I am at my wits end. My 9 year old was diagnosed with Crohn's disease last May after a hospitalization of 5 days. When he first arrived home from the hospital he was great at taking his medicine (Pentasa & Iron). But in the past few months he keep refusing to take his medication. I have to watch him take it and even after he has gotten adept at hiding them in his mouth or spitting them out even after I look. I don't know what to do. I'm terrified that his symptoms will return or that he will be hospitalized again. I don't know what to do. I've tried paying him, positive reinforcement, punishment, it's not working. What now?
Reply posted for Ciilah.
Have you asked him why he doesn't like taking his meds? I know he's only 9, but maybe you could try having a discussion about what he thinks of his meds, why he doesn't take them, what he thinks may/may not happen if he doesn't take his meds, etc. A sort of "I'm going to talk to you like your an adult" talk, to make him feel more in control. He may think because he's not currently flaring, he doesn't need to take them. Or maybe he doesn't like the fact that there are so many pills to take at one time and he wants to spread them out through the day.
A few other things I can think of trying are, having a special drink for the medication (maybe a soda or milkshake that can only be drunk when taking the medicine), Camp Oasis (meeting other kids who have to take the same meds and deal with the same issues might be beneficial), or even talking to another kid who has to take medicines daily for a chronic illness like a diabetic who can help him see that it does sometimes stink to be constantly on meds, but there are other people out there just like you?
Reply posted for Ciilah.
I hope there has been some resolution to this problem! In any case, I'd suggest seeing a child's therapist. There are so many reasons kids don't want to take their pills (I'm in college and still get grumpy about it sometimes) but therapy could help your son work through some issues surrounding having a disease, having to take pills, or maybe even some behavioral therapy will get him to take his pills. When I was younger I practiced taking pills with Tic Tacs and M and M's... even though he has already been able to take pills maybe some more practice would help. Good luck! <3
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