Doctors Versus Mommy's Remedies

Updated on December 09, 2009
P.O. asks from Antioch, TN
26 answers

Hello moms, maybe you can help me with this one. Your child gets sick, you get worried, you take them to the doctor and the doctor checks the vitals, notes that it's a common sickness, writes a prescription, take your money and your kid is on antibiotics for 10 days. I do not like medicating my children, but to be on the safe side I repeat the above scenario because of the "just in case" mindset. I believe in my own natural home remedies because they worked for me growing up and would prefer using those over antibiotics, but what do you tell the doctor when they prescribe medication and want you to come back for follow up to see how it worked, even though you know the antibiotics don't work and you don't want to take them any more since they damage your child's natural immunity, but have to go back for an appointment to let them know how it works and to face the same pediatrician who thinks they are doing what's best for your child, when in reality you were using your home remedies that is more effective? When is it ok to go with your own mommy guts for the common ailments versus the doctor without feeling like you are doing your child injustice because you are not following the "doctor's prescription"...

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So What Happened?

Thank you moms for all your advice, support and suggestions. I share alot of your views and am really glad that there are others who go with their mommy guts and their home remedies. As some of you have said, they are not gods, they all have different opinions and it's probably time to find a new one that is more natural in their approach to medicine. Thanks again, I appreciate your time.

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R.S.

answers from Miami on

Change doctors. My Peds are great. Ask for to see Dr. Marcus in Plantation. ###-###-####. He gave me a home remedy for my newborn.

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R.S.

answers from Tampa on

I personally have done this most of my children's lives. When the doctor prescribed antibiotics, I would take the prescription with me, and tell the staff I will call for an appointment when the 10 days are up so I can arranged my schedule. When I end up not giving the antibiotics, I didn't make a follow up appointment. They don't keep track. It is only another way of them making money. Eventually I stopped going to the doctor so often and got used to recognizing how to make the kids better. My kids are quite healthy and have only had antibiotics less than 2 or 3 times in their lifetime. I have even filled prescriptions thinking it was the right thing to do, and never used them. I think it is better to waste than to give to my kids. But that didn't happen often. I know it is easy to get caught up in them not feeling well, but most of the times they just needed time to get better.

Good Luck

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S.D.

answers from Sarasota on

For me, it's important to have a doctor that I can communicate with. It doesn't mean we have to agree but I need to be able to tell him/her how I feel and have them offer their opinion and knowledge. Then I can make an informed decision understanding my options in each situation. If I encounter a doctor who is dismissive, distrespecful or unwilling to take the time to have these discussions then I change doctors. Usually I take my doctor's recommendation but at times I decide otherwise and I feel my doctor respects me as much as I respect him and for that I am very grateful. I wish the same for you. Take care and happy holidays.

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T.F.

answers from Orlando on

A doctor is human, not a God. Do not EVER blindly follow what they say without following up with your own gut, research, or a second opinion if necessary. I would hope that her doc would not prescribe unnecessary antibiotics, but you never know. I love my kids' doc because more often then not, I get the "yep-- he's sick-- let it ride and keep him comfortable--- come back if the symptoms get worse" instead of an Rx. There are far too many great docs out there and many different philosophies for you to stick with a doctor you second guess.

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S.S.

answers from Miami on

Listen to these pediatricians and you will have MORE trouble to follow. Keep the immune system strong with probiotics, Juice Plus, organic foods and read labels for high fructose corn syrup, MSG, artificial flavors, colors and sweeteners and your child will be healthy. Get them in the sun for 30 mins each day as well. Get them on fish oil (children's DHA, cod liver oil). If your grandmother did it, then it is probably what you need to be doing. Our grandparents didn't know from antibiotics and they all survived gargling with salt water, swallowing honey, putting hydrogen peroxide in the ears at first sign of illness and setting up a vaporizer.

