Last Saturday Bryce came down with a fever. It continued through Sunday and into Monday. I wasn't too worried because figured he was fighting something off and hopefully this fever would get it. He doesn't like to take medicine so wasn't interested in my offer for some tylenol or something that might make him feel better. And that was fine with me because like I said, fever is a good thing to fight off infection so I like to let it do it's job. He didn't have any other symptoms.
Well, after 3 days of fever (102.4 at the highest reading) it seemed like he really wasn't getting better so I called the pediatrician (side note, we have insurance with in-network providers again! That's a whole other story!). Our regular doctor - Dr. Zieba - didn't have any appointments until late in the afternoon so I said we would see someone else in the office if possible. Dr. Ally had an opening at 10 o'clock so we took it. I had never met her before but have only heard great things about her from various friends who take there kids to the same office.
I was worried he would be extremely uncooperative at the doctor's office because he had been at home. I was concerned about dehydration and had been bribing him with every possible option for hydration without a lot of success. Gatorade, lemonade, Capri Suns, water, juice... anything!!! Popcicles! Please just drink child!!! I had tried to look at his throat which didn't go well either. So it was a pleasant surprise when he opened his mouth and turned his head and did everything the doctor asked him to at the appointment. The nurse had taken a swab to check for strep and said his tonsils look pretty gnarly, so I wasn't very surprised when she peaked back in to tell us it was positive for strep.
Dr. Ally talked to Bryce about how important it was for him to take his medicine (I'd already explained the issues we've had with this in the past). She told him he would have a choice, take the medicine which tastes like fruit or get a shot. Of course he said he didn't want to take medicine or get a shot. I was just glad to know there was a backup option. We talked about that there was no choice but to take the medicine and get well (and I learned if you don't treat strep it can damage your heart and kidneys), so yeah, no choice... you have to get well! We never got Bryce to agree to taking the medicine but I said I would have a stronger will than him and we'd get it done!
So we stopped by Sonic to pick up a slushy (more bribery for being good at the doctor's office and also some hydration, I could have cared less how sugared up it was at this point) and then we went to Fred Meyer to see if the prescription was ready for pick up. We picked up the medicine along with a couple lollipops that were even more bribery for taking the medicine. Bryce was pretty excited to get that lollipop... I felt there was a glimmer of hope.
Back home I asked Bryce if he wanted to drink the "pink drink" from a special spoon or I could squirt it in his mouth. He wouldn't give me a response so I decided to go with the squirt option. I held him on my lap. He pushed my hands away and wouldn't open his mouth so I called in reinforcements. "Juan, you're going to have to hold his arms down for me!" Juan came in the bathroom and restrained our sons arms while I pried his mouth open a tiny bit and squirted some of the pink stuff in.
The good news was I got some in his mouth. The bad news was he spit it straight back out into Juan's face and onto the wall. Then for good measure he puked up any trace that might have actually made it into his system where it would start killing that bacteria. So much for that plan...
We took a time out to clean up. Juan commented that it was really hard to get that pink stuff cleaned off his glasses.
Next I tried to be a really good parent. I know, if I put Bryce more in control of the situation maybe I'll have better success. So I filled the medicine spoon and told Bryce he could hold it and he could drink it as slow or fast as he wanted. The ball is in your court, buddy! He just HAD to drink it all. And when it was gone he could also have his lollipop of course! I couldn't even get him to hold the spoon.
By this time my patience was pretty much gone. I remembered when he was sick back in September and Dr. Zieba told me about her son not wanting to take medicine at this age and how after a couple attempted dosages he realized he was not going to win this battle. I just couldn't give up and had to be stronger than him. (Note, the medicine he was supposed to take back in September tastes terrible so she suggested mixing it with chocolate sauce. That's how I ended up with chocolate sauce all over the shower.)
The battle was on...
I calmly laid a towel in the bathtub and told Bryce to lie down on it. I think I "helped" him get in the tub. Then I climbed in the tub and literally sat on top of him so that I was pinning his arms down. Once again I pried his clenched jaws open, or rather sort of pinched his cheeks/mouth open which is more effective than prying. Then I dumped that medicine in as much as I could. He fought every second of it and I don't think he swallowed any. We both had pink stuff all over us.
