How old were you.... treatments

[AngieM]

I know each person is different so the answers will vary..... but how old were you when you started doing your own treatments. Putting medicine in nebulizer and doing your vest all by yourself.

Also, putting medicine (Tobi, Pulmozyne, Hypertonic) in neb and letting it sit in neb in refrigerator for an hour or so... is that bad?? I would think it would be.

Angie

 

[Jane]

Angie,
As far as putting the meds in the neb in the fridge, I think its ok as long as they are clean. I'd put them in a clean baggie or bowl so that they don't touch any food weirdness.

Good question about when people start doing their own stuff. My son is almost 15 and we still do it all. He has no interest yet. I'm curious too.

Jane

 

[CFHockeyMom]

We very much believe in teaching Sean to be responsible for his own care. We started with his enzymes. He's been self distributing since he could open the "child proof" bottle at around 5. As for his breathers, he's been putting his meds in his nebs for a couple of years now. He even washes them out when he's done. I usually go back and rewash though. After all, he is only 9 and we all know how "clean" 9 year olds are. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> We just got the vest but he does it all himself. when he's on atibiotics, he self administers those. I keep a careful eye on the pill count and make sure to remind him.

Occasionally, we do his "stuff" for him when he's not feeling well, we're running out of time, or he's had a busy day and deserves a break. Once in a while his brother will even help out.

 

[thelizardqueen]

Enzymes I started doing on my own around 6, inhalers I started on my own around 9 when I first started to doing them, Tobi I started on my own when I first started doing it at 15, and physio I started doing on my own around 12.

 

[princessjdc]

WEll, lets see I didnt start having to take antibotics and treatments until prolly my junior year of highschool (at least that is when I remember), same goes with the vest and pulomozyme (thats the treatments they started me on) also an inhaler which I hated cause I had to take 6 puffs every day so eventually I stopped using it and they eventually gave me something else which I like a lot better. I started doing the vest and pulmo, myself seeing as I was 17 or 18 at the time, and my enzymes, I think I was pretty responsible to take them, well shoot, I cant even remember when I started taking the enzymes by myself (Note: Need to ask my mom later). I didnt start calling in my meds until I was married and out of the house (on my own).

 

[RoyalPrince]

i'm 26 now (27 in 4 months) and i have been doing my own treaments wince i was old enough to understand what to do... my parents, inorder to get me to take my enzymes when i was a baby, would open them and mix them with my food until i was old enough to swollow the pills but still very young... as far as breathing treatments my parents again taught me very young but still supervised me as i prepared it (when i was young i had to mix the albuterol in the neb as it didn't come prepackaged and ready as it does now... it came in a little bottle similar to the H2orega with an eyedropper cap (sean had a picture of it a while back) and i had to mix that with the saline solution we bought in a little pump container/can)... i wasn't hopitalized and on iv antibiotics until 2000 so i was well old enough to do them alone... i didn't get a vest until i was in high school and it waslike pulling teeth trying to get me to use that thing... i'm more committed to my health now than i was in the past so i use it a few times a week.

 

[skh]

My daughter is 15 and I pretty much get her meds ready for her. She's in charge of her enzymes at home but when we are out and about she expects me to always have some on hand. I truly don't mind doing these things for her but I do think she is old enough to take on the resposibility.

If my husband and I go out of town I fill up those day planners for her so that I know she is taking them like she is supposed to. She will also take care of her nebulizers when we're not around. So I do know she is capable just not very willing! btw her older sisters are home with her to make sure everything is done.

Sue

 

[JazzysMom]

Mine is easy since I didnt do treatments religously until a few years ago. My enzymes I took out & told my parents needed to be filled as soon as I started at age of dx which was 7. I also have epilepsy & have always done the same for that med. My daughter (non cf) does the same with her allergy meds. Its just discipline & follow up until you are sure!

 

[Ryleigh]

I really can't remember how long I've been doing my own meds, I
guess about 10, I really took over my own health at that age and
always did my therapy, though I'm sure my parents still checked-up
on me and made sure I was doing it right. Definately by 15
though. I did my own IV therapy around 18.

 

[Scarlett81]

Wow good question.
My whole childhood is a big grey blur. I can't remember much of it. But u made me think.
I guess like 12 or 13. I don't think I got the vest till even 14. So probably then.

 

[catboogie]

probably sometime in high school. of course in those days, i was coming home stoned as can be and basically passing out doing my pulmozyme. i never did PT myself until i got my flutter, which was soon before i went off to college, if i remember correctly.

cheers!