Bacteria
Posted in Motherhood
My son has been sick on and off for almost two months now. At first we thought it was the flu but two weeks later it came back, after a basketball session and there were no other symptoms, just high fever and tiredness. He’d wake up in the morning and tell me "I am so tired". It passed and after we had returned from Ioannina, it returned too. The tiredness and the fever and I started googling his symptoms and found out he must have some kind of bacterial infection for it to be so persistent. Once more, the doctor said it was nothing serious, just another virus, afterall it is spring and he is such a strong kid etc etc. But we had blood tests and a few days back, we got a dreaded call from the lab, asking us to repeat the tests because the blood platelet count was too low. So low, they feared they had made a mistake. (Note: In controlled panic, I called back to the lab to ask about his white blood cells and if they had found them to be too high and the answer was: We can’t tell you before you have paid for these exams. This happened at 9:30 in the evening. I went berserk and I don’t even remember what names I called the receptionist).
I don’t think I’ve ever had a more stressful 12 hours in my life. I googled "low platelet count" and the things I read didn’t let me sleep at night. Several cancers, autoimmune syndroms that result in repeated infections, and so on. It was not a mistake his platelet levels were low, but they also found a widespread streptococcus infection that had depleted his iron levels so much it is a miracle he was still functioning. But even that sounded good to me, compared to what I had been worrying about. The tests have to be repeated later and he is on antibiotics and vitamins and a special iron rich diet.
There is a question and there is a thought I made. I am still shaken but I thought how lucky we are for being allowed to continue life as we knew it. Because for a couple of days, the internet, IKEA ads in bus stops, new films, spring cleaning, work, seemed irrelevant. A million what ifs.
My question though is this: Why do people have to rely on the internet to find out about their health? Why are not doctors more careful and yes, less relaxed? (the paediatrician must have answered the phone more than 15 times while he was examining my son). And why is this general phobia towards antibiotics becoming so dangerous that doctors are reluctant to prescribe them, even a month after they suspect (or don’t they?) that there is a bacterial infection and not the common cold virus? Why did I suspect my son had a bacterium and the doctor did not , or did not bother to tell me?
This is my conclusion: If you suspect there is something wrong, trust your instinct, search the internet, ask lots and lots of questions and don’t put your trust on just one doctor. And never fear you might sound foolish or like a know-all. That would be bad of course, but it’s better than being left in the dark and told "pay before we tell you if your child is okay".
God, scary stuff !!
It’s impossible not to start panicking when they keep you in the dark like that. Don’t these people have a heart? Or at least a common sense? They don’t have kids, for sure…
But I also think the Internet might contribute to an even bigger panic.You read all sorts of things online, not half of them are securely true.
I had a streptococus infection too when I was 13. It was pretty bad, it was affecting my kidney function. I had to take a really strong antibiotic, probably what P is taking now - vancomycin? And I took iron tablets and lots of steaks (fortunately this was before I turned vegetarian). After 20 days I was better.
What seems a bit odd is how he got the infection in the first place (I know how I got mine, it was in the actual hospital, during surgery)…and that’s why people are careful about antibiotics. They really are destroying our immune systems and creating massively resistant bacteria. Ooff, this is scary
Hope he’s feeling better and that’s you’re being able to recover from the panic.xxx
You’re conclusion is accurate, and what I follow as a parent, and I’m relieved to know your son is going to be better now.
Devil
I didn’t know this had happened to you too! poor girlie. Well, the doctor said many adults carry the bacteria (in a dormant state) and because we have antibodies we don’t get sick, but children don’t have antibodies yet, so they are affected.
Papa
x
thanks Papa
wow. all that process because doctors are doctors but parents have their fingers on the true pulse of their children
I’m sorry to hear that doctors are as harried and unfriendly there as they are in the States. It seems as if the days when you had caring family doctors are long gone. It probably isn’t their own fault, but the system that makes them this way.
I am so sorry you had to go through this. It must have aged you something fierce. I had the samething happen with my son and all kids of thoughts filtered through my brain.
I came across your blog from Maddie’s. It is really beautiful.
Please keep me updated on his progress!! What a horrid thing for the receptionist to tell you. The idea they’d hold your child’s results hostage for payment is absurd. I hope you speak with the doctor about her behavior.
Doctors are the same here. I’ve been having stomach problems for years now and had another bout recently which forced me to the doctor. I found out that some of my test results from two years ago were “positive” in other words they found something wrong but I was never told. And then this visit the doctor has scheduled a procedure for me and it wasn’t until I made the appointment with the appointment setter that I even learned I would be put to sleep and would need a driver to take me home and I wouldn’t be up for work that day. She said, “oh, yeah, it’s like surgery.” Unbelievable. The doctor could have told me this himself, don’t you think. Ugh. So I’m off for all this fun on Wednesday. I totally understand your worry of the unknown.
Like I said, keep me in the loop, love.
k.
“perastika” to your son. It’s true: health is the most important thing.
Sorry to hear you went through that, but glad to hear everything it turning out okay.
Don’t even get me started on doctors - though my Mum’s recent experience has restored faith a bit.
Yikes! First off, I’m very glad that your son is being properly treated now. I’m sure he’ll start feeling like himself in no time. Secondly, I’m sorry you had to go through such drama. I can only imagine how stressful it’s been for you.
From the little I know about medicine, I know that the overprescription of antibiotics is a major problem. That being said, they are important drugs and should be prescribed when there is a clear need.
Maybe the problem stems from doctors not spending enough time with patients in the first place to get to the bottom of their symptoms. Your son is lucky that you were so persistent in taking him back to the doctor when his condition didn’t improve. My worry is always for the parents who don’t know enough or don’t feel that they can push their doctors on these issues.
