Worth The Wait
So the last two days the little monster has been off the wall bizarre. Not sleeping through the night and waking up screaming, screaming when you pick him up or when you put him down, weird about everything really. He had been pulling on his ear and we suspected an ear infection, but the pain seemed to be coming intermittently so we waited it out to see if there was any progress, or if this was just a weird phase since we noticed he's grown a little. Who knows right?
Well finally yesterday we went to church and he was unusually squirmish and uncomfortably moving all through service. After leaving church we started heading home but thought we'd maybe get him checked out before going home. So we stopped at one clinic - Dr was sick so the clinic was closed, then we headed to the emergency clinic - closed at 1pm, and we got there at 1:10. What clinic closes at that time? That was bizarre to us too. So we thought well he can probably wait it out until tomorrow so we headed home and when we got there tried to put him down for his nap. Oh the struggle. This kid wouldn't go down if you paid him. He cried, and was just acting strange, so we finally decided we would go to emergency and wait it out.
Usually the hospital here is actually not bad with their waiting time. They always seem to be fairly adequately staffed, super friendly, actually listen and attempt to find out what's wrong, and well overall have had good experiences so far. Well because the 2 clinics were closed, and this weekend was when Sun Peaks opened for the winter season, there were an abundance of people there with skiing/snowboarding injuries, and all sorts of ailments. So the wait was a little longer than hoped for.
I usually hate the triage, and reception part of the visit, mostly because our experience since having Kylun is that anytime I have taken him in they always try and give me advice, tell me what's wrong, or make me feel incompetent or insecure about my parenting and care.
I once had an experience at one hospital where I took Kylun in for a fever and was told by the nurse I shouldn't have come and that basically it was a silly thing to waste my time getting him checked, and I should've just kept him at home and waited it out. Now there may have been some validity to the comment, but I was shocked after having been told that if his temperature reached a certain point to bring him in no questions asked, and then being told I shouldn't. Again it was also a weekend and going to my family dr wasn't an option, and the clinics were packed! Plus, no disrespect but is she the doctor? I just felt stupid being there.
Well this story didn't go to that degree. I was told by the triage nurse that maybe it was a delayed reaction to his shots - 2 weeks ago, or maybe he was teething. Ahem, I know my kid and he had a reaction the the shots - breaking out in weird spots all over his body for about a week and then they disappeared, and I've gone through the teething of 6 teeth, and yes he has 2 more coming, but the condition he was in was just not teething. It just wasn't. Grr...it left me feeling silly for being there, because I just knew something was wrong, and so did Pete.
Well after all that we waited and waited and waited. About 4 hours - okay maybe not compared to what I know it could've been, and at least that was while we were being progressed through the different 'stages' of waiting rooms. Seriously I think hospitals do that so you feel like something's actually happening, and give you hope, but then you are stuck another hour in a different seat with a slightly different view. Alright, I'll take whatever they give me.
The one thing I didn't mind was that nurses and dr's periodically came up and checked on us, took more notes, and made sure the little man was doing al-right - seriously so friendly and wonderful. At one point a nurse even came during a check up of us, and asked some more questions and then as I mentioned his symptoms and despite the fact that he looked somewhat alright and content - by the way why do kids do that? You show up at the doctors and they suddenly have no symptoms, are happy go lucky, and in great shape, smiling and laughing at EVERYONE - especially the attending doctor, grrrr..... - well, despite the contentment I said he is definitely not his usual self and there has to be something up with him. She looked at me and said well "you're the mother and you know him best". Ahhhh music to my ears. I'm not the crazy overprotective paranoid mother. Plus anyone who knows me knows I'll always let some time take it's toll before reacting. I really don't enjoy going to hospitals and doctors offices, and yes sometimes things are just a phase when their so little. Don't worry I'm not blind to necessary visits.
Finally it got to our turn and 10 minutes later we were out.
The Dr asked us for his symptoms again, and the story, and after fully listening to us tell him (I wasn't cut off while explaining and given a botchy answer), checked Kylun's throat, ears, glands, etc... Great no throat infection, but swollen glands, and redness in both ears but worst for sure on the one he had been pulling on. The start of a central ear infection. Yay, we aren't completely crazy, there is something wrong with the kid. I know I shouldn't be excited that there is something wrong, but why not? Now we have an answer, and it's so much easier to deal with grumpiness and a disgruntled child when you know there's a good reason. I'm not always great with unnecessary grumpiness, I just want to have the problem figured out and have reasons for it. I can deal with reasons.
Now just a few days of antibiotics.
Well leaving the hospital I have to say I had a smile on my face. I almost wanted to go up to the triage nurse and say actually it wasn't the shots, he had something, a real ailment and I'm not crazy - but I didn't. The satisfaction of an answer was good enough, plus last night I actually had a full nights sleep. Yay!
