Quick help please. Do I ring NHS Direct or not please, please give your opinion or advice.

[Jaquelinehyde]

DS 3yrs old hasn't been himself all week.

On Sunday he was freezing although it was very warm and he complained of a headache.

He woke up that night with a 39.6 temp and again complaining of headache, but went back to sleep after a cuddle and some Calpol.

Monday and Tues he mentioned on and off about a headache but appeared fine. My initial feeling was that it was for attention because he knew he would get lots of extra attention when his head hurts.

Anyway today mid afternoon he was crying about a headache and tummy ache and was then sick everywhere. He went for a short nap and woke up still complaining about his head.

He is in definate pain - not playing up - and the Calpol isn't helping at all. He keeps drifting off but gets woken up by the pain.

I'm looking at him on the sofa at the moment having just drifted off with a cold towel on his head.

I'm worried about the headaches, and not sure what to do.

Any advice would be welcome please.

What exactly did I say that was nasty?

Hardly, GP's receptionists want everyone to stay at home and die quietly, I'm urging the OP to do something rather than sit on a laptop asking strangers for their opinions on a child they can't see.

blimey - why are you all being so vile to georgimama? She's just giving some very sensible advice as far as I can see.

No, not being 'vile to georgimama. Her advice is correct imo. However, saying to the op,"there's a good girl" was perhaps patronising?

I was quoting the OP saying it to me, actually, hence the inverted commas.

on no sorry. just re-read and sorry geaorgiemama- that "good girl" was directed at you

apologies.

She only said that after several mouthfuls of swearing and abuse. Her first post was:

"is this really that difficult? We can't see your child. If you think he is ill, phone NHS direct. If you are really concerned, take him to A&E.

I never understand the point of these threads."

Okay, it's a bit blunt but she has a very good point. Don't talk to randoms on the internet, call NHS direct. That's what they're they're for

Right I'm off to the hospital.

Thanks everyone, you put my mind at rest and made me realise that I wasn't being a neurotic, over worried mother. This is why I love MN.

Georgimama - I usually enjoy your posts, however, your post tonight is evidence of why I hate MN. Have a little compassion please.

Will update on my return. Thanks again.

I hope it's nothing serious. You are doing the right thing either way.

Good luck Jaquelinehyde.

Alot of people worry about about whether they are overreacting and don;t want to take up the veluable resources of the NHS. I for one, have worried myself silly about my ill babies. My dp has talked me out of dashing to a&e and phoned nhs direct or out of hours. When you have an ill child its difficult to have a balanced view and I'm sure the op just wanted that push. I don't think anyone would say 'Oh don;t worry about it' but most will say err on the side of caution....therefore op thinks 'of course, I'm not over-reating'

GM op's dc is poorly and she's worried, your comments of 'what's so difficult?' is so demeaning and totally uncalled for.

hope all is ok

I'm going to link you to my thread. I haven't read all your thread yet - give me a second and I'll come back. here

Ha ha! Just read your WHOLE thread, my, what a storm in a threadcup.

Georgie - I'm an intelligent woman - of course I'm going to make my own mind up, but yes, sometimes I use MN like this....at the same time as phoning my mum, sister etc "whaddaya think - do you think she/he need to go to the docs etc etc". There was a thread the other day about calling an ambulance which was really interesting - about how we get nervous about making a fuss. Sometimes we just need the validation.

And I've NEVER seen a childrens' health thread on MN on which nearly EVERYONE has said "get them checked out to be sure/peace of mind etc"

Anyway, back to the poor OP and her DC - definitely go to the docs as there is no end of nonsense around at the moment as my thread testifies...you just never know. Where abouts are you?

I understand needing validation about buying a skirt (actually I don't, but I get how starting a thread about it is fun) but I don't understand why anyone would feel the need for a committee decision from strangers on the internet about their child's health - you need validation, fine, get it from a doctor.

I think you might have missed the point of my post. I'm not going to only base my decision on MN posts! It's one of a few places I'll probably displace my anxiety about my child on a weekend when getting to an emergency doctor involves a ridiculous amount of rigmaroll (sp?).

I'm also interested to see if anyone pipes up with - "oh yeah, my DC had those symptoms and it turned out to be....blah". But obviously, I'm busy being a responsible parent off line...do you really think some people would only base their decision on what got posted on an MN thread?

It's a release and a place to air concerns really isn't it?

have to say i don't understand tap tapping to strangers when your child is unwell

you need good advice from a reliable source eg GP,NHS direct.perhaps a face to face assessment

not some strangers with a pc.the topic header has a disclaimer advising you seek GP advice

want to debrief afterwards,by all means,Use MN.but not in throes of illness

I'm scared now, scottishmummy appears to agree with me.

is that supposed to mean something?dont know what you are on about

I also agree with you georgimama. I spent ages on here a couple of days ago trying to get someone to take their injured child to hospital as I don't possess the knowledge or the x-ray telepathic powers to see down a laptop!

to be honest if you seek your medical advice or assess your priorities from strangers i am worried

might as well glean some diagnostic tips from diagnosis murder

Good lord, this is a bit much.

Sometimes people just need to be told they're not going mad and that yes, they need to do as their instinct tells them.

Is MN really that nasty that we can't give a bit of support?

support,yes.accurate diagnosis or prognosis-no

so prioritise.
seek reliable advice
debrief later

Good luck - DS had a temp that wouldn't come down with calpol, hospital gave him ibuprofen (?) aswell. He had tonsillitis. They said I had done the right thing going (then again by ambulance the next day after he went quite blue) .

I don't think OP asked for a diagnosis, just more sort of what to do next.

I think when your child has been ill since Sunday with what could seem like "a bit of a virus," you don't know how much fuss to make. I've done that.