How on earth do I get medicine into hysterical ds?

[feedtheghoul]

I feel like the a rotten mum tonight.

Ds has been prescribed antibiotics today and is feeling really poorly with a chest infection. He had a high temp last night and was being sick, which is something that happens everytime he is ill with the slightest little thing.

The problem is getting medicine down him. He has absolutely refused to take it. We have spent 30 mins reasoning, cajoling and bribing tonight. After another 10 minutes of screaming and shouting ( I know, I know, don't hate me, I couldn't feel much worse) ended up physically holding him down and forcing it in.

I had to give up on calpol because he spat 2 spoonfuls out and I couldn't be sure what he had or hadn't swallowed so daren't give him anymore.

It is his 5th birthday on thursday and have 32 children coming to a party on saturday and don't know how I'm supposed to try and get him better. I feel so crap tonight.

I've tried a syringe with no success in the past but I'm going to get one from my mum in the morning to try again but no idea how I'm going to get it down him tomorrow on my own.

My ds is 7 but anything to do with medicine/ needles etc he flies into a panic and he's a big lad to have to hold down (the doctor once failed to give him a blood test as two nurses couldn't hold him). I sympathise, it's an absolutely horrible feeling. My friend got him to hold still to get a splinter out recently by giving him £1 - a step up from the chocolate button bribery maybe?

Have also used brute force, but it's much easier with 2 people.

Mixing it with yoghurt has also worked - a coloured one if possible - it takes a lot of natural yoghurt to disguise that bright yellow!

If you can get 3 doses a day (if that's what's been prescribed) into him for the rest of the week, he should be feeling much better by Saturday.

Can I just add my very strange dd4 absolutely loves all medicines even the foul clarithromycin that she has sadly needed to have several times! The others were far more normal and hated antibiotics.

Feedtheghoul, I think you're being blardy marvellous to be honest. And resourceful. It's tough love, really isn't it?

You can have my patented emergency technique, if you like: I do my damndest to squirt Calpol to the back of my DS's throat (jaws lovingly but firmly opened), DS in mother of all bear hugs, and then quickly, very gently rub his throat, so he swallows it. Involuntary action, my mother says. (Perhaps shouldn't admit she gave our dogs their medicine that way too )

Hope things go much better for you both tomorrow. It's bloody horrible when you have to struggle with them, isn't it? Just had a week of trying to get Dioralyte into my DS. I was on my bloody knees, I can tell you.

Yes or I hide it in strong teeth rotting ribena..

Poor DS was the same with his antibiotics they made him physically retch so we bargained and he would have them in juice as long as it was strong enough for him not to taste. TBH I couldn't even take the stuff myself..[hblush]

Thanks everyone for all your advice, it helped me face another day of it!

The milkshake worked (well kind of! I just had to argue not physically fight!).

It is the bright yellow amoxocillin one and he sussed me at first sip of his milkshake 'Mummy, this tastes like banana medicine, is it in here?' but I persuaded him it was better than the alternative. It take about an hours cajoling to get through though but he has had 3 lots again today.

He seems alot brighter tonight so I'm hopeful he will be fit to enjoy his birthday party on saturday and opening his pressies tomorrow . Thanks everyone.