Re: how do you get your 4 year old to sit still for the first ght shot?

[Guest guest]

With this situation, I would recommend using a combination of the

following, since he is so hysterical. But NOT taking the shot is NOT

an option, you have to keep reinforcing him.

First of all, I would recommend not using the alcohol pad. I have

yet to have a physician tell me it is mandatory (they do recommend

wiping the top of the GH vial each time, which we do). But unless

his skin is absolutely filthy, the alcohol actually can make the

injection sting, because even if you wait for it to dry, it can

still sting.

Second of all. I would create a chart with boxes for stars. Pick a

prize that you know he would like -- but the first prize should be

let's say 6 stars (maybe a couple dollar prize). You explain to him

WHEN HE ISN " T GETTING THE SHOT that tonight when it is shot time

that if he takes his shot without screaming or crying, he will get

TWO stars. But if he screams and cries and makes it harder to give

the shot (e.g., it isn't " if " he takes the shot, it is " if he takes

it without crying) then he still gets ONE star. Dr. H told us this

one. You still reward him for taking the shot, even if he is

crying; you just reward him DOUBLE for not crying.

Third. I would probably get your physician to prescribe EMLA, or

ask your pharmacist to order L.M.X.4 from Ferndale Labs -- it is an

over-the-counter numbing cream. When it isn't shot time, so in the

morning when he isn't already anxious, explain to him about

this " magic cream " the doctor told you about. Pull it out. Explain

that it numbs the skin so that he won't feel anything. Ask if he

wants to try it that morning and see what it feels like (reassure

him no shot). Put it on and let it sit for 30 minutes. Then have

him close his eyes and you can lightly touch his arm in that spot.

Don't push down because the fact is that he will feel the pressure

of your pushing. Then explain that he can use the magic cream at

night to take his shot, and that way the magic cream will make it

not hurt. The fact is that the shot barely hurts, espec with no

alcohol wipe. Diabetic kids take these shots 5 and 6 times a day

often, and give it to themselves. So please, don't think that he is

in major or even minor pain. But he is terrified, and you want to

deal with that.

Our physician once wisely told me that should be given

options on HOW she takes her medication, but NOT whether she takes

the medication. We went through a time when she would not take the

Periactin. Total control issue. Crying, running, spitting it out.

I would get so mad. Physician sat down and explained to

that could have a feeding tube instead. HA! Then talked

with about what options would like to come up with

on how to take the med. Taking it with grape juice won out.

I also promise you that the screaming and hiding will stop. He will

eventually come to realize that it takes so much effort to protest

and it doesn't matter in the end because he'll get the shot anyway.

But it could be 3 weeks or so....

Have you considered giving the shot at night when he is asleep? If

he is a sound sleeper? Again though, no alcohol wipe and do it in

the butt, more fat there. has been on GH for 4 years now,

and we still do it at night around 11pm (unless we are camping,

sleepaways, etc. when she does it herself in her leg).

Jenn Salem

>

> Or how do you even get him to come out from under the couch? (most

kids go

> under the bed, but Jasper can fit under the couch...sigh).

>

> Anyway, Dr. H. got us started on gh, but when the RN came to do

the injection

> training he literally hid for an hour and then got hysterical when

we came near

> him. I tried talking through all the steps. I stopped short of

telling him it doesn't

> hurt at all, because I think it must hurt at least a little bit.

He even got hysterical

> at the feeling of the alcohol, so we've spent days just practicing

that part so he

> gets used to the cold sensation. But still, he's not exactly

volunteering. I tried a

> offering a toy bribe (obviously we can't keep that up for 13

years...). But now

> he's simply tormented by desire for the toy AND fear.

>

> So many other painful things we've had to do (blood draws, silver

nitrate on

> the g-tube etc.) were not as scary and they were only temporary.

We just held

> him down until it was over and then let him go. Do you have to do

that at first,

> hold him against his will? He is a real fighter. Which has worked

well for him

> in the past, but I really don't know what to do.

>

> PLEASE, any guidance would be SO appreciated.

