This month we did the unthinkable...we switched pediatricians. Our original pediatrician was recommended to us when we were newly pregnant by my sister-in-law, and after what we went through with Ethan's birth and complications that followed, we were quite happy with our choice. It has been within the last year or so, that I've noticed one if not both of us have changed and now take different paths when it comes to the care and health of my children.
Some of you may know, I'm pretty much anti-vaccine, anti-medications...with exceptions. Ethan and Joshua had every vaccine known to man according to the timeline provided in 2002-2006. It wasn't until we started down the road of celiac disease, autism and developmental delays that I took a step back and started to research and ask a lot of questions. I never really questioned the doctor before because I believed she always had not only the best interests of my children at hand, but that she was a heck of a lot smarter than I was with regards to medicine.
Enter a sickly 3 yr. old with failure to thrive and mom (me) strongly urging the doctor to test him for Celiac Disease based on the advice of a good friend who knows the disease. The first test came back negative and so I pushed for further testing as my research, (and my instincts) told me that this was what he had. After another test, it was concluded that he did indeed have the indicators for Celiac and that it only needed to be confirmed with an endoscopy, which it was! The pediatrician was beside herself and every visit for the next year or so would constantly apologize for having missed the diagnosis. My confidence in my abilities as a mother grew as the years went by and I had a couple more kiddos. Ethan and Joshua were getting diagnosed with various disorders and other illnesses mostly due to my resilience in having it looked into. That and my mindset with Bekah had changed altogether as far as vaccinations went. The pediatrician wasn't thrilled with what I wanted, however she agreed that we could do an altered vaccine schedule for her. I made it clear that I wouldn't be doing every vaccine under the sun this time.
Now enter the twins...and more research. The decision to do an even more altered vaccine schedule, followed by little to no meds, unless otherwise necessary, began to tear at the already fragile relationship I had with the kids doctor. I noticed more irritation from her with my decisions, as well as with the questions that I would ask. My questions generally went unanswered, and everything else took a "lets wait and see" approach more often than not. Not to mention a few comments that came from her regarding my decision to refuse the chicken pox and MMR vaccines...for Bekah and the twins.
It was only after having referred a friend to her that my decision to leave became clear. The way she treated my friend completely caught me by surprise as she was very rude and offensive to this first time mom. It opened my eyes as to what I really needed from my kids doctor. I need someone who is willing to work WITH ME to help treat and care for them. A doctor who refuses to take the parents insight, instincts or other suggestions for treatment and care is a doctor who, in my opinion, is much to full of themselves. The doctor only sees that child for the 7.8 minutes they are in the exam room...the parent sees them 24/7. I need a doctor who can ask me if there is anything else they can do for me and really mean it, not have their hand on the door knob and their foot half way out the door as they are asking the question. I also want a doctor who is willing to try less invasive treatments before jumping to their script pad to write out the latest and greatest medication with a list of side effects a mile long.
Well, I found one. AND I love her!! We've had a nasty case of conjunctivitis and upper respiratory viruses that we just couldn't seem to shake. Poor Eli, really couldn't shake it and come to find out he had not only recurring conjunctivitis but a double ear infection as well! So his poor body just couldn't get rid of one virus without the other one taking over. He was already on eye drops for his eyes, but the doctor then recommended that we put garlic oil in his ears for the infection and give him elderberry syrup to help fight off the rest of the virus that was in his system. WOW! So, I came home and made the garlic oil as she specified and three times a day with three drops in each ear treated his ears for the past week. He also received 1/2 tsp. of the elderberry syrup twice a day and the eye drops in his eyes. He had his follow up visit today and everything looks great!!
Now, I have the recipe to make my own elderberry syrup as we will need a lot to keep all five kids, myself and my hubby protected from all of those viruses circulating right now. And being pregnant, homemade elderberry syrup is considered extremely safe for pregnant and lactating moms!
My advice to any new moms or soon to be moms: find a pediatrician that is willing to work WITH you not FOR you. They have to be there for you, that's part of their job, but unless they are willing to listen and truly care about what you have to say with regards to the treatment of your children, it isn't worth it. The health of your children is ultimately YOUR responsibility! Furthermore, trust in yourself. We live in an age where we have so much information at our fingertips. Yes, sometimes there is too much info. and sometimes it can lead us down an unacceptable path, but that's where a partnership with your doctor comes in to place. God gave you these children to grow, teach, care for and love...make sure your doctor knows that too!
Caleb before his buzz cut!
Elijah before his buzz cut!
