Hellobee Boards Topic: How long have you had to wait for your LO to see a medical specialist?

Hellobee Boards Topic: How long have you had to wait for your LO to see a medical specialist? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 14 May 2026 12:11:00 +0000 periwinklebee on "How long have you had to wait for your LO to see a medical specialist?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-have-you-had-to-wait-for-your-lo-to-see-a-medical-specialist#post-2837972 Sat, 04 Aug 2018 19:47:25 +0000 periwinklebee 2837972@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Thanks everyone! Ugh, seems like months-long waits are pretty much par for the course... starchild on "How long have you had to wait for your LO to see a medical specialist?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-have-you-had-to-wait-for-your-lo-to-see-a-medical-specialist#post-2837951 Sat, 04 Aug 2018 15:59:09 +0000 starchild 2837951@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Right around the 3 month mark for ped GI. We were put on a wait list but told if wanted to check for cancellations we would just have to call every single morning for day of appts that freed up, and we couldn't do that since it was in a city 2 hours away and we'd need to take off work. pachamama on "How long have you had to wait for your LO to see a medical specialist?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-have-you-had-to-wait-for-your-lo-to-see-a-medical-specialist#post-2837932 Sat, 04 Aug 2018 12:44:24 +0000 pachamama 2837932@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @periwinklebee: I think the US and Canada can vary but for our neurologist, ENT, cardiologist, urologist (yeah... know.... he's 100% fine... any tiny concern my PA sends us to fancy specialists. No wonder our health care system is in shambles) took about 1-2 months each. They were all "wait and see" stuff (hydrocele, umbilical hernia, reflex anoxic seizures or "fainting goat syndrome" and a lip tie that I made into a big deal and wasn't) so I didn't stress but if it was something more pressing, 6-8 weeks is a really long time to wait. Mrs. Lemon-Lime on "How long have you had to wait for your LO to see a medical specialist?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-have-you-had-to-wait-for-your-lo-to-see-a-medical-specialist#post-2837849 Fri, 03 Aug 2018 21:20:49 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2837849@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I think we had to wait about 6-8 weeks before seeing an ENT. In the meantime LO had another 2 or 3 ear infections. anonysquire on "How long have you had to wait for your LO to see a medical specialist?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-have-you-had-to-wait-for-your-lo-to-see-a-medical-specialist#post-2837755 Fri, 03 Aug 2018 11:16:04 +0000 anonysquire 2837755@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I’ve never had to wait more than 3 days. luckygirl on "How long have you had to wait for your LO to see a medical specialist?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-have-you-had-to-wait-for-your-lo-to-see-a-medical-specialist#post-2837742 Fri, 03 Aug 2018 09:57:03 +0000 luckygirl 2837742@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Even if they don't have a cancellation or wait list, you can always call them regularly to see if any cancellations have come up. If you do happen to get a receptionist that seems particularly helpful, I would ask them when is a good time for you to call to check for cancellations (like is it better at the beginning or end of the week, in the morning, etc). periwinklebee on "How long have you had to wait for your LO to see a medical specialist?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-have-you-had-to-wait-for-your-lo-to-see-a-medical-specialist#post-2837736 Fri, 03 Aug 2018 09:34:59 +0000 periwinklebee 2837736@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Andrea: @Adira: Thank you all so much - this is super helpful! We'll avoid tree nuts for sure until we can do more testing. @jhd: I'm so glad to hear that things are going well! We are doing great with the exception of the allergies - I'm loving the six months age! jhd on "How long have you had to wait for your LO to see a medical specialist?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-have-you-had-to-wait-for-your-lo-to-see-a-medical-specialist#post-2837728 Fri, 03 Aug 2018 08:17:32 +0000 jhd 2837728@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @periwinklebee: he’s doing wel! Thanks! :heart: I hope you don’t have to wait too long and that your Lo is otherwise doing well! Adira on "How long have you had to wait for your LO to see a medical specialist?