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Post by Chris too on Jan 16, 2008 9:08:22 GMT -5
Stevie has been drinking out of the toilet She's always loved water, but we have to limit her to "theraputic tastes" for the most part because she aspirates thin liquids. Our OT has done a great job of bringing her to the point of being able to handle nectar thick liquids, but still no thins But water is Stevie's very favorite drink, so she sneaks it. We can't even leave water for the cat, and we have had to train everyone to SHUT THE DOOR to the bathroom when they're finished. Here's the trouble. Stevie is slowly, but steadily, moving through the potty-training stages. She's currently at the stage where she knows what she's doing &, most of the time, when she's doing it. I don't know how long she'll stay at this stage, but the next one is realization (with lots of help on my part) that everyone uses the potty for this activity. So I want her to "witness the act" Because I'm always looking to the next step, I have eased up on the SHUT THE DOOR tyranny. Consequently, we now have Stevie grabbing a hand towel, or a wad of toilet paper to dip into the potty to drink - UGH! - so back came the tyrant of the bathroom door. When I catch her at the potty, I spank her bottom, she frowns & sucks her lip while I clean it up. Typically I say something like "Not for Stevie!" but I can't say that about the potty when that's the next step in her training. I've resorted to saying "No playing in the potty!" But it's really not about play - she's getting a drink Any suggestions on how I can approach this would be greatly appreciated! Chris too
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Post by Chris on Jan 16, 2008 9:27:49 GMT -5
Yikes, Chris!!! That's a tough one. Wish I had a suggestion but I'm stumped. Chris
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Post by Googsmom aka Jennifer on Jan 16, 2008 9:53:26 GMT -5
Oh my.... big mouth me usually has something to say about everything, but this. I have no idea. Good luck to you. Someone out here will have some sort of anwser. Kinda like your stuck btwn a rock and a hard place. :/
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Post by damarasmom on Jan 16, 2008 10:27:59 GMT -5
Oh my! That's a new one for me...it really is a problem. I wish I could help, but it sounds like you might be on the right track. "no play" maybe you can try "not drinking water" "yucky" I don't know where her understanding is at. I don't think Damara would get that, but it's worth a try?? Sorry, I sure hope someone can help you
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Post by Jenifer on Jan 16, 2008 11:47:34 GMT -5
How about installing a toilet lid lock that you have to take off for Stevie to open the potty? Presumably you'll always accompany her when she goes to sit on the potty, so you can open it up and let her go, and then lock it back up. That way, she won't be physically able to open the lid when she's feeling thirsty. Here's a good-looking device you can order online, but I think most discount and hardware stores also carry these. www.123safe.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/scstore/p-1071615AC.html?E+scstoreGood luck! Jenifer, mom to Joy Daisy
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Post by lorraine on Jan 16, 2008 14:34:47 GMT -5
Eugh that's really not nice Sorry I don't have any helpful advice but the seat lock does sound a good idea. Hope this is just a phase that passes really quickly. Lorraine
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Post by laurasnowbird on Jan 16, 2008 16:53:25 GMT -5
Hmm, my littlest, Aidan likes potty water. We've dealt with it by saying "EEEEWWWWWW, not for DRINKING!!" and then get him something appropriate to drink.
Just wondering though, is she aspirating when she is getting the liquid from a washcloth? Maybe that would be a good interim step for her to drink water. Aidan LOVES to suck on a cold washcloth, and he has no issues with drinking, so we make a point of giving it to him in his high chair, then he knows its "OK for drinking!!"
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Post by Chris too on Jan 16, 2008 22:42:32 GMT -5
The lid lock might help her make the connection that the lid is only lifted when we potty. I will give that one a go. I'm with you on the phase passing quickly, and we are working overtime right now to get her to swallow more quickly. Yes, Laura, we do let her drink water from a wash cloth & it does limit her bolus size which does reduce the aspirating. We have not, however limited this type of drinking to her high chair, so it is how she learned to dip and suck I do the eeewww and yucky and nasty. She even says yucky and eewwie, and raspberries with it to show that it's nasty, but she's still sneaking a dip when we're not looking We will try the lid lock and keep up with making as many distinctions as possible, and meanwhile do our "homework" to speed up and strengthen that swallow so that she can soon have as much of her favorite beverage as she wants - but from the tap Thanks for the ideas & encouragement! Keep 'em coming Chris too
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Post by victoriasdad on Jan 18, 2008 23:54:14 GMT -5
how about pop sickles?
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Post by Claire on Jan 19, 2008 2:10:26 GMT -5
Adam now 10 was on thicken fluids and pureed foods until he was 5 because of aspirational problems. One thing that we had to do to get him used to different tastes because he couldn't have fluid was to let him suck on a really wet cloth. Either water or juices. I was always afraid he would aspirate of course, but the therapist had told us that the danger for aspiration were mostly with foods and milk products as they cause bacterial pneumonia and not water or juices. But talk to your doctor or therapist before trying these. So that maybe some way she still gets to have some water, and also the lock on the lid is a great idea. Good luck and keep us posted.
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Post by Chris too on Jan 19, 2008 10:12:18 GMT -5
Pop sickles are a great therapy tool, but not for unsupervised use in a child that aspirates thin liquids. They melt all over the tongue & go slipity-slidy off the back of the tongue without benefit of a swallow - so straight into the airway. Clair, we do use wet cloths, hence her knowledge of how to dip & suck from the potty bowl I suppose we could sit her in her chair and keep wetting the cloth for her - can't give her a bowl of water 'cause she'll gulp it from that. But that is pretty restrictive. We might just get to that level of desparation, but not yet. I've gotten sodas in 1/2 cans to use to do therapy at home: the bubbles and cold speed up the swallow time. We'll give her this in an open cup with hand-over-hand to control bolus size. I've gotten apple sauce to place, with a straw or long spoon on the very back of her tongue so that all she can do with it is swallow. This might increase her attention to the sension of something on the back of her tongue & teach her to react to that with a swallow - hopefully a quick one. We're getting her to repeat the "guh" and "kuh" sounds throughout the day to strengthen and call her attention to those muscles. All these are intended to use habit to overcome weakness. Same thing with sucking the belly in We're tryin'! Chris too
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Post by mollysmomma on Jan 20, 2008 16:11:28 GMT -5
bwaaaaaaaahahahahahhaha
no help here, but i really needed a chuckle today! Leave it to a sister to worry more about aspiration of thin liquids... THAN THE TOILET!!
i feel your pain
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Post by Chris too on Jan 21, 2008 14:13:04 GMT -5
E, it took me a whole day to figure out what you said, and it is brilliant! Why am I more worried about her aspirating water from a clean cup when it could very well prevent her aspirating toilet water??? I would worry about her learning bad swallowing habits, but any swallow is better than none & she's getting plenty of training on the right way. I'm going to do this right away. I love you, E!!! Chris too
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