How do I handle a fill in DR that I am not fond of at all?

Question

I will be taking my son to the DR's this afternoon on an unscheduled visit (just called this morning to see if they could fit us in) and they could but our DR is off today and we will have to see the newer one in the practice which we have seen once before and did not particularly care for. What do I do if she suggests something for my son that I do not agree with? (problem being we are coming up on XMAS weekend and my son is getting something I can tell low grade fever 101.7, and he is really down ) so I called this morning and told them I do not want to end up in the ER over the weekend so maybe he should be seen to catch something before it gets too bad so what if she tells me its nothing and sends me away? I dont really trust her.

Answer 1

Your regular pediatrician trusts this doctor or would not be in practice with her or trust her with patients.

Generally a fever means a new illness (cold, flu), a sinus infection or an ear infection (usually following a cold). You are going to the doctor to rule out anything more serious and/or get antibiotics if necessary. You don't have to love this doctor.

Answer 2

If this is the only other doctor in the office and you don't want to go to the E.R then I guess you are going to have to suck it up to make sure that your son is ok. Go in with an open mind, and do with this doctor the same thing that you would do with any other doctor who suggest something that you do not agree with. What is more important? The well being of your son or your dislike for the doctor?

Answer 3

well sounds like your a lil bit Dramatic...how do you know its not just the flu with a fever.....very common during this time of year and i cant think of any one who had to take their kid to the ER for it.

She/He is a doctor that went to med school for over 8 years i think that qualifies her/him far more to know what is or isnt wrong with your child......as long as you tell her ALL of the symptoms and your concerns im sure she will take care of your son THATS HER JOB. And right now your worrying over her answer before you even talk to her.......be an adult they were nice enough to fit you in today...

Answer 4

I have told them to grow a brain before and asked them how they could have ever graduated from med school when I know more about medicine than they do. I have also told th4e staff I would not see that Dr. and demanded another one. I told them if I wanted to know what a moron thought was wrong with my child I would ask someone at Wal-mart.
If you are not comfortable with the Dr. you have to see take your child to the ER now instead of waiting,

Answer 5

Could be just the flu and there is nothing a Doctor could do about it anyway. Most sick visits parents make with kids are not even necessary. Give the child some tylenol, give plenty of fluids and let him rest.

Answer 6

Honestly, I think you may be overreacting, but I also totally empathize with the tendancy to overreact. :-)

First, be glad you have a doctor at all. We're currently between insurance (we'll get it at the beginning of January), and anytime my kids have needed to see a doctor, we've had to go to a general clinic.

You didn't exactly say why you didn't care for this new doctor. That's kind of important if you want really helpful answers.

I would say first, try to keep in mind that she did actually make it all the way through medical school, so even if you don't like her, don't think she has a good handle on dealing with children, doesn't understand your position as the parent, whatever, her suggestion of treatment will probably do for a short-term thing. Then, after the holidays, make an appointment with your child's regular doctor as soon as you can, and you can resume under the care of him/her.

When you go in this afternoon, I would suggest you be prepared (tell her ALL symptoms, not just ones you think she should know about) and know that it is your right and responsibility to ask questions. Also, since you've only met her once, you may want to try going in with an open mind. There have been several doctors (both mine and my childrens') I didn't like on first meeting them, but they actually turned out to not be so bad once I was willing to give them a chance. Several years ago, my kids went to a doctor who was completely incapable of holding comfortable conversations with adults (he didn't look at you, he used all big doctor-y words, and just came across as very aloof), but he was completely in his "zone" with the kids. I had to be willing to get past my first impression of him to notice that, though.

I'm not you, and your kid isn't my kid, but I just want to throw out there (take it or toss it) that a low fever and "feeling down" are not always preludes to a crisis that results in an ER visit. Sometimes, a dose of Tylenol, some juice, and time-on-the-couch time (or my kids prefer time-on-Momma's-bed time) is all that's needed. You could be spending a lot of unnecessary copays if you flip out everytime your child has a low fever. The fever, after all, is actually a sign that the body is fighting off infection on its own, which is preferable to having to take something to fight it off.

If your child has a history of this pattern (the low grade fever and feeling down during the day, then it spiking or something at night and you have to take him to the ER) let her know that. My son gets asthma troubles about 1 hour from the time he starts getting a runny nose, so it took a new doctor a while to realize that yeah, I knew what I was talking about when I insisted he be called in steroids and albuterol sulfate because he had a runny nose. If we didn't have that at home, EVERY FRIGGIN TIME we'd be up at the ER. It took me being able to prove that it was a regular occurance (if your child is a regular at the ER in those situations, bring along documentation to show you know from experience what you're talking about, and you're not just an extra-wigged-out mom.)

If there is no history of ER visits and your child's only symptoms are a low fever and "feeling down", she probably will tell you to give him a dose of tylenol or ibuprofrin and drink liquids.

There is an incredible trend towards over-prescribing antibiotics for children, and it's not safe, and it's not effective. And I think a large part of the blame has to be laid at the feet of us moms who take our child to the doctor everytime there's a hint that something may be going on and demand that our kids' doctors not "tell us it's nothing and send us home." I say "we" because I am absolutely that way. I get in a pediatricians office and let them know that I'm with this kid everyday, something is not right, and they can't send me home with a sick child and no meds to make it better. The fact is, sometimes, our bodies just need to work through minor illnesses. Constantly treating symptoms (like a low fever and a feeling of being down) can actually be counterproductive to our body's natural defense system against illness.

If you tell your doctor everything, and you ask questions and she has reasonable answers, take her advice and get your kid in to see his regular doc after Christmas.

Answer 7

You are paying her for her advice. Then it's your decision if you follow it or not.