Well check ups at the pediatricians office?

[Deesknee]

When my boys were about 15 I asked them if they would like me to not go in the examining room. They both said they didn't care. I actually started insisting on this with my sons & daughter. I wanted to make sure they asked ANY & ALL questions they may have.
Actually, I would go into the exam room wait with them until the doctor comes in, I would ask any questions or comments I may have, then I would leave the room until the doctor was done, then the doctor peeks his head out the door & I go back in so the doctor can give me the low down.

 

[momof1princess]

DD12 hasn't been since she was 10, goes every other year. she'll go later this year for a well check, and if she wants me to stay, i will. if she or the doctor want to talk, i'll leave. it's totally up to her. i stayed with her the last time, because i had questions about the vaccines she was getting and the dr. talked to us about gardasil, but would have left if DD had wanted me to.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Our schools require annual physicals, so everyone goes every year here.

My DS is 11, and I'll ask him what he prefers, but I'm pretty sure he'll want me there since we're switching Dr.'s this year. If he wanted to go back alone I'd be fine with it, but he's pretty shy with strange adults.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Kids are supposed to get blood work done? My kids are going in for their 8yo and 4yo checks this month, and the only time either of them has ever had blood work done was for allergy testing!

I have never heard of routine bloodwork for kids either

Other than the baby stuff for vitamin K, etc I can think of maybe 4 times DS11 has had blood drawn and once for DD13. (oh, and DS ALWAYS has me come into the room for any bloodwork or shots--he does not do all that well with needles).
I do, however, agree it is unusual to have well checks only every other year.

 

[aprilgail2]

Kids are supposed to get blood work done? My kids are going in for their 8yo and 4yo checks this month, and the only time either of them has ever had blood work done was for allergy testing!

The only place I have ever heard of it not being done annually at physicals is on the Dis...I know all my daughters friends (different Dr's) go every year too. For an adult physical they do routine blood work each year, why would a childs be any different? They found out my friends daughter had Leukemia by routine bloodwork-it was caught very early that way and 10 years later she is happy and healthy. My daughters friend is on a low fat diet already at 11- she is a tiny skinny thing but her cholesterol for a child was very high.

 

[beattyfamily]

The only place I have ever heard of it not being done annually at physicals is on the Dis...I know all my daughters friends (different Dr's) go every year too. For an adult physical they do routine blood work each year, why would a childs be any different? They found out my friends daughter had Leukemia by routine bloodwork-it was caught very early that way and 10 years later she is happy and healthy. My daughters friend is on a low fat diet already at 11- she is a tiny skinny thing but her cholesterol for a child was very high.

I do not get blood work every year. She checks my sugars, cholesterol etc...every 2 or 3 years and it's usually at my request due to a family history of Diabetes.

My kids have never had routine, annual blood work either unless there's an issue.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I do not have routine blood work every year either Genreally about every 3. We have lived in 7 US states since I was old enough to remember this (6 with me as a parent) and not seen it in any of those.
Aprilgail2--I am really happy for you though that it is done where you live since it allowed your daughter o get such early treatment

 

[kilee]

Having a well exam every 2 years is becoming a huge push w/ some insurance companies in the last few years. I am sure it will become the trend in the future that children, teens, and young adults only need well exams every 2 yrs.

I've worked in a solely peds practice and now a multi-specialty practice w/ peds and at both they prefer around 12-13 to have a few minutes w/o mom or dad. Usually to ask about drugs, alcohol, and sexual activity.

I know, I know everyone is thinking that doesn't pertain to their kids. Wake up call is you'd be shocked at the answers that honest answers that are given w/ "but please don't tell my mom" when they are not in the room.

Most states protect the information as confidential in regards to substance abuse and sexual activity for teens from their parents as early as the age of 11.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

Well it should be interesting in a couple of weeks. I need to take my 12 year old to the GYN as she is having problems with her period. I will be there but DH will also. I wonder if she will let us both be with her or we will need to wait. They don't think there will be a need for an exam at this point in time. They do have a female dr. who handles strickly children but she is on her honeymoon now and we couldn't wait till she comes back the middle of July. DD will actually see the Dr. who delivered her. LOL!

Is this a regional/cultural thing? Never heard of a father going along to the gyn?

 

[DebD4T]

I am still curious as to how the yearly physical forms for school get filled out if you only have a well check up every other year.

Two years seems like quite a long time for children.

