Today I spent three hours at my local children’s casualty department with Wonder Girl. After these three hours I was seen by a Dr who informed me Wonder Girl has a virus and will get better in her own time. She also added that I should bring her back if I became more worried. This statement is where things get complicated for me.
I admit I am a little (OK a lot… OK far too much) neurotic about my children’s health. Obviously the initial trip to casualty was made because I was fairly worried, and she is fine. So exactly how worried do I need to be to make that trip.
I have had a fair amount of Dr’s visits and casualty trips in my five short years of parenting. Possibly some of this is because I have three children. I also think I need a better awareness of when to get them seen by a Dr and when to wait. But how do I know the difference between a cold and Tropical Monkey Ooga Booga disease?
I would rather be the mum who went too often than the mum who missed something that needed treatment. But I will try harder to hold fire and follow the guidelines so as not to waste mine, or the Drs time again.
I’m the same! I have to resist the urge to bundle Moo down to the GPs every time she feels slightly hot or has a cough. Instead I text my mum (she is like a surrogate nurse) and check with her. I’m lucky in that Moo hasn’t been seriously ill (touch wood) so have not had any need to panic. I think you go with your gut instinct. Better safe than sorry! X
Glad I’m not the only one , good that you haven’t discovered the children’s hospital yet. They are brill when you need them though.
Its hard not to panic. I tend to react if a fever or pain is not being reduced by calpol. If a child takes a bump to the head and eyes are not dilating evenly and/or the child is sleepy and on it goes. but most of all its that gut instinct that all is not well with your child and yes it is best to go too often than not enough. I think they say to come back to cover their backs and also in case as you walk out some bed symptoms kick in. I wrote a whole reply to your depression post but lost it 🙁
Yes your right and I’ll probably always be abit over sensitive to my children being sick. Sorry your reply was lost, I’m sure it was great 🙂
Better be safe than sorry I say! Sorry to hear that little one is unwell and I hope she perks up soon x
ps. The best know cure for Tropical Monkey Ooga Booga disease is Um Bongo – apparently they drink it in the Congo and it has marvellous healing properties
Of course ! Stupid Dr dIdn’t even mention that. Thanks so much for your medical expertise.
Oh I really feel your pain with this one…especially as you are normally STILL worried as you walk out of the door. So what do you do? Walk straight back in? I feel particularly bad though as I know they are saying it to cover themselves legally, basically as have done it many times myself. If it is any comfort though I only say it when I am truly not concerned at all about my patient and am 99% sure they are going to be fine.
That’s good to know, as it happens Wonder Girl has Bronchialitus which took two more visits to discover. Hopefully she should be better soon.
There you go. your insticts are serving you well. get well soon little one 🙂