navygreen | Call to Care: A.J.'s doctor appointment

Following up on Step 2, today was A.J.'s complete physical. Dr. McNabb was very thorough and very attentive with us, and A.J. was very cooperative and cheerful throughout the examination. I must say though, it's very hard to convince a doctor that your child has violent mood swings and can become volatilely angry when he just sits there and is compliant and happy about everything he's asked to do.

*sigh*

The doctor really checked him over for the different signs of precocious puberty. He did an exam of A.J.'s "guy parts," and he looked for abnormal growth in those areas. He checked for underarm hair, etc. He ordered a "bone age" x-ray of A.J.'s hand; apparently, it's the best place to see the results of precocious puberty.

We talked for a good, long while. The doctor is mostly in agreement with me that A.J.'s masturbation is the way he deals with his stress. He said that as long as A.J. continues to do it only in the bathroom, I could hardly ask for anything better. He told me to continue to be open and honest if A.J. asks me any questions about sex.

He also did think it was extremely relevant that the two periods in A.J.'s life when his masturbation has surfaced, Philip was gone for a long deployment. As such, he gave me a consult for A.J. to see a clinical psychologist in Children's Hospital - I was overjoyed! I don't think we could have received a better referral!

Although A.J. was happy and fine before and during the appointment, all of the talk about Philip during the exam seemed to really get him down. By lunchtime, he was sullen and complaining of his tummy hurting - all he wanted to do was lay down and not go to school. *sigh* See? The mood swings. :-/ Therefore, I just brought him back home and didn't take him in to school at all. He laid on the couch and rested for a bit, and I'm glad that he did, because Philip then called! If A.J. had been back at school, he would've missed talking to him. He talked to him for a while, and immediately after, he perked right up again - wanting to go outside and play, eat a big snack, etc.

And that's it for Step 2. Stay tuned for more.