Checkups: Keeping Drama To A Minimum

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Visiting the doctor’s office at any age can be scary. As an adult, the anxiety begins at just making the appointment. Once you finally get up the nerve to make the call, then comes the stress while driving to the office or awaiting a test result.

A month ago I finally built up the courage to visit an ENT for a throat issue I was having that continued to recur. I knew that it wasn’t getting better and if I didn’t go I was only making it worse. As I was sitting in the chair, the doctor took out the scope and told me he was going through my nostril to my throat, and I immediately panicked and asked to hold my husband’s hand. As my legs were shaking and I was squeezing his hand as hard as I possibly could, a tear began to run down my cheek. I was terrified. My husband blurted out in a scolding tone: “STOP ACTING LIKE A BABY!” I looked at him and realized he was right.

In went the scope. It was such an easy procedure and didn’t require all my extra drama, but it made me think: If I felt this way, I understand what the children feel when going to the doctor or dentist.

Four Kids at One Visit

Last week it was that time again for my children’s dental checkup. Carter, our youngest, is 3 years old and this was his first visit, which means it was all four children at one time.

When we walked into the waiting room he was mesmerized by the big goldfish in the tank and the cool train set in the middle of the room. That’s also when he realized we were in a waiting room, so he began to cry and say he was not going to see the dentist. I told him it was OK if he didn’t go, but then began to list all the things he would miss by not sitting in the big cool chair: new toothbrush, sticker, bag filled with dental goodies – and he wouldn’t be able to eat sweets. I explained if he doesn’t take care of his teeth, then he wouldn’t be able to treat them to sweets.

We let his two older sisters go first. When they came out with big smiles and a toy from the treasure chest, there was no way he was missing out. When it was his turn, I let him go on his own and he jumped right into the chair.

The Checkup

With four children, I have dealt with every tantrum from the parking lot with my child refusing to get out of the car to sitting in the waiting room for two hours because my daughter refused to go in. I have changed from bringing all four kids at one time for their checkups to bringing one at a time. Recently, when it was my daughter’s turn, I decided to bring her little brother too. It was the worst mistake I could have made. Halfway through the exam, we had to cancel the checkup because my daughter was fighting like Mike Tyson and the pediatrician was losing the boxing match. The kicking and screaming was so severe, she asked that I bring Daddy to the next visit.

As my children get older, they realize that the doctor isn’t someone to be feared. I have found that explaining to my children why we go to the doctor and why health is so important makes for a smoother visit. I’ve also learned to never lie about a doctor’s appointment. When you tell a child “we’re going for ice cream” and pull into the doctor’s parking lot, they will automatically become fearful because mom lied about coming, so there must be a reason to be scared.

I begin to prep my children days before. Experience has taught me to keep the line of communication open and talk about the visit as well. The recurring question is, “Do I have to get a shot?” My answer for the last visit was, “No, you will be getting a vaccination.” Of course the next question came, “What’s that?” And I explained what a vaccination is and why we get them, and also that they are required for school. That let my son know and understand the meaning behind a “shot.” He processed the information and correlated that not having his vaccinations up to date meant no school. He then opted for not getting a vaccination. I could only laugh and tell him how smart he is, but not too smart to miss school!

Amber is a mother of four, executive director and co-founder of PitCCh In Foundation and creator/designer of CCandy