Help Need advice!!

[Marnica]

My 6 month oldson has had a fever for 3 days and his ND is out of town so i called the ped. At first they told me to wait it out and bring him in if it wasn't improved or gone tomorrow. % min later they called back saying "I see in his chrat he is unvaccinated. You need to bring him in today. He is at risk for many things that vaccines ptotect against (HIB, Mennegitis etc...) This is office protocol. He has no other symptoms other than a low grade fever (it was high on Sat, but has been low since then. He also happens to be teething. I don't know what to do. Should I just take him in for a once over? Im inclined to do what she originally suggested and wait and see how he is tomorrow. I do not like this office and am in the process of finding a MD who is more relaxed about the whole vaccine issue, but that doesn't help me right now...what would you do??

[CookAMH]

I would not go. Strange that they are more concerned about unvax kids than vaxed kids getting sick!

The will only pressure you to vax (though not when you go in...at least they better not...he's sick!!) and I doubt you would accept abx since you use an ND anyway. If YOU are concerned, take him in, but they are telling you to come in not because of his symptoms or condition, but merely because he is not vaxed.

[ema-adama]

Not easy. DS had his first fever recently and I did not go anywhere as I did not want him being tested by over reacting doctors... he had a cold and teething together poor boy.
My mommy instincts were telling me he was fine. Try tune in to what your mommy instincts are telling you... if that makes sense to you.

[spero]

Originally Posted by Marnica

My 6 month oldson has had a fever for 3 days and his ND is out of town so i called the ped. At first they told me to wait it out and bring him in if it wasn't improved or gone tomorrow. % min later they called back saying "I see in his chrat he is unvaccinated. You need to bring him in today. He is at risk for many things that vaccines ptotect against (HIB, Mennegitis etc...) This is office protocol. He has no other symptoms other than a low grade fever (it was high on Sat, but has been low since then. He also happens to be teething. I don't know what to do. Should I just take him in for a once over? Im inclined to do what she originally suggested and wait and see how he is tomorrow. I do not like this office and am in the process of finding a MD who is more relaxed about the whole vaccine issue, but that doesn't help me right now...what would you do??

Unless he has symptoms other than the fever that concern you, no - I wouldn't take him in. Sounds like you'll only get pressured and scared into accepting vaccines/abx/etc.

Personally, I would leave the fever alone to do its job, keep the babe hydrated, and try not to worry too much (it's difficult, I know ).

[wallacesmum]

They are trying to scare you. If you are concerned, find a family doc who doesn't know you and start again, without a chart. Fever is often associated with teething. I would not tell another mother to ignore her instincts, so follow yours, but I haven't taken ds' temp since he was 2 days old.

[Full Heart]

If he is teething I would just assume it was from that. Has he had roseola yet? Follow your instincts, take him if you feel you need to, not because someone else said to.

[philia]

Don't go

I used to go with my first baby for every fever. There is nothing they can do. A fever can last for five days. I would look for other symptoms like uconsolable crying, very lethargic, not being able to move their chin to their chest. If you were overly concerned later therr are alwas 24 hour places open. Sounds like a virus. I would give ibuprofen and wait and see. keep us posted. They might push for a spinal tap or something carazy. They will probably use this as an opportunity to scare you. Stay home. I used to go for the fevers and it did nothing but waste time and money and frustrate me.
they will say they also don't eat well if they have a fever.

[Gitti]

Very honestly, I don't even see why you called any doctor. But they we don't treat any fever anyway. It is not a disease.

I would have started to give some SA and support his immune system to deal with whatever he is fighting off. That builds immunity.

Hope he feels better soon.

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by philia

I used to go with my first baby for every fever. There is nothing they can do. A fever can last for five days. I would look for other symptoms like uconsolable crying, very lethargic, not being able to move their chin to their chest. If you were overly concerned later therr are alwas 24 hour places open. Sounds like a virus. I would give ibuprofen and wait and see. keep us posted. They might push for a spinal tap or something carazy. They will probably use this as an opportunity to scare you. Stay home. I used to go for the fevers and it did nothing but waste time and money and frustrate me.
they will say they also don't eat well if they have a fever.

They called back and insisted I bring him in. I made up some excuse about being stuck at work and Id call them in the morning if the fever was still there. I could tell they were annoyed, but he has no other symptoms, his appetite is actually fine. Unless the fever goes back up to above 103 rectally, I think I should wait it out. He was latharic on Saturday, but that was when the fever was high. Now it is lower and he seems like his regular self. I guess I will see how he is in the AM....Geez being a first time mom is hard enough, but being a non-vaxing first time mom is even harder. I feel like a blind person trying to drive!

[wallacesmum]

FWIW, I do not recommend an antipyretic. Don't give him any pharmaceuticals - that is the most dangerous thing you can do in the event of a fever.

