Doctors Office Do's and Don'ts

My little pumpkin gave us quite a scare last week! I came home from work and was enjoying a fun afternoon with Bryn. After taking a short nap, Bryn awoke with a fever of 104.7! I went into panic mode, called the doctor, called my mom, googled like a mad woman only to find that we weren't in the dangerous temperature. 106 is a the appropriate temperature to freak out. Pheww! I was still clearly worried. We got her into a luke-warm bath and immediately started tylenol. The next day we went to the ped. and he took a urine sample and sent us for blood-work (seriously the most painful thing EVER for mommy and baby both). Long story short, she had a urinary tract infection and amoxicillin cleared it up very quickly.  At the end of this whole ordeal, I decided I needed to add a blog about what to do and not do when you are talking and visting with the pediatrician.

Do's

• Call right away: Even if you are only slightly worried. Their conditions can worsen very quickly and you really want to safe rather than sorry.
• Write down all symptoms: When you go into Mommy-Panic-Mode it is very easy to forget times and symptoms. You want to give the doctor or nurse a clear timeline so that they can accurately diagnose and treat your little one
• Relax: I know this sounds like a COMPLETELY unreasonable request but it will help calm your peanut and a calm baby makes a calm mommy. Being frantic will not help the situation. I did not follow this advice and I, not only freaked myself out, but I made Bryn hysterical.
• Listen, write down, or ask the ped. for list of instructions: I can be hard to focus on what the doctor is telling you about your little one either because you are focused on a fussy baby or they are just throwing WAY too much information at you at once. It is easy to miss details about how to treat you baby's condition.
• ASK QUESTIONS: If you do not understand something the ped. is telling you do not feel stupid for asking even the most basic question (how could they have gotten this condition? Is there anything I can do to prevent this from happening again? How long should symptoms last?) Believe me! I asked everything. You may think of questions even after leaving the office but just call and leave a message. I was on the phone for 15 minutes just asking questions I thought of after walking out the door!

Don't:

• Blame yourself: Little ones get sick, they get hurt and blaming yourself will only make the situation worse. Instead, focus on getting them feeling better. Don't be so hard on yourself.
• Let the Ped. dismiss your worries: You have a right to ask questions, to be concerned. You didn't go to medical school and you have a right to answers (as long as they have them) Afterall, you pay them for this!
• Be afraid for a second opinion: This is why I actually prefer a practice with several doctors. I have gotten to know each of them and how they handle situations and answer questions. I called with questions 2 or 3 times and asked for different doctors to look at her charts and give me their opinion over the phone. This helped me understand Bryns symptoms and treatment better and gave me more piece of mind. Every doctor is different. I was able to take advice from each of them and use it in a way that really helped me treat her condition in a way that worked for her.
• Change any treatment without talking to the pediatrician first: If they are on several medications this could really affect the outcome and could prolong the sickness. If you don't understand what the medications or treatments they gave you are really doing or how important they are then CALL THE PED!
• Use the internet like the Bible: This will only confuse you. However, a little google work will help you to come up with a few questions to ask the ped.

I hope these tips will help you when visiting the doctor and calm your nerves when dealing with a sick little one.