DS won't let himself be examined in any way and really needs to see a doctor. Any tips?

[Sahkoora]

DS (5 and dx ASD) has been having tummy troubles for a few weeks. Started off with diaorrhea and what I thought was a tummy bug, but now he's having tummy aches quite frequently, and now he's just thrown up his lunch.

He's had this before, when he was at school and things were going wrong, so tbh I think it's stress related. I'm 17weeks pregnant and had such a traumatic pregnancy. I haven't been able to be a very attentive patient mum lately and I'm wondering if this has caused it :(

Anyway, I'd like to take him to see the doctor, but it's a nightmare. DS hates waiting rooms, and our doctor's have a horrendous open surgery system where you turn up and wait to be seen. You're lucky if you get seen in under an hour, and I've waited over three in the past, in a hot crowded room where people don't take kindly to "misbehaving" kids. And DS would be AWFUL!

I've tried to speak to the receptionists about making DS an actual appointment, but they are wholly unhelpful, saying I should get one on a Fri morning when they don't have open surgery, but it's impossible. Phone lines open at 8, all appointments gone by 8.15.

To add to all of this, if DS actually gets across the threshold, he curls into a ball on the floor and won't let anyone touch him. He won't have his temp taken, his mouth looked in, his ears looked in, won't even speak.

What the dickens do I do? I've tried talking it over and over, a social story, reassuring him, offering to do his temp etc myself, but I'm hoping someone else has an idea. VERY much doubt doc would do a home visit!

Oh sahkoora hugs I totally disagree your pregnancy has caused this . Could you take him to an out of hours ? Our one gives appt

Oh and pls don't feel your the only one my dd2 kicked a dr and won't be weighed

You're certainly not the only one. My ds wouldn't be examined until he was well into his teens.

What I used to do was ask the doctor to call me and then explain his symptoms. If the doctor thought he needed to be seen we would then discuss the best way to go about it.
He actually very rarely needed to be seen. This does depend on having a co-operative on the ball GP though.

And don't blame yourself. Even if your ds is reacting to your pregnancy (and he may not be) it is NOT YOUR FAULT.

Can you ask them for a home visit and see how that goes? They are very difficult to get unless you're elderly or unable to get to the surgery so you may have to explain what he's like and beg.

I'd be tempted to change surgeries into one that's a little more understanding. There's no harm in you both waiting in an empty room or something.

Definitely see if you can get a telephone appointment or just get a doctor to call you. If they need yo see him then they should be able yo give you a fixed appointment time.

Do you still have a health visitor? Or are you on speaking terms with a HV from when your child was younger? Would they be a possible Health care professional to request a visit at home from?

If you ask for a home visit because of the waiting room problem, I suspect you'll find they suddenly become much more helpful.

I always get the doctor to phone me and explain his symptoms .if he just needs a prescription I pick one up a few hours later.
If it's felt he needs to be seen I'm given a time and the doctor makes sure at that time exactly his room is empty and ds goes straight in .
One perticular time ds was being challenging and the doctor asked if I wanted him to come to the house but ds hates people at home so we compromised and the doctor came out to the surgery car park and examined him in the back of the car (ds is an absolute angel in the car).
I love my doctor lol,

I would remind them of the waiting room shenanigans & ask for a phone appt

Or of course, you could take him down so you can wait to be seen. ;)

I'd let them to decide which option it will be.

leave*
Sorry, Autocorrect.