Need advice about antibiotics and handhold - so overwhelmed

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I’m really hoping someone can offer some advice, my head feels like it’s going to explode and can’t think straight

My DS has been sick for basically the past month. Numerous doctors visits/hospital visits has resulted in him being terrified of doctors. The doctor doesn’t touch him and he’s hysterical, makes examining him next to impossible. Then as for administering any medication the same, absolutely hysterical it’s just been awful the last few weeks.

He had hand foot and mouth about three weeks ago, then got what we suspect is bronchiolitis. Went to doctor for that and we’re given an inhaler. Didn’t feel he got any worse so didn’t give inhaler. Yesterday he sounded quite chesty and my parents were visiting, they thought he sounded wheezy and told us to give inhaler. Gave inhaler and he was absolutely hysterical as if we were trying to smother him! Gave again this morning but sucking in around ribs, so booked gp appointment. Was hysterical at the gp they had to get another doctor to come in and help. Anyway they barely touched him but they prescribed antibiotics. They said bronchiolitis should be gone after 5 days but because it’s coming up to 2 weeks it could be secondary infection. They said no wheeze so no need to use inhaler.

I gave first dose of antibiotics and he was hysterical. I feel like I’m traumatising him doing this day in day out. Now I’m wondering does he even need the antibiotics? Bronchiolitis is viral and it’s not like he’s very unwell in himself but I felt he needed to be seen because his ribs were sucking in (not severely but still visible)

I’ve given the first dose of antibiotics but I sort of regret it. I have to continue and finish the course now don’t I? Have I done the right thing? Should I have just left it as he’s otherwise happy enough?

On top of this he has chronic constipation which he’s on Movicol for but now having to sneak it in his porridge otherwise forget it tried milk yoghurt etc. He has an eye test coming up for eyes crossing and a hearing test referral as he isn’t responding to his name and along with other red flags he’s being referred to community paediatrician for early assessment. I don’t know how it will be possible to do the eye and ear tests with him as he’s so terrified. It’s just been so overwhelming and everything is happening at once. I can’t stand seeing him so distressed and now I have to force feed him antibiotics for the next week which I don’t even think he should have had in the first place

Hi OP, we're sorry you're going through such a worrying time. We're just giving your thread a bump to get it back into active conversations - hopefully some Mumsnetters will be along soon with some advice and support.

In the meantime, if you let us know how old your DS is, we can add that info to the title so it's clearer.

If a GP has prescribed antibiotics of course you must give them. It sounds as if it started off viral & turned into a bacterial infection. My kids also hate taking medicine (apart from calpol) I usually bribe with a chocolate button, would that work?

I gave my DD movicol in OJ in the morning to disguise the taste.

PS the firmer and more confident you are, no nonsense attitude, it might help. Don't doubt yourself! No they don't like ABs but tough. If they need them, they need them.

If he has constipation, is often chesty etc then I would trial dairy exclusion.

So sorry you've had such a hard time. No medical expert so I cannot say whether to stop the antibiotics or not.

Just wanted to say my DD was similar at some point. We had a few tough winters of respiratory troubles, given inhalers, in and out of a&e and as a result when she had a hospital stay earlier this year she was beside herself - to the point where drs and nurses would give up trying to administer stuff e.g. oxygen through nasal prongs. It's wasn't just painful things like needles, it was anything and I'd get strange looks from the medical staff. There were times when I really had to force her to take medicine and it was horrible and heart-breaking.

However, just wanted to let you know it hasn't had a lasting impact. She's 5 now and we've had a few drs visits so far this cold season and she hasn't made anywhere near as much fuss. Last week she was on antibiotics and she gladly took them. I was so worried she would be scared of any medical intervention for ever but she just grew out of it. I think now she's a little older, she can understand it all a bit more and finally gets that we are trying to help her, even if it is unpleasant.

So hang in there, bribe with chocolate if you need to and it will eventually get easier.

