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So, my 6 yr old has been poorly for 2 weeks now.
Started off on what seemed 12 hour cycles - she was vomiting 6 O'clock at night then 6 the next morning. This went on for a couple of days and after showing no signs of improvement, plus her hands and feet were particularly cold we rang 101 - they arranged an out of hours GP appointment. We attended that and GP was very thorough,not to concerned about the cold feet, but her heart rate had dropped to 54 (should be around 80) so she sent us through to the local hospital for kids. Again when there they did a thorough check (her heart rate had increased to 75 by then) and basically we were sent on our way, they could find nothing wrong with her and put it down to a viral infection. Since then we have waves of her being ok which last for 8-10 hours, then the old symptoms come back, looks pale, cold hands and feet, sore tummy and (most of the time) eventual vomiting. The vomiting does not make her better either, the pain still lingers for 3-4 hours afterwards.
Went back to GP last Tuesday, again, could find nothing and told to come back next Tuesday if not better. Symptoms continued...Friday morning she was really bad with a very sore tummy so got an emergency appt with (a different) GP. Who again said she shares our frustration, and agrees 2 weeks is too long for a tummy bug but cant find anything wrong. She did mention possibly hepatitis, and possibly Coeliac but, again, just told see what she is like and bring her in on Tuesday if no better.
She has been okish today, cold feet most of the day though, but then tummy pains started around 5, and vomited everything she has eaten. She is now in bed again complaining of sore tummy (its always right in the middle).
Just at my wits end seeing her in pain and no closer to finding out what it could be.
What would you do, wait till Tuesday or take her to hospital a and e tomorrow and not move till we get an answer? Any advice on what to do, what it could be most welcome...
It may not be what you should do, but I would phone the hospital ward she was seen at and ask for their advice.
First and foremost, you know your kid, if this is sudden onset and out of the blue then it's not right. I'd be asking for more referalls when back at the gp. I certainly wouldn't be entertaining a and e on a Saturday night Sunday morning unless it was really necessary. Hope she feels better soon.
I'd go back to A&E. Has she had her blood glucose tested ? Not wanting to worry you, but I'd make sure that's tested. My son developed Type 1 about 4 years ago - was 'ill' before. Insisted on a blood test - straight into hospital.
(its always right in the middle)
It's always right in the middle - the nerves in the gut are all "central line"
You only feel pain elsewhere when either somebody presses on the sore bit and you shriek (it'll still feel central but they'll know different) or if there's inflammation of the lining of the belly (like in appendicitis where it starts off central and then moves to the right)
It's a tough one isn't it? - nobody likes to see a kid poorly, but then she's had possibly all the investigation they're likely to offer from an emergency perspective as they appear to feel she's broadly stable and not in danger and they have found nothing "significant"
Presumably they've sent off stool samples etc as part of all this, so they ought to have reported soonish if there was anything obviously amiss infection-wise or whatever
If she's not "worse" I think I'd wait & go back to the GP; they should be able to review all the hospital info and maybe you can talk about a paeds referral if it's ongoing. Is she losing weight? (if you've no idea, I'd start weighing her so you can report that - same scales, maybe every couple of days)
Obviously if she deteriorates, A&E it is, IMO
err, IANAD
(Hope she's on the mend soon)
Thanks for the replies. Nope, no stool samples, or blood samples, or any samples at all. She has lost about 6lbs as cant keep anything down. Feels like we are being told its a virus she will get better go home, sort of thing. And we think its not. But are we just concerned parents who should trust the GP's advice or with our gut saying "this isn't right" take it further?
I think I just want a magic pill to take her pain away, would rather she had broken her arm or something, at least that way we would know what it is, how to fix it, and how long it will last - this way she just keeps saying why will someone not take the pain away 🙁
Personally I'd be insisting on blood possibly stool tests from the GP/a&e
I'm with kimbers. Dismissing it as a tummy bug after this amount of time seems negligent.
Bear minimum is check blood sugars and keytones. This can be done in a pharmacy as its a quick pin prick.
My son was in his 30's for blood sugar and not far off coma. Keytones indicate organ failure.
Any worse, straight to A&E
A&e at seven o’clock tomorrow might not be too bad.
Plus I’d start getting disagreeable with my GP at this stage.
Years ago we took our son to the GP who then sent us to the local sick kids hospital. The doctor/consultant at the sick kids told me that in future we should just go straight there. Not had to do that since then but that would be my advice.
Have a look at Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome as well, my daughter has had this since she was four ( she's now 26 ) . I do hope it's not this as it's horrendous.
Call children's hospital you attended; tell them clearly and firmly you are on your way in and will be there until there is progress and a clear plan of action.
Ask would they tolerate being fobbed off in the way you have been.
No point talking with a GP again - the G is for general which means they know a little about lots of different ailments but unlikely to be expert in any.
Call now, get in car and go.
Call children’s hospital you attended; tell them clearly and firmly you are on your way in and will be there until there is progress and a clear plan of action.
Ask would they tolerate being fobbed off in the way you have been.
This comes across as a rather aggressive approach and I would have thought may well antagonise the staff. I don’t see someone who has been ‘fobbed off’- they have run tests, ascertained that nothing too serious (I presume) is going on and are putting it down to ‘a virus’. They cannot keep people in hospital indefinitely. I am surprised they did not give advice on what to do if her condition did not improve after a reasonable amount of time.
I don’t think however that you have much to lose by going along to the hospital and asking for their advice and further help. I hope things turn out well whatever you do, there is nothing much worse than watching your children suffer.
Gauss, it's clear that something is not right with the OP's little girl and the medical fraternity have been unable to diagnose so far.
Her symptoms are still present and, apparently, unchanged.
My suggestion is 100% focussed on achieving the right outcome for the child. It is not a '...rather aggressive approach'.
When it comes to health - and child health specifically - I would not presume anything.
The OP has clearly been fobbed off in that various medicos have failed to act other than saying 'Hmmmmm, come back if there's no change'.
Two weeks with symptoms generally unchanged and no progress with medicos fully justify my suggestion.
The OP's comment that'...this isn't right' is correct and fully justifies taking this further - firmly and without hesitation.
Pop her to A&E if you’re still not happy. Explain why and how she has been. Don’t make demands it won’t help you, your daughter or get you any different treatment.
She seems quite unwell and hope she gets better soon.