Museum and Medicine

We headed out to the Virginia Living Museum this morning at the invitation of our friends, Karena and Charlie. We had a fun time looking at all of the animals and aquariums and new music exhibit! They have a boarldwalk outside through the woods and animal exhibits. We made it through just before the rains it came!

Now for the medicine part. I wanted to title this post "flu shots and anti-antibiotics". You're about to get a "Medical Moment". I've never done this before on this blog and maybe never again!

Medical Moment 1 "Flu shots": We spent a few hours for a routine doctor visit this afternoon (for Jacob and myself). All 3 of us got our flu shots - I am a big proponent for immunizations and disease prevention - including the flu shot. Even if it may or may not work from year to year. The vaccine is designed newly every year based on the most popular influenza strains in the Far East during their flu season just before ours. The influenza virus undergoes lots of changes, so while the vaccine prevents the common most recent strains, a new strain may potentially develop to cause flu outbreaks. All this being said, it does reduce the incidence of flu outbreaks. And most people who say they still got the "flu" even when they were vaccinated were probably infected with a flu-like (parainfluenza) virus.

Medical Moment 2 "Anti-Antibiotics": Most patients who come in to be seen for their colds, sore throats, bronchitis or other infections, have an expectation of their doctor to provide medicine - usually antibiotics. In many cases, antibiotics are misused and unnecessary. Case in point: My sons (age 1 and 2) have colds, but no complaints of ear pain or fever. They both have mild ear infections, and many doctors would go ahead and treat this which is a gray area. But I highly valued our Family Doctor and friend who recommended waiting and watching - for fever or ear pain or for resolution on its own. She did give me a Rx for an antibx if needed. We'll keep you posted!

PS - For those of you who only know me as a mommy, I was a Family Physician in my previous job... So, the "medical moments" are made from a professional opinion enhanced by motherhood.