Yesterday we headed to the ENT for an evaluation of Cain's ears to see if he does in fact need tubes. Naturally, yesterday morning he woke up with a 102 fever. So, you know, we started the day off right. I guess if there's ever a time to have a fever and possible ear infection, it's the day you're going to see an ENT doctor!
Needless to say, the appointment did not go well. When we got called back to the exam room we sat there for over 30 minutes with a very impatient, sick 2 year old. When the doc finally graced us with his presence, he didn't even introduce himself. He just made some snarky comment about why Cain was crying.
After repeated questions about past ear infections, he glanced over the hearing test results from the week prior. He checked Cain's ears and said both were completely fine - no fluid, no pressure. What?? How is that possible? How can your ears be bad just one week prior but fine today? Especially with a fever?
We asked him what he thought the next course of action should and he looked dumbfounded. He looked at us like we were idiots for even asking that. He said that we could push for tubes, but it would be an unnecessary surgery and he didn't recommend it. Okay, that's fine, but what do YOU, the SPECIALIST recommend for our 2 year old child? He said he wanted us to com back in 8 weeks for a follow-up and new hearing test. When we questioned why we should wait 2 months for a new hearing test, he (again with the dumbfounded look) looked at me and said "Well, yo u can take a hearing test right now, but it's not going to accomplish anything - there's nothing wrong with his ears." Yep, we were both infuriated at this point. You may be the doctor, the specialist, but how dare you try to make me feel stupid for bringing my sick kid in to see you - especially when it was YOUR audiology department that gave the hearing test that he failed and YOUR audiology department that said we needed tubes. Don't you dare turn around try to make us feel like crap because you're having a bad day.
He didn't say goodbye, have a nice evening, get the hell out of here - nothing. He just walked away and immediately into another exam room. Guess we were just a number. God speed to his next patient!!
First thing this morning I called Children's and changed my follow-up appointment. They asked why I wanted to switch doctors - um, because he's an asshole! The lady laughed - maybe she thought I was kidding - I wasn't. So, I got our doctor changed, so hopefully this will work out better for us. I just want some compassion. Maybe my standards of care are just too high. When it comes to my kid though - I absolutely refuse to lower them. I guess there's a chance I'll be switching a lot of doctors in the future, but I refuse to accept anything but the best for my child.
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