Momma's Guts

This, my friends, is what happens when you don’t listen to your gut instinct.






Last month, my baby had an ear infection. They prescribed amoxicillin. 36 hours after starting it, he broke out in a bit of a rash. I was concerned about an allergy to the meds, so I called and talked to a doctor. The doctor decided to change his meds, just to be on the safe side.

A month later, we went back in for an eye infection. The doctor (a different one) wanted to prescribe amoxicillin and I mentioned that he had a rash soon after starting it the last time. She asked for more details about the rash, and decided that she wasn’t convinced it was actually an allergy to the meds, but perhaps just a side effect of the virus he had.

I wasn’t convinced that it wasn’t an allergy. I just had this gut instinct that told me she was wrong. I pushed back on her a bit, but she was determined to try it again. Should I call in if he gets hives again, I asked. Yes, she answered, but seemed certain he would be fine and gave me a look conveying that I was overreacting. She had me give him so Benadryl with the antibiotics the first few times.

And 4 days later, here is how my baby looked when he woke up. 10 hours later, there was hardly any white skin left on his body and his poor limbs and face had swollen noticeably. I rushed him to the doctors and they started him on steroids right away.

Is there any question that he is allergic to amoxicillin???

Mothers, always, always, ALWAYS go with your gut instinct.

Doctors are specialists in medicines, but only YOU are an expert on your child. You know your baby better than anybody else.

If you don’t agree with the diagnosis or medicine, be pushy and be loud. You are fighting for your child. You don’t have to be a jerk, but be assertive. In the end, you are the one driving your child to the ER at 2 am because the doctor didn’t take you seriously and sent you home.

Lesson learned.