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J.S.

answers from Miami on

Since allopathic medical care is the 3rd leading cause of death in the USA, doctors in general obviously haven't demonstrated a high level of competence or wisdom in the area of health - so if you are doing something that works better than their prescription for treatment YOU should be teaching them and educating them about health. Don't cower before corrupt authority. A society of sheep would be easily slaughtered since they are afraid to leave the herd or not comply with the sheep farmer. We can choose to be sheep or to be sovereign, thinking beings. Antibiotics ARE usually unnecessary - for non-bacterial illnesses they are useless and harmful - we can support our natural immune response and use natural non-toxic antimicrobial substances - I'm personally impressed with MMS now. A dozen years ago I stopped going to an allopathic doctor when I accepted the fact that in many respects I knew more about health than him and all he could do for me is run some tests to examine the temporary biochemical state of my body - he couldn't give me better treatment info than I could come up with myself. Sometimes not following a doctor's instructions can (and has) save someone's life, so if you know better than what a doctor recommends don't discount your own wisdom. You certainly can discuss it with a doctor but it's ultimately your decision as the parent of a child what treatment your kid gets. If the doctor doesn't respect you then you would be wise to find another physician who does.
J.
www.phinsights.com

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C.C.

answers from Tampa on

When I was in my early 20s I ended up in the ER due to a reaction to antibiotics I was on. While there I was given different antibiotics, which only made things worse. I had a horrible time, not just with the physical aspect of it, but also because I was always told to do what the doctor says and I felt I was making things worse by following orders. I did ultimately stop taking the second prescription, and while I did notice an almost immediate improvement, by that time I was so sick and so weak that it took me months to recover.
One of the things I really like about the pediatrician we take our son to is that he doesn't usually prescribe antibiotics, in fact he has yet to send us home with any even though our son has had several ear aches. (Topical numbing drops, oral pain meds and time.)
Most things floating around are viral, which antibiotics are useless against. Antibiotics are wonderful if you have a nasty bacterial infection you can't kick but otherwise useless and even harmful.

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C.M.

answers from Boca Raton on

I think the easiest way to deal with your situation is to simply not take your children to the doctor (unless you find a really good natural doc). My son is 2 1/2 and has only been to the doctor once, and that was just for his one month check-up. He eats well, takes vitamins, and we use natural supplements and remedies. He's had a few sniffles here and there, and twice he's had a fever, but even with the fever we didn't given him any meds. A fever is the body's natural way of getting rid of infection. You are correct about antibiotics destroying your kids immune systems, so I would just avoid going if possible. Only bring them in extreme circumstances. MOst common things are better cured at home. And don't feel guilty that you aren't taking them to the doctor. You are doing what's best for them rather than medicating all the time. They will be healthier in the long run because of your choices now.

T.J.

answers from Fort Walton Beach on

I'm all about being natural and getting down to basics, but please be careful. I read a post about not giving tylenol to their child when having a fever - but there is research out there that is now changing that opinion.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/24714041/from/ET

Wow! This part blew me away:
Fortunately, some medical myths just fade away when they are refuted with incontrovertible proof that shows us how to effectively treat or in some cases cure a disease. For example, when I was a resident we believed that if a kid got a fever it was a sign of a healthy immune system. The body was “cooking” the virus or the bacteria out of the body. We lived by the myth that it was better to let the fever just “run its course.”

That was then. Today, an overwhelming body of medical evidence suggests that inflammatory processes like fevers, swelling, sunburn, lingering infections, or obvious inflammation-related conditions, such as asthma or rheumatoid arthritis, may be laying the groundwork for brutal illnesses never previously associated with inflammation — such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, even cancer. Although inflammation is the body’s attempt to heal, every time you have an inflammatory process going on, there is some wear and tear also occurring, not unlike having a little rusting happening inside your body. Over the long haul, that rust is harmful. So it just makes sense to manage the inflammation — which you can do not only with medicine but also through specific lifestyle changes involving exercise and diet that have been shown to keep your body as inflammation-free as possible.

