How do you handle going to the ER? - Page 2

[Peppermint]

Originally Posted by klg47

Keeping it short and simple (unlike this reply) is usually best.

ITA. If it is needed to be honest about the vax status, I will simply say "we do not vaccinate for religious reasons" (even though that is hardly my reason), as I'd rather people presume us a "strange religion" over "neglectful parent", as I wouldn't have time to explain my medical research into the issue.

[mommyto3girls]

Sage has been in or ER, surgery, and 3 seperate days of tests in the last 2 months. So we got asked a lot.

Q. She she up to date on her vaccines?
A. She's up to date for her!

The nurse or her tests was the same nurse each time (she still had to ask it because she had to ask the whole form) but she told me it was a great way to answer because it allows the nurse to check the yes box and no notation needs to be made about delayed or non-vaxed issues that could cause problems with other people who may get their hands on the file.

Obviously it would be different i your child's symptoms could be the result of a "so called VPD" since you may want them to be on the look out for it. Also, when she was in for her surgery I did make sure that the head floor nurse knew she had not been vaxed at all because I wanted to make sure that i they had any kids in for "vpd's" that their nurse would not be Sage's nurse, no need to take that chance. It also helps that it is a pretty big children's hospital and that my girls' Ped is also one of the head PICU docs there.

[Cristiaz]

Last October my daughter needed stitches so we went to the ER. They asked me about vaccines and I just said she was up to date and gave them my NMD's name. The ER was a horrible experience. We ended up leaving and taking her to urgent care where she got seen right away (no questions asked about vaxes or anything). She got two stitches and it cost $75!!!!!! We don't have insurance(don't want it) so that worked out great. Now I tell all my friends with kids to just go straight to urgent care for minor stitches. My NMD told me how to take the stitches out myself so we didn't have to take her anywhere for that either.

[AutumnAir]

The last time I saw a doc with DD (not ER thank goodness) he asked "And has she had all her shots?" and I said "yes" with a perfectly clear conscience because she has had all the ones she's going to have while under my care.

the only time I think I would tell them in ER that we haven't vaxed is if we're there for a suspected case of a VAD, if I thought they might dismiss the possibility otherwise, which would be unlikely as none of the vaxes are 100% effective. Otherwise the vax/non-vax status of an ER patient shouldn't have the slightest bearing on anything.

[momto l&a]

I answer truthfully.

We say we don't for religious reasons. They have never questioned us further.

[Rico'sAlice]

We also say "No. It's against our religion." and then just keep our mouths shut and keep a neutral pleasant expression if they decide to give us the spiel.
I would be wary of saying yes, b/c they might decide "Oh lets just give a tetanus booster JIK" and give it fast. I know they shouldn't but somehow that's a fear of mine.

[13Sandals]

Originally Posted by momto l&a

I answer truthfully.

We say we don't for religious reasons. They have never questioned us further.

tetanus is the big one that gets pushed in the ER (usually because of cuts, gashes, etc.) So funny, because its just not appropriate to use in that situation.

I recently brought my elderly father into the ER for a what turned out to be a pending heart attack...he had fallen in the bathroom and had left arm pain. he cut his head when he fell and they asked me about tetanus (it bled profusely, there was no tetanus risk) - I told the nurse we didn't want the tetanus shot (my father is vehemently against vaccines).

Well he starts having the heart attack in the hospital and they are getting ready to transfer him to another hospital and the nurse that I told NO to, waltzes in and says very cheerily, "OK, Mr. SMITH, I am going to give you a tetanus shot now!" I mean it, he is in the midst of a heart attack, he is having it at that moment and she wants to shoot him up - um, isn't his body dealing with enough already? I said, more forcefully this time, "NO. He is not having a tetanus shot, he is religiously opposed." Then I had to make a huge deal to make sure it was noted on his record for the receiving hospital because I could not go in the ambulance with him and would arrive later. It was a nightmare - they were not very receptive and I had to make a huge deal out of it - you know to protect him because he couldn't advocate for himself - until one nurse came out and said, "I am putting it in the computer, I marked it at the top of his file." I thanked her profusely and she just smiled and said, "You have EVERY right."

they would have vaccinated him against his wishes if I hadn't been there and he is a grown adult! it was alarming. in retrospect, I should have just said, 'he's up to date', but I was caught so off guard....btw - he is home recovering now and does NOT have tetanus!

[mommathea]

When asked I just simply state that we do not vax. I have never had anyone question beyond that - exept for a ped. we went to. But that is another story.

I recently had to take my 10mo to the childrens Urgent care for bloody diareah - turnd out to be a bateria we think he picked up from a shopping cart, but We were asked 3x if he was up to date with his vax - at check in, at triage(sp) and in the exam room. All 3x the response was 'ok' exept for the DR who responded with 'some of the more healthy kids comming in here are the ones who don't vax' - ds, was sick, but never acted as sick as he should have with what he had.

[StephandOwen]

When ds was in the hospital (first the ER then admitted to the hospital for 4 days) we just told them he "has a religious exemption". I wasn't questioned any further, other than a nurse who kinda wondered aloud "what kind of religion opposes vaccination?". It didn't get a response from me.

I did not want to say anything that might lead the doctors to not consider a VPD because ds was in the ER with a 106 fever, belly pain and headache.

[Jen_in_NH]

It depends on what we're going to the ER for. When DS fell and cut his forehead, then I told them we were up to date (and we are, for tetanus). When he was diagnosed with diabetes, I gave them the whole list of what we have and have not done. In that case, it may have some relevance down the road.

Jen

[aydensmama]

Thanks for all these scenarios. I have to get a bit more comfy with cuts and gashes and how to treat I think! I also would worry about VPD, and docs overlooking if I just said yes, but that is definitely appropriate for some instances, when you are not there for something that could be VPD.

Thanks again ladies!

[2boyzmama]

Definitely it should depend on the situation.

If my child were sick, I would never lie about vaccination status, because unfortunately some drs will not even consider certain illnesses if they think you're vaccinated for it. However, that being said, saying that your child is not vaccinated could lead to the "cascade of ridiculous tests" if you're not careful.

If you say your feverish child isn't vaccinated, and you get a dr starting to freak out and order tests like a spinal tap "because he/she could have meningitis!", keep your cool and ask "what is the differential diagnosis? Is there any other illness that we can rule out or test for quickly before resorting to such an invasive test?"

I did this with my younger son when he was 9 weeks old and in the ER with a fever...he was not vaccinated because he was incredibly sick with something unknown and apparently chronic (we later discovered was a genetic syndrome), and the dr said "we have to do a spinal tap". I said "why don't you first do blood, urine, and xrays, then we'll go from there." Sure enough, blood showed an infection, urine showed a UTI, and xray showed pneumonia. No need for spinal tap.

Now, if you're in with an injury and they're asking about vaxes, you can either answer honestly with "we don't vax" and if you're pressured at all repeat over and over "I don't see how that's relevant to his current injury". Or you can lie, because the vax status truly is not relevant to the injury.