Finding a Dr.

So I decided to use Korbyn's allergies, cold, whatever...to find a new dr.  I just decided that an hour there and back to her dr. was ridiculous and on top of all the other feelings I've been having towards them, it was time for a change.

Unfortunately with our insurance you have to use their dr.s, so I went on their website and searched for the nearest pediatrician.  The closest office started in Brenham (30 minutes) then went into Elgin (30 minutes) and on into Austin and College Station (both an hour).  So I made an appointment with the dr. in Elgin on Tuesday.  The 30 minute drive was so much better than the hour and I really like the dr.  She said that she could have allergies or she could have the start of an upper respiratory infection or she just has a lingering cold.  She listened to her chest and paused on her right lung for a LONG time.  She said it sounds like she might have a little rattle, but if she isn't considerably better in the next 2-3 days to bring her back and she wants to listen again.  Then she looked at her ears and said they both look pink, but not infections yet so she prescribed her some antibiotics to stop it.  But I was not thrilled with the office or the environment.  I know this sounds petty, but there were no toys, nothing colorful or inviting and it looked like a business office, not a pediatrician's.  And when they weighed her it was in this teeny tiny corner of the room RIGHT next to the waiting room so the entire room heard me explain to the nurse everything that's been going on.  When I was explaining it to Colton he was like "so....you don't like them because they didn't have any toys?"  I know it's hard to explain but I didn't get a good vibe going in there at all.

I scheduled another appointment for the next day with the Brenham clinic.  I can remember going to this place when I was little!  And strangely enough, it almost felt comfortable when I walked in, which is something I've never felt in a dr.'s office.  The office staff was super nice and she even walked me back to the pediatric waiting room and explained things to me how they do things there, also have never had that.  While I was waiting, a mom who has a daughter in Korbyn's class and who is also a nurse there, came out and talked to me and gave me the beef on all the dr.s there.  I had unfortunately scheduled her appointment with what sounded like my least favorite dr.!  She described him as kind of dry and WILL NOT give any medicine unless it's absolutely necessary, which the whole medicine thing I didn't really see as a negative.  I kind of feel the same way.  I mean I don't want to be shoving medicine down her throat that she doesn't need it, but I do want her not to be miserable or in pain at any time.  So I was anxious to see how this dr. was going to be because the environment and office/nurse staff already scored high with me!

Total jerk.  He came in very pompous and unfriendly which was an immediate turn off.  He didn't even introduce himself (or knock!) he just came in and sat down and started asking me questions.  He didn't smile or laugh the entire time he was in there!  How he's a pediatrician I have no idea.  I'm not doubting his dr. abilities, but I think you need to be a LITTLE friendly when you are dealing with kids.  Even when he was looking in her ears he got frustrated because he had to go get one of those ear wax scrapers (that just sounds gross) to remove some wax so he could see better and I tried to make light of it when he got back in the room and I said "man, I even cleaned your ears last night girlie!"  Which I honestly did!  But he said that babies can't really get allergies or a sinus infection because their sinuses aren't fully developed yet, which makes sense, but I still know she has allergies ;)  Then I told him that she's been on children's claritin since Sunday and today (Wednesday) was a night and day difference for her.  She hasn't been coughing, her nose has stopped running so much, she hasn't been sneezing and her eyes haven't been watery.  He was VERY surprised when I told him this.  He said "Oh!  Really?  Well I guess just keep giving it to her if you want"  Well I will!!!

When we were leaving I scheduled her 6 month well check, which I cannot believe is already in three weeks, with another dr. in the practice (which sounded like my favorite when the mom was describing them to me).  So we'll see how this one goes!  There's only one more dr. in that practice and then it's off to Austin if it doesn't work out :(  I don't really obsess over anything when it comes to Korbyn, but this is something that I will admit to being neurotic about!  I'm not going to just trust her health with anybody.  Jennifer and I were talking about how we should have listened to those parenting book's advice when they say to schedule a "meet and greet" with pediatricians to find the best fit for you and your kids, because I never would have thought that finding a dr. would be so difficult!