At Wednesday's round of shots, we had to make an appointment with an ENT. The specialist at Peyton Manning's St. Vincent ENT clinic (GO COLTS!) had a cancellation the next day that we jumped on (instead of waiting 3 more weeks). I was excited to get a second opinion since I really couldn't believe this was dragging on and on. When I went to get Camden that afternoon, naptime was just ending and Camden was still snoozing.
The doctor came in and began getting a little history. I expressed what I have expressed at EVERY visit I have had in the last month and a half. Camden is showing no other symptoms of an ear infection - no fever, no pulling or playing with her ears, no whining (well...that's relative, but in regards to not feeling well). She has a runny nose (but what 2 1/2 year old in daycare doesn't?) and still has a bit of a cough. That's it! He asked a few more questions then rolled over to look in her ears.
Of course, Camden threw a major fit. She started flailing, jerking her head back and forth, and kicking. I held her in a death grip like I always do and the doctor looked in each ear. Then wheeled back and asked if she always reacted like that when she is examined. Well, yea, her experience with doctors in the last 2 years has always led to something pretty dreadful...she doesn't have the highest regard for an examination.
"Well," he said, "I don't believe she has an ear infection and I seriously doubt she ever has." WHAT! My mind went racing. I got teary-eyed. I was getting angry. I couldn't believe all the medicine we have pumped in her...these horrible shots we were giving her...don't get me started on all the money we have spent on copays at doctor offices, prescription drugs, and OTC's or all the missed days of work (vacation days used) and daycare (that we have paid for).
He continued to explain that when kids throw major fits like that, blood rushes to their head and ears. Of course, when a doctor looks at them they are red! She does, indeed have some fluid behind her ear drum, but it's not infected. We would be seeing other symptoms if she were...duh...fever, pulling on ears, etc. I was getting mad at myself now for not insisting and not trusting my intuition. He said he thinks antibiotics are often over prescribed because of this and many pediatricians miss it. Sorry, but not with everything else that should have been taken into account at each examination - what the mother was saying, the lack of other signs, that all the power medicines were not changing her condition. Come-on! I kept saying I was shocked that she still had an infection, especially with how bad the doctor was saying it still was. I know my baby girl. She communicates verbally and non-verbally when she is sick. As I said, don't get me started.
He does give fluid in the ears about 3 months to clear itself up...on it's own/without medication!...and then they look to tubes. She is about half way through this so we are going back to him in 6 weeks to see where we are with it. In the meantime, he suggested that we try some desensitizing efforts with Camden at home to try to make an examination easier. He chuckled and admitted he didn't have any suggestions, but that she needs to at least learn not to kick the doctor!
I left the office, immediately called our pediatricians office and canceled our Friday afternoon appointment for more unneccesary, PAINFUL shots. GRRRRRRRRRRRR.
I am following-up with our peds office with my concerns and displeasure with this, but more so I am just glad we can move on and stop torturing this poor child and stop giving her medicines that she doesn't need. I also get to spend the weekend re-potty training and dealing with the yeast rash. Don't get me started again.
Since we were in Indy and since she definitely needed some pampering (spoiling) we stopped at the "Cow Place" aka Chick-fil-a so we could eat and play at her favorite playplace.
French fries, fruit and "lemilade" - Camden's perfect dinner!
1 comment:
oh my gosh, gina! I can't imagine going through this. I will be praying for y'all. Maybe you can pick up a doctor kit at the store (or something that looks like a real tool they use to look in your ears) and start to role play letting camden be the doctor. Maybe talking to her about this new doctor, using his name or calling him the special ear doctor, and how he is different will work. I may have to take E in next week so we may be doing this same stuff over the weekend. Good luck!
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