Re: suggestions on how to get my DS to take his meds

[Guest guest]

the doctor asked if me if it would be better if she gave me something that I only had to give once a day and so I said yes but then the dosage amount was 2 teaspoons and it is strawberry flavor, very sweet. Its white and so it turns everything white. It was amoxocillin

From: marilynapeoplepc (DOT) com <marilynapeoplepc (DOT) com>Subject: Re: [Texas-Autism- Advocacy] suggestions on how to get my DS to take his medsTo: Texas-Autism- Advocacy@ yahoogroups. comDate: Thursday, May 6, 2010, 7:02 AM

My son has always been like this, too. One time we all got the flu and got prescribed Tamiflu. Well, my daughter and I took ours, but I couldn't get a drop down Jay. Guess who got well first? Jay!Your son will probably get better without the meds. Many people don't believe in treating ear infections with antibiotics. Now if he doesn't start getting well today or tomorrow, I might ask for the shots. But my guess is that he will start feeling better soon.I don't know what I'm going to do if my son ever gets something serious. Thank God, he's healthy as a horse so far.I think this problem is common with our kids.Prayers for a quick recovery for your little guy. What is your name?Marilyn

[Guest guest]

Thanks, , you are pretty amazing yourself!

I don't mind sharing any information if it can help anyone - even if everyone knows I'm older than dirt. LOL! Just kidding for those of you older than me.

I never thought about the infection being the issue instead of the fever but that makes perfect sense.

Thanks,

Sandy H.

To: Texas-Autism-Advocacy Sent: Fri, May 7, 2010 8:29:58 AMSubject: Re: suggestions on how to get my DS to take his meds

Sandy you are awesome....thank you for sharing more of your private information that can help others. Who knows if without that fever the infection couldn't have done more serious harm. I agree Mother Nature over Big Pharma here too. However I keep my eyes open and strive for balance. I feel thankful to live in a country with excellent emergency care. > > > > > > >From: marilynapeoplepc (DOT) com <marilynapeoplepc (DOT) com>> > >Subject: Re: [Texas-Autism- Advocacy] suggestions on how to get my DS to take his meds> > >To: Texas-Autism- Advocacy@ yahoogroups. com> > >Date: Thursday, May 6, 2010, 7:02 AM> > >> > >> > > > > >My son has always been like this, too. One time we all got the flu and got > > >prescribed Tamiflu. Well, my daughter and I took ours, but I couldn't get a > > >drop down Jay. Guess who got well first? Jay!>

> >Your son will probably get better without the meds. Many people don't > > >believe in treating ear infections with antibiotics. Now if he doesn't > > >start getting well today or tomorrow, I might ask for the shots. But my > > >guess is that he will start feeling better soon.> > >I don't know what I'm going to do if my son ever gets something serious. > > >Thank God, he's healthy as a horse so far.> > >I think this problem is common with our kids.> > >Prayers for a quick recovery for your little guy. What is your name?> > >> > >Marilyn > > >> > >> >>

[Guest guest]

I've been exactly where you are.  Now, you can do one of two things in my opinion.  I used to mix it in applesauce with some Xylitol and Cinnamon.  If your child is small you can have him sit on your lap and kind of hold him in a bear hug and smear the mixture on his lips until he licks.  It is a tough go.  Even if he throws up, some of the medicine will get through either through the mouth lining or through he stomach if he swallows some.

The easier road to go is to call the doctor and demand the shots.  We've had to go both routes in the past.The bear hug, smearing method was the only way I got my son to start eating different foods after we went gf/cf.  This method worked to finally get my son to take his supplements in a " mash. "   Yes, it tasted bad to him, so I would mix it up so that he had to take only two bites, and I offered a drink and something he liked to eat immediately following.  This method was not easy (Think Anne Sullivan trying to get Helen to fill the water pitcher).  It wasn't easy, but repetition brought him to accepting the two bites.  Yes, he gagged and threw up a lot in the beginning.  My son used to projectile vomit even if he got upset or I took him somewhere and he had sensory overload.  If I had a nickel for every time we tried to go to a restaurant and he wound up throwing up....I couldn't even get through mass on September 11, but thank God I got him outside before he blew!

I just kept at it.  I had to do this to get the supplements into him.  The ends justified the means.  The supplements and medicines made him better and improved his quality of life.  If you don't want to do this, it is understandable and you will find another way.  In the meantime, you are going to have to urge the doctor to give him shots in place of medicines he must take orally, but keep trying to desensitize him before he gets too big to hold.

Having my son take the " mash " later became an incentive for learning to swallow pills.  We had him watch us every time we had to swallow a pill, and then we told him that if he learned it then he wouldn't have to take the mash.  He was highly motivated then to learn.  You can get empty capsules form health food stores.  Start with the small ones.  Whenever my son learns something new, there is a lot of anxiety, whining, and even crying.  There is lot of him saying, " I can't do it. "   You have to keep saying, " Yes you can.  Try again. "   You have to have a lot of patience through the whining and crying.

This was two summers ago.  He learned to swallow the capsules and to hold his breath under water.  Go with the shots for the infection he has now.  His eardrums could rupture if too much fluid builds up behind them.  But for the future start thinking about how you want to teach him to take things that taste bad and how you will teach him useful skills.  Pictures can help.  We task pictures of my son acting out the steps he needs to complete to accomplish a task, and we put captions underneath.  Then he can see himself doing the tasks.

You might also have to contact someone who is knowledgeable in desensitizing his hyper-gag reflex.  There are therapists out there who deal with this.  I just can't remember which kind.

[Guest guest]

I can't remember exactly and I hope someone else on this list can, but I know it is some kind of sensory therapist because the hyper-gag reflex is a sensory integration issue.We did not use a therapist for my son.  We couldn't afford it, so I had to do the desensitization myself with the bear hug, smear it on his lips method, and this was done daily until he acquiesced.  Of course, I didn't enjoy having to do this, but I knew I had to get supplements in and he had to learn to eat different foods.  Now, when I want him to try something new, he will agree to take a taste after some whining, and more often than not, he finds that he likes it.  He doesn't gag or vomit about it anymore, but I remember those days, and my heart goes out to you guys.

One thing I remember realizing set off gagging and vomiting --I mean made it more possible was allowing any type of carbonated beverage.  We has allowed 7-up in the beginning, but we haven't allowed any carbonated beverages in a very long time.  But I think it is sensory.

My husband likes rare meat, but I know if a piece of rare meat were to pass my lips, I would gag.  It could be taste or texture.  I'm not quite sure why my son would do it just from becoming upset, but boy, he seemed to have an endless pit of vomit if he got upset.