It's awful having to force medicine down them but yes you did the right thing. Lots of babies and kids hate it but it's better that you force them than not do it and they get really poorly. They can often get a bacterial chest infection after a viral infection and it's better to be safe than sorry.
It's really hard though so I hope he is better soon.

No idea about the antibiotics except to say he probably does need them but could you try playing doctors at home? Buy a couple of baby dolls and a doctor set, you lay on the sofa and he can check you over then eventually if he is willing he is the patient and you're the doctor then the baby dolls have a go and it's fun then you all get a sticker or a treat?

It's horrible when they're so distressed but you need to treat them. My two year old was terrified of any medical setting after a couple of difficult blood tests, and we've been in and out of hospital this autumn with breathing issues.

As others have said, a secondary bacterial infection is common, so I'd give the antibiotics (sorry!). If the taste is a problem, try a small piece of chocolate before as well as after. Chocolate coats the mouth, so giving it before means they actually don't taste the medication as much, as well as the nice taste afterwards.

If he's okay with any other medications, like say calpol, use a different syringe/spoon/cup than you would for the okay medications. Then you don't risk the calpol syringe becoming associated with Bad Things. (DD2 currently won't take anything from a purple syringe, because she's had horribly bitter steroids in one.)

I know you're not using the inhaler at the moment, but I do extra screen time for the inhaler, especially if it's a lot of puffs. I also give as many doses as possible whilst she's asleep.

Yes also to playing doctors/hospital. Add bits to the kit if you need to so he can recreate the treatment he's had. Depending on age and understanding, Get Well Soon on iPlayer is also good.

Thank you he is nearly 18 months old

This. medicine is non negotiable or he will be in hospital on an IV (and the nurses will take no crap when it comes to getting the meds into him). Much better taking them at home kiddo.

Thanks so much for the thoughtful responses, I feel a bit calmer about it all and that we are in fact doing the right thing and the necessary thing.
Sadly he gets upset at the sight of the syringe, he hates Calpol and Nurofen. I felt very mean as he was enjoying spoonfuls of his lunch and I randomly popped a spoonful of the antibiotic in and he was very surprised by the taste and was upset. We actually bought some strawberry yoghurt the idea was I was going to give him a few spoonfuls of the yoghurt and then mix it in (the gp said I could mix it with food if necessary for him to take it). He actually got distraught trying to give him the strawberry yoghurt on its own as he’d never tasted it before, managed to get a spoonful in and he was crying, it’s like he is now expecting the medicine and getting upset instantly, like getting distraught when the doctor tried to give him a sticker before examining him. Needless to say
we had to resort to the syringe and DH held him, he was hysterical but we have no choice, just need to get through four more days of this and hopefully he’ll feeling better and it’ll all be worth it.

I’ll take a look at some doctor role play toys this is a great idea.

@Bex9434 glad to hear your DD is more comfortable with the doctors now sounds like it was a very tough time!

@skkyelark hope your DS is doing better, it’s so awful seeing them unwell.

@Topjoe19 will try OJ with the Movicol, that should surely hide the taste!

@Delorian I did wonder about dairy, that’s definitely something we need to consider thanks

Yes this is what I need to keep reminding myself! Just have to power through it. I’m a FTM and oh my god is it hard, nobody warns you about all the illnesses!

Top tip I was given for antibiotics is to mix them in with a spoonful of the ice cream syrup topping stuff. Whatever flavour you think they'll like. We're very careful with what we give our kids and would never normally give them something like that, but for antibiotics we whip out the syrup to get it in without fuss.

It's easy to second guess yourself but please follow medical advice. The doctors will have weighed up all the information they have and their knowledge of myriad possible conditions and prescribed treatment.

Can you use the syringe a bit to get him used to the fact that it's only a squirty tube? Let him feed you some water or orange juice and maybe give himself some. Do this while there's something he likes on the TV or pad. It's easy to get panicky when you don't know how you're going to get the medicine in. Mine preferred to have medicine a little bit at a time, even though it prolongs it, because they didn't like a big squirt from the syringe.

That's a great idea! Might give that a go if mine need ABs again (hopefully not for ages!)