The value of the yearly pediatrician appointment
Our son with Alagille has many doctors, but this visit still has significance
For our family, the early months of the year are the season to visit the pediatrician. With both of my boys born in this period of the year, their annual appointments are usually back to back. For my oldest, Jackson, it’s typically his one trip to the doctor outside of an urgent care visit here and there. For my youngest, Finley, who was born with Alagille syndrome, it’s but one stop on our seemingly nonstop tour of appointments.
I don’t want to downplay the importance of this visit to the pediatrician. But in the grand scheme of raising Finley, it’s easy to forget about the importance of his annual pediatrician visit. So much of the focus around his health is tied to his gastrointestinal (GI) issues that, at least in my brain, those GI visits take first place in my focus. Obviously, all doctor appointments are important, but some seem more important than others.
The other week I took Finley to his pediatrician. The nurse was impressed by how well he did standing on the scale, lining up to measure his height, and sitting still for a blood pressure reading. Sadly, he’s very practiced in doing all of these tasks. Very cooperative for a 4-year-old.
Finley, right, waits for his appointment with his brother, Jackson. (Photo by Jay Sandstrom)
I’m extremely thankful that we have the pediatrician that we do. From the early days of Finley’s care, she’s been connected with our care team at the hospital. She’d never heard of Alagille syndrome, but has taken the time to become more knowledgable and comes to our appointments with more and more understanding each time we see her. She was the one who helped us with Finley’s admission to our local children’s hospital at the start of his diagnosis journey. She’s been a helpful and important part of his care team.
Thankfully for Finley, the main things that are discussed at these pediatrician appointments are not worries for us. Developmentally, he’s pretty much right on track. Of course I’m a biased source, but it sure seems that he’s pretty darn smart. He’s a good eater. He has behavior moments we’re working through, but what 4-year-old doesn’t? If he wasn’t still measuring small for his age, he’d be right on track. But he’s continuing to grow on his own curve in both height and weight.
My takeaway from his pediatrician appointment is that it’s an opportunity to celebrate all of the milestones he’s hitting. The other appointments, such as GI and cardiology, still come with a certain level of unknown, even if we have a pretty good idea of where his health is at. I worry about what could be lurking, or whether a positive health trend might suddenly change.
It’s good to step back and remind myself how far he’s come and what’s going well. It’s so easy to focus on the scary aspects, but not worth it to put all the attention toward those and ignore the positives.
Note: Liver Disease News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Liver Disease News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to liver disease.
About the Author
Comments