Following the Doctors Orders
When your baby or child has Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or GERD, following the doctor's orders isn't always as easy at it looks. Many families face financial barriers such as no insurance coverage or a high deductible forcing some to choose between groceries for the family or expensive medication/formula for the baby. I hope you will access local and state resources to cover medical expenses for your family if cost is a barrier to following the doctor's orders.
The Treatment Plan
There are other hurdles as well. During the medical appointment, you may be trying to sooth your crying baby while talking to the doctor. At home, fatigue and worry can make it hard to remember the treatment plan. The first step to following the doctor's orders is having a clear written treatment plan. Try bringing a notepad to all appointments so you can write down notes as you are talking to the doctor. At the end of the appointment, you should have a written treatment plan that includes one or more of the following types of treatment for GERD: medication, diet and positioning.
Common Concerns
Your next challenge is facing your children and selling the treatment plan to a less than willing participant. Young children often resist taking reflux medication and dislike going to the doctor and having tests. Older children want to be independent from their parents and fit in with their peers. Pre teens and teens may feel that it is unfair to miss social events and school for a doctor's appointment or test. Older children certainly don't want to hear mom nagging about taking reflux medication or restricting foods that cause reflux symptoms. Some teens don't understand the need to take daily reflux medication to prevent symptoms, when they are feeling well. Also, if an older child takes medication faithfully but still has symptoms, it can be really frustrating and confusing.
Finding Balance
Parents can help their children with reflux follow the doctor's order and learn to manage GERD at home but it can be a real balancing act. Parents and children need to learn new skills and children need to learn self care and independence. It can be a challenge to manage a medical condition at home without making it the focus of your family.
During the worse of the reflux years, our family still traveled by car and plane for vacations and holidays. It was something that we enjoyed and the extra preparation, although daunting and exhausting was worth it. It did take a can do attitude and the organization of a Boy Scout to execute. One year, Rebecca was hospitalized just days before Thanksgiving. We were both exhausted and I secretly wondered how we would mobilize to drive 6 hours away to visit relatives. The next thing I knew, Rebecca was asking me to get her Pooh suitcase off a high shelf so she could begin to pack.
Teach Self Care
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