What would you do?

[SpeechMom]

Took ds to the Dr. 2 weeks ago b/c he had fluid in both middle ears - no infection. I'm in a clinic with 2 ENTs and an audiologist this semester, so that's where I took him this time. This morning ds has a green runny nose and his ears hurt - obviously the augmentin that the we had him on didn't kick it and the fluid got infected (had a few problems with him throwing up the augmentin, but it was after he had been on it for about a week and I thought it was behavioral, so I didn't ask the Dr. to change it). So, I call the office this morning and ask if the Dr. wants to see him or if he'll just call in a prescription. Was told that the Dr. needs to see him b/c we're considering tubes, and that this Dr. doesn't just call in prescriptions - I should call Ds's PCP. Ds doesn't have a PCP (the one we were using moved), so I have to wait until I can get him in at 2pm tomorrow for this sick 6 year old to get a new dose of antibiotics. I'm a little annoyed, and if I weren't doing my externship at this clinic, I'd call back and push for a perscription to be called in, or that they work him in today. What would ya'll do? Ds isn't deathly ill, and isn't having trouble sleeping, but he can't go to school and I can't work.

[MaryL]

I'm coming in REALLY late....so I'm sure you did what you thought you needed to do. I can completely understand your predicament. I'd probably push for my child to get an appointment that day. However, every situation is different. My dks rarely complain about being sick. When they do complain, I tend to react quickly because I know they must really be hurting. What did you end up doing? How is your ds feeling?

[Judy]

Augmentin is a pretty heavy duty antibotic and I think you would find it hard pressed to find any doctor who whould just call it in, even with a heavy history of ear infections.

If your son is throwing up from it, be sure to give him plenty of bread to eat when he takes it to help settle his tummy. You might want to consider keeping him on the BRAT diet until he finishes the entire prescription.

As for the doctor, I would have told them that your PCP recently moved and you were in a pinch to find someone who would be willing to help him since he's in pain. Kinda late now, but I have no tolerance for a children's doctor who won't see them when they're in pain. I've had an ear infection and I know how bad they can hurt. Another option would have been to call your old PCP to see if he would have called in something for you since he knows your son's history.

[Jeff]

I think if the doc is a good one with a good staff they are going to make every effort to see the child the day that the issue arrises. On the other hand it isn't always possible. As far as calling in meds without seeing the person. It isn't necessarily the best practice. Chances are quite good that a change in ABs is all that is needed but it could be a more serious condition that wouldn't be caught unless seen.

The other thing is that staff tend to see things many times in black and white where as the physician looks at each individual situation. You may get further by calling after/before hours and getting the doc on call. Recently we were added to new insurance but the paperwork wasn't finished and we took our youngest to an ENT. The person at the desk told us we would need to reschedule or pay up front because we didn't have proof of insurance so we rescheduled. If DW had called the doctor, she would have said don't sweat it we'll figure out the paperwork later.

[SpeechMom]

Thanks for responding guys. I just took the 2pm appointment for today and didn't push it . If ds had been in pain (he said it hurt if you asked him, but wasn't complaining or losing sleep) I would have insisted he been seen yesterday. Today he doesn't have a fever, which is weird, but was up last night coughing.