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Babies: 9 - 12 Months
brazzale
member
ugh pediatrician's office
brazzale
member
I really love both the pediatricians in the office, however, I've always thought the nursing staff was a bit shady, aside from one. I thought it was just me, but once my mom came w/ me (who is a retired nurse) and as we're in the parking lot walking to the car she made a comment about the nursing staff and how she didn't care for them and their bedside manner was bad. I've brought up switching offices to DH, but he thinks i'm being ridiculous.
DS has had a clear runny nose, some congestion, & lots of drool for the last 2.5 weeks. He's been on & off of being himself & being "off" and some days glassy eyed, some days not. This usually happens with teething, so I've been writing it off as that. However, all week he's been taking 2+ hour naps at least 3x/day, which is unusual of him. Daycare texted me today saying he's been more tired than normal, lots of green boogers & his congestion is a lot worse, but when he's awake, still seems to be mostly himself, but a bit "off".
I know it being cold & flu season, kids in daycare can have a runny nose all winter. He is at an in home daycare center and has been the only kid since October, so not lots of germ passing like a normal daycare.
I called the pediatricians office & spoke w/ one of the nurses. She said it's just a cold (which is probably the case). However, she said I should call back under one of these circumstances:
His breathing is labored & his chest sucks in when he breathes (almost like he's gasping).
He becomes so sick, he no longer eats, doesn't smile, won't lift his head & is really mopey.
or his cough goes into his chest.
Is it me, or does that all seem a bit drastic? How about just "call back if he spikes a fever that won't break or he's not better by Monday or Tuesday next week".
Note: This is only the 2nd time I've called the office because DS was sick (first time he was 4 weeks old & had a cold). I'm not a mom who calls for every bump, runny nose, or cough. I'm pretty good about just letting things run its course & if it gets worse, to call. I even called my mom ahead of time to see if me calling was justified, or if I was just being a worry wart.
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Re: ugh pediatrician's office
Same.
Same here. I'm thinking that every parent would know to call back for a spiking fever that doesn't come down with meds. She also knows you're likely to call back if you just feel he isn't better. She was telling you about things to watch for that may not seem as alarming as they SHOULD to someone who doesn't know what to look for.
IMO I agree, I would not appreciate this. Obviously if your calling your concerned. At my doctors office when I call with questions similar to that the doctor herself calls me back and will usually tell me to bring her in to get looked at if i would feel more comfortable.
Just before Christmas my DD had really runny nose, sleeping alot and really wasnt herself, but was eating fine and didnt have a fever. SOme friends told me they wouldnt bother, that its sounded like jsut a cold but I wasnt buying it. Called My doctor and she told me it was probably better to bring her in so she could check things out for herself and while there she tested positive for the FLU!
And I would also like to say that my DD has had several ear infections (bad ones) and never had fever and still ate fine.
I would rather pay my copay and have her tell me its nothing. I would make the appointment and have it checked if it would make you feel more comfortable.
I guess, in my head, those symptoms were pretty drastic & I'd like to think I'd have taken him in before it got that bad. If he was having that hard of a time breathing, I most likely wouldn't bother with the pediatrician, and go straight to urgent care. Same with if he is so sick he can't lift his head...
Because his cold has gotten worse & he's had it for 2.5 weeks, I was a bit more concerned. I will let it run its course & see how the weekend goes.
Adventure's In Willyland
"I guess, in my head, those symptoms were pretty drastic & I'd like to think I'd have taken him in before it got that bad."
I work in the ER as a nurse. You would be surprised how many parents don't know when a child is sick enough to need medical attention. I probably make parents go "DUH" in their heads all the time because I give simple, common sense education when it comes to their sick children. I would rather 99 parents think I'm an idiot than the 1 child slip through the cracks because the parents didn't know what to watch out for. Sometimes you have to teach to the lowest common denominator if you know what I mean.
I have had parents hand me their little child and say, "He hasn't eaten all day and he just wants to sleep, I don't know what is going on". Their fever is over 104, the kid won't wake up when pinched, and you can see their ribs and sternum while breathing (called retractions). It is scary who can be parents.