As a mom, you want nothing more for your kids than for them to live a long and healthy life (and for them to behave most of the time…). So, when your child is sick, your mom instinct kicks in.
A couple months ago, my son started coughing strangely in the middle of the night. During the day he was perfectly fine, but every night, the cough returned, irritating him, and worrying me. Despite no symptoms of a cold, it continued to progress to the point of an episode that lasted about an hour. After a few sleepless nights, it got worse and we ended up in the doctor’s office.
Unbeknownst to me, he was having an asthma-type attack. Breathing treatments, steroids, and inhalers were the end result of that trip. I was in a state of disbelief, and I was scared. No one in my family has had asthma, and it’s horrible to see your two and a half year old go through it.
After three days, he was doing better, and we had a few nights of beautiful sleep. But it was too good to be true. When the coughing came back, I didn’t hesitate to call the doctor. After another appointment, he was prescribed more inhalers, steroids, and a daily treatment.
So many things went through my head, but fear was the biggest feeling of them all. I certainly have done my due diligence in online, doctor Internet, research, but I quickly realized that there’s a time and place for that. The Internet houses a wealth of information, but it can foster even more fear, and all my worrying and Internet searching created a lot of undo stress. Sometimes you just need to step away from the computer.
Today, we went to our follow up visit, and I’ve decided to have faith that my doctor will lead us through this. In one short visit, all my questions were answered and now, it’s time to work out our plan. For any mom going through something like this, learn from my experience.
First, make sure you really like and trust your pediatrician–enough to take their advice on your child’s health. If you can’t do that, find someone you can trust. Second, don’t obsess about something by researching doctor Internet. Some research is good, but there are times when too much information can lead to fear. And finally, remember that you know your child best. If something doesn’t seem right, call your doctor, that’s what they are there for, and that’s what mother’s intuition is all about, right?
Written by: Kasie Smith is a Michigan native. She was born in Traverse City, and now lives in Grand Rapids. She enjoys golfing, spending time in the sun, and watching romantic comedies with her very own leading men, her husband Jason and her twin boys.