>

> Jen Domer

> mom to Jasper, 4 RSS, 7 non-RSS and Sylvie, 2 and non-RSS

[Guest guest]

Hi Jen,

First, we did 's first shot in the doctors office when we

learned how to do everything (it made it easier that we went through

in vitro and were old hands at mixing and drawing up meds).

As for giving the shots, we do it in his sleep. Once the kids

are sleep we fill a syringe and leave it on the counter for 20

minutes to warm up. We NEVER use the alcohol wipes as something wet

and cold will disturb him. Also, if any touch of the alcohol is

there when you do the shot it will sting. We simply wipe down his

legs (if he didn't have a bath that night) before putting on his

pajamas.

Good luck,

Judith, Steve, (RSS)and (non RSS) 5 year old twins

[Guest guest]

Thank-you thank-you thank-you for all the info!

I did try it last night when he's sleeping and I had some success, though he

batted at me like I was a mosquito . Obviously it didn't him hurt him much but

even so, he scratched at the needle and it ended up bending as I gave him

the injection. (this is what prompted me to feel a bit hopeles and post the

deperate message to you guys!) The EMLA answer is perfect. I'll bet he won't

even notice it if we use that first. Also the alcohol wipe definitely makes him

wake up a bit, so if we really can cut that out, I'm sure we'll have more

success. Jasper has definitely been filthy, but at least at night, he's usually

had a bath.

Another question: Did Dr. H prescribe the pen for you? She said she wanted

us to use the syringe (something about possible mechanical failure and then

being stuck over a weekend without the pen...) I'm not at all squeamish about

the syringe and I think Jas would still be as terrified of the pen as he is of

the

syringe, but it might at least be easier to manipulate when he moves in his

sleep. Do you think this is the case?

One last question: When you say it may take 3 weeks or so before he stops

fighting, what should we do in the meantime? When we had to use the silver

nitrate sticks on his granulation tissue (and we had to do that alot at first)

my

husband had to wrestle him and forcibley hold him still while I did it. It

wasn't

pretty but we had no choice. If that's what it takes for the first few weeks,

do

you think it's worth the drama in order to get where we can give him the gh

while he's awake? Or do you think " honesty " is overrated and it's fine to sneak

it in at night until he's older. (I'm voting for sneaking, but I'm a bit

emotionally

drained.)

Thanks again. You've already taken a grreat weight off us. I'm going to look for

that EMLA right now. (we had it for the silver nitrate)

Jen D. (I think I'm, like, the 50th on this list)

> >

> > Or how do you even get him to come out from under the couch? (most

> kids go

> > under the bed, but Jasper can fit under the couch...sigh).

> >

> > Anyway, Dr. H. got us started on gh, but when the RN came to do

> the injection

> > training he literally hid for an hour and then got hysterical when

> we came near

> > him. I tried talking through all the steps. I stopped short of

> telling him it doesn't

> > hurt at all, because I think it must hurt at least a little bit.

> He even got hysterical

> > at the feeling of the alcohol, so we've spent days just practicing

> that part so he

> > gets used to the cold sensation. But still, he's not exactly

> volunteering. I tried a

> > offering a toy bribe (obviously we can't keep that up for 13

> years...). But now

> > he's simply tormented by desire for the toy AND fear.

> >

> > So many other painful things we've had to do (blood draws, silver

> nitrate on

> > the g-tube etc.) were not as scary and they were only temporary.

> We just held

> > him down until it was over and then let him go. Do you have to do

> that at first,

> > hold him against his will? He is a real fighter. Which has worked

> well for him

> > in the past, but I really don't know what to do.

> >

> > PLEASE, any guidance would be SO appreciated.

