Um, Okay . . . . . Minor Rant (with a Side Dish of Panic Attack)

PA's (Physician's Assistant's) have their place in the medical system, but it has long become too prominent, in some ways, in the, or at least my, GP's practice, anyway. He's booked out farther than she is, so she sees the more immediate problems, such as will see you the next morning for the UTI, or whatever . . . .

It is coming to the point where one only sees their family doctor at their annual physical, and that is . . . not conducive to a good therapeutic relationship, which is essential for a good GP/patient relationship, for good communication, trust, etcetera.

Also, I believe it can lead to unnecessary medical expense or protracted diagnostic processes, which sounds so cold and clinical, especially given the reality of the mother's concern and fears as my daughter's fever has spiked to 102 and 104 multiple times, for both temperatures, despite the second round of stronger antibiotics.

I think, now, that the first round of antibiotics was issued, because of the lung sounds in one lung, of fluid, that could lead to pneumonia, and they were a preventative measure.

I believe this now, because the (searching for the right word here - ruggedly handsome doesn't quite fit, he's a bit too lean, he's not scraggly either, nice salt and pepper neatly trimmed beard, handsome, not craggy, not Grey's Anatomy McSteamy or McDreamy but those gals would definitely not turn this doc away . . . hrm) doctor of course said that bronchitis is a virus, and so there's no reason for antibiotics. He said to stop them immediately.

It also didn't help that she was throwing up as he was first entering the room . . . . . nor did it help that the prescription on this stronger antibiotic was written in a way that I did not know that it was augmentin - I'm familiar with the side effects of that, but nowhere did it say that, it was named something else. I think they should list the common names of a med on a prescription printout thingie when the pharmacy gives that thing printed out with the info anyway . . . . Augmentin tends to add to nausea, as does the Children's Motrin we'd been giving her to control the fever. He said Tylenol.

I feel kind of caught between a bunch of conflicting doctor opinions, except all the preceding ones were really from a PA (physician's assistant). Although, again, I believe I understand the reasoning behind the initial antibiotic prescription - with fluid in the one lung, preventing pneumonia (that one IS treated with antibiotics, am I correct? and so antibiotics would prevent it from taking hold, if it had started to , or something? which I am wondering, especially since her cough and condition improved by about 40% on that first antibiotic . . . .) . . . . . . . I'm all for stopping pneumonia in it's tracks, although of course I'm her mother and so I'm biased. I also understand the concern about over-prescribing antibiotics. It's just, it's hard to remember which things are viruses, which are germ-based, etc. and so you go along with whatever the medical person says.

I feel like, when the 2nd visit to the PA was made on this case, that the practice's M.D. should have been consulted, even after the appointment was over, just to oversee and give us a call about it. Because at some point in a case like this, I think the doctor himself should have a hand in it, and not just leave it all to the PA, and I think that at this point is where this PA system can prolong stuff as I mentioned above, and stuff. Lead to more expense (expensive medicine), needless suffering on my daughter's part (medicine that adds to the nausea, especially unnecessary medicine), etc.

Although diagnostics is not an exact science, etc. I just feel this whole PA thing needs more oversight, in ongoing cases, and in some other way there's got to be something done so that it doesn't come to a point where I'm only seeing my GP at the annual physical . . . . .

I guess I'll get to the side dish of panic attack later, or tomorrow. It was at the Instacare, as a reaction to something late in the appointment, and it happened back in the lobby . . . .