web analytics

Group Admins

  • Profile picture of Caryn

Medical Special Needs

Public Group active 1 month ago ago

Juggling medical specialists, extensive hospital stays, and/or multiple surgeries? Let’s discuss the special challenges of raising a child with medical special needs.

Daily Injections (5 posts)

  • Profile picture of Sylvia Ross Sylvia Ross said 6 months, 1 week ago:

    Anybody have to give their kid daily injections? My almost 5 year old is starting on growth hormone sometime in the next week, and I am anticipating lots of tears. Tips? I am comfortable giving injections since I am a nurse, but she’s not going to be happy getting them.

    #
  • Profile picture of Michele Karl Michele Karl said 5 months, 3 weeks ago:

    We are about to start as well with our five year old. We went to a friends house recently who does growth hormone and my son watched his friend get it. I heard it is not as painful as other shots but I know my son will freak too! He doesn’t even like to get weighed at this point. I have also heard some brands are less painful than others. I think the nordicare cool click???

    Michele, mom to the “three peas in a pod” (two with a rare kidney disease); and a special education teacher, mostly work with children who are blind and visually impaired
    My three peas are:
    Max, 10, ARPKD; Nate, 7, “healthy”; and Gabe 4, ARPKD
    #
  • Profile picture of Julia Roberts Julia Roberts said 5 months, 3 weeks ago:

    Hi you guys (Sylvia, I don’t know how I missed this!),
    Both kids have been on injections and the best thing that worked for them was a warm compress before and after – we just used one of those microwave compresses. There is something to be said for giving them some control too. What part of the body, where they are sitting, etc.

    We used the Cool Click and it was painless – if you can get your insurance to pay for that great – but CC will only allow their medication vials to be used – so insurance fights it! (Gage did his own Cool click injections). GH is easier than EPO – those stung. GH doesn’t.

    Site co-founder and tired special needs mom to two cute kids; Gage and Quinnlin. Kids who’ve endured more than their share of medical and emotional issues. ARPKD (recessive polycystic kidney disease), ocularmotor apraxia, delays, IEPs,mental illness, kidney failure, dialysis, and kidney transplants
    #
  • Profile picture of Sylvia Ross Sylvia Ross said 5 months, 3 weeks ago:

    We started early last week. She ran away from us and then hid under the nurse’s chair in the doctor’s office. And screamed bloody murder the first few times. She’s finally realized it’s not too bad, especially since we’ve done all 8 sites we have to rotate through.

    Oh and we’re using the Norditropin FlexPen. It’s prefilled and we just put a new needle on it each night. 30 gauge and 6mm long. She said the only time it really hurt was when her daddy had to give it the other night. I was at the hospital with Micah and he was SUPPOSED to call me to get complete instructions but he didn’t, so he gave it wrong. Oops. He gave it about an inch above her elbow in the bicep. She has a lovely bruise from it. Oh well.

    What I’ve found is helping is a simple reward system. If she doesn’t fight or scream (it’s okay to cry a bit afterward if it hurt), she gets a marble to put in her jar. If she runs away, she loses a marble. If she fights/screams, she doesn’t get one, but she doesn’t lose one either. She’ll get to trade the marbles in for various rewards like a date with Mummy or Daddy, a trip to the ice cream parlor, a movie night (at home, up past bedtime to watch a movie), a living room campout, etc.

    #
  • Profile picture of Tracy Tracy said 1 month, 1 week ago:

    My 3 year old has been on growth hormone injection Nutrapen since he was only a few months old. He does awesome with it. He pulls up his pant leg (we only rotate legs). If I give him his vitiamin while I do the shot, he doesn’t even cry at all. What I hate about the nutrapen (spelling) is that I have to hold it in for 20 sec.

    #