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-have-you-had-to-wait-for-your-lo-to-see-a-medical-specialist#post-2837701 Fri, 03 Aug 2018 04:55:48 +0000 Adira 2837701@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @periwinklebee: It took us a couple months to get in with the allergist the first time, unfortunately. Until then, just avoid contact with any suspected allergens. Unfortunately, your LO's reaction sounds IDENTICAL to the one mine had when I introduced him to bamba and he IS allergic to peanuts AND tree nuts. Just a heads up, 50% of children that are allergic to peanuts are ALSO allergic to tree nuts, so I'd maybe avoid both until you get in to see an allergist! Sorry you're dealing with this, but if you have any peanut allergy questions, feel free to ask! <3 Andrea on "How long have you had to wait for your LO to see a medical specialist?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-have-you-had-to-wait-for-your-lo-to-see-a-medical-specialist#post-2837700 Fri, 03 Aug 2018 03:38:05 +0000 Andrea 2837700@https://boards.hellobee.com/ DD1 has a peanut allergy and this does sound normal. Now I know to set her appointments up months and months in advance. And depending on what we’re doing, like an oral food challenge, then those are only morning appointments, which makes it even harder. Ugh, hang tight! periwinklebee on "How long have you had to wait for your LO to see a medical specialist?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-have-you-had-to-wait-for-your-lo-to-see-a-medical-specialist#post-2837675 Thu, 02 Aug 2018 20:51:50 +0000 periwinklebee 2837675@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @jhd: Thank you! It's been a long time... I hope that all is well with the new LO :heart: periwinklebee on "How long have you had to wait for your LO to see a medical specialist?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-have-you-had-to-wait-for-your-lo-to-see-a-medical-specialist#post-2837674 Thu, 02 Aug 2018 20:50:55 +0000 periwinklebee 2837674@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Thank you all! @Chuckles: I really miss the days of having a PPO with multiple options. We have to have a referral and the only medical group that we can use for pediatrics is adamant about only referring to the specialist affiliated with their group. Supposedly because those are the only doctors they trust, but in reality it's hard to believe that business motives don't play a role... jhd on "How long have you had to wait for your LO to see a medical specialist?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-have-you-had-to-wait-for-your-lo-to-see-a-medical-specialist#post-2837666 Thu, 02 Aug 2018 19:52:58 +0000 jhd 2837666@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We have waited 9 months to a year at least twice. That said I would definitely call and see if you can be put on a cancellation list. We were anticipating a really long wait for one particular appointment but they called us one afternoon and asked if we could be there the next morning at 8am and we did it. I don’t know if you have that kind of flexibility with work or if this is an option but I would definitely call and ask. Mrs. Champagne on "How long have you had to wait for your LO to see a medical specialist?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-have-you-had-to-wait-for-your-lo-to-see-a-medical-specialist#post-2837645 Thu, 02 Aug 2018 18:06:08 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2837645@https://boards.hellobee.com/ 3ish months for ENT referral. Then another 3ish months for surgery. Chuckles on "How long have you had to wait for your LO to see a medical specialist?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-have-you-had-to-wait-for-your-lo-to-see-a-medical-specialist#post-2837644 Thu, 02 Aug 2018 17:43:16 +0000 Chuckles 2837644@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Are there multiple groups you can call? When we need a dermatologist for my DS, the closer very good medical group didn't have any appointments for 2 months. But when I called the next closest, even better, children's hospital we only had to wait like 2 weeks. Also, re allergies, last summer I had a very extreme allergic reaction to something, but I had no idea which of the things I'd eaten it was. And I had to wait like 3 months for an appointment. I was so nervous during that time that I'd accidentally eat the same thing and have an even stronger reaction. periwinklebee on "How long have you had to wait for your LO to see a medical specialist?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-have-you-had-to-wait-for-your-lo-to-see-a-medical-specialist#post-2837628 Thu, 02 Aug 2018 16:30:56 +0000 periwinklebee 2837628@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @LBee: While I like our pediatrician, I honestly really dislike almost everyone else in the office. They are super dismissive of parent concerns. We had a really unpleasant experience dealing with the tongue tie as well, where another pediatrician had spent two seconds deciding LO didn't have one, and so no one was going to listen to my concerns, which clearly indicated that he did (and getting it fixed - out of pocket since they wouldn't help - was life changing). LBee on "How long have you had to wait for your LO to see a medical specialist?