Mummy advice needed, ESP if buggie is around!

[Fuschia]

Child no 1 has an infected finger ... Is now a big green blister on the tip/behind nail

Saw gp Friday and started on flucoxacillin

Not imProved after 24h and it actually looked a splinter so went to a and e

They couldn't see anything on X-ray

Said they could remove the nail to have a look, or we could wait a bit and if it didn't improve gp should refer him to surgeons and he would need to be admitted

Today it is just the same

Very swollen and painful

I was hoping to get a referral letter tonight so I could take him to kings early tomorrow ... When others are in childcare

Called seldoc who don't seem to think they can help

What should I do now?

I don't think I can manoeuvre my way past DMc receptionists quickly enough tomorrowthis sorted to get

[Fuschia]

To get this sorted, I meant

And obviously juggling this with bf bAby etc etc is going to be awkward

Can't get my head round the situation itself (is it very serious?) or the logistics or how to we d hmy way through the nhs and its cogs

[ontheedge]

An old fashioned remedy would beto try a poultice which might draw splinter out eg bread soaked in boiling water, but I would bypass gp & go straight to A&E tomorrow am as gp will probably send you there anyway

[Fuschia]

But wouldn't a and e have said to

Go

Back?

Why did they say get referred by the gp?

Off to seldoc in a minute anyway and will see what they say

Oh I hope we don't get sent to

A and e tonight

Though the baby is asleep already, at least

[jollybaby]

I don't think it's unreasonable for you to go back to a&e - an infected finger is an a&e type issue. The problem with seeing seldoc tonight is that when you refer into hospital - you don't just write a referral letter- you usually speak to the relevant on call team too who accept the referral. This makes it a bit tricky if the patient requests to be admitted the following day when a different team will be on call. On the other hand if it's that bad surely it's best that it's seen and dealt with tonight?

[alice32]

I'd be inclined to go back to a and e. My cousin's son recently had a splinter embedded in his wrist which had become infected, and my cousin - himself a doctor but away from home so without prescription pad - was very keen to get his boy to an out of hours doc ASAP in order for them to prescribe him antibiotics. Was concerned the infection would track up his arm.

Perhaps go tomorrow morning first thing when it's likely to be a bit quieter?

[Fuschia]

He's on the antibiotics ... I dont mind going to a And e again if it's the right thing . But why tell me to see the gp?!

Anyway seen seldoc who said to drain it might need a generAl anaesthetic but it's hard to tell if it's necessary or not

So I think we will have to review in the morning .. I f

Do have a letter

[buggie]

A&E jobbie I'm afraid - sounds like the antibiotics are doing the job by fighting the infection and so creating lots of pus, but without it having popped yet there's nowhere for it to go so has built up the pressure (and is prob really painful poor chap :( ) GP wouldn't have the equipment to be able to incise and drain (which it sounds like this needs). Typically, they pop on their own so don't need this, but sounds like No 1's might need some help!

Is worth getting him to keep the finger elevated (hand to opp shoulder or just as high as his head) to help reduce the throbbing. (annoyingly this is a few days early to catch me back!)

[Fuschia]

Thanks buggie

Bit cross with the dr who had me on a wasted trip to seldoc then

It's just such a hassle when we hsve sickness to manage :-(