UPDATE: about call backs to Ped service & a bit of a long vent

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UPDATE: about call backs to Ped service & a bit of a long vent

I called my Pediatrician's service about an hour and a half ago about my son (11 mos tomorrow) who had a violent episode where he threw up & gagged. This has happened before, and last time it resulted in a 3 day stay at the hospital. I called to see if I should wait to bring him in tomorrow, or if she felt his symptoms were bad enough to go to the ER. (Turns out it was a one time deal, so we are not in the ER...)

She still has not called back. And I called the service and verified that they got the right phone number. Yep, right number, no call back.

Last few visits at this office I felt rushed and although I think that the Drs are nice, they have made a few small errors recently, one with vitamin doses. Also another Ped said DS was in the 10th Percentile for his weight, but then corrected herself at the next visit saying she had him at the 15 mos mark, when he was only 10 mos at the time.

Anyway, so at this point, should I look for another Ped? I have already changed once, and I feel like maybe I am expecting something unreasonable or something that does not exist.

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Long Update:

So the other night after I thought all was well my poor LO got another low-grade fever and started to have some post-nasal drip. This is the beginning of every illness he has ever had, so I switch him to soy formula and give him pedialyte between bottles. His temp spiked to 102.4 at around 7pm, so I call the ped service again. This time the Dr called back in 3 minutes. She told me to give him Tylenol and to watch him to see if he began to have rapid breathing, wheezing, or gagging. He did not, so we went to bed & put the humidifier on. DS wakes me up at 3:40 AM gagging and gasping for air. He was panicking. We get him upright & whack him on the back, and he begins to breathe but is wheezing very heavily. We pack a bag & call the service as we go to the ER. His temperature is now 103. On the way to the hospital, he begins to choke again, and (I know I should not have, but) I take him out of the caqr seat & whack him on the back again to get him breathing somewhat normally. At this point the service had the Dr call me (again within 5 minutes) and she told me to get to the ER. I tell he we are on the way & she says she will call ahead to let them know we are coming. As I am talking to her, DS begins to cough....and sounds like a seal. Yep, he has the Croup.

After a short 2 hour stay in the ER they give him a steriod to open his airway and Tylenol to conrtol his temp. We go home & DS sleeps but barely. The poor kid also threw up every bottle after that. The Ped fit us in the next day for a follow-up & the care was incredible. They were patient and attentive and very detailed about follow-up care at home and what to expect in the coming days. She also told me that I did exactly the right thing, and also told me that I am so in-tune to DSs health and behaviours that I know he is getting sick before he has identifiable signs of the illness. She also told me that although that is good in a way, it will also be frustrating when I know he is incubating something that is not yet detectable in a test. This also happened when he had the RSV. 3 days earlier I knew he wasn't "right" and all the tests cam back negative.

I decide to smention my concern about Mon. night & they told me that they are looking into a new service. Apparently the pages never went through, and I was not the only one to complain.

I also found out from the nurse that the day the we had the "bad visit" the Dr. was in the hospital unexpectedly with another patient & was not "herself" that day. (I did not get all the details, but apparently she went there to fight for a particular treatment for a patient & the hospital was not being accomodating). Now it still concerns me that she was distracted when she saw my son, but I guess if it is a one time deal and she has been great since I am going to give the practice another chance. I am also looking into a Ped Nutritionist for his feeding, that way the responsibility of that part of his development is being watched by 2 professionals.

Thanks to all who offered help & FMed.
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Message edited 4/25/2008 8:59:55 AM.

Posted 4/21/08 11:45 PM