 

[Pixiedust34]

I go back with DS(newly 15) and DD(10). In our ped practice, the nurse does height, weight, BP, hearing and vision, and then takes them back to their assigned exam room. The doctor comes in and goes over basics/updates since the prior year's physical - I let the kids answer the questions unless there is something specifically directed to me or a particular concern. DD and I leave the room while DS is examined - have been doing this for a few years, maybe since he was 12. Then DS leaves the room while DD is examined - I stay for hers and will continue to do so for as long as she would like me to. We all then reconvene back in the room for the doctor to discuss anything with me about both of them and to go over what shots they will be getting.

This is basically how we do it. I go back for the basics (blood pressure, etc.) and to talk to the dr. for a while. They like to touch base with parents about general development as well as physical development. Then I leave the room for the private exam part. After the exam, they call me back to the room for a little bit (any last minute questions, shots, etc.).

We have our exams once/year.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

I go back with DS15. We discuss how his asthma and ADD are being controlled and if we have any other concerns. Then she asks me to step outside the door while she examines him.

 

[mjkacmom]

At this age. I know I wasn't in the exam room for most of dd13's last exam.

 

[live4christp1]

Thanks for everyones input/suggestions. I think I'll ask DS what would make him more comfortable.....my guess is going to be that he will want me to go back with him but step out of the room during the physical exam. We will see.

Our peds office does every 2 years after age 5 unless they play sports then it is yearly. We are usually in the office a couple of times between those two years for one issue or another though. They do blood work at the well exam, CBC, urinalysis, etc.

Thanks again!
Cristy

 

[mjkacmom]

I could never ever imagine having my father in the room with me at the regular Dr as a 12 year old nevermind discussing things regarding my period and having him there- OMG!!!



Wow- we go every year, as an adult I go every year so I don't see why I would not expect them to see my child once a year for a physical. I was shocked to hear that some peds don't bother doing yearly blood work run ups on children either!

I agree on both of your points! I still remember the first time I had DH take a child to the pediatrician - he had no idea who our pediatrician even was. I can't imagine DH ever going to the gyno with my dd's! Actually, the only time both of us were in the doctor's office with a child is when #1 was born.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I am still curious as to how the yearly physical forms for school get filled out if you only have a well check up every other year.

Two years seems like quite a long time for children.

I agree. Also, medical issues come to light during well child visits. A trained eye looking over the kids once a year is a good thing to me.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

I am still curious as to how the yearly physical forms for school get filled out if you only have a well check up every other year.

Two years seems like quite a long time for children.

Why would you assume every state mandates yearly physicals? In Illinois they are required for kindy, 5th grade and 9th grade.

A one page form may be required for the parent to fill out regarding general health and any medications, but doctors visits are not required.

 

[KerriMc]

This is so strange to me here in Canada!! Where we live (Ontario) we don't go to a paediatrician unless there is a need for such ... you have to get a referral from your family doctor and it has to be for something that requires further investigation or care (school referrals for behaviour, ADD, learning issues, physical health issues, etc).

As for the yearly visit I don't do that with my girls at all. My youngest is 6 and needs her 6 year needle, so we need to go for that over the summer, but she hasn't been for a well check since she was 4 I believe (last needle she had). They don't need an annual check, although parents can do it if they want. My doctor doesn't need to see my children unless there is a need to do so. I can't imagine them having bloodwork just as a routine thing!! I don't have that.

Even for myself, I don't have an annual physical. I have always had normal paps since I was 20 or so, so I go every two years now. My hubby saw our family doc two years ago and was told to come back in five years unless there was some reason that he felt he needed to be seen.

Seeing as you all pay for these doctor visits doesn't that get expensive?? If your new health care reform comes in, is this all going to be paid for?? Is it really necessary for healthy children? Seems somewhat wasteful really. I am really surprised!! I'm all for prevention, but sometimes I think it can be overdone.

 

[scrapquitler]

I am still curious as to how the yearly physical forms for school get filled out if you only have a well check up every other year.

Two years seems like quite a long time for children.

My experience here (in CT) is that the 'annual physical' for school means that the form needs to be submitted something like once every THREE years. Same for girl scout camp.

The only exception is that during middle school (and I can't remember if they require it for 6th grade or 7th) you have to submit a new updated physical because there is some specific vaccine that is required that year by the state.

 

[themilesfamily]

This is so strange to me here in Canada!! Where we live (Ontario) we don't go to a paediatrician unless there is a need for such ...

Well-child visits are the norm in the United States. We've never done them. We only take our child to the doctor when she's sick and when she's due for her vaccines.

Well, I take that back -- we did them the first year. After that we just didn't see the point. She's always been healthy, is ahead of her peers intellectually, has had nothing odd that's concerned us. She's a normal height, weight, etc. I just couldn't see taking a perfectly healthy child to the doctor for no reason. It seemed like a waste of time and money.

We homeschool, too, so we don't have to jump through the hoops with medical forms and releases.