As we settle into our new "normal" over here, we continue to face challenges that can be frustrating or scary or both. Things like, why can't we get a thermometer that gives the same temperature 2 times in a row??? How can 2 thermometers put under the same arm at the same time give 2 different answers? Do the doctors really trust ME to give Trey his daily shot??? Hmmmm....
Anywho...part of our routine is to give Trey an anti-biotic twice a day on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. This is a pretty critical medicine in that it helps to protect him against pneumonia and other junk like that. Here's the problem, Trey could possibly be the worst medicine taker ever. Okay, that's a hyperbole...he's the worst medicine taker in this house! Now, that's accurate. The medicine we have is in liquid form and has grape flavor added to it. We've tried mixing it with juice, water, food...to no avail. It's almost like he can sense the medicine is lurking in the drink or food. His eyes flicker quickly between his Sponge Bob sippy cup and me as I casually try to look like this is a regular cup of juice. Maybe I have a "tell" or a tick or something, because that cup goes flying! We resort to Jay restraining him with one arm and opening his mouth with the other while I put the syringe thingy in the back of his mouth and blow in his face to make him swallow. Trey screams the whole time until he chokes on the medicine, then he tries to spit it out. It's quite the ordeal.
So, anyone have any helpful tips? Trey is not quite old enough yet to understand bribery...but I'm not above trying just about anything....
5 comments:
do you have the option to get it unflavored? Miles has to take Benadryl frequently and the unflavored gives us much better success than any of the flavors. Otherwise, I'm eager to read the tips people leave you!
McKinley's mom, again. Here are a few thoughts I had....
1. We've had issues with nausea and medicine taking and when that was the problem, we slowly gave it to her. Like a little push at a time....it may take 25 minutes and TONS of patience on your part, but it ended up being easier than her upchucking it. Certain meds, we've noticed it wasn't the flavor it was the volume in which we tried to get her to take it.
2. What if your other kids all drank a little water in a medicine syringe and maybe he would think it was normal? Same time as him? That seems like a lot of work, though.
3. Have you tried a medicine cup instead of syringe? Maybe he would drink it like a big boy, unless the flavor is really the problem, which is possible.
4. I know he is younger than our daughter, but if we "pretend" to give food to Elmo on TV or a stuffed animal and say, "your turn"...she will sometimes take it.
5. Most importantly pray over him, even for the little things, which I am sure you are doing and we will do as well.
We know the weight you are feeling...my husband and I laughed out loud at the thermo comments. We can so relate...it is frustrating.
Praying, praying, praying!
One more thought....I am assuming you are getting bactr on those days. One of my friends has a 18 month old who doesn't take bactr, but is infused through is IV once a month with an alternative. I'm not sure the name, but I can check if you'd like. This was simply his dr's preference, in lieu of the oral.
Yes! Sherri, it is Bactrum...and we did discuss the alternative option. The doctors, however, said they like to hold off on that option simply because the Bactrum is more powerful. When we go back for round 2, we'll discuss it further. Though, the last 2 times we gave it to him, we did do it very slowly and he kept it all in. We just hate having to restrain him and force his mouth open. Ugh!
Rachel, Joey was our difficult one...grape was definitely our flavor, too. My neighbor had suggested to us that we try cutting a straw to about 4", and having him drink it from the medicine cup using the short straw. It honestly never worked for us, but anything is worth a try, right? If it makes you feel any better, we also had to hold Joey down...on his back with his arms under my knees, one hand holding his cheeks and one using the syringe. We brushed teeth that way, too. At one point, he had jammed the syringe in to the ground and we had Amoxicillan dripping from the ceiling! LOL. When we ask him about it now, he has no idea (5 years later), and he even thinks the stories are funny. No harm done. Phew! You are doing the right thing, Mama! (that doesn't make it any easier, I know) HUGS!
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