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-have-you-had-to-wait-for-your-lo-to-see-a-medical-specialist#post-2837626 Thu, 02 Aug 2018 16:25:57 +0000 LBee 2837626@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @periwinklebee: I’d be reporting the nurse. Peanuts are a serious allergy and reactions aren’t consistent. Without guidance regarding cross contamination or introduction of other allergens you could end up in a serious situation. So many eye rolls. periwinklebee on "How long have you had to wait for your LO to see a medical specialist?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-have-you-had-to-wait-for-your-lo-to-see-a-medical-specialist#post-2837624 Thu, 02 Aug 2018 16:10:04 +0000 periwinklebee 2837624@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Seems like long wait times are the norm... And @psw27: - over a year is insane... they might as well just say "we aren't taking new patients now." Ugh... I really miss my PPO. I didn't have nearly as many problems (though for myself, not a kid) when there were options outside the fairly small medical network that is our only option for pediatrics, and that has a very firm policy of not referring out of their medical group. @LBee: I did just try the pediatrician, and got one of the less than friendly nurses. Her response was, "I don't see why it would be difficult to prevent an infant from coming into contact with peanuts for a couple of months. If parents can keep their kid from choking on a grape, surely they can keep them away from peanuts." Ugh... I mean, if that is the attitude, why ever bother with the allergist... Foodnerd81 on "How long have you had to wait for your LO to see a medical specialist?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-have-you-had-to-wait-for-your-lo-to-see-a-medical-specialist#post-2837623 Thu, 02 Aug 2018 15:56:54 +0000 Foodnerd81 2837623@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We had to wait over a month to see an ENT specialist about getting tubes, but it definitely wasn’t an urgent situation. I assumed they kept some appointments for more urgent cases. psw27 on "How long have you had to wait for your LO to see a medical specialist?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-have-you-had-to-wait-for-your-lo-to-see-a-medical-specialist#post-2837619 Thu, 02 Aug 2018 15:23:06 +0000 psw27 2837619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ It took my LO about 6 weeks to get an appointment with a pediatric dermatologist for his eczema. By the time we got there, we had gotten it mostly under control. I asked about a developmental neurologist for my other LO -- that waitlist was over a year! We are in a major city with lots of hospitals as well. It's very frustrating to have to wait! PinkElephant on "How long have you had to wait for your LO to see a medical specialist?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-have-you-had-to-wait-for-your-lo-to-see-a-medical-specialist#post-2837617 Thu, 02 Aug 2018 15:15:22 +0000 PinkElephant 2837617@https://boards.hellobee.com/ It took my LO 3-4 months to get see a pediatric/developmental neurologist for an evaluation, at a facility where she is already in the system as a patient for other services. We've waited 4-6 weeks for evaluations from Early Intervention, and for an appointment with a specific pediatric ophthalmologist. I don't think it is unusual, unfortunately, for them to say they don't keep a cancellation list (unless you have an "in" with the receptionist and he/she does it for you as a personal favor, rather than something systematic they do. Of all the specialists we've seen, only a handful do keep "wait lists" and it's usually more of the personal favor sort rather than a formal wait list. I DO think that these specialists reserve "emergency" appointments or will double book for cases that need to be seen sooner, so if you have another episode or feel like your LO's situation qualifies as an emergency, you can call, say so, and try to plead your case. LBee on "How long have you had to wait for your LO to see a medical specialist?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-have-you-had-to-wait-for-your-lo-to-see-a-medical-specialist#post-2837614 Thu, 02 Aug 2018 15:05:30 +0000 LBee 2837614@https://boards.hellobee.com/ It depends on the specialist for us and the situation. I have found that my pediatrician can often get things moved-up sooner by calling and expressing concern. periwinklebee on "How long have you had to wait for your LO to see a medical specialist?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-have-you-had-to-wait-for-your-lo-to-see-a-medical-specialist#post-2837611 Thu, 02 Aug 2018 14:55:46 +0000 periwinklebee 2837611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Just curious what is "normal." I gave LO one piece of bamba on Sunday, afterwards he developed a horrible rash all over his face/eyes/neck (which still looks awful). So of course I'm concerned that he has a peanut allergy, which can be quite serious. We are in a major urban area and our insurance refers to children's hospital for allergy testing, where there are literally dozens of pediatric allergists. But their earliest opening is mid-October, and they said they don't keep a cancellation wait list because they are such an oversubscribed specialty.