++++++++++

Just please be careful - not all natural remedies are a cure-all. Do some research yourself, find multiple opinions and then take some action (if that means to do a natural remedy or take your child to the doctor).

Antibiotics do not "destroy the immune system" - chemotherapy destroys the immune system, antibiotics weakens it by killing off healthy probiotics...
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/10278.php

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1684447/can_anti...

However, your child should not be given antibiotics for everything... you are right to say that!

Like I said, please look into doing your own research and find the right opinions for your child.

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K.M.

answers from Tampa on

Do a bit of reading on the downside of antibiotics- messing up the immune system- and contributing to resistance strains-
honestly docs want to "do something" but that isn't always the best.
Trust yourself, k

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J.A.

answers from Jacksonville on

Dear PO,

It's very important to be totally honest with your children's doctors. If their pediatrician will not work with you, find one who will. There are doctors out there who believe in home remedies and only prescribe antibiotics when really needed. You may have to shop around, you may want to ask on this site for the names of some.

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T.O.

answers from Jacksonville on

You know your child best and antibodics dont always work. Change doctors if you are not happy

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L.D.

answers from Gainesville on

When my children have a common symptoms like runny nose, fever, etc., I give them a few days to see if it works itself out. In our case, it always has. I've been handed a lot of "junk" prescriptions from pediatricians. Meaning that they just gave me the prescription in case it would help. Most things will go away on their own. We have four kids, and I've only filled one antibiotic prescription for my oldest. And she wouldn't even take the medicine. But her infection went away on its own. So now I only go to the pediatrician for well-child visits. If I have an emergency, I would go to urgent care. Otherwise, I'd rather just work it out on my own instead of filling my kids with unneeded meds.
Doctors are not God. They often have different opinions, so if your doctor is upset that you don't follow their suggestions, find a new doctor.

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S.W.

answers from Miami on

Tell the doctor the truth and straight away. I refused a second round of antibiotics for one of my sons and learned that's how to deal with the "western medicals"
But, alas, when we break a bone or get cut, we go to the ER, so don't fret, just stick to your convictions.
Meanwhile, I can refer you to a fabulous medical intuitive.

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E.P.

answers from Boca Raton on

hey there. i think you are ready to trust you mommy intuition. i started studying homeopathic healing remedies a year ago and i have had great success. i have an email list now of people i send out information to about different remedies that work for my family. i will copy and paste my latest success story. lol. email me anytime with any questions regarding your child's health or yours. doctors are there for a reason, but we need to take the health of ourselves and our children into our own capable hands and really only go to the doctors when we have run out of options on our own. that is my feeling. :)here is the email i sent out...

Just want to share my success! I got a phone call from Dave (my ex-husband) on Wednesday that Cheyenne (my 11 year old daughter) was sick with a double ear infection and a cough and cold. He made her a doctor appointment for Friday. So I picked her up on Thursday morning and started working on her homeopathically. Silver Sol immediately in each ear (letting it sit for 10 minutes before going to the second ear). I soaked her feet in a hot foot bath of epsom salts, ginger and lavender. (the ginger draws out toxins). I mixed 15 drops of ALJ with 1tsp of Silver Sol and gave that to her orally, repeating every 2 hours. Started her on Vit C and VSC and Cascara (because she was constipated and I know that can attribute to illness). I mixed up an all natural lotion with some peppermint essential oil to run on her tummy. And an essential oil roll on and lotion, of Eucalyptus, Lavender & Frankincense, for her cough and cold symptoms. I had her drink some Chlorophyll water to help her get alkaline.

By Friday morning she no longer had a fever. We cancelled her doctor's appointment. And today she is great! Still a little congested in her chest but almost all the way gone. Both ears are clear and have no pain at all. :) I'm so excited and empowered that for something I would have run to the doctor for, just a year ago, I was completely able to take care of at home with non-toxic herbal remedies. If anyone would like any detailed information on any of the remedies I used, just let me know. I would be happy to tell you about them.

