To be baffled by British attitudes towards suppositories?

[AnotherGirlsParadise]

I spent a few years living in Paris, where suppositories are pretty much favoured over oral medications - they work FAST, even for a sore throat, and you don't have to deal with your DC spitting out a load of Calpol and not getting any better in the process. I recently brought a haul of children's paracetamol suppositories home after a visit, and the response I've had from other parents here has been frankly quite upsetting, ranging from 'inappropriate' to 'surely that's abuse?'

So, AIBU to think people should be a little more openminded? And for the record, a suppository is easily popped in, involves no more touching than using a wipe does, and doesn't distress the child in any way. It just seems to me that because it goes through the 'other end', it's all WRONG WRONG WRONG to some.

I'm struggling to understand why this even bothers you - but it obviously does (presumably it's because you lived in Paris for a few years ), so on that basis, I can confirm that I don't use suppositories on my kids because they aren't widely sold here and because we have perfectly acceptable alternatives. I have no problem using them (although my DCs are older and would have something to say about me approaching their backside with one in my hand), but it's not something I have ever, ever thought about.

My friend's little boy had constipation and the paediatrician used a thermometer to prod about a bit, which led to some kind of poo explosion.

My British GP advised me to do this for my 6 week old who was in agony. He hadn’t pooed in nearly 24 hours and was full of gas. It was bloody brilliant.

You do need a nappy or two to hand, though.

Yanbu.

I was quite surprised by how uptight British people are about anything to do with the body or bodily functions.

My 3yr old is terrified of taking oral medicine after a nurse and a doctor pinned him down and poured it in to his mouth only for him to choke and stop breathing so we use supp. when needed. There's no drama, no tears, no cajoling or bribing, it's done very quickly and easily with no tears. It would be much worse and far more cruel and violating for me to force a spoonful of liquid in his mouth. Especially if he then puked or spat it out which meant we had been through all of that fuss for nothing!

Of course, if your child willingly takes a spoonful of medicine then that's the best choice for them but people should definitely be more open minded.

So how far do you have to push it in?

Winterbells "Someone even threatened to report me to social services."

What on earth did you say when that was threatened?

A doctor actually pinned your child down and poured medicine into his mouth??

I hope your formal complaint is/was successful.

littlebairn as someone said earlier you just start push it in and the anus seems to swallow it in ,your finger does not go inside the orifice - only the suppository does.

Honestly, I was just so shocked and so surprised that I just walked away and cried over it. To be told that you are a child abuser and threatened in that way is dreadful. I think these days I would have some very harsh things to say.

i would never want to use this on myself or my dc - yuck

We used to buy them in France and N Africa (visiting DH's family). DS2 suffered from chronic tonsillitis and a suppository was a damn sight easier than trying to give oral pain medicine to a child with an incredibly sore throat. I tried to get them here but they were stupidly expensive.

I was given one once. I wouldn't have minded but I would have appreciated a bit of warning from the doctor. I was under the impression I was going to be able to insert it myself.

Alemci, yuk? Never? Not even if your unborn child depended on it?

You can get them free on prescription for kids if you push for them but it takes some pushing with many GPs. One of my children won't take oral meds and the suppositories were suggested to me by a German friend. Such a relief to have something that means that when it's needed I can actually give him paracetamol. I think they're a brilliant option.

They are brilliant for children.
They absorb and act fast, don't irritate the stomach, and it's always the correct dosage because there's no spitting or forcing down the throat of a screaming wriggling child.

People are projecting far too much.

I always used paracetamol suppositories for DS2, bloody brilliant things and really, really helped in the first year.

After that he started taking medicines great and by the age of two was swallowing tablets.

I remember when my aunts was living in Israel and she said suppositories were normal there too, I didnt think much of it but it made perfect sense by the time I had children of my own.

only if i really had to and the doctor dealt with it itms.

When we were living in Switzerland is was quite funny watching all the UK/US mums being absolutely outraged at the idea of using suppositories All the Europeans just shrugged it off, no biggie.

It is one of those cultural differences that cannot be overcome.

@ Ilythya

Many years ago I had my impacted wisdom teeth out in hospital. Being a teenager I didn't pay much attention when the surgeon told me pre-op that I would be undergoing a new technique designed to prevent swelling, and that I would receive an steroid as a suppository, since it was nil by mouth, and they didn't want to inject it.

I wish I had asked what a suppository was ... luckily I had had the pre-med so was high as a kite. Didn't register the nurses snapping the gloves on until it was too late

That said it worked perfectly. Hardly any swelling.

I don't get the angst either

I mean, look, if you're going to be nastily graphic -- it's just as abusive to shove something down someone's throat or into their mouth as it is to stick something into their rear end.

But of course neither is abuse - both are parents trying to get meds into small, ill children.

I grew up in the US and couldn't get the hang of swallowing pills till I was an adolescent. We regularly used suppositories. I didn't like the feel but you know, I also didn't like the taste of cherry penicillin or Robitussin cough syrup.

SirChenjin not sure why you are so about drs pinning down children. I have very clear memories of going to hospital at about 5yo with suspected concussion and being physically restrained by two nurses who wanted blood samples. I was very cross because I was proud of myself for being a big girl and holding still but they still decided to restrain me. Experience of other children, I guess. Don't think it's unusual.

I naïvely went to pharmacy when ds was 18 months with a stomach bug, vomiting everything and casually asked for paracetamol suppositories. My question was received with shock, horror and 'we don't sell THESE medicines in THIS country madam'. Ok...

Disgusting vile things.

Flora thanks I always Imagined it took a bit more umm effort.
Maybe us British don't have bottoms that swallow as well....

Gawd brought back memories of garlic and some poor child's posterior.....

Urgh

Revolting - because no child nowadays should be pinned down and forcibly guven oral medicine. Times have changed.

Boom was this a Vamprire Baby?