So after having Beckham in March, I just foolishly thought that would be our most expensive medical month this year...at least we met our deductible, right?! Note to self: don't jinx things by saying that ever again.
First off there was the hospital trip & resulting doctor's appointments. Then Monday night, Beckham didn't sleep. He didn't want to lay on his back. Zac and I took shifts with him holding him upright and rocking him, but none of us slept too well. He cried for a total of about 1 hour throughout the whole night, but when he did, I could tell something was hurting. Zac thought ear infection....I hoped not. Tuesday morning when I could see him well, I looked in his ear and realized it was full of whitish fluid and oozing wax. I realized it must be a bad ear infection. I had a few prior commitments I had to get ready for, so my amazing husband took Beckham to the doctor. His doctor wasn't in, but Dr. Dunbrasky-the next best thing-was. She took a quick look and said that his eardrum had ruptured. And, his right ear was also infected. Poor baby! She said he must have a high pain tolerance if he wasn't screaming all night. And, that we need to take him back in a few weeks to make sure the flap closes. And, that it wasn't encouraging that this is his second ear infection in five months. And that if he gets another one within his first year we'll have to see an ear doctor. And, that anytime there is an older sibling at home, the younger one is pretty much guaranteed to get what they have. Sometimes worse. Great. I felt awful for baby & thankful for Zac and the good husband and daddy he is. They got home and Grayson went to play with Aunt Doll while I went to the open house I was hosting for TSFL. Zac kept Bex home with him. When I got home, Zac was feeling pretty overwhelmed and helpless because Bex had cried for about an hour and was just inconsolable. He said nothing he did helped and he felt so bad for him. It was so sweet and I felt for both of them. Beckham and I spent the night in the living room and he did much better and slept all night. Hopefully the medicine works its magic quickly. Thankful for sweet Zac, great kids, good doctors, and friends (Candace) who have experienced kids with chronic ear infections & tubes to give good advice (give him ibuprofen for the pain instead of tylenol).
When we got up this morning, Bex seemed to feel better. I-however-had an awful toothache. It had started yesterday, but I thought it would just go away. I took some ibuprofen 600 from when I had Beckham and it literally didn't help the pain at all. I called Dr. W and he said to come in at 3. My mom kept the boys and I went in. An x-ray later and I was told one of my teeth is dying. Lovely, huh? So guess what I get? A $1600 root canal. We don't have dental insurance, so I asked him if he could just "shoot" the tooth and take me out of my misery. I don't mind having a dead tooth in there. My taste buds aren't in my teeth, right? (:
Anyway, that is the gist of it so far. Cross your fingers & say your prayers that this is the end of our medical woes this month...this year...next year! One can only hope, right?!
Thank goodness these kids are worth every penny. And, for $25 doctor's visit co-pays & $10 prescription co-pays. And, for doctors & hospitals & dentists who accept monthly payments!
So for documentation sake, here's the medical recap for this month so far:
8.13.10
-Doctor's visit for Beckham's choking episode, prescription for acid reflux meds
-Trip to ER with Bex for choking episodes, ambulance ride to downtown hospital, two night stay in hospital
8.19.10
-Follow up doctor's visit for Beckham, nebulizer treatment
-Claritin for Grayson to see if cough clears up (determining whether chronic cough is allergies or possibly asthma)
8.24.10
-Doctor's visit for Beckham's double ear infection/rupturing, prescription for infection
-Infant's tylenol, ibuprofen for Beckham
8.25.10
-Trip to dentist, X-rays, prescription for tooth infection meds
-Preview of Root canal procedure & cost sheet
11 comments:
Ohhhh no!!! I am so sorry to hear that. Not only are you in pain but I hate to hear when it rains it pours. I reall y hope the sun comes out. I've never had a root canal but I hear they are miserable. Good luck to you!
I am sorry! I hate when there are months like that when everything comes at once. Greg had an ear infection every six weeks for the first six months of his life. So I definitely feel you there!
Medical bills are awful. I feel your pain. We hit our deductible this year with Jeremy old company and now we have to start over. I hope everyone gets feeling better. You should try Zyrtec if Claritin does not work, that seems to work a lot better for Corbin.
We need to have a BBQ, soon. Let us know if you are available in the next couple of weeks.
It is a good thing we love our kids and would do ANYTHING for them. They are totally worth it. To think, this is only the beginning of our expenses.
On a side note...if tubes are introduced I would totally recommend it. Cardyn had ear infection after ear infection. We got to a point that the medication was only masking the actual infection. Once she got tubes she was a whole new girl. Plus, I think that if we had put them in earlier we would have the speech problem that we do. I would do it again in a heart beat. Good luck!
Oh man Karli, we have all been ""there and sometimes re-vist "there" often! Keep your chin up!
hey karli. go to windhula.blogspot.com, she is an amazing designer and she did it in her bathroom and it shows you where to get the stencil. Good luck. its easy and you need like almost no paint.
What a crappy year for medical bills. I am sorry that you have all of that going on. I hate paying for insurance but it sure is nice to have around when you need it. After reading all about poor baby Beckham I scrolled down to his 5 month old chubby baby shot and thought..yup totally worth it...just look at that cuteie pie face!
Poor thing!
call if you need to talk. Josh had constant ear infections when he was a baby and had to get tubes.
I feel your pain girl!! We don't even have Brielle "paid for", and now the bills for Jakes surgery are rolling in--can I just say--his ear surgery cost as much as having TWO babies!!! And we still have 2 more trips to SLC for post-op stuff!!! Yay!! I hate the money end of it completely, but grateful for everyone's health (and hearing!)
On the flip side of Bex having to possibly get tubes--wait until he's at least a year old! My doctor would'nt even entertain the idea until that age & I'm glad! Jordan had 7 ear infections in a 10month span his 1st year, after he turned one, he didn't get any again until he was 3!!! My doctor told me sometimes, they do out grow it! Literally! As they grow, their drainage system in the ear finishes shaping so they can drain.
I hope he is doing better!! Poor kid! SOunds like he does have a high pain tolerance like Jake--I never knew he had ear infections until he'd get a fever, then find out it was a doosie of a double ear infec.! I never knew he was cutting a tooth until it popped up!!!
Hang in there, hope you're caught up a bit on sleep---but moms never get enough!! :) And I do hope it all eases up on you!! Luv ya!
Karli, I am so sorry! It can only get better, right? We certainly hope and pray so! Hang in there.
gotta love those medical bills! right? just keep sayin' to yourself, "there are worse things in life, there are worse things in life" then those medical bills don't look too shabby! ha!
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