DS A&E am I being mad

[Cbd333]

My DD aged 3 woke up at 11pm last night screaming in pain because her leg hurt - specifically her
Shin bone. She has had a few infections recently and a persistent low-grade fever for a couple of weeks despite currently being on amoxicillin.

I googled thinking it's probably growing pains and wanted to see what I could do to help her but lots of the results came up with leukaemia. My mum and nana both died from leukaemia so I'm extremely sensitive about it but still I wonder if I'm being mad as I'm currently sitting in A&E as want her to have a blood test. For context, the leukaemia mum and nana had was extremely aggressive so their treatment began each time within an hour of diagnosis.

I don't want to me the mad mum hauling ds in to hospital when she should
Be swimming and enjoying her weekend but I'm terrified. Please help me.

[Malibuismysecrethome]

Why are we being made to feel that we are using up valuable resources when we are concerned with the health of a child. So wrong, on so many levels.

[HesterShaw1]

@Sleeplessem

OP 150% did the right thing even the Dr upthread thinks she did the right thing. I have to say it’s quite negligent of the a and e doc to put it down as maternal anxiety without doing the blood test then and there. Maternal anxiety in this sort of context is a bit of a cop out and comes across a bit misogynistic in my opinion (one about hysteria)

Unfortunately a lot of GPs miss signs of childhood cancer and it’s only when parents are at the end of the tether and go to a children’s hospital they end up with a diagnosis. Case and point look at Azaylia the daughter of Ashley Cain, they were told for weeks it was all normal and she had a very very aggressive form of cancer. Plus I find anything baby/ young child related most GPs either defer to a health visitor (baffling), recommend a and e or refer to a paed. Not a slight on GPs, specialists are there for a reason

I have a friend whose "maternal anxiety" led her to take her baby to a GP over 50 times. Each time she was dismissed as an over anxious women. The baby had leukaemia, nearly died and will have health problems all her life as a result.

If only her mother had been listened to

[Sleeplessem]

Oh god @HesterShaw1 how terrible, your poor friend! I hope her child is ok (as ok as can be in this context). Xx

[PackedintheUK]

I think you should complain to PALS OP, not to get anyone into trouble but to try and prevent others being treated the same way.

I hope DD's results are all good, but if your appointment isn't very soon, I'd press GP to organise them urgently.

[Mummyof2Terrors]

A disproportionate number of cases leukaemia are diagnosed in a&e as the symptoms can begin fairly subtly and mimic other illnesses. You absolutely did the right thing. For anyone else wondering about that fact, Google the spot leukaemia campaign.

[Flowersintheattic2021]

Can your dd walk. Lots on here are saying their child stopped walking and couldn't walk. If she has a temp I'd take for pcr. My 6 Yr old only had a fever with covid. If she can't walk won't walk then go to kids hospital not general

[girlabouthome]

I'm in exactly the same boat.

3.5 year old DS is not the same boy he was last year.

Thin, pale, dark circles, no appetite, constantly loose stools, no longer will walk any kind of distance and wants to be carried and last week started to complain of his knees hurting.

He has a blood test on the 10th Nov, as GP suspects an intolerance, but reading this thread made me panic and I was in tears last night.

I don't know what to do.

[SunshineCake1]

Ring the doctor tomorrow @girlabouthomen .

[girlabouthome]

@SunshineCake1 I think I will.

I'm so frightened.

Both for my child and sounding like the "anxious mother" x

[SunshineCake1]

If you think your child is ill and you aren't anxious then that isn't right. You need to advocate for your child, not do what a stranger says if you genuinely think they might be poorly.

[girlabouthome]

But it's the mixed messages that concern me or the possible "flying under the radar" with symptoms that could be so easily something else.

The Dr obviously thought non-urgent, hence the 3 week wait for bloods but this thread has genuinely frightened me.

[SunshineCake1]

Then please ring tomorrow and ask to speak to someone.

[Fullywhelmed]

@girlabouthome

I'm in exactly the same boat.

3.5 year old DS is not the same boy he was last year.

Thin, pale, dark circles, no appetite, constantly loose stools, no longer will walk any kind of distance and wants to be carried and last week started to complain of his knees hurting.

He has a blood test on the 10th Nov, as GP suspects an intolerance, but reading this thread made me panic and I was in tears last night.

I don't know what to do.

Could be an inflammatory bowel condition. My dd has just had a diagnosis with the same symptoms. Not nice, but not cancer. Or it could be coeliac or lactose intolerance.

I totally empathise with the terror as a parent. I have ended up on sertraline after the 6 month wait for diagnosis watching my child deteriorate incrementally.

[girlabouthome]

@Fullywhelmed thank you.

Do you mind me asking how you managed to get the diagnosis? Was it achieved through a blood test?

[Fullywhelmed]

@girlabouthome
I was waiting for a coeliac blood test and the wait was 4 months, I called the GP to say I wasn't prepared to leave her in this condition for 4 months and could we get bloods done privately. He then put in an urgent referral to the gastroenterology team at the local children's hospital instead. They saw us within 2 months, immediately suspected IBD (Crohn's, in our case) and recommended a gastroscopy and endoscopy which took place 2 weeks later and then she was kept in and treatment began the next day.

[Velvetscrunchy]

@Bootskates

Given your family history, I understand. Hope your DD is ok.

I hate all this "it's people like you bringing the NHS to its knees" so nothing to do with underfunding and a pandemic then? Or obesity or smokers/drinkers? It's all down to concerned mums and their 3 year olds?

@Bootskates. Couldn’t have said it better.

[JamieFrasersLover]

How is your little one, did you have any luck with the blood tests?

[BurntO]

I wouldn’t be taking my child to A&E for shin pain unless something could be broken. Total waste of everyone’s time. I’d bring out the calpol and contact the GP.

[SofiaAmes]

*BurntO" thank god you aren't my ds' mother. He'd probably be dead with your attitude towards a child in pain or distress exhibiting unusual symptoms.
I'd be thrilled if a trip to the ER involved something as simple as a broken bone.