<p>Daughter just called at 6:00 a.m., been at college two weeks and she woke up with a terrible ear ache! She was crying in the phone because she was in such pain..it broke my heart that I cannot give her a few Motrin, a warm wash cloth and a hug! Of course, it is Saturday morning and the school clinic is closed and same for her new doctor. She has been burning candle on both ends and I presume she was an ear infection, yikes! She doesn't know to many kids yet with cars so she may need to take a taxi to an urgent care! </p>
<p>I guess empty nest-useless parent syndrome has set in --ha ha!</p>
<p>Poor thing. Have her contact the RA or staff resident in her dorm to take her to the doctor. That is part of what they do. Is there a CVS or something near campus that might have a Minute Clinic?</p>
<p>I remember having influenza one year in college. I just wanted to go to Grandma’s house so she could baby me (which is what I did when I was sick when I was little). I did have one roommate that was a nursing student so that helped.</p>
<p>Her school’s website should detail what to do when the health center is closed. An urgent care center is preferable to an ER - that could eat up her entire Saturday. Hugs to you and to her. Each of my kids has been pretty sick while away from home at school (sicker than they ever were at home - what’s up with that?). It’s nerve-wracking and you feel almost as bad as they do until it’s taken care of.</p>
<p>I’ve had an earache for a week now so I know how she feels. I tried all the home remedies and they just didn’t work. I finally went to the doc and they irrigated it and gave me some drops. </p>
<p>Now I know why babies cry so much when they get these things. </p>
<p>Hope she gets to feeling better and can get to the doc.</p>
<p>So it is almost 1:00 pm and I haven’t heard back from her, I presume she is sleeping it off and hopefully will be OK when she wakes up.</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestion to contact her RA, didn’t even think of that. The school clinic website does have a list of after hours and weekend clinics but the our insurance will only cover her at the other nearby University that does have a hospital ER. The whole insurance thing has been a debacle because we have a HMO and I had to change her primary care physician to a medical group near her school…and because it just became effective 2/1, she has not yet met the doctor. I doubt the office would give her a prescription because she actually isn’t a patient as of yet.</p>
<p>BTW, she is only 17 and her age has caused a bunch of issues with regard to her seeking medical advice. The first medical office I contacted near her school would not see her at anytime without a guardian, period. I tried to explain that she was at college and it was not possible for her to have a “guardian” since I live 8 hours away, they were very curt and basically told me there was nothing they could do. They told me to try a pediatric office in the area on our plan since she wasn’t 18, when I contacted them, I was again told that because she was a minor she needed an adult with her for any type of vist. Finally office #3, said they would see her “alone” if I came in the first visit. Because she saw her doctor the same month she was leaving for school, she could not “officially” go the that office until the first of the next month…and I was not going to be with her. I decided when she went to school I would go to the office and despite what they told on the phone, they let me fill out all the paperwork and agreed to see my daughter without me after if I allowed (and my daughter agreed) to talk to the doctor on the phone if she had any questions.</p>
<p>So just when I think I had got all the medical stuff handled properly, including signing a medical consent for her medical office and at the school clinic…she get sick on a weekend…go figure!! </p>
<p>For once I am not going to get mad at her for sleeping in all day on a Saturday (haha)…if she is going to wake up feeling better!</p>
<p>Wow! That is alot of red tape. And what does she do if she comes home for break and gets sick, now that her primary care doctor is near school? </p>
<p>I’ll bet she is getting some rest today and that’s why you haven’t heard from her. Or she could be feeling much better and forgot all about her tearful call home. (From what I heard on these boards, that seems to happen sometimes.)</p>
<p>I just wanted to add that if she’s still having pain, if she could get ahold of a heating pad, that sometimes helps with an earache. Plus, earaches tend to hurt more when you lie down, so sleeping propped up can be helpful</p>
<p>I have had my share of earaches over the years, and still having ear issues including the need for tubes several times as a child and adult. I hope she gets some relief :)</p>
<p>YIKES- and HMO and an out of state college student, not a good combination. Any chance you can get her on a different plan? </p>
<p>I understand the minor/adult issue though. There are huge liability issues with treating a minor child without a parent around. It is what it is because of the lawsuit environment in the country unfortunately. I can’t recall my parents taking me to a regular dr’s office visit (physical) after I turned 13 or so–times have changed.</p>
<p>Your HMO sounds like a real pain. Perhaps next semester it would be worth signing up for the college’s student health insurance? At least it might give her more options for which doctors to see.</p>
<p>I also think the CVS Minute Clinic is a good idea. Even if she has to pay out of pocket, I don’t think they’re terribly expensive. That’s one reason we gave our daughter a credit card to use “in case of emergency.”</p>
<p>An old wives tale that may or may not help her earache… Have her set her hair blow dryer to its hottest setting and hold it about 10-12 inches from her head and make circles around her ear. Not too fast, but not so slow she burns her scalp. Have her do that for a few minutes every 1/2 hour or stand maybe she will get some relief.</p>
<p>Does she have allergies? I try some combination of Claritin, Sudafed, Afrin (squirt in nostril on the same side as the sore ear), and holding my nose and blowing air (opens up connection between ear and nose and gets air in) and these things often help or even get rid of the pain. A lot of MD’s won’t give antibiotics right off the bat for ear pain, I have heard.</p>
<p>She just woke up and called. Thankfully the pain is gone for now and her ear is just clogged. She took more decongestant and Motrin and told I asked her to take it easy tonight…she then admitted she didn’t get home until 3 am and when I spoke to her she was in pain and basically sleep deprived. She promised to take it easy at least until her head is cleared up :)</p>
<p>As long as she is pain free she will wait until Monday and go to the school health center just to make sure she doesn’t have an infection.</p>
<p>She is in-state so we thought we could get away without getting her a school policy (we do have one for our son at school across the country) but being in the same state we thought it could work. I also checked for CVS with clinic but not one to be found near her school !</p>
<p>So I guess the “crisis” is diverted for now and she will make an appointment next week with the new doctor’s office so she does have a local doctor to call.</p>
<p>Oh, those 6 am call from kids do sometimes make you feel helpless but for now all is good…</p>