What would you say to your child’s doctor if he/she gave them a misdiagnosed condition? Would you let them know you are upset with them and will not be bring your child back to see them?
I ask because my son’s lung doctor misdiagnosed him and he ended up in the ER for an Asthma attack. He told us that there was no way he had asthma even though he wheezed all the time. I’m a very trusting person even with Doctors almost killing my oldest son a year and a half ago. (They sent him home telling us he had the stomach flu when he had a ruptured appendix) Anyway he has asthma we are dealing but I can’t shake the fact he out and out said “no way does he have asthma”. We have a follow up appointment in a few days that I really don’t want to go to. I’m upset with his Dr. and I don't know if I can go there and not say anything to him. I love my kids and I am ever so sick of Dr’s telling me its one thing when it’s something serious.
Just letting you all know it wasn't his PCP that I'm having the problem with it is my son's Lung Dr. you know the specialist that should know these things. His PCP already told me to just see him for the follow ups and I plan on it. I know a few people that had this Dr. and didn’t like him so much that should have been enough for me to find a new Dr. . . . only problem is there really isn’t one around here other then the one in the same office that saw my son in the hospital and wanted to change his meds to something that we all know doesn’t work for him, so she is on my shit list too. If anyone knows any Lung Dr’s around the Greater Portland (Maine) area please let me know.
I would most definately let the dtr know that you are upset with him and why. You have the ER to back you up. I would also find another dtr if you don't feel comfortable with this one any longer.
Asthma is difficult to diagnose under 24 mos. the fact that your doctor told you "absolutely not" would raise red flags with me. I would tell your doctor that you are unhappy with the quality of service at their facility. My own daughter has been diagnosed with asthma but, we were ALWAYS told to be on the alert even though a proper diagnosis wasn't 100 % effective until 24 mos. She is 27 mos. now and has been "PROPERLY DIAGNOSED". If you are unhappy with your pediatrician it needs to be corrected. This is the most iportant relationship in your child's life - It needs to be given the proper respect!
I only know of one pediatric pulmonologist in Portland. I can't remember his name at the moment but I can find out if you really want to know although it is likely it is the same one you are currently seeing. Asthma is so difficult in kids. My stepson is said to have asthma for 3 years now (he is 3 1/2) Although he doesn't have attacks he has been on Flovent Albuteral and now Claritin (sp?). They haven't acutally diagnosed him with asthma and they won't send him to a specialist because his ped says the only was to really diagnosis it is to have the child exhale all the air out of their lungs and that is nearly impossible for a child his age to do. Let me know if you want me to get the name of the doctor. Good luck. ~K.
My nephew has asthma pretty bad and they found it when he was very young.. what they also found though, is that dr's don't like to diagnose asthma in young kids for some reason.. they do everything but say the word. they'll give steriods and breathing machines, but they won't come out and say asthma until they are much older.. I'd change dr's if you uncomfortable with your present ones abilities, but when you interview new ones, be upfront about why and see what they have to say.. good luck - btw ,my nephew is 18 now and is a huge sports person, he's been very active his whole life so it can be a managable condition!!!
Don't worry about hurting anyones feelings in this matter! Cancel your follow-up appointment, and see if the ER is willing to do the follow-up instead. And for God's sake, vigilantly start looking for another pediatrician. You will have to go to the office, and sign a paper to transfer the medical records once you find a new doc, but you owe them NOTHING!!!
I had a similar experience with my daughter when she was a newborn.
I always thought her breathing was kinda loud and junky, and that she looked kinda blue-ish. When I finally got the doctor to humor me a little, and do some other tests on her, she was in alot of trouble. Her oxygen saturation was 67%, and she wasn't eating.
Long story short, we finally found out (after having her shipped to Children's Hospital), that she was born with a condition called Dextrocardia. Which means that she has a right-sided heart (instead of on the left), and it is also completely rotated. Because of the rotation, the blood vessels that come off the top of the heart were strangling her every time her heart rate would rise. She was also born with a large hole in her heart.
She ended up undergoing open-heart surgery when she was 3 months old to repair the hole, and to relieve the constriction around her airway.
But let me tell you, I yanked her out of that doctor's office so fast I made his head spin!
She is now a healthy and happy 4-year old, who we affectionately call "Hurricane Hannah"!
Ask around, if your friends have kids, see if they reccommend anyone, and do some research yourself. Maybe you could even find someone who specializes in Respiratory issues.
Your child cannot advocate for himself, so work your butt off for him!!
Good Luck with everything!
trust is a big deal with a Dr. I would change doctors. If he doesn't trust you as a mother enough to put your mind at ease with a test then why should you trust him? even though doctors are educated and trained on health issues they are not there all day with our children seeing all the symptoms. This happens all the time. In the future be more persistant when you KNOW something is not right. That is what a second opinion is for. unfortunately your second opinion came with an attack. Please, as a mother trust your inctincts. If you don't feel comfortable going back there that would be a sign. :) good luck!!
Hello L.
I went to a doctor that everyone recommended. I went to him and asked him to look at my daughters hair and he said it was dandruff. Well my baby had ring worms for about a year. I was using all kinds of dandruff shampoos,treatments. So I decided to go see another doctor (whom I Love best thing I could have ever done)She looked at her for 2 seconds and knew what it was. I never went back to the other doctor. See it is all about your children not anyone else's feelings....*-* good luck let me know if you need a good doctor....
L.,
Find a new doctor. Write you doctor a note telling him why you are leaving the practice. But FIND A NEW DOCTOR!!!!!! Make sure to ask around from family and friends or go on the AMA (American Medical Assocciation) website and see what doctors are in your area. A little boo boo is one things but this is too big to take a chance.
A.
Hi, I'm sorry about your situation, its very stressful to have a new diagnosis and even more so when it happened so quickly and unexpectedly. I would suggest you don't go back to that doctor, even for the follow up. Talk to your pediatrician, or friends, for another recommendation. Then call the new doctor and tell them you need an appointment right away for a new diagnosis of asthma. If you can't trust your doctor you're not going to get what you need from them. Also, good doctors know to listen to the moms because they see the kids all the time. You need to be able to voice your concerns to the doctor and feel like you are being listened to. If it would make you feel better you could call or write a letter to the doctor telling them why you switched, but I'm sure they will know when they hear of the new diagnosis. Remember, it is important to get seen quickly for a follow up, even if its to the pediatrician and not a specialist, to make sure everything is ok. Good luck
