Michael woke up this morning with a swollen eye. Not black and blue. Not goopy. Just a little red and swollen.
With wrestling starting last week and his tendency to get ringworm, I honestly thought it was ringworm. Or the beginning of pink eye. It was swollen enough to take him in.
Since our doctor’s office is closed on the weekends, we went to the local CVS MinuteClinic. We have been there more often than we would like in the past six months or so, and the nurse practitioner who is usually there is wonderful.
We signed in and waited a few minutes. The woman who brought us in was a new nurse. She was young, but seemed nice enough.
She took vital signs, looked at Michael’s eye for a bit and said, “I think you have periorbital cellulitis (a staph infection around your eyeball). I am going to send you to the ER.”
So, I grab my purse and am ready to go… to the ER… like she said…
But she isn’t finished talking.
“My nephew had that last year. He woke up with it and his parents didn’t bring him in. By the time midnight came, he was being rushed into emergency surgery.”
WHAT? DID SHE JUST SAY WHAT I THINK SHE SAID?!?!
Did she just tell me to go to the ER (an emergency, in my book), and then continue to tell us a story about her nephew? Who needed surgery? On his eye? IN FRONT OF MY KID???
Oh yes. She did.
By this time, I look at Michael and his head is down. He’s crying. And scared.
She filled out some paperwork while I tried to assure Michael that he’s ok, and the ER is just like a big Urgent Care.
There are so many Urgent Care centers around us, the kids get nervous when we mention taking them to the ER.
Probably has something to do with them watching “Untold Stories of the ER.”
As we are walking out, and I am still digesting:
1. What she just said – the possible diagnosis and the personal story
and
2. The fact she just said it in front of Michael
she stops us and says, “Michael, look at me.”
It seemed like she maybe realized what had happened and she was going to apologize?
But no.
“Michael, it’s just another doctor that can tell what’s going on better than we can here. I’m concerned since the infection is so close to your brain…”
and we were gone.
I was stewing, but didn’t have enough digested to say anything to her. I couldn’t believe what she said to him. TWICE.
Michael cried the entire 20 minute drive to the ER.
I felt about as awful and scared as a Mom can feel.
He sat there crying, blowing his nose, and crying some more. Can you imagine what both of his eyes looked like after that?
We went to the closest pediatric ER and at the front desk, they just looked at him in awe. I explained why we were there and why his eyes looked like they did, and they put us in a room immediately.
We waited about 5 minutes for the nurse to come in. I explained the situation to her and she talked to Michael and calmed him down. I almost hugged her.
For the next few hours, we waited on the doctor, got a CT scan to see about the structures around his eye, and played around with all of the fun stuff a hospital has.
Powerade – usually a big no in our house:
The remote control that controls the tv, lights, AND has a nurse call button:
And the fancy fun bed:
The entire experience ended on a positive note, thankfully.
We were sent home with a “viral infection of the eye” diagnosis.
No surgery.
No brain infection.
He should be better in a few days, and back to wrestling by Tuesday.
Here’s to hoping the rest of the team doesn’t have it…
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh my gosh! No way! Isn’t there a rule they’re supposed to learn in nursing school that they don’t talk diagnosis or anything other than Pokemon, Dagedar, or SpongeBob with kids? If not, I think it should be a whole class. New nurse or not, she needs to be advised on how to talk to parents and children in a way that is not going to alarm them.
I’m glad it’s nothing as serious as the nurse mentioned. And while Michael got a Powerade and the remote control, I’m not sure there’s enough wine or massages to make this easier on you.
Sara at Saving For Someday´s last [type] ..CVS Deals 1/8-1/14
Wow. That is just crazy, at least it isn’t your usual Minute Clinic RN. Hopefully you can feel comfortable going back there, they are awfully convenient places for weekend medical stuff! I would definitely complain about it though… Or at least film a VLOG reenactment of what you WANTED to do about it…
Karen´s last [type] ..Frugal Rambings {Week 1 Highlights}
Glad he is ok. Very inconsiderate nurse. She should not have said those things to him.
