Our biggest fear right now is the risk of infection at the surgery site. So when Sean woke up Monday morning with a temp of 101.1, we began to worry. I called the surgeon's office first thing and the nurse asked questions (Any drainage from surgery site? Any stiffness of neck?, etc.), all of which I answered, "No." She then phoned Dr. Moody. Within a few minutes, the nurse called us back with Dr. Moody's instructions, "Call your pediatrician, as it doesn't sound like it's from the implant. It could be a viral or urinary infection." I phone the pediatrician's office, who usually has mid-morning sick appointments, and it would be our luck that nothing was available until 3:30!
To add to the excitement I was run down yesterday with a sinus infection (which for those who suffer from these know that it can feel like the damn flu). {Side note: The day before Sean's surgery, I felt like I might be getting strep, so I went to my Urgent Care. Strep tests were negative, but thankfully the doctor was aware of what was happening for my son and prescribed me an antibiotic. }
So yesterday, I was in bed from 10-2 and only got up to fuel and get Sean ready for his doctor appointment! Thank god for Poppy, MeMe, and Grandpa Jennings, who helped out with the boys while I slept. Guess the stress has caught up to momma!
So our afternoon/evening turns out like this:
Pediatrician's waiting room 3:30-5:00p.m., with several other sick kids, WTF?!! Turns out the other doctor is on vacation this week, so it's up to one doctor to see all these kids? Long story short, we are finally seen around 5:20. Doctor does his check and checks Sean's ears for a possible ear infection. LEFT ear clear and RIGHT ear, "he doesn't like the look of," and wants to prescribe him an antibiotic. I share that he is already on the antibiotic, Cephalexin (sp?), since surgery, and gives directions to stop that antibiotic and begin with a script he wrote for Augmentin.
I'm pissed that after an almost 2 hour wait for our pediatrician, we
get a brief "sick-check" and
because the doctor "didn't like the looks of Sean's right ear," gives a
prescription for a totally different antibiotic and tells us to stop the
other antibiotic. HELLO??? You've already shared with us that you
have only had ONE other child with cochlear implants in your 20+ career
and instead of recommending we go back to CHKD, you send us on our merry
way with orders to stop the antibiotic given by the surgeon, and to
start a different one??? Once in the car, my "mom gut" told me to call
CHKD ENT's answering service and page the doctor on call. Thankfully
the doctor called back within a few minutes and said, "If it's an ear
infection, then that could be serious and Sean would need to be seen by
us in the ER right now."
CHKD ER 6:00-9:15 p.m.
Needless to say, I am not feeling great while we wait, and wait, and wait! Following ER protocal, a nurse, and several doctors checked on Sean's ears not noticing any signs of infection, but would feel more comfortable having someone who looks at EARS all day long, take a look! One of the ENT doctors on Dr. Moody's team arrives and does a thorough check of Sean's ears and determines that there isn't any evidence of an ear infection. Yes, they are red and that is from surgery, but there isn't any puss pockets seen. So YEAH, for no ear infection, but he says, "What is concerning is what is causing this 101.1 fever?" If I had to guess, it's probably from the lovely germs that I'm carrying! Lucky for us we were able to get some motrin and head home instead of having to be admitted.
Thankfully today (Tuesday), Sean has had no fever!!!
Let's just continue to pray for NO infections and that the road will be pretty smooth for the next few weeks! Oh, and can we say hunt for a new pediatrician is a must?!! Preferably one within CHKD!
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