"Difficulty getting diagnosis for small baby"

When my 2nd son was born I knew straight away when he fed he was in pain. He fidgeted, was unsettled and fed tiny amounts frequently. He cried in pain, had a rash, vomited projectile, had very runny strange coloured stools and looked pale. I went to my GP several times and was told it was just colic. I felt like my concerns wen't taken seriously and I was just fobbed off. I was made to feel like the worst parent. I would not see that GP again. The receptionists at the GP are mostly really helpful ad polite. They will often try and get me an appointment or help if they can as they know I myself and the kids don't come unless its really necessary.

I was left with having to try and be my own doctor for my son and try and self medicate him and try everything I could think of. Breastfeeding was causing him pain so I tried several different formulas but he was still poorly and couldn't drink more than 1oz at a time or keep it down. I couldn't lay him down flat to change his nappy or for him to sleep.

I also took him to SCH A&E department on more than one occasion and was told it was colic, when I queried allergies and acid reflux I was told it wasn't that and they refused to let me try prescription milk because it was so expensive. If I could have bought it myself to try I would have, anything to stop my babies pain and discomfort.

My son was even taken via ambulance at 2 weeks old because he had a lot of blood in his nappy and it was just dismissed as may be he had done it straining when he had a poo. Despite several more trips after that to my GP and the SCH to say things were not improving and it was getting worse we got no help.

Fortunately my husband had BUPA cover through work which he could add our children onto. We were able to get a private appointment with Dr Rao and within minutes of us explaining what had been happening, him taking a look at our sons skin and watching him feed he could see that he did have problems. We were given a prescription for dairy free formula. We had a few more appointments and then was referred back to the children's on the NHS. Dr Rao listened to us and made us feel at ease, we were so happy to finally be listened to. It turned out our son had acid reflux, a floppy larynx and milk protein Allergy.

I am so glad we had the BUPA cover or I don't know what we would have done. No one listened to us or took our concerns seriously. I feel lucky that my son is still here today, he's still not 100% but I will keep fighting to get him the right care he needs and is entitled to. I am hoping over the next few months he can be a lot better and pain free.

I feel disappointed in the care my son received and find it difficult to trust health care professionals advice now. If it wasn't for the BUPA cover my son would have suffered even more.