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Kids, tummy aches, and OTC remedies...?
"David Whitney" wrote in message om... All: My wife and I are at (extreme) odds over the proper way to handle a tummy ache in our 7-year-old son. She grew up with a mom who is a nurse and is predisposed to medicating quickly, and generally never challenging or questioning a doctor's advice. I grew up in a decidedly non-medical background, and with lots of significant family sensitivity to various medications; as a result, I'm very cautious. In this case, my family methodology has been that it is best to let tummy aches run their course, as unpleasant as that may be. My opinion is that OTC preps (eg Pepto Bismol) forestall the body's natural means of "purging" the bad stuff, and actually work to make things worse. My wife, on the other hand, believes it borders on cruelty *not* to give some OTC meds to relieve the discomfort. I'd appreciate some feedback on this issue. Please reply to the group; the email address posted herein is long since dead. What is the level of discomfort? Do you have a clue as to what is causing a stomachache so often as to be such an issue in your home? Instead of worrying about what to do after it starts, find out why it starts. This procedure would start with a visit to your child's pediatrician. And, remember, your level of tolerance for pain is not that of your child. |
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Kids, tummy aches, and OTC remedies...?
I agree with the other two posters.
Find out what is causing the stomach ache. Sometimes kids complain of a tummy ache when they need to poop (sometimes when I needed to go, I would get cramps that passed when I used the toilet; other kids get different aches too when it is time go or they get a little blocked up), when something or someone is bothering them, when they are hungry or they run too hard (I had one kid on my soccer team always complaining of a stomach ache and saying he felt like he was going to puke). Treat the cause, not the ache. Unless there is a specific reason, I would not give something like PeptoBismal on a regular or semiregular basis. Sometimes people overeat and feel releif from it. They shouldn't be overeating in the first place. Usually, if it is a stomach virus or a diarrhea thing, it is best to let it pass and just make sure the youngster is not dehydrated. Jeff "David Whitney" wrote in message om... All: My wife and I are at (extreme) odds over the proper way to handle a tummy ache in our 7-year-old son. She grew up with a mom who is a nurse and is predisposed to medicating quickly, and generally never challenging or questioning a doctor's advice. I grew up in a decidedly non-medical background, and with lots of significant family sensitivity to various medications; as a result, I'm very cautious. In this case, my family methodology has been that it is best to let tummy aches run their course, as unpleasant as that may be. My opinion is that OTC preps (eg Pepto Bismol) forestall the body's natural means of "purging" the bad stuff, and actually work to make things worse. My wife, on the other hand, believes it borders on cruelty *not* to give some OTC meds to relieve the discomfort. I'd appreciate some feedback on this issue. Please reply to the group; the email address posted herein is long since dead. Thanks, dew |
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Kids, tummy aches, and OTC remedies...?
All:
Many thanks to those who have replied. I need to make a couple of clarifications. 1. This has not been a series of tummy aches; just one over the weekend that drew out the difference of opinion between my wife and me. 2. Warm/hot tea helped along the way. I think hot tea is magical, seems to be so good for so many things... 3. He was never nauseous at all. My primary thought in posting was to solicit other opinions about the value or propriety of giving kids things like Pepto Bismol (or whatever) rather than letting nature take its course. The conventional wisdom, as I understand it, is that you *don't* give kids under 12 or so laxatives, and I tended to draw that notion out to general stomach difficulties in kids -- don't medicate for symptoms unless a doctor deems it necessary, because symptom relief may extend the real problem (and if its bad enough to go to the doctor about, that's a different kettle of fish anyway). Thanks, all. -dew "Jeff" wrote in message ... I agree with the other two posters. Find out what is causing the stomach ache. Sometimes kids complain of a tummy ache when they need to poop (sometimes when I needed to go, I would get cramps that passed when I used the toilet; other kids get different aches too when it is time go or they get a little blocked up), when something or someone is bothering them, when they are hungry or they run too hard (I had one kid on my soccer team always complaining of a stomach ache and saying he felt like he was going to puke). Treat the cause, not the ache. Unless there is a specific reason, I would not give something like PeptoBismal on a regular or semiregular basis. Sometimes people overeat and feel releif from it. They shouldn't be overeating in the first place. Usually, if it is a stomach virus or a diarrhea thing, it is best to let it pass and just make sure the youngster is not dehydrated. Jeff "David Whitney" wrote in message om... All: My wife and I are at (extreme) odds over the proper way to handle a tummy ache in our 7-year-old son. She grew up with a mom who is a nurse and is predisposed to medicating quickly, and generally never challenging or questioning a doctor's advice. I grew up in a decidedly non-medical background, and with lots of significant family sensitivity to various medications; as a result, I'm very cautious. In this case, my family methodology has been that it is best to let tummy aches run their course, as unpleasant as that may be. My opinion is that OTC preps (eg Pepto Bismol) forestall the body's natural means of "purging" the bad stuff, and actually work to make things worse. My wife, on the other hand, believes it borders on cruelty *not* to give some OTC meds to relieve the discomfort. I'd appreciate some feedback on this issue. Please reply to the group; the email address posted herein is long since dead. Thanks, dew |
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