Last week Mya had two different visits to the allergist. She's now at the point where if she even sees a doctor or nurse she begins to scream. She's no fool. She knows exactly what's going on and why she is there.
Our first 2 hour doctor visit was so that she could get her MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine. She, again, had to get the vaccine in 3 different doses. Which meant she had to first, get the scratch test on her back (3 pricks), and then receive the shot in her legs 3 different times. 3 pricks + 3 shots = 6 pokes with bloodcurling screams. Regardless of how many times as she has had to go through this, a mother can never get use to seeing her baby scared and in so much pain.
This is Mya's back during the scratch test. She SCREAMED when the nurse was writing 1, 2, 3 on her back. Not a good sign for the shots soon to come!
Trying to keep her preoccupied in the room while we waited in between shots!
More waiting.... I brought more toys this time. She insisted on wearing her shoes in the room! Hmmm...maybe my germ paranoia is wearing off on her!
H1N1 Stalking.....
Ok, so I have been somewhat of a freak about the H1N1 flu. I don't keep Mya at home everyday, but not because I don't think this is the ideal way of keeping her from getting sick. Fact of the matter is, we HAVE to get out of the house. We go crazy when we are at home all day. But, I definitely haven't been taking her out as much as I would like. I avoid play areas, I am obsessed with Purell, I always use my cart cover when at a store, and I hyperventilate if anyone touches her, her sippy, or her pacifier.
Because of her egg allergy, she couldn't get the H1N1 vaccine at any of the county clinics (which may have been a blessing because waiting in line with a 1 year old sounds awful!). I have pretty much been stalking my pediatrician's office and the allergist's office. Every time they told me they were sorry but they didn't have any and had no way of knowing when they would get it... blah....blah....blah. But, they promised to send out an email as soon as they received it. Well, you better believe I checked my email about 101 times a day. Nothing. I called the dr.'s office one day and was told there was a clinic scheduled but it was already booked. WHAT?!?!?!? I didn't get the email. Her response, "I'm sorry, there must have been a glitch in the system." Whatever, I was beyond annoyed, but there really wasn't anything I could do.
So, next on my stalking list was the allergist. Again, I got the song and dance about how they didn't have any. Interesting, because I talked to a coworker and her daughter got it there the day before. Persistence pays off. I asked the receptionist and got the same run-around. I then asked the doctor, and what do you know!?!?!? He said they had some! Long story short (or not so short...sorry!) we ended up driving to Orland Park the following day to get the vaccine. Another 2 hour doctor visit with lots of poking and screaming. But, at the end of the day, I feel so relieved that she has been vaccinated. I just dread the fact that she has to get round 2 of both the seasonal and H1N1....UGH!
So, let's summarize....
Flu shot: 3 scratch tests + 1 underskin test + 3 shots = 7 pokes
MMR: 3 scratch tests + 3 shots = 6 pokes
H1N1: 3 shots = 3 pokes
Other Vaccines: 2 shots = 2 pokes
TOTAL pokes for Mya in the last month: 18 pokes!
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