My 4 HOURS in the ER with Zane

Well, Zane had not had any wet diapers for the last couple days and he threw up again this afternoon so I had decided to take him to MedCheck. They have call ahead service so I called at about 1:30 and they said they were running 2 hours behind so I put his name on the list and arrived there about 3:15. I had written on the sheet that I was worried about dehydration. Well apparently at the MedCheck, they don't deal with dehydrated babies so they sent me over to the ER. I went to the MedCheck right by the hospital so it wasn't very far.
Anyway, there was no waiting at the ER. I was shocked. I got right in to the room about 4:15 where I waited, and waited.. Finally a doctor or a doctor-like person comes in and checks him out. Turns out he has an ear infection, but the doctor wasn't too worried about the dehydration. We had decided to give him fluids anyway and then through the same IV we could give a 24 hr antibiotic. Sounds good right. Ugh! Well a set of nurses comes in and they can't find a vein. More waiting. They go get a pediatric nurse. She can barely find a vein either but she tries. Twice in Zane's foot. No luck and Zane's foot is bleeding a lot. Apparently they have this try 2 times and you're done rule so they bring in a second pediatric nurse who gets a line in but it's very sensitive about the positioning of the IV. Zane's arm was wrapped so tight that fluid began building in his arm. Zane was so upset and kept fighting me so I had to strap him in the stroller. Little did I know his arm hurt so bad. A nurse came in and realized his arm was puffing up so she ended up taking out the IV. They had to get the doctor again. More waiting.

So the doctor comes in and tells me that someone from the neonatal ICU can come down and put a line in at 7:00 or we can just give Zane 2 shots of antibiotic and be on our way this is about 6:40. So I decide Zane had enough poking for one day so let's just do the shots. So I wait. At about 7:30 yes that's right 7:30 the nurses finally come in to give Zane his two shots. At this time I was watching the Women's Big Ten BB tournament but I don't know how it ends. Then after one last round of taking Zane's vitals and a prescription for his ear we left by 8:00 ish.

Did you know that pharmacists don't work on Sunday evening? I couldn't find an open pharmacy within a 20 mile radius. Well I'm glad that it is a 24 hr shot. But it's back our regular doctor tomorrow.

3/8/09