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by Gitti

Very honestly, I don't even see why you called any doctor. But they we don't treat any fever anyway. It is not a disease.

I would have started to give some SA and support his immune system to deal with whatever he is fighting off. That builds immunity.

Hope he feels better soon.

I didn't call because of the fever. I called because I thought he may have a UTI and wanted to run it by somebody.(and his ND is away) I thought he may have been uncomfortable peeing, but if he was it was subtle and I was never certain. I know fevers are common in babies with UTI's and are often the only symptom. I give him SA already as well.

[Gitti]

Originally Posted by Marnica

I didn't call because of the fever. I called because I thought he may have a UTI and wanted to run it by somebody.(and his ND is away) I thought he may have been uncomfortable peeing, but if he was it was subtle and I was never certain. I know fevers are common in babies with UTI's and are often the only symptom. I give him SA already as well.

You could tell them that he seems to be over whatever it was.

If things do get to where you need someone, you can say it came back.

UTI, the kids usually scream when peeing. And often times it is a one time occurrence. That's what happened with my grandson, he peed and screamed, and that was it. Whatever it was, got flushed out. Never had another problem. That was about 9 years ago.

How is he doing now?

[ema-adama]

Originally Posted by Marnica

They called back and insisted I bring him in. I made up some excuse about being stuck at work and Id call them in the morning if the fever was still there. I could tell they were annoyed, but he has no other symptoms, his appetite is actually fine. Unless the fever goes back up to above 103 rectally, I think I should wait it out. He was latharic on Saturday, but that was when the fever was high. Now it is lower and he seems like his regular self. I guess I will see how he is in the AM....Geez being a first time mom is hard enough, but being a non-vaxing first time mom is even harder. I feel like a blind person trying to drive!

It sounds like you are doing a great job. It is tough being a first time mum and it sucks that mums are not supported but rather undermined.
Having said that, there is a chance that they would do a spinal to rule out the possibility that it is not meningitis, just to be safe of course. This is what I wanted to avoid. I do not think DS needs to be subjected to such invasive tests just to satisfy a paranoid doctors curiosity.

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by ema-adama

It sounds like you are doing a great job. It is tough being a first time mum and it sucks that mums are not supported but rather undermined.
Having said that, there is a chance that they would do a spinal to rule out the possibility that it is not meningitis, just to be safe of course. This is what I wanted to avoid. I do not think DS needs to be subjected to such invasive tests just to satisfy a paranoid doctors curiosity.

There is no way Id let them do a spinal tap based on his current syptoms just because he is unvaccinated!! Only if he presented with the symptoms of meningitis would I even entertain this thought! That being said If he was vaccinated an MD would never even suggest ruling this out which is sad because vaccinated kids get menigitis too since there are tons of strains that are not "prevented" from the vaccines out there. Prevnar only "protects against 7 strains and HIB is only for type B. I understand since HIB vaccine, there has just been a increase in non type B HI. I would actually be pissed if my kid were vaxed bacaue it sounds like they would automatically dismiss certain illnesses based on the fact that they were vaxed, which makes no sense since these things pop up in vaccinated persons all the time.

[Full Heart]

If you are concerned about a uti you can take him to an urgent care, thats what I would do. They have these little baggies that stick to them (btdt with a little boy) and you just wait for lo to pee. Then they test it like they do on adults. I agree that UTI in los is very difficult to diagnose at home. Don't worry about it being a first time mom thing, UTI is difficult to diagnose for experienced moms too. There are all sorts of stuff that comes up with kids and the more kids you have the more stuff comes up and its rarely the same thing. It would be nice if it were though! lol Most of the time the response around here is "Good lord NOW what?!" lol

Hope your lo is all better by morning.

[Marnica]

update

The fever is gone and DS seems to be back to his jovial self. I'm glad this forum is here and you ladies responded. I really appreciate it! It is so easy to allow oneself (at least for me being a first time non vaxing mom) to get swept up in the hysteria one encounters at the peds office. Im glad you were all here to give me a reality check and calm me down. Im glad I didnt take him. Hopefully if there is a next time I can be calmer about the whole situation. I guess as a parent you are always learning!

[Emmeline II]

You should pick up "How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Dr". It will help you evaluate fevers.

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by Emmeline II

You should pick up "How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Dr". It will help you evaluate fevers.

I actually have it !

[CookAMH]

Originally Posted by Emmeline II

You should pick up "How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Dr". It will help you evaluate fevers.

I just bought that in prep for my LO, and can't wait to look through it.

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by Marnica

I actually have it !

Wish I had had it when my first had a 104 fever; would have saved me a couple hundred dollars and a miserable day in the hospital waiting room .