Oh, Becca. This is awful (I’m glad Michael is okay). I think a letter to whoever or whatever regulates the CVS Minute Clinic. Not only shouldn’t a “professional” discuss a potential diagnosis with a child, but should a nurse (no offense intended) really be making that kind of diagnosis?
How about…”Gee, I’m not really sure what it is. It doesn’t look like pink eye and I’m concerned about an infection. I suggest you go to the ER for some further testing that we can’t do here.” There wouldn’t have been the trauma to Michael — or to you. You had to have been terrified too!
I’m very glad it all worked out for you guys and hope that woman is out of a job soon.
((hugs))
Put up your dukes and get down to it…Hit her with your best shot…Come on and hit her with your best shot…..
I can only imagine what was going through your heads at that time. Seriously, a complaint should be made.
Poor Michael and poor you and Steve.
Phew! So glad he’s ok. Can’t believe a medical professional would say something like that in front of a child?!? Going to the ER is traumatic enough.
Oh sweet mercy…please tell me you are writing a letter/email to that location! I had that happen with a nurse practitioner once and I was livid as well. Please NP, remember you are working with children and they FREAK!
So glad his eye is okay, and his brain :)
Andrew would then, from now until forever when his eye bothered him, worry that it was infection going to his brain and be traumatized.
Heck, EVERY ONE OF MY BOYS would feel this way.
You HAVE to let them know!
Glad it ended up on a good note. Poweraide does amazing things, I have found!
Denise Dykstra´s last [type] ..Happy Birthday To My Mom!
I am glad everything turned out ok. Some people, nurses included, just don’t think before they speak. I am sorry that it was so scary for you both.
O.M.G. I can’t believe that. . . I am so sorry you had to go through that experience (not to mention your poor, terrified SON). I’m glad it’s not as bad as it could have been, and hopefully no one else in the house gets it.
That nurse needs bedside manner instructions, in the very least. Wow.
Sharon {Grumpy, Sleepy, and Bashful}´s last [type] ..12 Signs That I Am Getting Old
Poor guy! I can’t believe the nurse scared him (and you) that way! Wow!
Thank goodness for moms who keep their cool :) and for ER nurses that are better than the Minute Clinic! :) And, especially that it is nothing more serious!
Sara @ Mom Endeavors´s last [type] ..Pantry Challenge!
Ewww so sorry! It’s amazing how some people don’t have the common sense to NOT freak a kid (and a mom) out for no good reason. Clearly you were on your way to take him to the ER. Why keep up with the horror stories?
Glad he’s ok!
Chelsea´s last [type] ..On embarrassment
please tell me you go back and talk to that lady at CVS or call the manager…I can only imagine how stressed out he was. So glad it was nothing that serious!!!!
azlb´s last [type] ..Weekly meal plan week 2
I’d complain…loudly.
I don’t even like hearing my OWN diagnosis, I know a kid sure doesn’t. New or not, she needs ot know now that that isn’t what you do. And she needs to lose the “my momma’s cousin’s brother had that” style of medical care…as everyone else rarely has what they had, just because it sort of looks like what her nephew had doesn’t mean every kid with a swollen eye has it too. Just because I am weezing this morning doesn’t mean I woke up with emphysema..
I kind of just stared at my computer in disbelief. wow. that’s crazy. so glad you got in and seen. and he is okay.
Michelle, Muffin Tin Mom´s last [type] ..Homemade Donuts
Sometimes I am so surprised by the insensitivity of health care workers. I mean, isn’t that like, part of the job description? Anyway, glad it all came out well in the end.
AH! I want to kick that nurse in the face. Want me to kick her? Cuz I will if you want me to.
Melissa´s last [type] ..F-R-R-R-iday!
JD offered to go say a few choice words to that lady when he read this. Filter woman, filter. While he might look like he has it all together and can handle it, he’s a what 12 year old boy.
Kelly @eclecticmommy´s last [type] ..Ruffle Scarf