Goodness, what a horrible thing for you all to have to go through. Hope the medication is having a positive effect, and he is on the mend.
Gosh, I cannot understand how Doctors and their staff can hold you to ransom like that, not giving you answers until you paid the bill … how inhumane !!
Parental instinct is amazing … we know our children better than anyone. Perservere, and always get a second opinion, I think.
Dear Chloe, sorry my visits have been so scarce, I think of all my blog friends often, and peek at their worlds through my Google Reader, although rarely get the opportunity to comment.
Take care, dear friend …. hugs, Meow xx
i thought europe was supposed to be better at caring for their medical patients compared to america? your experience sounds like what i go through every time i go to the doctor’s here in the states because i have no insurance. but it is true that you should at least try to have a vague understanding of what might be wrong, or at least ask for any relevant tests to be performed if you think something is wrong. most of what they do is educated guesswork, so your guess may be just as valid as theirs
I truly hope that your son gets better soon. I have stopped trusting doctors altogether. They killed my mother. She died of Septic Shock from an undiagnosed bladder infection (in hospital) which put her in a coma. By the time they figured it out and started antibiotics it was too late. Trust your gut, check and read all you can and question everything the doctors say. Forewarned is forearmed. Good luck…ciao
I think a lot of people become doctors because they got really high grades at school and not because they always wanted to be a doctor. I’m not even sure that many of them become doctors because they actually want to help people.
There are actually turning out to be a lot more antibiotic resistant bacteria out there than there used to be, and sometimes the antibiotics end up killing your own good bacteria leaving you prone to further infection by the bad bacteria.
But doctors tend to do what you push them to do. My dad gets sick a lot (lots of immune system problems) and quite often his doctor will ask him what drug he would like to be given for whatever is ailing him. I wouldn’t take the opinion of one doctor as gospel. They’re just people like us, and it’s so easy to make mistakes.
Your third paragraph…what a blessing…like learning from someone else’s lesson…you’ve received an inestimably valuable gift, the most extreme clarity of gratitude for a life, without having to experience the loss of it. I had a similar situation and man does life become full color afterward, makes the formerly complaint-worthy stuff a non-issue! Glad you guys are OK!!!
I was so scared reading your post. Thank God he is ok. I am working with doctors occasionally and they are in their world. However, you found the solution on your own and this is definitely your instict and your questions.
Many many wishes for health!
Have a good day and give him many kisses to be well soon!
There’s something about doctors, yes… Hope he’ll recover quickly, they usually do
(My Filip’s been “eating” iron for the past 6 months or so, finally did the trick…)
Our local doctor once said (I asked him if he thought I was asking too many questions) - there are no hysterical mums. Mothers just know what’s wrong with their kids, you just have to find a doctor who can see that
i had a similar experience for something different and for which i was misdiagnosed for years. since then, i listen, but i don’t necessarily heed if my gut tells me different.
i am so sorry you had to go thru all of that. but it appears that today we can no longer rely on doctors fully…we have to take our health into our own hands.
Please keep me updated about your son and I will say special prayers for him and you~
Love you
Jeanne
I hope he will be ok. It’s alarming when you don’t know the status of someone’s health. Strange too how much we rely on the internet now with the size of technical information on the internet doubling every two years! We’re living in exponential growth times. They predict computers will be developed to the point where one made in 2013 will be able to compete with a human brain and by the 2040’s outpacing the knowledge of the whole human race! But we will still be threatened by bacterias and viruses that computers never will…
i definitely don’t trust doctors completely anymore. i research any problem i have.
i’m glad your son is better, and sorry you had to worry like that. it’s especially terrible that they wouldn’t tell you what was wrong until you paid. that’s LOW!
Oh Chloe I can just imagine how upset you were when you got that call. Doctor’s and their staff should have to take a class every year to remind them about the feelings of their patients.
They lose touch and get so unfeeling.
You were wise to call and ask questions. I have become very aggressive in making them explain things in detail and making them double check their conclusions.
They are not always correct. Make them do their job.
This was so disturbing to read. I hate to hear your son has not been feeling well. Poor guy. Hope the antibiotics take hold and he is up and about real soon.
Please keep us updated on his progress. I will include him in my prayers. All the best to you my friend. Take good care of yourself too!
Sending you bunches of hugs,
Pearl
You’re quite right of course.
They’re the same here too. Just thank heavens he is fine. Good result finally.
OHH i would have freaked if they told me that over the phone!! bunch of jerks… dont they know not to mess with mama?
count your blessings, you do never know. kiss your people.
let us know how he continues to be…sending well wishes to him
It comes to something these days when you have to diagnose what is wrong with someone yourself because doctors don’t seem to have a clue.
I am glad your son is doing better. Let us know how he is getting on.
Are you coming to London again anytime soon? It would be lovely to meet you if you are.
Your article gave me shivers! Even if I have no children, you can’t imagine the times I had to rush to the Internet for medical answers. Doctors in Greece just do not tell! Perhaps because of ignorrance, they don’t want to worry the parents.
I’m glad your son has nothing that serious but I’m cross about the way your peadiatrician dealt with his illness so badly.
As a Cancer survivor, I always tell people to listen to their bodies. This also applies to a parent and their children. You know your kids best. If I feel as though there is something wrong, I head for the Dr.’s. I won’t allow them to tell me that okay when I know there is something quite not right.
I’m glad your son is doing better. Please keep up posted. You and your loved ones are in my thoughts.
I am surprised that your son’s condition got brushed off this way.
The last time I had one of these things that did not seem to go away and which wanted to mutate into something really bad, I went to a doctor friend of mine and got a prescription for killer antibiotics that got rid of the condition. They made me sick, yes, but I did not get pneumonia and end up in the hospital, which was how I was tendi ng.
It’s a tradeoff.