If you have any questions, please ask. I can order any product for you or you can go directly to my website below. If you want direct cost and membership benefits, hit on where it says free membership on my website below.

Peace & L♥ve,
E. M. Pisieczko
____@____.com
www.mynsp.com/healthykidshappymommy

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J.K.

answers from Mansfield on

I agree with Lynn about finding a new doctor too. I do not medicate my children either and believe in natural healing and health. Chiropractic is wonderful for this... my son has the flu and is begging to go to the chiropractor because he knows he will feel better and start to heal fast but.... alas they are not open on tuesday because of regular DC is out on maternity leave.
We once had a doctor who was able to always find something wrong with me and my children and we would walk out of her office with a fistful of persciptions. My youngest was on antibiodics for ear infections for about 3 months (straight) the last time my DC was on maternity leave. As soon as she came back she ordered a swab of the ear to discover it was a viral infection anyway and no wonder the antibiodics didn't work. We took her off all medication, all sugar including dairy and took away sippy cups (which kept pulling fluid in the ear) and she was healthy within a week! No problem since. This same doctor also told me my son had a severe sinus infection because of not using allergy medication every day (his allergies are very mild and mostly consist of itchy eyes occasionally when around triggers...which we have now identified) his new doctor (MD) confirmed that he does not need allergy meds everyday and children under 12 do not really get sinus infections because thier sinuses are still developing. Sooooo......... I am glad I switched doctors.
Moms know their kids best. And natural is always better than chemical. Good luck, I'm praying you find a doc that agrees with you.
Hope this helps :)

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T.F.

answers from Miami on

That's a tough call, since it's so hard to know how serious the situation is, but I would suggest if you are feeling this way, you should really discuss it with your pediatrician. She/he might surprise you.

If you're interested in improving your child's immune system, I would highly recommend Juice Plus - it's whole food nutrition, just fruits and vegetables, in a chewable (and yummy!) form - and all natural. My kids have been taking it (my whole family, actually) since they were about 18 months and I can honestly tell you that they RARELY get sick.

I try my best to feed them well and I'm lucky that they do like a variety of vegetables, but I know that none of us gets the recommended daily amount of fruits and vegetables we should, so Juice Plus is our safety net.

If you're interested in reading more about how whole food nutrition helps prevent disease, check out my article here: http://hubpages.com/hub/How-Whole-Food-Nutrition-Helps-Pr... It's a 3-part article (part 3 details Juice Plus: http://hubpages.com/hub/healthy-diets-part-3).

Best wishes!

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E.C.

answers from Miami on

I am a little like you....that is why I use a lot of homeopathic for my children and works so good, I almost don´t use tylenol for fever (only at nights if it is necesary)I also use remedies like rosemary baths for cough with phlegm and works better than ambroxol and without the side efects of it. When it is urgent, and my homeopathic doctor can´t receive me, I go to the regular pediatritian and use antibiothics if necesary, for example ears or throat infecction, but nose congestion, fever, pain, small infections etc.. I use homeopathics

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B.K.

answers from Tallahassee on

This is a good question. My doctor in Tallahassee, Dr. Ness is very open-minded about herbs and natural health, so it is easy for us to do what feels right. I only go to the doctor if my daughter has pink eye, or something else I feel safer having a doctor help with. Most colds, fevers, coughs we just ride out at home while taking elderberry and other herbs and homeopathics. Last fall she had a mild but nagging cough that lasted for maybe 4 weeks and THEN she got a fever. That struck me as peculiar so I called the doctor. Glad I followed my instincts. She had pneumonia. I think you should trust yourself. Study up a little more if you like. Definitely avoid antibiotics unless the doctor does the finger-prick blood test for bacteria and it comes up positive. Also, if your doctor gives you a hard time, get a new doctor.

