medical issue

[lovebug]

My child has told me over and over that she was diagnosed with asthma. I talked to her doctor and doctor said that my child had very mild asthma do to seasonal allergies and some pet allergies. Doctor also stated that child did not need and inhailer but needed an allergy medication. He gave child a perscription for Zertec.

My child's mother refused to get the perscription for zyrtec. She said that she would rather treat the sysmtoms with homeopathic herbs and the like. I disagreed with this but child's mother said she was going to do what she wanted. I called and informed the doctor and he said there was nothing he could do because the asthma wasn't very serious.

As a side not, in april the child had a very serious case of impetigo in which the mother refused treatment. Child had to receive IV antibiotics in the ER because the infection spread into the blood stream. At that time I filed a complaint with childrens services and they investigated. I don't know the outcome of that. My lawyer is still trying to get the records. Also at that time I filed for sole custody.

Back to now. Sunday night the child spent the night with my mother. I gave the child her perscription of allegra that I got from the pharmacy after having the doctor call it in. My mother has sereral cats and I felt there might be a potential for a problem with my child's breathing. On Monday morning the child was in great discomfort. She asked me if I had her inhailer. I told her that she did not use an inhailer. She replied that she did.

We went to her doctor and he said that she had not been perscribled an inhailer but gave her a nebulized breathing treatment prescription. The daoctor asked the child what the name of the inhailer was and the child told him it was zopenex. Which is a prescription inhailer. Doc didn't know what to say. He asked the child if she had been to see another doctor and child replied that she had not.

Yesterday, child called her mother and asked if mom could bring over inhailer so child could have it here. Mother agreed saying to me that "we have 2 so it's fine to keep one at your house"and brought it over. When mom arrived I asked for the box so I could see the prescription instructions and to find out who prescribed this medication. Mom refused and then told me how to give it. I said okay but I can't give it to child without seeing the prescription. Mom then stated that Dr. XXXXX had prescribed (same doctor that told me he had not prescribed) the medication and that it was okay to give her.

After mom left child told me that her mom had lied to me. Child stated that the inhailer was child grandmother's prescription and that grandmother gave it to child to use. Grandmother is a RN and has been repremanded a couple of time while ex and I were married for similar things.

I asked ex again to tell me who prescribed the medication and she admitted that it was her mothers and they had been giving it to child without a prescription. She also stated that she didn't see a problem with that because her mom is a nurse and knows what she is doing.

My big concern is that zopenex has different dosing amounts for people ages 6-12 and people 12 and over. My child is 9. She is being given an inhailer for people 12 and over. On the manufacture's web site it states that there or know risk of caridac arrest if even a small over dose occures and that patients need to be aware of a, b, c and d warning signs and seek medical help if those warning signs become present.


1. How should I handle this?

2. should I file another complaint with child services?

3. Can I get mom to stop giving child grandma's medication?

4. I am at a complete loss any suggestions?


~D~

[Kitty C.]

First, you need to report this to your atty.   Then you need to report this to your state board of health, or whatever state agency oversees medical professionals.  What the gma is doing is HIGHLY illegal and she could lose her license over this.  I'd also be telling the doc you recently spoke with.  His curiosity is already aroused and he could possibly help point you in the right direction in regards to reporting gma.  BM will be in serious hot water as well, as custodial parent at the time and giving her approval for the child to use the unauthorized med.

[socrateaser]

>1. How should I handle this?

Sounds like a great blackmail opportunity with the grandmother RN? NOT!

I hope you kept the inhaler, because without the evidence, you have no case at all.

>
>2. should I file another complaint with child services?

Assuming that you have the inhaler, maybe.

>
>3. Can I get mom to stop giving child grandma's medication?

Well, you could call the DA, or the U.S. attorney. Dispensing prescription drugs without a license is a crime. Whether they would prosecute is unknown. You can also complain to your state nursing license board. This could put the grandma's license at risk.

Assuming you have the inhaler, that is...you do have it, don't you?

>4. I am at a complete loss any suggestions?

I'd talk to the grandmother and just tell her that you understand her desire to help, but that you would prefer that the meds be prescribed by a physician. No sense in trying to make an enemy.

Then if she doesn't quit, call the authorities.

