Strep and RSV About This Page:

[mfirst]

Well, I thought with the 80+ degree weather we've been having, that we were "out of the woods" with winter illnesses. Boy, was I wrong. Patrick finished up his antibiotic last Saturday from his first bout with Strep ever. It turns out that there is a Strep carrier in his preschool class - and she's struck again . Wednesday, Patrick refused to eat all day. I didn't think too much about it because it was hot (88 that day - in Ohio, in March!) and he was drinking a ton. Thursday, his teacher told me he refused his snack at school - Oreos are his favorite so I was getting a bit concerned. I even called my mother-in-law to see if it was possible that he never got over his strep (the only symptom he had the last time was refusing to eat or drink). He was pretty cranky, and fell asleep on the couch after "lunch" which he'd refused to eat. He NEVER naps anymore. When he woke up, he said his head felt funny. He was burning up (fever of 103 ). So I gave him a bit of tylenol and a popsicle. I called the pediatrician and they didn't have any appointments available, and said I could take him the the Urgent Care if his fever got higher, or I could wait and call them in the morning to try to get an appointment. Does every pediatrician schedule sick appointments only for that day?

By eight, his fever had risen to 104, so I undressed him, put a cool cloth on his forhead and tried Motrin. I was up most of the night with him (he was also getting a lovely croupy sounding cough). I called the pediatrician promptly at 7:30 only to be told - no appointments available. I got really upset and gave the poor receptionist a piece of my mind because our insurance doesn't cover any Urgent Care Visits, and the nearest Children's Hopsital is a good 30 minute drive. She finally agreed to "fit me in" with "someone".

By the time we arrived, he was so miserable he refused to walk. So, I carried him in and waited in the waiting room for 45 minutes and when we were finally taken back EVERY room was empty. I had to badger the NP to take another strep test. She kept saying "he just finished an antibiotic, he can't have strep"...guess what? He has strep. After listening to his cough, and other symptoms, diagnosed him with RSV. So, we're on antibiotic #2 (augmentin this time) and breathing treatements every four hours for the RSV so hopefully it doesn't turn into pneumonia. I had just remarked to my husband that maybe Patrick had outgrown his lung issues because he hadn't developed RSV since last June.

He's cuddled up on the couch with me, watching Toy Story. His fever is down to the 102 range with Motrin so we're just cuddeling, pushing fluids and hoping his medicine kicks in quickly. Thankfully, our school had yesterday off (make-up day for a snow day which we didn't need) so my husband and I have been able to alternate hanging with Patrick, taking care of our other two and we've been able to "switch" sleep in shifts so we can give Patrick his breathing treatments.

[HiddenMickey]

I'm so sorry for this setback. I hope he's better soon.

Our pediatrician office has walk in clinics every morning and afternoon for sick kids.
You might want to look around for another office that's more accommodating to your children's needs.

[renbugs]

I can't understand why you had to wait for a sick visit..I hope your Patrick feel's better quick. I know what it is like having a sick little one. and sending to you and your boy...

[renbugs]

Originally Posted by HiddenMickey

I'm so sorry for this setback. I hope he's better soon.

Our pediatrician office has walk in clinics every morning and afternoon for sick kids.
You might want to look around for another office that's more accommodating to your children's needs.

[mfirst]

Originally Posted by HiddenMickey

I'm so sorry for this setback. I hope he's better soon.

Our pediatrician office has walk in clinics every morning and afternoon for sick kids.
You might want to look around for another office that's more accommodating to your children's needs.

Thank you! I'm getting really frustrated with the doctor's office - it's the same one that talked me into doing a food challenge with my youngest (and he had a really bad reaction that needed benadryl and an epi-pen) at home. I've started looking around for a new practice.

[Ashli]

I hope Patrick feels better soon!!

[revral]

Hope Patrick is feeling better soon. I agree with looking for another office but do make sure that the current one knows why you're leaving. S/he may be unaware of the issues you & more than likely other patients are experiencing.

[Colexis Mom]

[eff051102]

I hope he gets to feeling better soon. When you start looking for another Dr. ask
about late night hours and Saturday sick hours. Our ped dr. stays late Monday
and Tuesday nights and works on Saturday from 8-1 just for sick kids.

[Teresa]

Wow! I can't believe a pediatrician's office:
1. Didn't fit in a sick child the day he was ill. And
2. Didn't at least schedule an appointment the next day.

Our pediatrician's office has sick child appoints built in to every day (and they never sit around doing nothing) AND they guarantee that if a patient's parent can get the child there by close, they'll see that child, No matter what!!
There are 3 pediatricians in the practice and they each have scheduled days off. I KNOW that our doctor, Dr. Duck, will be off on Thursdays and he'll be working every 3rd Saturday.

I'm sorry poor little Patrick is having such an issue. Poor little thing's just had a terrible winter! Pixies that he's feeling better soon and you get some much needed sleep this weekend.

[mamajab]

It's actually not that unusual for pediatricians to schedule only same day appointments for sick visits. Kids can get better quickly, then if the parent neglects to call and cancel the appointment, it's wasted. On the other hand, it's unreasonable that there was "nothing available" when you called at 7:30 AM. Our office has evening hours, Mon - Thur, plus weekend hours on Sat AND Sun. I realize most practices aren't that accommodating, but hopefully you can find something better.

[chezp]

[my2twinboys]

[Cam22]

Poor little Patrick! Hope he is feeling much better very quickly!

[KMB733]

Hope Patrick is feeling better soon!