Son, cough, GP. *sigh*

BanzaiBk

BostonB wrote: »

You'll be referred to a children's hospital with children, not an emergency too. But lets not that get in the way.

Not the case in Cork I'm afraid. I am totally unsure of Dublin however. OP I would definitly consult another GP in your area if you are not happy. It's bad enough when you feel short changed for your own healthcare, never mind that of your child. Best of luck.

nesf

BostonB wrote: »

You'll be referred to a children's hospital with children, not an emergency too. But lets not that get in the way.

We don't qualify for children's hospitals or anything fancy like that down here in the sticks.

BostonB wrote: »

Have a known a doctor to be wrong, and me right. Yes. More than once, and with more than one doctor. In some areas you simply won't get to see another GP. Most of their patient books are full and simply won't take any more patients. So you can't just find another GP that easily. If theres doubt the GP's are often referring people to emergency. The alternative would to see a consultant or specialist. But the waiting times can be months and months. So often the GP's send their patients to emergency instead.

GP's referring people to emergency when there is doubt is a whole different ballgame to some random parent taking their kid to the ER over something minor that could wait until tomorrow. We're not talking about kids coughing up blood being told that they're fine here tbh.

tallaght01

you should also bear in mind, BostonB, that the doc you see in A+E is more likely to be far more junior than your GP.

I used to do paeds A+E as a junior, and I wouldn't have even seen a tooth problem unless it was a dire dire emergency. And even then all i would have had in my arsenal would have been painkillers and antibiotics.

The OP should also realise that medicine doesn't always have the answers. Your doctor can only go on the clinical findings and the history. I do appreciate your concern though. But, as a paediatrician, I see this all the time. Grumbling cough/snotty nose/rash whatever. The mum decides it's not good enough that it lasts this long and someone has to sort it out.

These parents get very upset when I tell them that children often have symptoms that go on for an eternity. Like I said, doctors don't have magic wands. I saw a kid yesterday who's "had the flu since august". His mum is rageing because I could offer no treatment. I know I did the right thing, and I know he'll get better. Mum thinks I'm a quack,a nd wil tell her friends/family/boards about the ****e doc she saw in the hospital. It's all about the perspective from each side of the fence.

It's tough having a sick kid. But it's also tough being a GP. Some of the posters above have suggested that you change GP. I think that's probably fair enough, if the relationship is breaking down. But going to A+E to see an overworked junior who won't be interested in a chronic problem is unlikely to result in any joy for you. But do make sure you get it followed up if you think your kiddy is unwell.

Hope it all works ou for u.

undecided

Tallaght101 I appreciate where you are coming from but from experience some GP just dont give the required treatment even when they are told that it is something more serious. Its like they just want to give antibiotic and get on to the next patient. Unfortuneately it seems to fall back on the over worked staff in ER.

As I said in previous posts My child would suffer severe croop n asthma and doc would always pawn me off with antibiotics instead of listening hence would end up in er with sick child with extremely low O2 levels n get few days HD.

Another example is that of my partner 4 long years of sufering and been given antibiotics. Was visiably ill looking lost huge amount of weight, persistant cough spitting up blood etc. Was at the GP most weeks for nearly four years had xrays and was constantly told chest infection. The outcome was that one night he was coughing so much causing vomitting I lost the head. Went to ER and got a result He had a tumour blocking his airways which caused a collapsed lung also. ER doc told us that it had been there for some time and he wouldn't have lived another 4yrs had it not been detected as was blocking the air supply.

What are people supposed to do when the GP wont listen and other GPs wont see you as they have enough people on their books?

sgthighway

My 15 month old daughter had a really bad cough like Hobbes described. After a week we took her to the GP. The GP said there was a small amount of fluid in her lungs; more in one than the other. She prescribed an Antibiotic Medicine to try and help the fluid. If it was still bad when the medicine was over we were to bring her back and the GP might refer her for an X-Ray. The day before we were to go back she was really bad at breakfast. I took her to A&E because it was a Sunday and quite. She got the all clear but the Doctor in Pediatrics told us there was a cough going around and nothing would shift it. It had to run its course. My daughter had it for 4 weeks. All happy again.

Now she has Conjunctivitis.

She is costing me a fortune too but what can you do but hope they get better so they are back to themselves.

kelle

My 12-month-old daughter has had a cough for 2 weeks, has a high temperature, vomiting and diarrhoea! I visited the doctor for the 3rd time yesterday, but didn't recommend an antib as it would only irritate her stomach. So I have to wait for everything to run it's course. It's great fun at night, trying to grab her in time for her to vomit on the floor and not on the bedclothes!
Now, my 2nd daughter (aged 5) has a high temperature, diarrhoea and vomiting....

I know how you feel, sgthighway!

Suaimhneach

Havent read the whole thread so dont know if its been said. But Exputex forces you to cough, forcing the flem off your chest. I *hate* being told to take it, it doesnt help unless you have a chesty cough, rather than an infection.

Get a cough suppressant for when he's going to bed, I recommend something you can get in any health food store "Dr.Potters" I'm fairly sure its called that anyway. It's a deep soothing mix, that'll help him sleep.

Steaming also helps a lot.

If your doctor isnt listening, just take him to another doctor.

I've suffered with a cough that can knock me out for a week or two, so I've learned what works the hard way.

kelle

Jesjes wrote: »

Havent read the whole thread so dont know if its been said. But Exputex forces you to cough, forcing the flem off your chest. I *hate* being told to take it, it doesnt help unless you have a chesty cough, rather than an infection.

Get a cough suppressant for when he's going to bed, I recommend something you can get in any health food store "Dr.Potters" I'm fairly sure its called that anyway. It's a deep soothing mix, that'll help him sleep.

Steaming also helps a lot.

If your doctor isnt listening, just take him to another doctor.

I've suffered with a cough that can knock me out for a week or two, so I've learned what works the hard way.

The only cough mixture an under-2 can get is Sootha, and I haven't found it any good.

Suaimhneach

Maybe check your health store for a baby-freindly alternative. Once its a cough suppressant, it should help your baby sleep at night and breathe easier.

The one I take (Dr. Potters Balm of Gilead Cough Mixture) does say not suitable for under 5, but I'd imagine there is some sort of alternative available for kids. at least I hope so.

BostonB

This is all veering into giving medical advice which is against the rules of boards.

Suaimhneach

I didnt intend for that to happen. Just wanted to express the knowledge that exputex forces a person to cough (which is a fact, written on the bottle, so not advice). And that Potters is soothing and helps suppress coughs (also written etc).

I'll shup now.

embee

Jesjes is right - exputex basically de-stickifies the mucous in your chest, making it easier to cough up. It doesn't actually sort the cold out, just lets you clear the gunk. That is why its available without prescription. (It tastes rank as well, I must say).

My almost-2 year old daughter had a bad cough about a month ago or so, but it cleared after she went to bed with a piece of cloth over her pillow that had a Karvol capsule dropped onto it in little spots. Its completely natural and helped her greatly. It is a decongestant but cleared her cough up without her needing anti-biotics.

BostonB

We could be talking about 100 different coughs where what worked for one won't work for another. Just a thought.

embee

BostonB wrote: »

We could be talking about 100 different coughs where what worked for one won't work for another. Just a thought.

There is no harm in any of us telling the OP what worked for us, BostonB. One of these solutions could help him. We aren't offering him medical advice.