Fearmongering doctor
Wed Jan 09, 2008 at 02:22:08 PM PDT
I wasn't sure if this rant was diary-worthy or not, and then wondered if other parents have experienced anything like what we just went through.
We recently discovered we have black mold in our house -- specifically in DS's bedroom, which shares a wall with the kitchen. We had heard all the drama stories about mold and decided we would not become hysterical and burn down our house, but instead just carefully remove the crud, repair the damage, and move on with our lives.
That plan worked quite well for a month or so, as we got rid of the first "mold remediators" whose idea of remediation was to set up very loud dehumidifers in our house and not answer their phones for a week of so.
We then found some sensible people who tested the mold, gave us a report, made a plan for removing it, and suggested we find out if DS is allergic to mold. We thought that would be a good idea, because DS has been very fatigued for the past few months and we have not been able to figure out why. We called our trusted pediatrician, who referred us to an allergist in his building.
DH took DS to the allergist and came out of the appointment freaked out. The doctor said DS has asthma and told DH we should move out of our house immediately. He implied we were negligent parents for simply moving DS into the den to sleep for the duration. We moved out that day (and have been living in a hotel ever since).
During the first appointment, DS was tested for many interior allergens -- including mold -- and wasn't allergic to anything. The doctor apologized for not having the special black mold test kit, but promised he would order it for our next visit. Meanwhile, he said he heard wheezing and put DS on Singulair. He said his lung capacity was only 77% of normal. We were shocked, as DS doesn't cough or complain of shortness of breath. We felt so bad -- what if DS has been so fatigued because he can't breathe? What kind of parents don't notice their kid isn't getting enough air???
Two weeks later, it was my turn to take DS to this doctor. DS was tested for horses, elm trees, and god knows what else. He wasn't reacting to any of them, thank goodness, though since we don't keep livestock I wasn't actually too worried about those things. I asked when the black mold test would be done.
Turns out there isn't any test specifically for black mold.
Come again? The only reason we were there was for that test. When I complained, the doctor sent us to the lab for a blood test for black mold. (Turns out that is about as useful as a blood test for sunlight. Pretty much everyone has the antibody.) Before we left, he briefly listened to DS's lungs again, said he could still hear wheezing, and recommended two more visits -- once after another month of Singulair, and again after a month off the Singulair "to see how he does."
Feeling unsettled, I made an appointment with a pulmonologist who examined DS (thoroughly, in constrast to the rushed and cavalier exam done by the allergist) and pronounced him perfectly healthy. His lungs are great and there is no need for any medicine or any more office visits. I was really happy about DS's health, but also mad about the allergist. He was full of it!
I was so angry to think of the kids who are wasting their play time waiting in this doctor's office after school, and wondering how many are taking meds or missing P.E. for no reason!
I feel like this guy preyed on our vulnerability about our son's health. It's not his fault we over-reacted and moved out of our house -- but, when a doctor tells you you're making your kid sick, you act. You buy and administer unnecessary medicine, and you make lots of doctor appointments (not to mention contemplating throwing away a perfectly good mattress).
I guess I feel punk'd. Have you ever had a doctor make a diagnosis or a recommendation that seemed fishy to you, as opposed to a genuine error?
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