"Bummer buddy! I don't think any got in your tummy so I guess we're going to have to try again. Stay here!" I said. I refilled the medicine spoon. I was trying to stay positive.
The second attempt went just like the first.
So did the third.
And the fourth.
So much for me winning the battle of wills! At this point it seemed more like child abuse than trying to help my sick child get well. Also the first bottle of medicine was half gone! I cleaned up the bathtub, then ran a bath and plopped him in it to clean the sticky pink stuff off of him and said, "Fine. Guess you're going to get a shot." I changed my clothes and called the doctor's office to see if we could come get that shot. The nurse said to come in between 2 and 2:30. I got Bryce out of the bath and put some clothes on him and then he was so exhausted (gee I wonder why, between being sick and now all this!) he immediately fell asleep in his bed where he slept for two hours until I woke him up to go get his shot. Good thing he's cute.
Back at the doctor's office a nurse called Bryce's name. First thing she said, she was really sorry, this was a painful shot. The medicine is thick so it must be administered slowly (compared to regular vaccinations) and that his leg would be sore the rest of the day and probably the next, too. She was more telling me this than Bryce, I think trying to prepare me for what was to come. I said it couldn't be anymore painful than what we'd just been through at home and that he'd had plenty of opportunities to take the medicine and avoid this situation. She said the injection must be given intramuscular, usually in the butt, but Bryce's thigh would work best (I assume because it's more meaty than his skinny booty).
I held him on my lap so that he couldn't move his arms. She squeezed up against us to restrain his legs. The poor guy cried and squirmed enough that he ended up getting two pokes to get the full injection made. I did feel a little bad for him because I know it hurt. (After thought... I should have pulled out my old numbing cream from my port for him. Wonder if that would have helped/been ok?) We sat there for about 5 minutes to make sure he didn't have an adverse reaction and then headed home.
The good news is Bryce is definitely feeling better today and tomorrow he is cleared to return to preschool. Even though he didn't like the shot one bit, I don't feel confident he would take the medicine next time. I just really hope he doesn't get sick and require medication for a REALLY long time. Hopefully by the next time he'll have the maturity to make the situation less difficult and less painful for everyone involved!
Interesting tidbit... so the prescription at the pharmacy for amoxicillin cost me $15 after insurance (which saved me $5 according to the invoice). He was supposed to take 1.5 tsp, twice a day for 10 days. The shot was a one-time (all be it painful) deal that is supposed to be equally effective. The charge at the doctor's office for the shot was $5 which they were going to submit to insurance so whatever my portion it can't be more than $5. With either course of treatment they said he wouldn't be contagious after 24 hours (which would have been two doses of amoxicillin).
Another side note which will tie this back into the main topic of this blog... at the doctor's appointment one of the first questions the doctor asked was if there had been any changes to my or my husband's health. I told her I had had breast cancer last year. This doctor had breast cancer about a year before I did. I actually already knew this because she is the pediatrician two good friends take their kids to and I believe at one time or another both friends had mentioned my medical situation to her. I personally had never met her before and am glad I finally got to do so. I had heard she was really good with kids and it is true. She was great with Bryce and he responded to her well... even cooperated! It was also interesting to talk with a fellow breast cancer survivor (ok, I can't believe I can say that... just like it felt surreal to type out that I had cancer last year). I have found there is definitely a sort of fellowship among women who have been through a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Also, she totally understood when I said I knew it was insane, but I had this distant thought when Bryce wasn't getting well that what if he has some weird cancer that is causing this! I really hope we don't have to visit the doctor again for a long time, but if we do, I'm glad (a) that we have a great pediatrician's office with several wonderful doctors and (b) that we have a full insurance network again so we can keep seeing those same doctors!
I am actually seeing Dr. Fealko for my regular check up tomorrow. Am I nervous. Yes, when I allow myself to think about it. I keep thinking, what if she feels something in my breast again? I know she won't. Right? I really don't think she will, but I can't help imagining what if she does? Then I just stop thinking about it because what's the point. {UPDATE: Everything looked good at my appointment.} I got a card in the mail the other day that I have an appointment with Dr. Bridges on February 24, too. The fun just never ends. All I know is I would much rather be taking myself to the doctor than Bryce or Claire!
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