> >

> > Jen Domer

> > mom to Jasper, 4 RSS, 7 non-RSS and Sylvie, 2 and non-RSS

[Guest guest]

hi jen!!

my christopher is also 4 and one thing we do is we dont use the

alcohol!! this can tend to make it burn, we just give him his shot

after his bath (since he is all nice and clean). we also got him a

calendar(sponge bob) and stickers(sponge bob again, use what ever is

his favorite character) after he gets his shot we give him a high

five and then he puts his sticker on the calendar. we also use the

pen device to give his shot (he doesnt see the needle) i think this

helps him as well, plus the pen has different cool covers you can

put on it(a race car, kittens, and different color caps)he thinks

this is cool!! good luck!!

jodie c

[Guest guest]

Dear Jodie,

Thanks so much. Eliminating the alcohol wipe will help in so many ways! The

anticipation is dragged out so much more with that extra step and I'm sure it

does burn.

Regarding the pen, Dr. H didn't prescribe it for us (her reason: whe didn't want

us to be dependant on a mechanical device that can break down...). Do you

guys see her and if so, did you have to fight to get it? I plan to fight if

necessary, but I guess I should know what I'm up against. Also, where did you

get the cool covers. A race car cover could make all the difference in the

world!

Thanks again Jen D.

-- In RSS-Support , " Jodie " <jlcals2003@y...> wrote:

>

> hi jen!!

> my christopher is also 4 and one thing we do is we dont use the

> alcohol!! this can tend to make it burn, we just give him his shot

> after his bath (since he is all nice and clean). we also got him a

> calendar(sponge bob) and stickers(sponge bob again, use what ever is

> his favorite character) after he gets his shot we give him a high

> five and then he puts his sticker on the calendar. we also use the

> pen device to give his shot (he doesnt see the needle) i think this

> helps him as well, plus the pen has different cool covers you can

> put on it(a race car, kittens, and different color caps)he thinks

> this is cool!! good luck!!

>

> jodie c

[Guest guest]

Hi Jen

Adam started shots at 8 but did the exact same thing (under a table

screaming " I'll stay small " ).

I got him to agree to the shots when he was asleep. Many of us take that

first step.

Note of caution.....the first night I did it (prior to my having an inject

ease, so it was JUST the needle) his arm swung out the minute I put the

needle in and grabbed it and dragged it through his leg. I was in tears. So

watch for those arms!

Anyway, that worked to get Adam over the initial fear. Eventually we had to

go to shots before bed because he was staying up later and later (anxiety

over knowing the minute he went to sleep, I was coming! And I just couldn't

stay up until 2 in the morning!!).

But that was a few months down the road.

Try that first. Once he gets use to it, as all our kids have done, it will

become second nature.

Also try having him to the alcohol swab (make sure to have him to all

areas.....in case that particular leg or arm is not available once he is

asleep!). And do that before he goes to sleep. The alcohol makes the needle

sting if it isn't dry. We do the swab up to 2-3 hours before the needle some

nights!.

Good luck, and just know this phase will pass.

Debby

how do you get your 4 year old to sit still for the

first ght shot?

>

>

> Or how do you even get him to come out from under the couch? (most kids go

> under the bed, but Jasper can fit under the couch...sigh).

>

> Anyway, Dr. H. got us started on gh, but when the RN came to do the

injection

> training he literally hid for an hour and then got hysterical when we came

near

> him. I tried talking through all the steps. I stopped short of telling him

it doesn't

> hurt at all, because I think it must hurt at least a little bit. He even

got hysterical

> at the feeling of the alcohol, so we've spent days just practicing that

part so he

> gets used to the cold sensation. But still, he's not exactly volunteering.

I tried a

> offering a toy bribe (obviously we can't keep that up for 13 years...).

But now

> he's simply tormented by desire for the toy AND fear.

>

> So many other painful things we've had to do (blood draws, silver nitrate

on

> the g-tube etc.) were not as scary and they were only temporary. We just

held

> him down until it was over and then let him go. Do you have to do that at

first,

> hold him against his will? He is a real fighter. Which has worked well for

him

> in the past, but I really don't know what to do.

>

> PLEASE, any guidance would be SO appreciated.

>

> Jen Domer

> mom to Jasper, 4 RSS, 7 non-RSS and Sylvie, 2 and non-RSS

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