Well, thanks for reading if you got this far. I know my medical visit might not have enticed everyone to read through. :)
Well finally yesterday we went to church and he was unusually squirmish and uncomfortably moving all through service. After leaving church we started heading home but thought we'd maybe get him checked out before going home. So we stopped at one clinic - Dr was sick so the clinic was closed, then we headed to the emergency clinic - closed at 1pm, and we got there at 1:10. What clinic closes at that time? That was bizarre to us too. So we thought well he can probably wait it out until tomorrow so we headed home and when we got there tried to put him down for his nap. Oh the struggle. This kid wouldn't go down if you paid him. He cried, and was just acting strange, so we finally decided we would go to emergency and wait it out.
Usually the hospital here is actually not bad with their waiting time. They always seem to be fairly adequately staffed, super friendly, actually listen and attempt to find out what's wrong, and well overall have had good experiences so far. Well because the 2 clinics were closed, and this weekend was when Sun Peaks opened for the winter season, there were an abundance of people there with skiing/snowboarding injuries, and all sorts of ailments. So the wait was a little longer than hoped for.
I usually hate the triage, and reception part of the visit, mostly because our experience since having Kylun is that anytime I have taken him in they always try and give me advice, tell me what's wrong, or make me feel incompetent or insecure about my parenting and care.
I once had an experience at one hospital where I took Kylun in for a fever and was told by the nurse I shouldn't have come and that basically it was a silly thing to waste my time getting him checked, and I should've just kept him at home and waited it out. Now there may have been some validity to the comment, but I was shocked after having been told that if his temperature reached a certain point to bring him in no questions asked, and then being told I shouldn't. Again it was also a weekend and going to my family dr wasn't an option, and the clinics were packed! Plus, no disrespect but is she the doctor? I just felt stupid being there.
Well this story didn't go to that degree. I was told by the triage nurse that maybe it was a delayed reaction to his shots - 2 weeks ago, or maybe he was teething. Ahem, I know my kid and he had a reaction the the shots - breaking out in weird spots all over his body for about a week and then they disappeared, and I've gone through the teething of 6 teeth, and yes he has 2 more coming, but the condition he was in was just not teething. It just wasn't. Grr...it left me feeling silly for being there, because I just knew something was wrong, and so did Pete.
Well after all that we waited and waited and waited. About 4 hours - okay maybe not compared to what I know it could've been, and at least that was while we were being progressed through the different 'stages' of waiting rooms. Seriously I think hospitals do that so you feel like something's actually happening, and give you hope, but then you are stuck another hour in a different seat with a slightly different view. Alright, I'll take whatever they give me.
The one thing I didn't mind was that nurses and dr's periodically came up and checked on us, took more notes, and made sure the little man was doing al-right - seriously so friendly and wonderful. At one point a nurse even came during a check up of us, and asked some more questions and then as I mentioned his symptoms and despite the fact that he looked somewhat alright and content - by the way why do kids do that? You show up at the doctors and they suddenly have no symptoms, are happy go lucky, and in great shape, smiling and laughing at EVERYONE - especially the attending doctor, grrrr..... - well, despite the contentment I said he is definitely not his usual self and there has to be something up with him. She looked at me and said well "you're the mother and you know him best". Ahhhh music to my ears. I'm not the crazy overprotective paranoid mother. Plus anyone who knows me knows I'll always let some time take it's toll before reacting. I really don't enjoy going to hospitals and doctors offices, and yes sometimes things are just a phase when their so little. Don't worry I'm not blind to necessary visits.
Finally it got to our turn and 10 minutes later we were out.
The Dr asked us for his symptoms again, and the story, and after fully listening to us tell him (I wasn't cut off while explaining and given a botchy answer), checked Kylun's throat, ears, glands, etc... Great no throat infection, but swollen glands, and redness in both ears but worst for sure on the one he had been pulling on. The start of a central ear infection. Yay, we aren't completely crazy, there is something wrong with the kid. I know I shouldn't be excited that there is something wrong, but why not? Now we have an answer, and it's so much easier to deal with grumpiness and a disgruntled child when you know there's a good reason. I'm not always great with unnecessary grumpiness, I just want to have the problem figured out and have reasons for it. I can deal with reasons.
Now just a few days of antibiotics.
Well leaving the hospital I have to say I had a smile on my face. I almost wanted to go up to the triage nurse and say actually it wasn't the shots, he had something, a real ailment and I'm not crazy - but I didn't. The satisfaction of an answer was good enough, plus last night I actually had a full nights sleep. Yay!
Well, thanks for reading if you got this far. I know my medical visit might not have enticed everyone to read through. :)
Liz, I totally understand. I took Halle to emergency once because she had a cold and her breathing got really laboured, and Micah was being treated for bronchiolitis, and she was still super tiny. We got there and she sounded great. Perfect breathing, of course! And the nurses are basically all acting like I'm paranoid (it is 3am after all!). Finally 3 hrs later the doctor comes and says she's fine. Great. I mean, really glad she was okay, but feeling dumb and like I wasted three hours of sleep for nothing. I hate emergency room visits!
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