That goes for alot of situations....Mostly when our children don't listen to us. But in this case, I am talking about Pediatricians. Why don't they realize that we know when there is something wrong with our child....When something just doesn't seem right....When a cough is more than just a cold running it's course.....
Why don't they listen?
Ella's been sick going on 3 weeks now. Runny nose, croupy and phlegmy cough and a fever that comes back about every three days at 101 to 102 degrees. I decided to take her in on Christmas Eve to make sure that she was fine before the long weekend. I said to the doctor that I was worried about her lungs mostly because her cough was so bad. She listened. She found nothing. "Sounds all clear. Just a cold running it course", she said.
Why don't they listen?
A week later on New Years Eve, I took her in again (before the long weekend). This time to Urgent Care at 6pm (only opening), because her doctor wasn't in that day and no other doctor would "fit her in" if she wasn't a patient of theirs. Same symptoms...nothing got better. I stated my fears that I again was worried about her lungs. The doctor was in the room literally for 3 minutes. Took a listen. Again, found nothing. "Sounds all clear." This time, she prescribed the antibiotic Azithromiacin. Its a strong antibiotic, double dose the first day and then single dose for the next 4 days. I thought for sure this would kick it.
4 days later....Nothing had changed. The antibiotic should have done something by now. By this point, I am thinking over the last 3 weeks. Besides the runny nose, cough and reoccurring fever, every night she is up for at least an hour with an uncontrollable cough, has a drastic loss of appetite, energy level drops every couple of hours easily, and by the end of the day she is irritable and at her wits end. I know that I can't continue giving her Tylenol, antibiotics and her inhaler they provided like I have been.
So this past Monday, I made a same day appointment. Nothing had changed and the antibiotic was not doing a thing. I went armed with a list of all I had noticed in the last 3 weeks with her symptoms. I was determined for them to do something more than just take a listen! Her doctor then took a listen (grrr). This time, Ella happen to cough while the stethoscope was on her. The doctor had an "Ah-ha moment". She finally heard something! "Let's take a chest x-ray", she said.
Sure as sh*t.....My child is fighting Pneumonia!! WHY DON'T THEY LISTEN??
I think it is more like what they call "walking pneumonia" where it is a respiratory nuisance. But thank God that it hadn't gotten any worse than that or that she needed to be hospitalized!! (Melody, I have thought alot about you this past week. I cant imagine my baby being in the hospital all hooked up and stuff.) We got a prescription for the antibiotic Augmentin. 2 doses for 10 days and I can already tell a difference. No fever recently. The over night coughs have stopped and lessened during the day. Although the cough has remained, and will probably stick around for a while (per the Doc), there is a slight improvement.
All of this frustration could have been avoided if they just listened to me 3 weeks ago and did more than stick a stethoscope to her chest. The long nights up...the irritability on all parties involved in this house...hours at a time spent at the doctors office.....By the end of the last time I took her, I was spent. I was exhausted and literally could not take anymore information into my brain. I just wanted to shut down and hope that that was the last time I would have to take her in.
I know I am not a doctor, but I AM a mother. I know when something is not right with my child. I just think that should have counted for something sooner than it did.
oh dear....I'm so sorry. I would have been beating my head against a wall on that one. I hope your girly is feeling soooooooo much better soon.
ReplyDeleteOH dear Lord. Really?! I kinda think that V being in the hospital, as dreaded as it was, was better because she was being heavily treated. Your little sweetie had to suffer before she got the proper treatment. We have to be our own advocates for sure. Ugh, poor thing. I hope she is on the mend. SO good that you were persistent too.
ReplyDeletePoor baby! I hate having to tie a doctor down just to get them to spend more than five minutes in a room with you. Hopefully this new round of antibiotics will take care of everything. Pneumonia is really tough to get over but it sounds like Ella is starting to do better. Keeping you guys in my prayers!
ReplyDeleteOh, Poor Ella Bella! Poor Mommy! They do need to listen, because we DO KNOW! I hope that she is feeling better - sounds like this might be the ticket, eh? Good luck.
ReplyDeleteAnd even sick like that - she is absolutely gorgeous. I mean, breathtakingly gorgeous.
How frustrating. I am so glad you were persistent. Moms do know best. I hope she gets to feeling better soon.
ReplyDeletePoor Ella, and poor you! That's just the worst - and over Christmas, no less! sucky sucky. Good for you for being persistant and not taking no for an answer. Sometimes I wonder why we both with the docs - WE are the ones who know when something's off! Hugs to you both.
ReplyDeleteI hope she feel better soon, you can see is her eyes that she not her sparkly self. You are so right, I always know when my kid is not right and I hate when I feel like the doctors not listening.
ReplyDeleteOh, no! I hope she's better soon. I agree with the last part of what you said 100%. Being Mom should could for SOMETHING. Goodness.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear about this. At least you are a mother who fights for her child. I hope she gets better soon.
ReplyDeleteOh I've been there! Yeah, they don't listen to the mother's. It is a rare gem of a pediatrician that does.
ReplyDeleteI sure hope she is feeling better now. Poor thing.