Monday, March 1, 2010

The Unwritten But Universally Accepted Law Of Childhood Illnesses

Every mom knows that Friday afternoons are the single most likely time for a child to come down with a borderline, i.e. IwonderifIshouldtakehimtothedoctorsofficebeforeitcloses, illness. 

Which leaves her pressed to make a quick decision. 

If she hurries to the doctor’s office, nine times out of ten, it will be nothing, and the child will be singing in the car on the way home.  And fighting with his siblings as though he weren’t just dying moments ago.

If she waits “to see”, the illness will likely ramp itself up immediately after the doctor’s answering service begins taking all calls.

Right?

Such was my quandary Friday when my middle son drug himself in the front door sporting a fever, upset stomach, and a sore throat. 

He had been exposed to two different illnesses that week.  A confirmed strep throat, and a nasty stomach flu.  Both of which started out roughly the same way for the other children.   Oh, joy.

Since the stomach was his main complaint, I decided to wait and see.  And keep him close to the porcelain throne.

By Saturday evening, I was wishing I hadn’t.  Though his upset stomach subsided, his fever and sore throat did not.  It was looking more like strep.

After calling around to check my options (which were few), I decided to send him with my husband to the Walgreens Take Care Clinic 25 minutes away. 

Have you ever gone to one?

I’m happy to report, that my husband said the process was quick and easy.  And the nurse practitioner was pleasant and efficient.  He simply presented our insurance card and his license, and from there it worked just like a doctor’s visit.  All we owed was a co-pay.

Within an hour and a half, they were on their way home with a prescription for amoxicillin.  The strep test was positive. 

Thankfully, so was our Walgreen’s experience.  Positive, that is. 

We wouldn’t hesitate to use their clinic again!  Probably the next time one of my sons comes home sick on a Friday afternoon.  :)

Have you ever used the Walgreens Clinic?

6 comments:

It Feels Like Chaos said...

I so agree with you on the Friday afternoon sickness. The other law I'd like to add is that anytime you are leaving town, the morning of said trip one of your children has a high chance of coming down with something! I went to a Walgreens clinic this past summer for Strep myself (you're exposed to everything after a week of teaching VBS!). My experience was like yours, very positive!

Mari said...

We don't have a Walgreens clinic near us, but I wish we did!

Beth@Not a Bow in Sight said...

I hate the Friday afternoon illness thing...ugh! It happened to us over Easter weekend last year and we tried the Walgreens clinic. Only it turns out that they will not see a baby under 1 year old so we were out of luck. Poor thing had to suffer with a double ear infection until Monday morning.

Grizzly Bear said...

That was so me this weekend! My lil peanut had a cough and boogers for a few days and friday comes along and I am like ok this time I am going to wait....

HELLO the whole night she was miserable and sat morning I had to go to the after hours clinic... ughhh Ear infection in both ears... OMG I felt so bad because every time I take them in this time.. something seriously wrong...

Raise Them Up said...

Would you believe that someone from the clinic just called to see how my son was doing? We don't even get that kind of follow-up from our doctor's office. :)

Candace said...

I went to a Walgreen's Clinic earlier this winter, when I had a terrible sore throat that wouldn't go away. I had a wonderful experience too. I also liked I didn't have to wait in a room full of sick people!

The nurse practitioner was so nice and friendly too. She didn't mind my 2 kids I had brought along with me either! I give them 2 thumbs up!