stubborness

October 6, 2003

Ok everyone, I need some help with a stubborn ten year old who likes

to take mer meds at her leisure. She is suppossed to do her vest 2x

a day, but we have yet to work that into our schedule. Asking us to

get up earlier than necessary, what is our Dr. thinking? So he said

that afternoon and then after dinner is sufficient. Well ,after

school is second lunch time. She comes home and eats, and eats, and I

say " , lets do your vest " and she puts no effort into getting

ready.I have found that I can get her to do it while she is playing

on the computer.However I am the one that has to put the inhalers in

front of her.. " do this please... " then I have to put her vest on,

turn on the machine etc. If we don't do it at the computer, then I

have to sit right beside her, not that I mind this, but I thought the

vest was suppossed to create a sense of independence for both parent

and child! Then we have to find time to do the nebulizer. Again, I

stealthly approach her while she is at the computer, set everything

up and ask her to do it. She never fights or argues with me, which is

good. I would just like it if I could say " , do your treatments "

and its done. Ok, one more thing (as if there is ever just one), I

will catch her " forgetting " to take her enzymes, or finding a pill

conveniently placed under her plate. I have threatened, " you could

end up in the hospital if you don't take your meds " or " the Dr. is

going to be very angry with you " and I have done the reward

challenge.. " do your treatments for ten days in a row and get a

treat " .

So I am looking for some suggestions on how you handle these

situations. What about you parents of older kids. How do they do

with their meds? Are they self-sufficient? Did they ever struggle

with this?

Looking forward to your responses,

e

October 6, 2003

Hi e,

This my friend is an on going struggle. My daughter is 17.11 years old. It

is an everyday thing. Not only are they doing their meds and treatments but

we are too! My daughter is extremely healthy for having CF and because of

this she thinks that if she misses a treatment/meds here for there that it

is no big deal. In June of this year she had a very rude awakening. The

1st of May I took over her responsibility of ordering/filling her weekly med

dispenser. The reason was that I happened to look at her prescription

bottle on meds that she was supposed to be taking daily and it was dated

January. In June when we went to clinic, her pft's were down and she was

running a temp off and on so her cf doc put her in the hospital for a

tune-up. This was the first time since she was diagnosed that she had been

in the hospital. I have never had any trouble with her doing her vest. She

also does her pulmozyme 98% of the time, but TOBI was another story. She

didn't like the taste, she didn't like that it made her voice hoarse and

sometimes she would loose her voice. SO WE MOVED HER MACHINES OUT INTO THE

LIVING ROOM WHERE SHE WATCHES TV OR READS WHEN SHE IS DOING THEM. THAT WAY

WE CAN KEEP AN EYE ON HER FROM THE KITCHEN OR THE BEDROOM. HER MEDS I FILL

EVERY WEDNESDAY EVENING AND IT IS KEPT IN A BASKET ON THE KITCHEN COUNTER

ALONG WITH HER ADVAIR INHALER, ALBUTEROL INHALER AND THE THERMOMETER AND ANY

OTHER MEDS. THIS WAY IT IS NOT OUT OF SITE OUT OF MIND. We tried her

having her meds in her medicine cabinet in her bathroom(That didn't work),

meds in the small bathroom off the kitchen where she sometimes does her

makeup(That didn't work). This has worked the best because I too can glance

at the pill container and see if they were taken. I have been known to look

at the wrong day and make a comment about not taking her medication, but I

apologize and it lets her know that I am still looking. I don't think there

is a good way other than to nag them and that just makes for a bad

relationship with them. I have also had some candid conversations about how

important that it is and that once the damage is done there is no turning

back. We both cried and it was better for a while. Good Luck and if you

think it would help at all for my daughter, to email your

daughter, please send me the email address and I will give it to .

PS: my worry is when she is not under my roof and my control. The

hospitalization did scare her. She said she was never doing that again.

Tina W.,mother of , almost 18 years of age.