As winter and the cold/flu seasons hits, I always make sure I have my sick box of tricks ready to go! I started collecting items that I wanted at my finger tips when my son was one year old, developing asthma and my husband still traveling back and forth to the Bay Area. Even though wonderful friends were making late night drug store runs for me, I needed a better solution for managing asthma, colds and flu in my household. Alas, the sick box of tricks was born. I packed a shelf full of everything I might need to combat the flu and subsequent asthma issues–including special toys to distract my sick cherubs.
I wish I had been quick-witted enough to write down the name of the blog, but I had read a post months ago from a food allergy mom who made frequent Emergency Room trips with her children. She also had a sick box on hand that had included things like warm socks and items that helped with the ER visits. She was just brilliant and I hope to find her blog again and share it one day! Anyway, here is a quick list of what I keep my sick box of tricks–please note: I use items that meet the medical and allergy needs of my family-always discuss with your physician which items would be best suited for your family’s sick box.
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- Thermometer
- Asthma Action Plan
- Motrin(including fresh masks and tubing)
- Albuterol for Nebulizer
- Kleenex
- Motrin® tissue–the super soft variety
- Children’s Kleenex
- Motrin
- Kleenex or electrolyte drink (we don’t use Gatorade)
- Honey for sore throats and coughs (Yummy Earth lollipops is our guilty pleasure)
- Organic Ziploc® or Play Dough to help bad tasting medicine go down easier
- Ziploc® (if you are wheat allergic-choose an appropriate modeling compound)
- Crayons or colored pencils
- Play Doughbags (sad but true, the vomit clean up is easier when the kids are using a plastic bag that zip shuts)
- Puzzles or games that only come out to play during illness
- Portable DVD player with headset
- Ingredients for chicken soup (boxed broth, fresh veggies, etc.)
- Magazine for Mom to help her relax at bedtime
My sick box of tricks, always includes copies of our Asthma Action Plans and the phone number to the after hours Pediatric Urgent Care facility since I lose this number annually! Sometimes, if the year has been exceptionally challenging, I work it in my favor and treat myself to a manicure or pedicure. One thing I learned from my pediatrician, is that mom MUST take care of herself and not get sick too, so I sleep as much as I can when the kids are sick. If I’m sick and hubby is working, then who is there to take care of the cherubs?
Homemade organic chicken soup is a must in our household while battling a cold! I try to keep these ingredients on hand during flu season-fresh dill and lemon are the crowning pieces of glory in this bowl!
One of the hardest things I find about managing both life threatening food allergies and asthma is talking to others. I hate to be the one that might be perceived as demanding, pushing or for asking too much. What I now know, fourteen years later, is that honest, clear information presented with kindness works!..
My bag of tricks is more of the preventative nature. I am loaded up with vitamin C, airborne, vitaminD, and krill oil. And just in case anyone succumbs to the nastiness, NyQuil. 🙂 I need to remember the honey for sore throats. That is a good one. Oh! And peppermint tea for nausea!
Peppermint tea is a good idea, I’ll add that in to my bag of tricks. What exactly is Krill oil? Hubby brought some home, but I’m not sure of what it is.
Great reminder to always have things at the ready!
We don’t use ibuprofen, though. I believe there are asthma warnings on Children’s Motrin and other ibuprofen products, which is what lead me to investigate a couple of years ago, as I had no idea, before, and have given my daughter ibuprofen in the past. (Here’s an example article: http://bodyandhealth.canada.com/channel_section_details.asp?text_id=3775&channel_id=9&relation_id=30073)
Dimetapp is another one that’s not recommended for those with asthma. I’ve never given my daughter Dimetapp, since she barely turned 4, but I’ve also read about the contraindications for medications containing dextromethorphan. It doesn’t allow them to cough up the mucous that they need to get out of their asthmatic lungs, etc.
(http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/drug-information/DR601921/DSECTION=before-using)
I make my own electrolyte drink, since my daughter is allergic to so many things and sensitive to extra ingredients. This one is just water, sugar and salt: (http://www.livestrong.com/article/501871-homemade-electrolyte-replacement-fluids/)
The Zip-Loc idea is great!
