Should I cancel kids dr's appointments...

[tnkr_bell]

I have an appt. this afternoon for my 1yr old and 6yr old for their yearly check ups, but now I'm starting to wonder if I should cancel. It seems the flu has start to hit our area and I'm worried about them getting sick.

I would just cancel, but I really need to talk to the dr about my 6yr old and problems he's having in school.

What would you do?

 

[Mkrop]

does your Dr have a sick room and a well patient waiting room?

I would take them and only let them play with their own toys and books, and then wash everyone;s hands really well after leaving.

I guess if theyar e going to get it they could reallyg et in anywhere, school, the supermarket, a bday party, church etc. You can only avoid things so much

 

[MomofKatie]

I agree with Mkrop- if you take them out in public, they are exposed to all the bugs and viruses anyway. Just wash hands real well, and bring your own toys for them to play with in the waiting room/exam room.

 

[tnkr_bell]

does your Dr have a sick room and a well patient waiting room?

I would take them and only let them play with their own toys and books, and then wash everyone;s hands really well after leaving.

I guess if theyar e going to get it they could reallyg et in anywhere, school, the supermarket, a bday party, church etc. You can only avoid things so much

Yep, that's true. I ran out at lunch and got some hand sanitizer, so I'll just douse them up before, during, and after.

They do have seperate waiting areas, but it's not really divided well.

Last time I took them after X-mas my ds had an ear infection and I had to take all three kids. That was a Friday, and Sat night dd1 started throwing up, then dd4, then ds. Let's just say it wasn't a Happy New Year.

 

[Mkrop]

Yep, that's true. I ran out at lunch and got some hand sanitizer, so I'll just douse them up before, during, and after.

They do have seperate waiting areas, but it's not really divided well.

Last time I took them after X-mas my ds had an ear infection and I had to take all three kids. That was a Friday, and Sat night dd1 started throwing up, then dd4, then ds. Let's just say it wasn't a Happy New Year.

For my kids that is called the HOLIDAYS

DS10 is infamous for only getting sick on holidays. It doesnt matter holiday. Massive ear infection on President's Day last year.

I think our kids get runned down during the hoildays bc everyone is so busy, you arent on schedules, you are seeing more people then normal. One little kink in your immune system and the right exposure and you are down for the count.

GL I hope no one gets sick and you get your answers for your DS.

 

[buckler]

Also, your doctor's office might have a penalty for canceling an appointment with less than 24 hours notice. You might want to check that out in case you need to cancel an appointment in the future.

 

[tnkr_bell]

Also, your doctor's office might have a penalty for canceling an appointment with less than 24 hours notice. You might want to check that out in case you need to cancel an appointment in the future.

That's a good point too...although they might appreciate it today since it's snowing out and we're supposed to get 6-8 inches.

 

[Robmom]

Be careful with the hand sanitizer - especially with the 1 yo. If they put their hands in their mouth, they would be ingesting the alcohol.

 

[logansmummy]

I would cancel the appt..... only speaking from experience!!!!!! My son whom is 4 went for his yearly, seperate rooms and all, guess what a couple days later....WHAM!!!!!!! Full blown FLU!!!! We were all off the only place we went was the doctors office. So now my son, my husband & myself had to suffer, and we are still recovering!!!!!! It is the worst thing we have gone through together as a family...... the aches---the pains---the suffering. Wait it out!!! My sons doctor said that he has recently asked "well visits" to reschedule...

 

[MSSANDRA]

If the waiting area are not really well seperated or they use the same exam rooms, I would consider changing the apointment too. I had to take Ds into our dr last week with a foot injury. Our pactice is wonderful and has seperate waiting and exam areas. Same day appointments are considered sick but they were asking if the children were really sick or had injuries and not having the not sick kids even check out in the same area. They said the flu was everywhere.

if you go, find a corner, wipe down EVERYTHING and keep reminding the kids to keep hands away from face.

 

[The Disney Bunch]

If they are well visits, they probably only are scheduled during a time that is for well visits. Most doctors offices work this way. But If you are worried on the off chance that your child might catch something? that is a little extreme. They could catch something anywhere - they could catch something from you when you go out & interact with people. Just make sure they wash their hands & don't put fingers in their mouths.

 

[MSSANDRA]

If they are well visits, they probably only are scheduled during a time that is for well visits. Most doctors offices work this way. But If you are worried on the off chance that your child might catch something? that is a little extreme. They could catch something anywhere - they could catch something from you when you go out & interact with people. Just make sure they wash their hands & don't put fingers in their mouths.

I agree that if the times are differnt you should be ok but no offices in our area do this.

I personly do not agree that they are just as likely to catch something somewhere else. They of course can catch something somewhere else, BUT putting them in a room where you know there are children with the flu and viruses does increase the chance of them catching something. it is so hard to keep a toddlers hands out of his mouth too. Perhaps try to keep his passy in there if he takes one.

 

[SilverMickey]

On our last visit I saw a waiting room full of sick kids... I walked to the desk... did the paperwork stuff and gave my cell number. Asked them to give me a buzz when a sanitary room opened up for us. We ended up seeing the doc in an OB room. They were fine with calling us when they were ready. I was even called "clever".

 

[Steph9072]

At our ped's office we have seperate well & sick rooms. Also they have seperate well and sick restrooms, well & sick scales, well & sick exam rooms. I take water for both kids NEVER use the single water fountain. We take toys & books in with us. We use purell prior to going in. We wash once we reach the room and purell once we get to the van. Maybe over kill but we hae never came home with a new sickness.

Short of it though if in doubt cancel.

 

[tlbwriter]

If they are well visits, they probably only are scheduled during a time that is for well visits. Most doctors offices work this way.

That would be nice, but my ped's office definitely doesn't work this way.

OP, I assume your kids haven't been vaccinated for the flu? If not, like the PP said, try to keep them from touching their eyes, noses, or mouths while at the dr's office. And don't let anyone else touch them, of course (too bad babies seem to make people lose all common sense and want to touch them!) But there are a million other places they could be exposed, so keeping them out of the dr's office won't necessarily prevent anything.