Bed Side Manner
I can honestly say that I don’t particularly like heading to the doctor, and most people don’t. Since having the boys, I am a little more picky about who we choose as their doctors. I guess that maternal instinct kicks in, when there is someone messing with your babies other than you, so you are dissecting every little move the doctor makes, with regards to your child.
I would not say that, I am overly critical of doctors in general, but you do notice when they actually have a love of their job and an interest in caring for your child. It is tough enough to bring them in for shots, or when there is something major going on, that it helps to have someone who is pleasant, who seems genuinely interested in your questions, and has five minutes to spare for your child.
Last week one of the boys fell down the stairs and broke his wrist. It is a common fracture where the bone sort of bent in a way. Since, at 3 yrs old a child’s bones aren’t completely calcified, there wasn’t a complete break. I was totally freaked out when he fell, and he didn’t really complain much, so I figured he was ok. The following day when he went to grab his cup he couldn’t hold on to it, so we took him in.
Fast forward to today, about 9 days later and a blue cast up to his armpit, we headed to our follow up with an orthopedist. How much personality do you think a cold dead sardine has? Probably way more than this doctor that we met today. She walks in and goes do you want a half cast on that? We were like yes, that might help with his mobility so we were happy with that. He would get recasted with a new half cast in lime green 🙂 I then begin to ask about a cast protector for showers or baths since these plastic bags were a real task to get on and taped, and we even had a minor snafu with the cast getting wet. Not only that, we are spending a fortune in medical tape and plastic bags. My son’s poor skin is breaking down from the tape so, I know they sell these protectors online but we were asking her if they sold them locally somewhere. She said No and the places that sometimes carry them are probably out of stock (wouldn’t this mean they do sell them locally and could you please just tell us where?) and they can only be on for 10 min. I’m like, well let me decide, but she goes 3 more weeks and it can come off and she walks out of the room. Uhhhhhhh?
My husband and I were beyond irritated. It was more like, hi and bye, let me collect your money. She didn’t x-ray his arm to see if it is healing properly or anything. I was wondering what the point was? If you are a doctor that works with families and children, I’ve got a little advice. Put a smile on your face, act a little more alive and considerate than a dead fish! Thankfully after 3 weeks, we don’t have to go back!















I know how you feel. I have an 88 year-old Great grandmother, and she had a bad fall last week. She went to the ER by ambulance, and the orthopedic doctor was very rude and not kind at all. It made the whole family very upset.
Well yes, a little bedside manner would be nice! Hope it all heals well and you don’t have the magically escaping child like I did…she took her stinkin’ cast OFF!