Another good reminder is to check your albuterol dosage level with your doctor, especially if you don’t use it daily. I had the old dosage from when she was 2 and kept refilling that, but she is 4, now! :O
Selena,
GREAT sharing! Thank you sooo much! We stopped the acetaminophen after those stories and asthma, but I had not read about the ibuprofen. Even thought Dimetapp contradicts, for my kid’s it has worked? Although, their asthma is mild now (knock on wood). You are right thought, that mucous must come up!
Okay, I just love that you make your own electrolyte solution. I don’t like all the dyes in them! Also, when my son was a toddler, yellow dye exacerbated his asthma.
Good point on the dosage too. Hence why an annual visit is really necessary. Thanks again Selena, you’re a fabulous resource to our community…and a good photographer too!
Yes, you are right – even acetaminophen can be an issue for asthmatics, too! I had the reverse happen, where I read about the dangers of ibuprofen before the links between acetaminophen and asthma. I was only using it (Tylenol) for Morgan, because I was avoiding ibuprofen, and I needed *something* for fever reduction, but it seems like either way, there will be some risk.
I think, as with every medication, it depends on each child’s particular medical makeup and severity of condition(s).
Don’t you wish they would take dyes out of all children’s medicines? I don’t see the point in them, at all!
I think YOU are a fabulous resource, for getting this conversation going and for everything else that you do! 🙂
The dyes are awful! There is a compounding pharmacy in town that will compound acetaminophen and other common over the counter drugs without dyes! It’s crazy!
Even though my son can tolerate dyes now, I still am not comfortable. Although, I do make exceptions for Gimbal’s candy! I’m such a sucker for candy. Pun intended. Stay healthy!
Thanks! You know, the more I read over the journal articles, it seems like acetaminophen is the higher risk of the two, yet there is no asthma warning on the acetaminophen, the way there is on ibuprofen packaging. That sure seems backwards…
A compounding pharmacy…what a great idea! I wonder if I can get her Zyrtec, Allegra, Benadryl, etc., made without dyes and flavorings…I currently get Walgreens brand “Wal-Dryl” and “Wal-Zyr”, because they have dye-free versions, but I’ve even wished for flavor-free versions. I know they’d be a little gross, but I put them in drinks for her, anyway, because she doesn’t even like the flavored versions and I always wondered if the flavorings irritate her and the medicine has to partially counteract itself, if that makes sense. ;P
I’ve also wondered if it was the flavorings (aspartame, “orange and raspberry flavoring”, etc.) in antibiotics that give her a rash, and not the antibiotic, itself. I wonder if I could have those compounded, too. Ideas, ideas…!
Selena, I am almost positive that my compounding pharmacy said they can do a Benedryl equivalent!
Caroline, I love this post! After multiple ER visits due to asthma and allergies, I now always have meds, etc.. for my daughter packed in one spot (whether at home or away). I actually use a diaper bag that the hospital gave us when she was born. I bring our nebulizer and prednisone with us even if my daughter’s asthma seems under control. A couple of years ago, we were able to head off an ER visit by having these meds available while away in a neighboring state. It helps to be prepared. Great ideas!
Gina, I learned the hard way when traveling. Not all stores are open at all hours and carry the exact items that are needed. With allergies, as you know, it is brand specific. Our serious indulgence though is the honey, helps coughs better than anything and tastes sooooo divine. I enjoy our local honey, but there is something insane about the Savannah Bee honey.
For some reason I don’t see a “reply” button at the bottom of our thread…
Well, I called the PCAB Accredited Compounding Pharmacy in town and talked to them about possibly compounding antibiotics for my daughter, but it looks like it might be cost-prohibitive. The pharmacist said it’s also not covered by insurance, in most cases. He said he’s have to order a certain size batch of pure powder, which would be larger than the amount needed for her dose, but if insurance covered any, it would only be the amount needed for her. He was very nice, but it just didn’t seem like it was going to be a feasible solution. It sounded like it was going to cost hundreds of dollars. Now, if she was experiencing more severe symptoms than a mild rash, the cost might be worth it, but I don’t think I can justify the expense.
I also asked about compounding diphenhydramine, but he said, again, cost might be an issue. I can get dye-free “Wal-Dryl”, and she seems just fine with that, so I’ll just have to keep using that. It’s just a problem when I’m nowhere near a Walgreens. I have to keep multiple boxes on hand of my dye-free medications.
Selena, I know who to call when I need help researching! Awesome job! Yikes, hundreds? I’d stock up on the Wal-Dryl for sure.