Dr. Silverstein patients ... advice please

Hi -- Don't post much but need help from the ladies who use Dr. Silverstein as a ped.

At first, I didn't like him but then I grew to like him a lot. But, does anyone struggle with the reluctance to medicate? On at least two occasions, I've thought my baby should have been medicated earlier than she was treated. Like I knew she had something bad brewing but he said wait it out and in the end she wound up needing the medicine.

I don't love the idea of over-medicating, but I'm just wondering if anyone has had similar experiences and switched docs bc of it. I do think he knows his medicine. I'm just not sure I enjoy the waiting game and the stress that comes from it.

Re: Dr. Silverstein patients ... advice please

That's actually one of the reasons I love him. DS is 13 months and today was the first time he was put on antibiotics. He has a double ear infection. But he's had viral infections where his fever went to 105 and Silverstein never wanted to medicate and he was right.

In your case I think he was right to try to wait it out. Unfortunately it didn't turn out the way e wanted. But I don't think that's common.

I'd rather is undermedicate than overmedicate.

Re: Dr. Silverstein patients ... advice please

Yes but my kid wound up having a UTI and now I am stressing that she was walking around w/ it for five days longer than necessary. What can that do to kidneys?

I know if she went to another doc and had the temp as high as she had it, they just would have medicated.

I agree with it in theory but in practice -- I don't know. He may be totally right but that doesn't make me feel any better.

Re: Dr. Silverstein patients ... advice please

I'm sorry I don't have this experience with him. We have been on the same page as far as meds go so far (DS is 4.5 and DD is 8 mos). I like that he isn't quick to medicate like so many peds I know of. But I think if you are having doubts it may be a good idea to speak to some other doctors.


Eta Did your DD have other symptoms or just the fever? There are so many teasons for a fever that are not treatable with antibiotics. Like QT my DS has been on antibiotics once maaaaybe twice in 4.5 yrs and I am really happy about that.

Message edited 12/2/2010 8:53:08 PM.

Re: Dr. Silverstein patients ... advice please

Dr Silverstein does not rush to medicate children with good reason. He rarely medicates my children because he does not want them to develop a resistance to an antibiotic.

When my son was three he was seeing a well-known doctor in the area. He was constantly coughing and this doctor continually sent him to a pulmonologist who diagnosed him with asthma even though noone had ever heard him wheeze.
He was constantly at the doctor. One time he sounded awful and the doctor said he was fine, but my instincts said otherwise. We tried a new doctor...Dr S. He was shocked at how bad my son was and put him on some heavy duty meds. Finally my son stopped coughing and we have not gone back to the pulmonologist...he is now six!

Last year he got quite sick, just before a cruise. Doctor silverstein medicated him but he got so much worse. I called him from Florida and he predicted everything that was wrong with my son correctly and told me exactly what he needed however he would not medicate until seen at the emergency room and Dr S was right about everything! He then kept in contact with us via phone the during the trip. When my daughter got sick on the ship, he told me the exact dosage for her to take of my sons medicine. (When treated my son was permitted on the boat.)

When my daughter was 6 months she stopped breathing in one of the most traumatic experiences of my life. After that I knew I had the right doctor.

He is good and he is also ethical...trust him. But still do what you think is right. One time I did choose to treat a problem he blew off as no big deal. It was not necessary to treat yet, but my son and I both felt better that we did.

Message edited 12/2/2010 8:56:43 PM.

Re: Dr. Silverstein patients ... advice please

Re: Dr. Silverstein patients ... advice please

From what I've heard, as many patients who like him, have had bad experiences with him. And by bad, I mean BAD, and because he is not quick to medicate or make a critical judgement call.

It's nice to have someone who doesn't quickly panic, but I'd rather that person be my DH and not the person who is supposed to HELP my baby if something is wrong.

Re: Dr. Silverstein patients ... advice please