I shoulda been a doctor

At least last night.

Allegra has been coughing this entire weekend. I may have mentioned that before, hmm?

Last night was different, though.  She coughed all afternoon, while playing soccer with her friend.  He is a really great player, and she has to work to keep up with him, but she enjoys it, so I let her go.  I gave her some albuterol midway.  She came in for dinner and didn't have much appetite, said her stomach hurt.  (In retrospect, it wasn't her stomach, it was her chest.)  After dinner, she started coughing, and I pulled out one of our nebulizer machines.  We actually have two, so we can give two kids meds at once, how FANCY!

She coughed and coughed, and I gave her another treatment.  It kept up, and she puked from the effort.  I was bothered enough by it to call the allergist, but it was the one who doesn't know my kids and the one time I saw her, I wasn't impressed.  So I declined that, and I called the pediatrician to see which of the five was on.  I like all but one, so I thought I'd have a pretty good shot there. 

The nurse on call wanted me to call 911.  She could hear Allegra, as she was sitting next to me, and was insistent that I needed an ambulance.  I knew that we didn't - I also knew that I didn't want to go to the ER.  We've done this three times in 12 months.  Every time we go in, we sit in the room for an hour, they give her three treatments and some steroids and monitor her, and then send us home four hours later.  It costs $500 each time.  Now, I'm not going to cheap out and not get my kid the care she needs, but I knew what she needed, and I knew that the doctor could call in some steroids.  The Hubster could go get them, and we'd be ok until the morning.  She wasn't in her red zone, but yellow.  If it was red, I'd have just gone to the ER.  I do have some brains, though, and I was using them.  Or at least I thought I was.

The nurse was insistent that I come in to the ER, if I didn't want to go via ambulance. I was equally insistent that she please just call the doctor - I knew it was the one I really like, and I knew that she'd do the best thing.  But she also would work with me.  The nurse finally said,"Well, I'm going to write down here that you are refusing to take my advice.'  Hey, write whatever you want.  Just call the doctor and have her call me.  If she thinks I need to go in, I will. 

The doctor called, and talked to me and Allegra.  She was reassured by the fact that Allegra could speak in complete sentences, but bothered by the coughing.  She told me that she'd call in the steroids, send The Hubster for them and give another treatment.  That'd be three in 30 minutes, and if no better, she'd meet me in the ER.  That was cool by me.

We got the steroids, we did the treatment, and she stopped.  Not one more cough.  I called the doctor back, who said I was safe to stay home if she didn't need any more albuterol before 11:30.  And she didn't.

Today, I took everyone else to school, listened to Mackenzie cough all the way there, and came home, intent on calling the allergist for some steroids for her.  I'd bring her in if I had to, but the allergist trusts me and she's called prednisone in before.  On my way into the house, though, I was sidetracked by Emma power puking her peach yobaby yogurt all over the step into the van, the driveway, and my feet.  And further sidetracked by Riley, who must have had too much cheese this weekend and started screaming.  Yup, constipation and blood, again. What a mess.

I called the allergist, who it turns out is gone for a week to the AAP conference for asthma.  The one I don't care for is there, and I thought that we'd have a struggle.  I talked to the nurse, who knows me well - she should, by now.  I told her if I had to come in, I would, but I'd have to bring a screaming Riley and a puking Emma with me.  She talked to doc, explained my dilemma, and got her to call in a scrip.

What a day.  But at least, I hope, we've got this taken care of.  I hope. 

Comments

[Theresa]

Oh boy. I have so been there, done that. And I swear I want to reach thru the phone and smack people sometimes! Seriously, they do parents like us a disservice by lumping us in with the group that ignores asthma maintenance/prevention and always ends up in the ER!

I hate the nebs, really. After 2 nebs in an hour, S is overdosed and shaking and puking, and I can't give a third. God I hate asthma.

Was she wheezing, or just that funky cough?? S gets that funky cough up a lung cough without wheezing, and we risk the cough suppressant with codeine to relax the constriction.

Hon, there is nothing more frustrating that dealing with this...nothing more stressful than knowing it's your child's ability to breathe on the line. And when you add other kids, one puking, and another needing steroids...

You know what you are doing. Prayers to you and to them, that this passes quickly, without further incidents. My shoulder is always available if you need it...

[Mrs. Fun]

you can't catch a break, {{hug}}.
I hope Tuesday proves to be a better day.

[Shelly]

Sound so familiar!!!!! Thankfully Sean's new allergy medicine is working and we haven't had a need for steroids since his last surgery! He needs steroids before, during and after surgery to protect his lungs. They swell so easily and with all of his lung disease and birth defects, we don't take any risks.

Hoping everyone is feeling better soon!

[Sal]

Carmen, You are a warrior. I love to read your blog to see your persistence and strength in struggling through all God has given you. And you perserve. It gives me hope for my own life, that although jumbled seems like it should be cake walk.

Blessings to you. Thanks for sharing.

[carolb]

You have the strength of a warrior, but I guess a Mom just does what she has to, right?
I sure hope all is going to get better for you REAL SOON!
You all deserve a good night sleep.
God bless.

[Ginger]

I don't know how you do it all! But I am very impressed. I'm glad she's doing better and that you stuck to your guns. I think parents need to be their kids best advocates and I am so amazed at how well you have done that. Go MTTSM!

[elizabeth]

HUGs to you, what a strong woman - to insist to doctors/nurses you know best, and you do/did.

[lucy]

Nothing worse than a shitty nurse.

Mom (near-bout-always) knows best!