Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Kindling

Sometimes I feel like it's so easy to set me off.

Two weeks ago I had gone to the doctor (in another office - not our normal one, who was out on an emergency) to check on my 2 yr old's throat... she'd been complaining again, and I was worried it might be strep. We went, they swabbed - it came back negative. But, the Dr wrote out a prescription for antibiotics anyway. I had asked him to send the swab to the lab for the culture test...he didn't do it. I even called him back to ask him - he never returned the call. I did not use the antibiotics. She didn't even need it.

Last week my 2 yr old was bouncing on her sister's mattress when she konked her nose on the window sill. I called the Doctor's office. They said that if I left in 10 minutes I'd be able to be seen at my regular office before their lunch break.

I was literally 3 minutes away from their office when the receptionist called to say the nurse practioner that was on duty (the one that told me I was breast-feeding too long ...yeah I don't like her) wanted me to come back in an hour, because she had an errand to see to.

I. Was. Pissed.

Don't tell me to run like the wind, just to tell me to go back home. Doctors always make the patients wait forever in the waiting room anyway. The nurse practitioner can't wait 3 minutes? Seriously?

So we went all the way home, without time for a real nap, just to turn back around. Turns out it was just a bump - nothing broken. Thank goodness. The nurse practitioner acted sheepish. She said she had to drop off her car at the body shop.

Then my 4 yr old asked to have her ears checked. She said they were bothering her. She is prone to ear infections. The nurse practitioner checked and said it was iffy. But she wrote a perscription for antibiotics anyway.

What is the deal? I didn't give my girls the antibiotics, not one drop. Both didn't have any problems following their Dr's visits... and clearly didn't need the meds. Why on earth ... is writing an antibiotic perscription a knee-jerk reaction in the medical profession? Honestly!

I was ready to write scathing letters to the ped office about the free dosing of my kids, and the rude behavior regarding my possible broken baby nose... but I didn't. I actually calmed down. I know myself... I am like kindling...the littlest thing can set me off when it comes to my girls.

6 comments:

b. said...

I work with Pediatricians, have my entire adult life/career...I still can't-for the life of me-figure out why that can't get their sh!t together in their offices!!
I guess doesn't really apply just to Pediatricians but most physicians as well...my time is just as valuable as theirs!

Stepper the Mighty said...

Way to go, Momma Bear!

Tiffany said...

The longer I live, the more I think I know and the less I think doctors know. I think a great part of their ultimate authority comes from American culture-- we are taught to put utter and blind faith in medical practitioners and they are taught to never exhibit a glimpse of doubt in their diagnoses. Baaad, bad combo, I tell ya. I'm not terribly "kindling" but I would've been irked, too. Doctors simply don't always know best. Good for you for not falling for the ruse.

La Yen said...

Especially because they have done tons of studies that show that antibiotics make no difference in ear infections. They heal the same either way. Boo.

soybeanlover said...

...and we wonder why viruses and bacteria are getting stronger.

QueenScarlett said...

Amen...amen and AMEN.

Today I saw a great bumper sticker.

"If you think health care is expensive now...wait until it's free."

Can anyone name ANY gov't run program that has been free of waste, mismanagement and pure stupidity? yeah...that's what I thought.