Dr. visits.....

[neenee]

I am so frustrated I could scream.
Took Chunky to the clinic on Mar 5th. Strep and an ear infection.
Took her back on the 20th. She was complaining ear still hurt and throat in addition to having fullness in both ears (feeling nder water). They didn't even test her for strep again to see if it was clear. Said her ear was red. Dr said she thought she had allergies. Gave her Nasonex, Mucinex and Zyrtec.
Fast forward to today. Just left her school to take her pain reliever because her ear hurts so bad she is crying.
She has STAR testing today so I can't pull her out without a big fiasco.
Called clinic....they want to see her AGAIN instead of just calling something in for her. This will be THREE times in 3 weeks!
A bit of background, this child has suffered with recurrent ear infections all of her life. Now that she is older she gets 2 or 3 a year. She has had tubes in her ears twice.
AND.....since when does the school nurse not even check a child for fever, look in their throat or ears when they come in with complaints like this? Chunky has been to the nurse twice in the last 3 weeks and the nurse doesn't even bother to check her even a little bit.....

My question is.... is this the norm with doctors that you keep coming in for the same symptoms over and over? Or do you have a doctor like I had for the kids previously where they would call in a new scrip to try that first?

[YepBrook]

Not sure if it's the same at a clinic, but our Pediatrician would not need 3 visits to diagnose an ear problem. They take those things very seriously. Is it possible that the clinic you visit is too busy to be able to track their care of her? For example, the Ped knows my kids and remembers our previous visits. It's easier to figure out what's going on when they don't start out as if it's the first time they've ever seen the child each time you take them in, kwim? I'm thinking your doctor misdiagnosed the ear fullness. Ugh!! So sorry!!!

[jaylensmom]

My son's doctors are really good with trying to figure out what's wrong during the first visit...I wouldn't be so nice if I had to take him back 3 times for the same thing and they weren't really addressing the problem...

I was just talking to some parents at a birthday party and a few of the parents said that their doctor's aren't treating ear infections until the child has had it for at least 3 days...That's crazy...As an adult who still gets ear infections (and has had them all my life) I think that's crazy because you can be in pain on day 1 and to wait 3 days...Crazy...

[BrattyMeg]

I can't stand Dr's offices for the simple fact that mine come home and get sick if they weren't already after being around all those other germs. Ours has a well side and sick side but really a hallway doesn't keep the sickies away.

We are pretty lucky that our Dr is fab and would try and diagnose and figure out what's wrong on our first visit. I'd pitch a small fit and make them know u aren't happy about coming back yet again for the same problem

[neenee]

Yea....I think our problem is that this is a clinic that is actually on the premises where my husband works, a Toyota plant. They have all kinds of state of the art equipment, a optometrist, general medical, dentist, a Walgreens pharmacy....all in one building. BUT....they remind of just a Minor EX clinic in that the doctors are contracted and change all the time and they just don't seem to give a crap!

We had awesome doctors and specialists 4 years ago when we lived 15 miles from my home town where I grew up cuz I knew exactly who was good and who wasn't. When we moved here, we just started going to the clinic because it was a "safe" bet. However, I have been getting more and more fed up with them. This was my breaking point.

I got her in with the ENT that I saw a few years ago. They said they couldn't see a new patient until next week but when I explained her history they talked to the Dr. and he said to bring her in tomorrow at 8 a.m. I need to get her hearing checked anyway because I wonder sometimes how her hearing is after all these ear infections. The ENT she had when she was younger tested her hearing about 5 years ago and she had some loss but not anything to be concerned about. So, they can test it for her if he thinks it is a concern.

[YepBrook]

If they wait 3 days, a middle ear infection can clear up on it's own within that time. If it doesn't clear up by then you need an antibiotic. I kind of support that, because I think antibiotics are over-prescribed. But, waiting over 3 days is not good at all! They can get temporary or long-term hearing loss or a ruptured eardrum.

