Re: @CHECK++ is José - Griselle

October 21, 2005

Hi Griselle,

In my opinion, I would stop giving the shots at night. It works for some

people, but apparently your son is a light sleeper, and it's just not

possible right now to give him the shot without waking him. Bed, bedtime,

and sleep should be a " safe " place. Waking up to a process that is already

" scary " for him, has got to be hard on all of you.

We use Genotropin, but we don't use the pen device. We use an insulin

syringe, and an Inject-Ease. We have never given Bran his shot after he's

gone to sleep. We always do it right after his bath (so we don't have to use

alcohol wipes), while he's wide awake, and he now helps us with it.

In the beginning, Bran was afraid of the shot, and we had to hold him down

to give it. I think this is, in part, because he receives the Synergis

vaccine Oct-May, and those shots (his dose is large enough to need two

syringes, and he gets one shot in each thigh) ALWAYS leave him bleeding and

bruised. Bran likes to be in control of the things that happen to him, so

we've found that if we don't restrain him, and we allow him to help us, he

doesn't put up any fuss at all!

It was a gradual process where I gave him the choice each night, either he

sat still for his shot, OR someone would have to help him sit still. If he

chose to sit still on his own (always his choice! LOL) and he continued to

fuss, then I would remind him that he chose to sit still, and that I needed

his help with the button on the Inject-Ease. This seemed to help him a lot.

It gave him a part in the whole process.

Others have offered there children a stuffed toy to hold during the whole

process, and/or allowing the child to give the stuffed animal their " shot "

after they were done. This seems to work well with some kids, too!

It didn't always go perfectly. We had a couple of bent needles, a couple of

bruises, but for the most part, although it took longer to do, it was worth

it. Bran is no longer afraid of his shots, and it's no longer a fight to

give them! Thank goodness, because I was one of the biggest " fraidy cats "

there was when it came to starting the whole process!

Hope this helps, maybe gives you a couple of ideas. let us know how it goes.

Pat (g-ma to , RSS, 3 yrs 10 months old, 25#, 34.6 " , G-tube, GHT)

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