[justme73]

>My child has told me over and over that she was diagnosed
>with asthma. I talked to her doctor and doctor said that my
>child had very mild asthma do to seasonal allergies and some
>pet allergies. Doctor also stated that child did not need and
>inhailer but needed an allergy medication. He gave child a
>perscription for Zertec.
>
>My child's mother refused to get the perscription for zyrtec.
>She said that she would rather treat the sysmtoms with
>homeopathic herbs and the like. I disagreed with this but
>child's mother said she was going to do what she wanted. I
>called and informed the doctor and he said there was nothing
>he could do because the asthma wasn't very serious.

In regards to the asthma, trust the pediatrician if he feels the asthma is not serious, however it would be beneficial for you to keep a diary of such things as flare-ups, attacks, what the mother did to treat the attack etc. You did not mention that you have witnessed the flare-ups or how many per month... which is important to know. also inform the doctor of other symptoms. my asmatic child also has difficulties with nasal congestion.
>
>As a side not, in april the child had a very serious case of
>impetigo in which the mother refused treatment. Child had to
>receive IV antibiotics in the ER because the infection spread
>into the blood stream. At that time I filed a complaint with
>childrens services and they investigated. I don't know the
>outcome of that. My lawyer is still trying to get the records.
>Also at that time I filed for sole custody.

you have a right to those records. in fact, going through your lawyer takes longer, because the department of children's services does not like that approach and will drag it out. all you have to do is go to that department and request a copy of the report (i did this). you will need to show ID to obtain the record. the case worker's supervisor will have to sign off on the request, so it may be best to call ahead of time to request the record, obtain the case number and case worker's name and his/her supervisor's name. at that time you may set up a day to pick up the record, signed by the supervisor. documentation is the key... so in addition to the report, keep a diary of everything, including correspondence with child, mother, and medical info. and hopefully you do have the inhaler (as socrateaser said)

>
>Back to now. Sunday night the child spent the night with my
>mother. I gave the child her perscription of allegra that I
>got from the pharmacy after having the doctor call it in. My
>mother has sereral cats and I felt there might be a potential
>for a problem with my child's breathing. On Monday morning the
>child was in great discomfort. She asked me if I had her
>inhailer. I told her that she did not use an inhailer. She
>replied that she did.
>
>We went to her doctor and he said that she had not been
>perscribled an inhailer but gave her a nebulized breathing
>treatment prescription. The daoctor asked the child what the
>name of the inhailer was and the child told him it was
>zopenex. Which is a prescription inhailer. Doc didn't know
>what to say. He asked the child if she had been to see another
>doctor and child replied that she had not.

>
>I asked ex again to tell me who prescribed the medication and
>she admitted that it was her mothers and they had been giving
>it to child without a prescription. She also stated that she
>didn't see a problem with that because her mom is a nurse and
>knows what she is doing.

i do not know what state you are from (recording laws), but if your state allows it, inquire again about the inhaler and if she is still administering a prescription to the child that was not prescribed to her... and record the conversation.


>2. should I file another complaint with child services?

what might be best to do besides get the gma in trouble is to take the inhaler to the child's doctor with the child present and have the child tell the doc what she told you and how often her mother gives her this illegal medication. the doc should call child services. he is obligated to do so. and better for you not to be the one that filed the report. second report... she'll be in trouble. and even better if when you are interviewed during the investigation that you have a recording of mom admitting to it.

>3. Can I get mom to stop giving child grandma's medication?

If the mother seems to want to use an inhaler... then maybe you can request the the doc prescribe one...preferably Albuterol. This is a fast acting, non-steroid  medication. there is no difference in the doc prescribing an Albuterol inhaler vs. nebulizer treatment and it is safe to use. the inhaler is actually more convenient. if the child requires an albuterol treatment more than once per month, it may be a good idea to request a daily steroid inhaler, like Flovent to use during the flare-up season that she experiences the increase in breathing difficulties/asthma symptoms. inhaled steriods do not have the long-term effects of oral steroids. the medicine is going right where it is needed and is not carried throughtout the body to effect other systems.
my point is that if you provide mom with an alternative to using g'ma's meds, then you may be sparing your child the risk, which is most important.
but also... do what socrateaser suggested.  all very good advice. just try to focus on keeping your child healthy first.