I think I hate the pediatrician

Bonus: it's not just one doctor, it's an entire practice of 7 doctors.

I took B for her 6 month well-check the other day, and I had a few questions and very mild concerns. I left feeling like I come from another planet.

First we'll start with Dr. K. As of 2 weeks ago, B's chart is marked that she is never to see him. My extreme dislike of him started at her very first visit at 5 days old. He's always come off as arrogant, and has a terrible bedside manner. The final straw was at the appointment 2 weeks ago, which was for shots. I asked him when she would get the chicken pox vax, and then said I was considering not giving it to her. He pretty much called me stupid. "That would be a dumb thing to do. Don't you know what the risks of chicken pox are? She could die!" Look dickhead, people have been getting chicken pox for years and living. Death is rare. I had it, the husband had it, millions of people my age had it, and we're still here to tell the tale. It's fine if the doctor disagrees with me on whether to give it to her or not, but to not discuss my concerns with me is not acceptable. Being that it wasn't the first or second or third time I didn't like the way this doctor spoke to me, I'd had enough.

Yesterday at her well-check, the Dr. C, whom I'd liked in the past, suggested I start giving B eggs so that she can have the flu shot, specifically the H1N1 shot. So, I asked if I should give her the whole egg, or just the yolk. I'd read, and know from friends, that most doctors suggest not giving egg white before a year because they can trigger allergies. Dr. C said he'd never heard of that, and just go ahead and give her the whole egg. Ok, then. So, then I expressed my concern with giving her the H1N1 shot, and I said I wasn't really comfortable with it. I didn't get it myself, I didn't get a regular flu shot, and neither did the husband. Again, instead of addressing my concerns, he steamrolled right over me and said to make an appointment for 2-3 weeks after I've given her eggs for her to have the H1N1 shot. Another strike.

I then asked about Dr. Sears' dosage for Tylenol, because his chart indicates a bit more than the practice had advised me to give her. Dr. C had no idea who Dr. Sears is. For real? Then he mumbles something about how many milliliters in suspension per kilo she could have if i really felt like she needed it, but really all I heard was "blah blah blah just give her what I told you and stop asking silly questions." Never heard of Dr. Sears. I was stunned.

My last "big" issue from the visit is more that I didn't get an answer that I wanted to hear, but it's enough to bother me. We'll be going to Florida soon, and I wanted to know if there was any particular sunscreen he recommended for her. I was hoping to hear some all-natural, good for babies brand. Instead, he told me to just go to Target and the store brand marked for "sensitive skin" would be just fine. Really? I mean, yeah, I know it's fine, but I'm a little more concerned than that about putting chemicals on her skin. This is more my own issue. I know this. I'm not full on nutty-crunchy-I only shop at Whole Foods-granola, but I do try to only give B organic food, and use all-natural products, or at least the least-harmful chemicals, as often as possible. There have been other things in the past that this particular doctor said to use, like baby oil, which most doctors frown upon these days for whatever reason, that really surprised me, so this was yet another straw on the camel's back.

I told the husband about these things, and a few others, when I got home, and he thinks I'm being a little too sensitive. Ok, sometimes I am too sensitive, but I don't think this is a case. He agrees with me on the H1N1 shot, and I think I'm going to cancel that appointment. She needs a few boosters before her next well-check, so I'm going to go through with those, and then hubs is going to come with me to her 9 month well-check and do some question asking of his own, so he can gauge their concern. (Yeah, right, I want to see him ask a question! When that man isn't at work he shuts it like a clam.) I don't want to look for a new pediatrician, but I have a feeling I will be.