Help. Epipen question -

[Spryte]

I could scream.  DS (12) has left his epipen case (which also contains emergency inhalers) outside in the sun twice in the last month.  TWICE!  We impressed upon him the seriousness of this.  We thought. We had extras, but he's been through those, and we've just had another set refilled last week.

 

Today I walked outside and found - the epipen case lying on the hot asphalt driveway.  In the sun.  It had been there at least an hour.  It was hot through and through when I picked it up.  I opened it - and he had 2 epipens, and THREE emergency inhalers in there.  All hot to the touch.

 

We always replace them, if they've gotten too hot or cold.  It's 92 degrees out there now.  In the sun, on hot dark pavement... ugh.

 

I seriously doubt the insurance company will pay for another set of everything this soon.  

 

So - is this set dead, too???

 

I could just scream.  I sent all the kids who were here playing home, after telling them all that if they ever see him take that epibelt off again, they need to make him put it back on immediately.  DS is watching a movie because if I talk to him, I'll say something I'll regret.  He feels bad.  He's in tears.  

 

Is there any chance these epis are okay?  I have one extra set in my purse.  But other than looking at the color of the fluid, how can I tell if they're okay?

 

Or these inhalers?  He just killed EVERY emergency inhaler we had in the house.  I have NO idea why they were all his epipen case.  None.  

 

I know the pharmacist or his allergist would tell me to replace them.  

 

I just.  ARRRRRGGGHHHHHH!!!!!

[Catalytic]

I'm sure the inhalers are perfectly fine.  To my knowledge, if the Epi fluid is still clear, they are fine, too.  If this is an ongoing problem, perhaps see if the doc will write you a script for a vial of Epinephrine and syringes/needles, and you keep that in the house at all times, so at least at home there is an alternative if an Epipen doesn't work

[Spryte]

Thanks. The epi fluid is still clear. I'm going to keep them, but not make them our first line of defense if we're out and about. I'll write a note on them.

 

I am so frustrated. :(

 

I need a good case for a resistant 12 year old boy to wear. I'm thinking something with a lock, that he can't take off, like an old school chastity belt... Just kidding. Grrrrrrr.

Edited September 10, 2016 by Spryte

[Catalytic]

Someone makes D-ring locks...you could get a case that used a D-ring and then lock it to his belt loops?  (I've seen them at Walmart, possibly near luggage, a lot of soldiers use them on the zippers of their duffel bags)

[Daria]

Thanks. The epi fluid is still clear. I'm going to keep them, but not make them our first line of defense if we're out and about. I'll write a note on them.

 

I am so frustrated. :(

 

I need a good case for a resistant 12 year old boy to wear. I'm thinking something with a lock, that he can't take off, like an old school chastity belt... Just kidding. Grrrrrrr.

 

I am so so sorry.

 

Could you make it tamper resistant?  Wrap a piece of duct tape around the clip and sign your name on it, so that you can see if it's been removed?  Then institute some kind of serious consequences if the tape's not intact at the end of the day?

 

I'm pretty sure that my kid could use a rescue inhaler and tell if the med was active, even if he wasn't having an asthma attack, because there's always a little inflammation to respond.  Could he try those and see? 

 

Also, if he's playing close by, could he carry one  sketchy epi pen and one "good one", figuring that you could run to him with a second in time if he called for help?

Edited September 10, 2016 by Daria

[Catalytic]

I've left my inhalers in vehicles my whole life, temps ranging from 100+ in Central Florida heat and humidity, to -60 in Alaska.  They have always been fine, so I honestly wouldn't be worried about them.

[Spryte]

I've left my inhalers in vehicles my whole life, temps ranging from 100+ in Central Florida heat and humidity, to -60 in Alaska. They have always been fine, so I honestly wouldn't be worried about them.

That makes me feel better.

[Spryte]

I am so so sorry.

 

Could you make it tamper resistant? Wrap a piece of duct tape around the clip and sign your name on it, so that you can see if it's been removed? Then institute some kind of serious consequences if the tape's not intact at the end of the day?

 

I'm pretty sure that my kid could use a rescue inhaler and tell if the med was active, even if he wasn't having an asthma attack, because there's always a little inflammation to respond. Could he try those and see?

 

Also, if he's playing close by, could he carry one sketchy epi pen and one "good one", figuring that you could run to him with a second in time if he called for help?

Thanks. I just had him take a puff, to see if he can tell.

 

I've just ordered three new styles of epibelt, to see if one is more comfortable than others.

 

We've made the agreement that if I see him playing outside without his epis, he will come in immediately and whoever is here will head home for a break. But that feels sort of arbitrary.

 

I think I'm going to try the tape idea, around the clasp of the epibelt, just to get him back in the habit.

 

Ugh!

[Spryte]

I am genuinely curious.....if he's playing at the house, why does he have occasion to have it outside anyway? My 7yr old's friend has an epi pen because he's allergic to bee stings. When he comes over, he or his mom hand me the holder, and I set it on the entertainment center so that it's easy to find and access if I need it, but it's out of the way. Then...I sent them in the back yard to run in the sprinkler or whatever. Is there a reason to have him carrying it while he's playing in the back yard? I am genuinely asking....I don't know.

He has to wear it when he leaves our yard, house rules. We live in a kid friendly neighborhood, at the end of a cul de sac. So today he was with a group of kids at various houses in our cul de sac, hunting frogs down at our pond which is out of sight, and also playing on our driveway and in our basement. Rather than come get it each time he leaves, he usually just wears it. The kids sort of roam and hang out, though mostly they hang out at our house.

 

He's 12, and getting more freedom. Learning to be responsible about his epis is part of his process of growing up.

 

At 7, he didn't self-carry. It's a relatively new thing.

[Julie Smith]

Could you in the morning do a few loose stitches and sew it onto him in such a way that he can still go to the washroom but can't take it off. Once he is in the habit of not removing it ever, then you can stop sewing it on?

 

(My special needs nephew went through a period where he just loved to take off his clothes. He was at an age where this was very inappropriate. He was also at an ability level, and an age where you couldn't just put him in a backwards one piece jumper. To break him of his new found habit his clothes where sewn on. You just needed a few quick stitches. (He was in diapers still at this time, so no worries about rushing to the bathroom) after a couple days he stopped trying and he no longer needed his clothes sewn on. )

[Spryte]

Could you in the morning do a few loose stitches and sew it onto him in such a way that he can still go to the washroom but can't take it off. Once he is in the habit of not removing it ever, then you can stop sewing it on?

 

(My special needs nephew went through a period where he just loved to take off his clothes. He was at an age where this was very inappropriate. He was also at an ability level, and an age where you couldn't just put him in a backwards one piece jumper. To break him of his new found habit his clothes where sewn on. You just needed a few quick stitches. (He was in diapers still at this time, so no worries about rushing to the bathroom) after a couple days he stopped trying and he no longer needed his clothes sewn on. )

What a creative idea! Thank you!

 

It's completely possible, too, and I'll discuss that idea with him. He might actually appreciate an invisible reminder like that.