Leaving the Woods Behind Us...

Wow, the depressing nature of my last post deserves an optimistic follow up! At least part of the post, anyways ;)

As of today, little C is feeling much, much better. He almost slept through the night last night - except for every two hours when the nurses would bustle in to administer eye drops.

Last night they had to switch out his IV again. It infiltrated and fluid was accumulating on the top of his foot, except we couldn't see it because of all the stuff on top of it. See, C kept screaming every time they hooked him up to start the IV - for the entire HOUR he was on it. We insisted something was wrong; the nurses got sassy. We were not in the mood. Doc was willing to chalk it up to "sensitive baby veins." Okay, sure, right? Well, we went to change his diaper and noticed the needle flapping - in the breeze - outside all of that useless tape and stuff meant to hold it in place. They said let's redo it. I said can we do oral antibiotics? But no, doc wants him on IV - she's not comfortable with his progress yet. I understand all of this and I want him to get better, but not if we have to struggle to find adequate veins every 24 hours!!! And when they took off ALL THAT tape, we discovered the undeniable, fluid-filled poof harboring antibiotics that would have been better administrated orally!!!! Right?!

All in all, the IV fiasco ended up ok. The IV therapist came in and took a shot. Got it on the second stick, used a longer needle and arm board and voila! He took the next hour dose just fine. Aaaahhh, thank goodness! :)

I'm only writing about this to prove a point, if one even needs to be proven: sometimes, parents are right and the medical dorks, umm, I mean DOCS are actually WRONG - IMAGINE THAT!

Which leads me to some pet peeves:

-Why, oh why, do so many people in the medical profession ASS-U-ME that all parents are overbearing, ultra-sensitive, Internet-diagnosing hypochondriac freaks when it comes to their kids?

-Why is it that when you actually ask questions to get to the bottom of what is causing your child to scream hysterically (transl. "be fussy" courtesy of one pediatrician) for hours on end, night after night for MONTHS, that you receive a deathly-serious, bull-decrying frown and an abrupt admonition designed to cut you off in your path and PUT YOU BACK IN YOUR PLACE - you know, that QUIET place where patiently awaiting parents LOVE sitting in sterile hospital rooms watching their children suffer without the privacy-comforts of home?

-Why do nurses feel that being a FIRST TIME MOM explains everything?!! A nurse tried to pull that one on me yesterday, until she realized C was my third. She even dared to insinuate that C stopped nursing and eating because I didn't really know what I was doing. Ummm, Hello?! I've got two hands-ful of specialists and therapists that will ARGUE that theory on my behalf. And who are you, anyways? And how long have you known my son? 

Besides, even first-time moms have something nurses don't have: history, patterns, hours upon hours of getting to know their children, of observation. If your usually mellow, laid-back baby is in hysterics, SOMETHING'S WRONG, right? These nurses, even in the hospital, aren't around when he's screaming his head off and we're trying to calm him down!!

-How is it that a nurse or doc can walk into C's hospital room and suddenly be struck by some awe-inspiring epiphany that sneaks into their skull and manifests an instant diagnosis within the far reaches of their oh-so-clinical, self-assured, and let's not forget, VERY EXPERIENCED (as in, seen this a thousand times) brain.

ME: Night terrors? Really? Do they make a kid stop eating? Or need a G-Tube? I mean, I'm not a doctor or anything, but...

Wait, wrong fish!

-Why do specialists point fingers and shirk responsibility? Okay, maybe I'm being harsh on this one. Maybe I'm even being harsh on all of this. I just don't get why GI wants Neuro to rule out issues and Neuro wants GI to rule out issues and people, really, CAN'T WE ALL JUST WORK TOGETHER?

So, sorry about the vent. I needed to let it all out and BOY do I feel much better!!! Now, in all fairness, I have been relatively happy overall with the progress we have made in the hospital and with the staff in general - just some things that REALLY sting when I am already stressed and aggravated. But, as a disclaimer, not all medical staff make me want to scream in protest! Some have been wonderfully helpful and excellent, and I mean that! No, really...

The important thing is that our little guy is going to be just fine. He's out of the woods and looking great! He might be able to come home sometime this weekend.

And I am so thankful! YAY!

Soon, I will post some pictures I've been meaning to share of C's FIRST b-day when things slow down. I will try to keep updating as well. Thank you SO MUCH for your prayers, calls, and support.

OH, and I can't forget. I found this joke - HILARIOUS. ENJOY!

*****

F.A.Q about your Healthcare Plans and Doctor

Since I just joined a HMO, how difficult will it be to choose the doctor I want?

Just slightly more difficult than choosing your parents. Your insurer will provide you with a book listing all the doctors who were participating in the plan at the time the information was gathered. These doctors basically fall into two categories -- those who are no longer accepting new patients, and those who will see you but are no longer part of the plan. But, fortunately, there is a doctor who is in the plan accepting new patients. And...he has an office just four hours away.

I have an 80/20 plan with a $200 deductible and a $2,000 yearly cap. My insurer reimbursed the doctor for my out-patient surgery but I'd already paid my bill. What should I do?

You have two choices. Your doctor can sign the reimbursement check over to you, or you can ask him to invest the money for you in one of those great offers that only doctors and dentists hear about, like windmill farms or frog hatcheries.

What does HMO stand for?

This is actually a variation of the phrase, "Hey, Moe" Its roots go back to a concept pioneered by Doctor Moe Howard, who discovered that a patient could be made to forget about the pain in his foot if he was poked hard enough in the eyes. Modern practice replaces the physical finger poke with hi-tech equivalents such as voice mail and referral slips, but the result remains the same.

Do all diagnostic procedures require pre-certification?

No. Only those you need.

What are pre-existing conditions?

This is a phrase used by the grammatically challenged when they want to talk about existing conditions. Unfortunately, we appear to be pre-stuck with it.

Well, can I get coverage for my pre-existing conditions?

Of course, as long as they don't require any treatment.

What happens if I want to try alternative forms of medicine?

You'll need to find alternative forms of payment.

What should I do if I get sick while traveling?

Try sitting in a different part of the bus.

No, I mean what if I'm away from home and I get sick?

You really shouldn't do that. You'll have a hard time seeing your primary care physician. It's best to wait until you return, and then get sick.

I think I need to see a specialist, but my doctor insists he can handle my problem. Can a general practitioner really perform a heart transplant right in his office?

Hard to say, but considering that all you're out is the $10 co-payment, there's no harm giving him a shot at it.

What accounts for the largest portion of health care costs?

Doctors trying to recoup their investment losses.

Will health care be any different in the next century?

No, but if you call right now, you might get an appointment by then.
Hope I left you with a smile! Till next time and hopefully sooner than last time! :)

Prayers, Please...

Words cannot express how tired I am right now. I am home - briefly - from yet another exhausting, interminable quest to discover just what, exactly, ails our little guy. I can barely think straight. I am sad. I am very, very frustrated. I feel like I need to reach out to people, but am embarrassed... I know that so many parents out there are suffering because they do not know how to help their most precious loved ones. I want to cry for them, too, and I feel a little selfish asking for your prayers - but please, pray for our little warrior and his recovery - and our sanity as we watch him go through hell (sorry, no other words can describe it). I am sure he will come out of all of this stronger than ever. I feel in my heart that he will be fine. I just hate to see him like this. Will write more later.