[neenee]

Originally Posted by jaylensmom

I was just talking to some parents at a birthday party and a few of the parents said that their doctor's aren't treating ear infections until the child has had it for at least 3 days...That's crazy...As an adult who still gets ear infections (and has had them all my life) I think that's crazy because you can be in pain on day 1 and to wait 3 days...Crazy...

This is ridiculous. I have never had an ear infection myself but know from watching my kids that they are horribly painful. And they can go from nothing to screaming pain so fast. Why would they wait to treat them? Insane!

[BrattyMeg]

Originally Posted by YepBrook

I think antibiotics are over-prescribed

me too...and the more you take say Amoxil the less effective it becomes to you so you have to have something stronger and the cycle continues. I really think we build up an immunity to certain medications if given them too often

[neenee]

Originally Posted by YepBrook

If they wait 3 days, a middle ear infection can clear up on it's own within that time. If it doesn't clear up by then you need an antibiotic. I kind of support that, because I think antibiotics are over-prescribed. But, waiting over 3 days is not good at all! They can get temporary or long-term hearing loss or a ruptured eardrum.

Oh, I didn't know this. I guess cuz by the time I usually take Chunky in she has had it several days already. She knows well enough now what it is and has almost become more "numb" to the pain at first....if that makes sense.

[Nettio]

Originally Posted by neenee

Yea....I think our problem is that this is a clinic that is actually on the premises where my husband works, a Toyota plant. They have all kinds of state of the art equipment, a optometrist, general medical, dentist, a Walgreens pharmacy....all in one building. BUT....they remind of just a Minor EX clinic in that the doctors are contracted and change all the time and they just don't seem to give a crap!

This is off-topic but are you still in San Antonio? Does he work at the Toyota plant on the south side of town? Because my DH just toured that plant last week as a career building activity and he thought it was SO cool. He came home raving about it.

[neenee]

Originally Posted by FlirtatiousBrat

me too...and the more you take say Amoxil the less effective it becomes to you so you have to have something stronger and the cycle continues. I really think we build up an immunity to certain medications if given them too often

definitely. When my girls (DD #1 and DD #3) were getting like 6 or 7 ear infections a year, they had to change scrips all the time because they became immune to so many things.

[neenee]

Originally Posted by Nettio

This is off-topic but are you still in San Antonio? Does he work at the Toyota plant on the south side of town? Because my DH just toured that plant last week as a career building activity and he thought it was SO cool. He came home raving about it.

Cool! Yes, we are still in SA. And yes, that is exactly where DH works. Believe it or not, I have never taken the tour. I have toured DH's plant but never done the tour to see how it all comes together. I have heard it is very awesome!

DH even took Traci's Flat Stanley and got pictures of him doing the tour. It was cute.

[Nettio]

Originally Posted by neenee

Cool! Yes, we are still in SA. And yes, that is exactly where DH works. Believe it or not, I have never taken the tour. I have toured DH's plant but never done the tour to see how it all comes together. I have heard it is very awesome!

DH even took Traci's Flat Stanley and got pictures of him doing the tour. It was cute.

How fun! Yeah, he loves all those "how it's made" type shows so it was kind of like his favorite show come to life, haha. He was like a big kid when he came home, it was cute.

[Shawna Clingerman]

I've def. seen a difference in the way they treat ear infections from now to 4 or 5 years ago when they were really quick to prescribe antibiotics for even a small ear infection.

that being said, the times i've gone in, when they saw one starting but said to give it a few days, they told me that in a few days they would just call in the meds if we ended up needing them. Three times seems a bit excessive! i'm sorry!!

[MamaBee]

My mom and I were just talking about this... it seems like now days when you go to a GP, it's more a "give you something for this and wait and see"... and keep having to go back all the time... and a new co-pay every visit... until they FINALLY send you to a specialist. I remember growing up where the doc had answers... they weren't afraid to suggest something for fear of touching on the toes of a specialist... ugh. I get so frustrated with the doctor office... luckily, we have three docs that are pretty good... but that took a while to find them!

