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Injections - Do you have a backup plan?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 11/15/2013 6:12 PM (GMT 0)
This may be my anxiety talking but here it goes anyways.

I worry what happens if I can't for some reason do injections for my daughter, say I have to be out of town that day, she goes on a trip. Does anyone create a back up plan? Should I teach her how to do these herself if in a situation like this she has to do it herself? I know when she gets older and one day moves out of the house she will need to do these on her own but that is a far way off for us now.
Posted 11/15/2013 6:53 PM (GMT 0)
I think you should teach her how to give herself injections. I was dxed at 14. I didn't start methotrexate until I was 18 and I had to give it to myself as I was in college. I think you should teach her how to do it and maybe have her do it in front of you from now on. Then, you will be reassured she can do it on her own. Unfortunately,this disease is chronic, so the more independent she is, the better. Hope it goes well!
Posted 11/15/2013 9:18 PM (GMT 0)
i toatally agree with Smd729 the sooner she learns the easier it will be for her later. when you get the first four loading doses they instruct you on how to do it and you could let her try and see if she can do it. it's good to have someone else know how to do it just incase.
Posted 11/17/2013 1:53 PM (GMT 0)
Really 13 years old isn't too early to learn? It makes sense if she is the back up because one day she will be doing this on her own, I just thought that would be taught later. Rango16 when dis you learn? SMD729, do you think you could have managed to inject yourself at 14?

I think she would know how to do it if needed, but I don't know if she would have the bravery to poke herself with the needle. She attended all the meetings to learn how to the the methotrexate with the nurse, and will attend the one with the Humira nurse, so maybe it is time.
Posted 11/17/2013 4:13 PM (GMT 0)
i guess she is young, i learned about about five months ago im 16. at first i was a little freaked out about sticking myself but after you do it a few times it's no big deal. i think i could do it at her age. if she could deal with remicade which takes hours with an iv in your arm i think she could do it. it is good to be independent. you could do it till she's 16 and then give her the responsibillity of doing it so she gets used to it. good luck and it's best to do whatever she's comfortable with:)
Posted 11/17/2013 4:30 PM (GMT 0)
At 13, I think she's definitely old enough to learn to do her own shots with supervision. We used to teach diabetic children to give their own insulin shots starting at about 10. If she gives her own shots, she'll also probably be more likely to do them throughout her adolescent and young adult years, when many young people rebel against their treatment.

The only way she will develop the courage to do it is to practice. I'd start out with her doing just the injection part - you can put your hand over hers to help at first if needed. Once she gets used to this, then she can start learning to prepare the injection. If she learns but then doesn't do it regularly, the fear will come back and she would never do it if you weren't there.

It's really just another growing-up experience, like learning to dress herself or tie her shoes.
Posted 11/17/2013 8:00 PM (GMT 0)
First, stop freaking out over one day. Yes, teach her how to do the injections. a couple of days either way will not make much difference. Drugs always don't arrive on time. I used to have to argue when the stuff was late a week and force the overnight air deliveries on the week ends. If you are uneasy give her the injections early. Most taper off, not just quit on a certain day at a specific hour. When I took Remicade the dates were all over the place, when I had to switch to Cimzia I had to go without for three months. Nothing, nada. Cimzia didn't work for me. Stopped that and had Surgery. Point is, It's not Time dependant as they want us to believe. What a regular schedule does is helps maintain drug levels in your system.

I hope this helps,
T
Posted 11/18/2013 4:40 AM (GMT 0)
Learning to tie shoes.... Well this was not something I expected to teach anyone let alone my kid. cry

I doubt she will want to do the shots on her own on a regular basis, I was just thinking of being prepared. This summer she is going to NC for a month and I haven't figured out who will do her meds. Want to be sure she feels comfortable to do it if she has to. I do also worry about the future.

I am pretty anal about taking pills/ injections within an hour of the normal time. I guess if need be it can wait but unless there is a big reason I like to stick to a plan. Good to know I can chill on it if I need to.
Posted 11/19/2013 5:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hi I work in a school and we had a child a few yrs ago come to us aged 9 who was diabetic and had to have insulin. Her parents would come in and give her the injection at lunchtimes as the child was scared to do it ( had never done it herself) but with lots of reassurance & encouragement the child managed to do it she then said " that hurt even less than when mum done it" we explained that that was because she was in control of when to inject. Maybe let your daughter have a go with you there guiding her then gradually after a while do less and less for her until she feels comfortable about doing the injection herself, sometimes children just need reassurance that it will be ok. Good luck! x
Posted 11/19/2013 7:39 PM (GMT 0)
Crohnielass thanks for the reassurance. Maybe it is time for the lesson.
Posted 11/19/2013 7:50 PM (GMT 0)
I really can empathize with your situation. You obviously love your daughter and want to do the best thing for her. My mom was and is the same way. She always tells me she wishes she had crohns instead of me because watching me suffer has been torture for her. My surgery was hardest on her as well. However, my mom put me in charge of my meds right away because she knew it I had to take control. I definitely struggled with it, but it was for the best. My mom would have made me give myself injections in front of her because that is how you learn and become comfortable with something. When I was growing up, managing my crohns was just something else I was responsible for like doing homework or cleaning my room. It's not fair for a teenager to have to do this but unfortunately it's reality. Just show her how to do it, you will all have piece of mind.
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