To want the chief medical officer to come and look after DD tonight?

[dilemma456]

DD has had a bad cough for 3 days now now especially at night. I've been giving her cough medicine which at least settles the cough itself and allows her to sleep. Yesterday we run out and I went to get more only to be told by the chemist that she can't have any until she's 6 because the chief medical officer changed the rules. The fact that the packaging stated it was for 2-12 year olds seems irrelevent. Apparently what was ok for them before is suddenly not ok now

As a result NEITHER of us really slept. I can't miss work as I'm being reinterviewed for my own job in about 2 hours so I had to take her to school even though I didn't really want to as she is so tired from all that coughing.

AIBU to want the chief medical officer to come and deal with the consequences of his actions tonight? I need sleep and far more importantly so does DD.

I'm so stressed anyway :(

Night time coughs are hellish, you poor soul. Huge best of luck for the interview.

I don't know the rules on the medicine, so don't know if what the chemist said is right or not.

But can't you just buy the stuff anywhere? Go without child in tow, and say it is for a 6+ year old if you have to buy over the counter?

Sorry to hear - it's bad enough not to get a decent sleep, but with work pressure too I can understand how you feel...

Not sure if YABU or YANBU on your actual question - perhaps the CMO has good reasons- but it's a situation I completely sympathise with!

I am confused. Do you generally get this cough mixture free and now you have to pay?
Good luck with the interview.

PS. Good Luck. Deep breaths. Get through interview.

Then get thee to a different chemist and just lie to get the medicine you need.

Is there anything else she could have - could you ask the chemist?

YANBU about the rule change- but they were brought in because parents were happy to pour loads of medicine down their kids throats, so that a minor risk became a major risk.

Take your daughter to the GP coughing through the night can be a sign of childhood asthma

and if she is ill or too tired to go to school then sorry, interview or not, she is too ill/tired to go to school and should be at home.

BTW if you think the medicine is ok go to another chemist and say it's for your 8 year old!

There's been at least 5 deaths and over 100 adverse reactions linked to giving children cough medcine that's why they've been pulled.

Honey and lemon or plain glycerol syrup is found to be just as effective but without the dangers.

They should of explained this in the chemist and offered you these alternitives really feel for you that they didn't.

Good luck today x

yes i was going to suggest the honey and lemon. It really does work, anything glycerine based will soothe the throat and cough!

As long as you strictly follow the dosing instructions and don't give any other medicines on top, then go get some of the one you usually use from another chemist.

What about Buttercup Syrup? (not sure the age guide lines).

My DD now has an inhaler for very occasional use for her night time coughs. We have a preventer as well as a regular one. Haven't had to use for ages, but during the winter, I suspect we will again. It is fantastic, nips it in the bud before really gets going. Sounds a bit drastic perhaps, but one or two puffs makes a massive difference. She then sleeps, we sleep, everyone feels much better!

We did this after slightly scary experience when school called me in an emergency, she basically couldn't breathe, turning blue, gasping for every breath, ran her to GP, linked straight up to nebuliser machine for about half an hour... it worked, but it was damned scary. Never doing that again, if I can help it, so GP happily gave me the inhalers. Not classed as asthmatic, only borderline, triggered when she has a cold.

No harm in getting her assessed. We did, as a result of above, and we know what we are dealing with.

I am in work absolutely exhausted after another night up with dd aged 4. She's got a chesty cough and always get a high temp at night.

I don't "do" cough mixture tbh, I think it's expensive and rubbish, but I have been dosing her up with paracetamol and neurofen for her temps, and we're off to the doc tomorrow to get her checked out.

Good luck with the interview!

I went in dd's bed with her last night so dh could sleep, and as I'm wandering around like a zombie he asked what was the matter ....... doh!!!! I though I was incredibly restrained haha.

Thank you, I'll try honey and lemon tonight.

I gave her honey last night which did help a bit and also propped her up with extra pillows which seemed to help.

The explanations are helpful. The chemist didn't explain but just said I couldn't have it and it was up to the CMO. He didn't suggest any alternatives either.

I don't just pour it down her throat. Generally I won't give her more than one measured dose in a 12 hour period but it does seem to help her.

I don't think she's asthmatic. It doesn't run in either side of our families but if this carries on I'll get her checked out.

Interview seemed to go alright - but its a horrible process.

Piraton has similar affects to medised if you want your chid to sleep. Or do you have a friend with a six year old or a very sympatheic GP might write you a note to get the pharmaist to sell it to you.

I think the chief medical officer decision was based on the fact that misuse of medised has killed children.

I hope your job interview goes well.

It´s crap that the chemist didn´t offer an alternative, but why would ypou want to give your daughter something that is no longer recommended for her age?

The thing is I don't want to sedate her. I want the symptom that is keeping her awake i.e her coughing to be eased.

Can anyone tell me if with asthma it is a dry cough or if there is a lot of phlegm? DD has the latter type of chest cough.

diddl I suppose I was confused by the fact the packaging said it was for children of 2-12 years and couldn't really understad why something that was obviously suitable until recently suddenly isn't

I feel awful.

DD's gone to her friends and I just spoke to her mum who said she seems to be fine but a little tired phew

Dry coughing is a symptom of asthma- that said a phlegmy cough is a sign of infection. If she has a phlegmy cough it could be asthma and a mild infection, or it could be a chest infection- if she gets a lot of chest infections that could be an indicator of asthma.

Take her to the Dr.