[neenee]

Originally Posted by MamaBee

My mom and I were just talking about this... it seems like now days when you go to a GP, it's more a "give you something for this and wait and see"... and keep having to go back all the time... and a new co-pay every visit... until they FINALLY send you to a specialist. I remember growing up where the doc had answers... they weren't afraid to suggest something for fear of touching on the toes of a specialist... ugh. I get so frustrated with the doctor office... luckily, we have three docs that are pretty good... but that took a while to find them!

EXACTLY! I have so many "ists" that I see it makes me dizzy. I wish I could just see a few doctors but it seems that like you said, your general just won't treat you for things like they used to.

[sprauncey1]

Oh Neenee sorry to hear she is still having problems! Since these do seem to be recurring maybe she is getting them from allergies (congestion that reduces fluid flow) or just a naturally narrow drainage. When Kyle was getting them all the time (he was 3 though), I finally got fed up and posted something about it to facebook. My cousin's wife mentioned that friends of hers with re-occurring infections went to a pediatric chiropractor. Keeping the spine/body aligned keeps things "flowing" and less problematic. I did take Kyle to one in Texas and I'm not sure if it was that or the fact he started getting allergy meds, but he never had one again. No tubes.

And in case you are picturing the "normal" chiropractor techniques on a child...don't worry. They are specially trained for kids and use specialized techniques in equipment. My son LOVED his visits and would climb up on the table by himself! There is no such thing here so I'm really hoping we don't see a re-occurrence.

I'm hoping she will get better soon, they are extremely painful (I've had ONE)!!!

[neenee]

Just left the ENT. She has infections in both ears and her right eardrum ruptured yesterday. He put her on a stronger course of antibiotics and an ear drop to help the eardrum topically.

He wants to see her back in two weeks to see how it has cleared up and then will test her hearing then if they are clear enough.

Feel so much better now that I know we have an ear doctor that will see her each time she has an issue, know her history and help us keep her well.

[LJSDesigns]

It's great to finally have a doctor you feel comfortable with, but it's a shame she didn't get this level of care earlier. I would be hard pressed not to rip someone's bum at the other place for their lack of care.

As to the "ists" my family doctor coordinates all my treatments and my specialists, from my endocrinologist to my oncologist to my obgyn. And she listens when I tell her I don't like one of them and finds me one I do like. I didn't realize how lucky I am to have her until I read this post.

[neenee]

Originally Posted by Loriebug66

It's great to finally have a doctor you feel comfortable with, but it's a shame she didn't get this level of care earlier. I would be hard pressed not to rip someone's bum at the other place for their lack of care.

As to the "ists" my family doctor coordinates all my treatments and my specialists, from my endocrinologist to my oncologist to my obgyn. And she listens when I tell her I don't like one of them and finds me one I do like. I didn't realize how lucky I am to have her until I read this post.

Extremely lucky. I wish I had an awesome primary doctor to see. I am so tired of seeing so many different ones.

[LJSDesigns]

Maybe it is the small town thing? Nappanee is really small and she is only here two days a week, so I have to schedule around that, but it's pretty easy. There is a another doctor available the other days for emergencies and I have seen him a time of two, but he pitch hits more than anything else.

[neenee]

Originally Posted by Loriebug66

Maybe it is the small town thing? Nappanee is really small and she is only here two days a week, so I have to schedule around that, but it's pretty easy. There is a another doctor available the other days for emergencies and I have seen him a time of two, but he pitch hits more than anything else.

I kind of agree with this. We live in a BIG city. When I lived in a small town I had one really good primary that saw me for most all of my ailments.

[LJSDesigns]

Originally Posted by neenee

I kind of agree with this. We live in a BIG city. When I lived in a small town I had one really good primary that saw me for most all of my ailments.

Small town living has it's perks. I could do without the horse "apples" in front of the house from the buggies, but otherwise I love this town, even though I will have to drive 20 miles to buy some BNPB on Friday.

[SweetMelissa]

My kids all have the same doctor and he has to see them at least once before he'll give them anything. If I call back in a day or two he'll give me some other suggestions and maybe give me something else for them - unless its my 3 y/o DD (who has a medical condition) then he wants to see her again.