to be severely hacked off because my DH has messed up with DD's antibiotic . . . again

[TheYearOfTheCat]

My poor DD has just started her 3rd batch of antibiotics for a UTI which has been ongoing for almost 3 months.

During the last batch, DH left the bottle out overnight, even though it needs to be kept in the fridge, and also forgot to give her a couple of doses, even when I reminded him.

Today I told him to make sure he told the CM that the antibiotic was in the bag, to tell her to give a dose at lunchtime, and to make sure it was kept in the fridge. He didn't bother, and I discovered the antibiotic in her bag tonight, 11 hours later.

I'm furious that DH just doesn't seem to care, and that his slack attitude to doses & storage could be affecting the effectiveness of the antibiotics, meaning that the infection goes on & on, and the need for further antibiotics.

Fume.

[Liska]

I would be bloody furious. Not only does the poor mite have to keep suffering, but the infection may cease to respond to the antibiotics. To let his daughter's health suffer just because he is lazy and forgetful is totally beyond the pale. grrr.

[Stayingscarygirl]

When he was about 4, ds1 had to have a minor operation under general anaesthetic. He was allowed a drink of clear liquid (ie water/v dilute squash) at 6am, and dh volunteered to get him up to give him his drink.

I told dh several times that it was to be clear fluids only - only to be told that he'd given ds1 a nice big drink of milk - to keep him going whilst he was nil by mouth!!

I had to tell the anaesthetist when we got to the hospital, and as a result, instead of being first on the list, and done and dusted by 10am, ds1 had to wait until gone midday before he went down to Theatre - which was pretty stressful for him and for me!

TYOTC - your poor dd - I hope she feels better soon and that your dh gets some kind of a grip on the importance of this. [hopeful emoticon]

[Stayingscarygirl]

You could tell him that not only could the infection stop responding to the antibiotics, as Liska so rightly says, but the urinary infection could travel up to her kidneys.

I've had a kidney infection, and it's painful and unpleasant - and if you are unlucky, it could cause permanent kidney damage.

Maybe that would rub home the seriousness of what he's done - or rather, not done.

[TheYearOfTheCat]

I've just sent him to out of hours Dr to get a new prescription, apparently the particular antibiotic is very sensitive to lack of refrigeration.

It's pouring here, and he asked me if I fancied going out to collect it. Not likely.

We are going on holiday for 2 weeks tomorrow morning, and this is all I need.

DD is bearing up so well with this, although I really feel for her - she had just mastered staying dry all night (she's 4 1/2), and this has set her back, having accidents almost every other night. At its height, she became totally incontinent, even during the day.

[3littlefrogs]

No excuse. I would be furious. Unfortunately, you may end up just not delegating any responsibility to him for this in order not to compromise your dd's health. It is a dilemma isn't it.

[3littlefrogs]

Did you mange to refrain from clobbering him?

[splodge2001]

what he's doing is frankly dangerous. If she stops antibiotics half way through, she could develop a further, more serious infection. He is playing with fire.

Antibiotics take over your own body's natural defenses against infection. Missing doses leaves the body exposed without defenses.

[TheYearOfTheCat]

Only barely. He thinks I was totally over-reacting, and only phoned the out of hours Dr to humour me (believe me, humour was very scarce at the time). I think he was genuinely surprised that the Dr told him to come and collect the prescription.

He actually told me when I was going ballistic calmly discussing it, that it was 'ok, because the last time he left it out of the fridge the Dr said it was ok. In fact, the Dr had said that it wasn't ok, but that since she was on day 5 (at that time) that it might be alright.

[Stayingscarygirl]

Ask him if he wants to be responsible if the infection goes to your dd's kidneys and causes permanent damage. And tell him that a registered general nurse told you that that could happen. He can be as blase as he wants with his own health, but cannot be so careless about a child's health.

[3littlefrogs]

He needs to grasp that chronic renal damage is not something to be blase about. He wants a kick up the backside IMO.

[girlywhirly]

I think you have learned some important things here; supervise all the doses yourself, do not rely on DH to accurately impart information, so talk directly to the childminder about the medicine and the dosing and storage of same, do not believe your DH's version of what the Dr said.

Every medicine comes with an information sheet giving details of what it's for, dosage, storage, possible side effects etc. Make him read it, and re-read the bits about dosage and storage. Sometimes you just have to spell it out as you would to a small child, because it never ceases to amaze me how people abuse medication, and then wonder why the illness doesn't improve. And repeat what others have said about the potential seriousness of kidney damage.

I'm presuming the antibiotic is specific to the bacteria (as identified in a urine culture from your DD) How are her doses given? If it's 3 doses a day, for example, are they spread out equally over 24 hours? I ask, because my DS had an infection that wouldn't completely clear, and on the second week of AB's, I gave him each of the 3 doses 8 hours apart at 7am, 3pm, and 11pm (had to wake him) and this worked. It isn't always clear when the instruction is 'one dose three times a day' when to give them! There could be 13 hours overnight when they don't receive a dose, for a small child.

[3littlefrogs]

We are so, so lucky to have antibiotics. They should be used with great care and treated with respect IMO. UTI in a small child should also be treated with great care and taken seriously. IME Drs are very cautious about prescribing antibiotics these days - they don't do it without good reason.

You should show your DH this thread.

[doggiesayswoof]

Good - you are going on holiday so you can personally give her all the doses and make sure the meds are in the fridge.

Cannot understand why he would not be arsed to get this right when it's his DD's health in question. Weird attitude imo. He can't surely be too thick to grasp the concepts?

Yeah, show him the thread. It does sound like he is switching off when you go ballistic calmly discuss stuff which is worrying.

Hope your DD recovers properly soon.

[Sassybeast]

He is an arse and am glad that he's perhaps got the message after speaking to the GP. Show him this thread and tell him to get it sorted