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L.L.

answers from Orlando on

Hmmm. I think that you should look for a pediatrician that agrees more with natural remedies. Then you and the doctor can be more on the same page. They are out there. (not that I use one, lol)

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B.A.

answers from Tampa on

If your child needs antibiotics then it is a bacterial infection and needs to be treated that way. If your doc is giving you antibiotics when you don't need them (i.e. your kid gets better without them) then you need to change docs. There are occassions that antibiotics are necessary, but not everytime they get sick.

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L.C.

answers from Tampa on

P O,

I say go with your gut. You may need to see about finding another Ped. The truly holistic ones don't take insurance so you may need to compromise. (conventional Dr. who is willing to work with you- and takes your insurance.). I was taking my daughter to Dr. Fiallos (having to change because of insurance reasons). They do promote vaccines- but didn't give me a hard time when I refused some of them or wanted to delay giving some of them, or wanting to seperate out some of the shots instead of giving them all at one time.

As a new M.- when my daughter would have a problem, I would call & the nurse would call back in a reasonable amount of time.

One time I called about her running a fever, no severe but I was worried. They called back. Asked me a few questions about symptoms- all of which she didn't have. Told me it was probably a cold- if I brought her in they wouldn't do anything anyhow. Told me what to look for. Sure enough 2 days later she stared with a runny nose. It was her first cold!!!

I really apprecitated the information, & straightforwardness. I would still be taking my daughter there if they took her insurance.

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A.C.

answers from Miami on

Hi P O
I agree I dont like the idea of being prescribed a 10day antibiotic for everything, not so much because my home remedies are so wonderful but i agree that it must somehow impede my child's natural immunity. just the same we take our children to the doctor because we want to make sure that what they have is not more serious, because we are not doctors... so with that being said, i would advise you to find a new pediatrician fast. My pediatrician has from day one let us know of his practice and that he does not believe in prescribing medicine for every little thing and he fully explained why, for every scenario. and he's great. he took the time to advise of what we need to do on a day to day basis healthwise and since our kid went to daycare from 6 months old unfortunately, he always let us know what was the best to do at home for fevers, colds, allergies, constipation, you name it, he advised how to work it at home first, and of course if the symptoms are out of hand and baby clearly has something that needs meds, then he'd prescribe the necessary antibiotic. good luck!

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A.H.

answers from Punta Gorda on

I would change Drs. You should not be getting an antibiotic every time you take your child in. my sons pediatrician has only prescribed him an antibiotic a few times. Most stuff they will fight of on there own and if it is a virus, which most everything is, an antibiotic will do absolutely no good. Just give them your home remedies and stay home. There are two reasons a lot of pediatricians are very antibiotic happy. One it is a band aid so everyone feels like they are doing something and two they make a lot of money by making you go in there every time your child get’s the sniffles. When my son was younger I took him in every time he vomited and every time he got a cold and his Dr said it is a virus you just have to let it run its course and would recommend some things I could do to make him more comfortable. So I stopped taking him in for things like that. At this point he pretty much goes in for a yearly check up. You are on the right track but I would look for a better Dr. and just don’t take you child in unless it is serious. Think about it this way every time you take your child in to that waiting room you are exposing them to everything every child in the room has so weigh your options.

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H.C.

answers from Orlando on

Trust your instincts & do what works best for your child. And if you are uncomfortable telling your pediatrician that you used a natural remedy because you feel they will judge you for that, then maybe it's time to find a pediatrician that is open to natural remedies. There are plenty of them out there. GL!

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S.S.

answers from Miami on

There are alot of pediatritions who are also practicing holistic 'medicine' maybe you can find one in your area.
Also if you know your child is not in a chronic or acute state worthy of 'medicine' or medical attention why take them to a doctor at all?
Use your mommy wisdom and all the natural remedies straight form mother nature herself .
If something is persistent or broken bones ,ect.... than there is a time and a place for 'modern' medicine :)
Enjoy the process !

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