

There does seem to be a horrible bug going around at the moment. DS1 had Gastroentritus(sp?) a couple of years ago, he went for about two weeks keeping absolutely nothing down. We were in and out of hospital with him all the time. It is scary how quickly the weight drops off them, but try not to worry too much about that, they do get back to normal just as quickly.

If you are very worried don't bother with GP's they did nothing for DS1 either, just go straight to A&E, they were aboslutely great with DS1.

He actually got to the point where he literally couldn't keep his head up for long enough to take a couple of sips of juice.

The main thing you have to watch for is him getting dehydrated. Don't worry about solid food. Try to get him to take anything wet. They adivsed us to give DS1 sugary juice with an added tea spoon of sugar in in. Others said about lollies and ice pops, even jelly.

As I said, get him to A&E if you are really worried, or think he is dehydrated.

ahundredtimes · 23/02/2008 19:04

How old is he? Poor you.

Nothing constructive but am bumping and also wondering about the milk? It can produce a lot of mucus?

My ds1 is and always has been a whippet. There are lots of things you can give him to help build up strength again, there was a thread recently. How old though?

MissingMyHeels · 23/02/2008 19:05

I would definitely go to A&E - if you have a large hosp near you they should have a Childrens A&E separate to the one full of Sat night drunks. However, if you go soon it should be ok as it is still fairly early and the England game hasn't started yet!

Original poster
theUrbanDryad · 23/02/2008 19:05

he's 13 months. we're at home at the moment. i don't think he's dehydrated but his fontanelle is dipped a bit. what other signs are there?

he can't keep water down, but still wants to nurse. i thought bm might be easier to digest for him anyway.

OP posts:
3littlefrogs · 23/02/2008 19:06

Have you a rough idea how much weight he has lost and over how long? That is a useful bit of history for the doctor if you can give a reasonable estimate.

Does he have a temperature, does he seem distressed/in pain?

Is he weeing? Pooing?

Sorry about all the questions, but it will help the A&E doctor if you have the answers ready.

3littlefrogs · 23/02/2008 19:07

If his fontanelle is dipped, I would take him.

ahundredtimes · 23/02/2008 19:07

Oh yes, BM of course fine, ignore the mucus thing, I wondered if he was having dairy?

Other signs of dehdration would be slight yellowness to skin, very acidic wee and not much wee at that, he'd be droopy and sleepy.

is he projectile vomiting?

emma1977 · 23/02/2008 19:08

Poor thing, you must be concerned.

A&E is not the place to take him unless he has deteriorated suddenly over the past 24 hours. Can you take him to see a different GP on Monday? If not, then I suggest contacting NHS direct to signpost you to your local GP out of hours service who will be there all weekend.

How old is he? Is he still peeing? Does he look pale? Is he drowsy? Is the vomiting related to coughing (or after a coughing fit)? Is he taking any medicines?

Blandmum · 23/02/2008 19:08

I know that he is on;y 13 months but would he suck on a lolly?

I did this for dd when she had flu at about this age.

It got some much needed fluid into her, and some sugar, and because it took a longish time, she kept it down.

Do you have an hourt of hours doc service that you could take him to for some re-assurance?

PurplePillow · 23/02/2008 19:08

In a child that young i would definately go to A&E. Better to go and get him checked out than sit there worrying.

Original poster
theUrbanDryad · 23/02/2008 19:09

no temp, he doesn't seem distressed, not in pain. he has runny poo, not very wet nappies (which is also worrying me)

think he might have lost half a pound, maybe a whole pound. not sure.

we don't even know where the nearest a&e is...

OP posts:
madamy · 23/02/2008 19:09

Dipped fontanelle is def sign of dehydration. Ds (9mths) went from listless with dipped fontanelle to sunken eyes and practically unrousable within 6 hours a couple of weeks ago! A&E were fab and I later found out that babies can deteriorate really quickly. If he doesn't keep the bm down, take him to A&E.

madamy · 23/02/2008 19:10

just read your last post - ds had diarrhoea (lots, very watery) but was otherwise 'well' - had rotavirus - nasty diarrhoea virus.

3littlefrogs · 23/02/2008 19:10

If you phone NHS direct they will tell you where your local A&E is.

shreddies · 23/02/2008 19:10

Poor you, I had this with my DS who is the same age. He was so thin I could see his ribs, it was horrible, we went to A&E in the end, but he was fine, and your son probably is too. Ring NHS Direct- they'll put you straight through to a nurse if you ring about a baby and direct you to A&E if they think it's necessary. They'll certainly be able to talk you through whether he is hydrated enough

Blandmum · 23/02/2008 19:11

and possibly an out of hours GP service, which might well see to your needs faster than A and E

emma1977 · 23/02/2008 19:11

Just caught upon some of the further details...

I would advise getting him seen this evening, wherever you feel is most approprite. Little babies can dehydrate quite quickly, and a sunken fontanelle is just one of the signs.

All the best and I hope he makes a speedy recovery.

Original poster
theUrbanDryad · 23/02/2008 19:12

going to phone nhs direct now.

OP posts:
emma1977 · 23/02/2008 19:15

The number for NHS Direct is 0845 4647.

Don't panic, give them a call and they'll help you get your little one sorted. Remember to take your red book along wherever he gets seen.

Original poster
theUrbanDryad · 23/02/2008 19:15

this music is blardy awful!

thanks for all your help everyone.

OP posts:
Walnutshell · 23/02/2008 19:15

Ds (2y 3m) has had gastroenteritis since last Saturday and has taken until today to eat somewhere approaching normally. Previously he has been on breastmilk and water and couldn't always hold that down. It gets really worrying when they don't hold down b'milk because you imagine that's the most likely to stay inside. He has probably absorbed some fluid even if he is bringing some of it up. Our local emergency doc service (Devondocs) recommended trying him on coke (!) because the sugar is absorbed quickly and then followed by the water (whatever that means biologically!) so even if he was sick, some should have been absorbed. However Ds doesn't have fizzy drinks so was not interested! Argh.
Also looked pretty thin this week but thankfully is recovering now. Hope you find the same soon.

What reason has GP given for saying there is no problem with his tummy?

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