Little Asher has been coughing at night for a little while now, some nights I don't hear him, other nights a big coughing fit. Well, two nights ago it was really bad, and he woke up with some wheezing that got worse through the day. To the doctor we went at 5:30p.
Asher in the last probably 6mo-1yr has become increasingly resistant to any entrances into his personal space. The list of things he absolutely abhors includes haircuts, hair-combing, and apparently...doctor visits. He hadn't been since his 2 year old checkup (it's been a healthy year for us). The moment he realized last night that we were there for him, it was ALL OVER. He was an absolute nightmare. Full-on otherworldly fear and tantruming, noncompliance, using every ounce of energy he had to fight. And this was just for getting a temperature in his ear. Once the stethoscope came out it got even worse if that is possible. Two of us could barely hold him down for the basic inventory of vitals. After a half-hour of this, he fell into an instant and exhausted sleep on my lap (6pm is his bedtime lately, so that wasn't helping). Once he fell asleep he was able to be evaluated and treated (slept through an entire nebulizer treatment!).
So, I don't know if albuterol causes this, or if it was our little Asher, but when we finally left (he slept for almost an hour there!), he woke up, was right as rain (until he caught sight of the nurse, but he recovered) and as we walked out to the car through the long-deserted building he says, "Dat was a cool aventure, mom!"
SERIOUSLY?? I just grew about 60 grey hairs...not my definition of a cool adventure. Then we get in the car and he is flying high. "I LOVE dis music, mom." "Wow, look at all the cars!! I love them!" Me: "Asher, next time we go to the doctor you do not need to cry so hard. That is a no-no." (Do I think this instruction has an effect? No, of course not.)
Getting him to take the nebulizer treatments today has been quite a battle. Not nearly as bad as last night though. So here I am torn between many thoughts.
1. I feel bad that Asher is so terrified of these things...poor guy.
2. Why is there not a level of trust with his parents that he receives no comfort or confidence from our presence and attempted comforting?
3. We do not have a great discipline handle on this kid because he's always been 'easier' and we just haven't had to lay down the law as much as we did with Owen. Also, we're too busy to train him as much as we did Owen. However, that's showing now. I think a lot of the behavior would have been milder if he would respond to my instruction and [said sheepishly] threats more readily.
4. The whole thing was just awful. I can envision a scenario where he would really need treatment for something and would not be able to receive it because of his behavior. That's not a place I want for him to be.
5. It's interesting to consider that one of the places it might be most important for your child to comply with your directions (i.e., TAKE THE MEDICINE!) is also one of the places I absolutely cannot spank him or threaten to spank him. That would be a no-no in the medical establishment, at least here. Although in all honesty, with as much fear and tantruming as he had going, a spanking was not going to stop it anyway...probably would have just accelerated the crazy. Though generally Asher is very good about changing his tune for threat of a spank...in normal life.
This too shall pass? Oh, I hope so. Also hope he doesn't end up with asthma or something, but too early to tell that yet.
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2 comments:
Well, at least we know Asher has no intentions of eating any money! Seriously, however, Mother relates the story of my screaming crying tantrums over the prospect of getting my shot as she frantically tried to calm me. Dr. McCrummen said softly, "Just let the baby cry, Mrs. Brown. I am going to do what I am going to do and the tears do not affect me." (I hushed...and on future visits was able to concentrate on his distraction technique, which was to ask if his patient could see the (very, very low) flame in his space heater. He would be SO surprised and pleased to learn that we could...and by then the shot was over.
Ella had to get nebulizer treatments pretty much ever time she had a cold for at least a year from just before she turned 2. You will be glad to know that she did not develop asthma! She also hated the treatments. We let her watch a video while she did them and that helped.
I am behind on posts and this is probably past, but if you have to do it again...I think maybe it makes them feel like they are already having trouble breathing and now you are putting something over their face and it feels suffocating. Asher is so smart, maybe if you explain to him about how it will actually open up his lungs and make breathing easier that will help. Ask him to concentrate on trying to figure out if his lungs start feeling bigger during the course of the treatment.
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