Question for the nurses!

[357 mag]

My nephew is 7 months old, he has had a cough for at least the last 4 months, he's been to the Dr. at least 4 times and the Dr. keeps saying it's a chest cold. Well he went again yesterday and was told the same thing, he is wheezing and was wheezing at the Dr.'s office and he didn't do anything. My sister is in the process of changing physicians but when she called the insurance company they told her it would be May before the change would take effect. She can't see any other Dr.'s without a referal and I know the Dr. won't give a referal for a second opinion. Is there anything over the counter that he could be given? I need some advice!

[spike52]

Originally Posted by 357 mag

My nephew is 7 months old, he has had a cough for at least the last 4 months, he's been to the Dr. at least 4 times and the Dr. keeps saying it's a chest cold. Well he went again yesterday and was told the same thing, he is wheezing and was wheezing at the Dr.'s office and he didn't do anything. My sister is in the process of changing physicians but when she called the insurance company they told her it would be May before the change would take effect. She can't see any other Dr.'s without a referal and I know the Dr. won't give a referal for a second opinion. Is there anything over the counter that he could be given? I need some advice!

Sounds like an allergy.
Maybe to something in his diet.

FWIW.
How about going to the ER??
Most plans will pay for an ER visit..

[357 mag]

Yeah that was my other thought, but I would be the 1 sitting up there with him and I hate our hospital!

[TexKan]

Has your nephews parents shared this with the Dr they see? They should

OTC meds??? - for wheezing - I wouldn't

If there is wheezing it certainly is approp to have that looked at in the ER if they(the parents) are concerned and feel the child is in danger. Wheezing in infants is an ER payable issue. Might cost them $50 copay. (remember tho infants can't cough like we do to clear our lungs - perhaps that is part of the issue)

I think it's best to tell the MD you aren't satisfied and want another opinion or a different course of action. After all - he works for them. Perhaps they just don't really understand why he's doing what he's doing (or not doing) BTW - it's against the law for nurses to diagnose and the parents should certainly stick with a physician they trust. Interviewing them on your 1st visit is certainly not out of bounds. Ask the hard questions so you aren't left feeling like you are held hostage later.

Good Luck!

Mommie X3 might be able to help ya out more - she's pretty good nurse in my eyes.

[357 mag]

Thanks! I know nurses can't diagnose but nurses usually care more than the Dr.'s do! She is in the process of switching Dr.'s because this one refuses to perscribe antibiotics even if they are needed. My children saw this Dr. a couple times and had to go back to a different Dr. a day later because they were worse. I'm sure a trip to the ER will be in the near future probably either tonight or tomorrow because he is not getting better.

[Army_of_One]

Why don't you have them take him to a specialist?

[Made in the USA]

If it was my child, I wouldn't let an "insurance burp" affect me taking him somewhere else. This is a KID not a dog! If you don't have the money, tell them you will pay them a little each week!! By the way, sounds like most of the Doctors that we run into out here in "Dog City"!!

[hoarsewhisperer]

Our little angel was sick with same cough/wheez....for over a month. She was coughing so hard she would throw up her formula. It was a battle that the "crap" finally won. She ended up in hospital for a couple of days due to dehydration and breathing treatments. Mom had been giving breathing treatments at home and was giving a script for the congestion.

She was diagnosed with RSV- which can only be confirmed with blood tests.

RSV can last a month or more.

Good luck with your little one 357!!

also, while I am no doc or nurse....could this be asthma?

[357 mag]

That's what I was wondering too, all of the above! I told my sister she needs to just make an appointment elsewhere and pay for it out of pocket, but it's one of those deals, if I don't do it, more than likely it won't get done. I understand she's a first time parent and doesn't really know what to do but something's gotta give. I told my mom to just take them to the ER tonight when my sister gets off work and make sure everything was ok. He has been exposed to RSV because another child at daycare had it last month which also concerns me but it's been brought up to the Dr. and he still doesn't seem to care. My guess is he's probably giving crappy services because he is on the medical card so the Dr. doesn't get paid as much as a regular paying insurance. It shouldn't matter but the said thing is it does and the kids are the ones that suffer in the end. GRRRRR

[Bubba]

Originally Posted by 357 mag

Yeah that was my other thought, but I would be the 1 sitting up there with him and I hate our hospital!

Take a trip to Garden City, shop at Target, Sears, Home Depot. Look at the amazing progress on the new Sam's Club (damn they're fast), and then stop by the ER at St. Catherine's. That hospital gets nothing but praise from me, they were very attentive and seemed to care when I had my gall bladder surgery there about 6 months ago.