Is it unusual for an 11 year old to be unable to swallow pills?
I wasn't able to swallow pills until I was about 14. I still can't swallow vitamins and other big pills. The method that dcp uses is the only way I can swallow pills, too. Though with the kind of pill that's powder inside a capsule, it's easier if you tilt your head forward, because then the pill floats up to the top, right by your throat.
I think I learned how to swallow pills by practicing with Tic-Tacs first.
(Also, when he's first trying it out, watch him while he's doing it until you're sure he can swallow the pills without trouble. The four-year-old son of a friend of my father's recently died from choking on a pill.)
Pills I can take like a pro--liquids not so much. Cough syrup=Hell
My older sister still can't swallow pills any bigger than the round Advil, and Nick has trouble because of a constriction in his esophagus. So, 11 is not too young, imo. I learned early and practiced often, but I think I'm kind of a freak.
Our Ben still has problems swallowing pills, Cindy. He does better with the gel-coated capsules, but powdery tablets are hard. Stephen wet one with his fingertip and rolled it in sugar, and got him to swallow them that way.
Also, the practicing with TicTacs thing Hil mentioned might work.
You can buy a pill cup at most drug stores. It has a little shelf in it, you fill it with water, put the pill on the shelf and then drink it down. Also a friend of mine recently suggested putting the pill Under my tongue and it works like a charm! You never taste the pill and when you take the drink of water the pill surfs the wave right down your throat.
I do fairly well with pills, but lots of people have problems even as adults
JZ's only really been able to get pills down regularly in the last few years. Still takes a fairly conscious and concerted effort on her part.
Steph, thanks so much for the recipe. It sounds awesome. I'm going to pick up some apples tomorrow and try it.
State of the obsession:
Spring Awakening
is just as good the sixth time as the first five. This time I was on the third row, so I got that whole "so close to the actors OMG" feeling that I love, even as I lost my view of some of the great lighting and choreography you can see much better from further back.
State of the career:
I got a LOT of work done this weekend, but I fear it STILL wasn't enough. Oh well. I'll get up in 5.5 hours and be at school by 7:00 (two hours before classes start) and hopefully I'll get most everything ready to go.
I'm wrapping up my weekend, good and bad.
Good:
- finished writing something, and the very act of navel-gazing about the thing has inspired potential meta about finding footings in fandoms and ways of getting to a point where longer, plottier stuff is possible. (Though, clearly, YMMV with that one.)
- searching through the fridge for banana YoBaby (there wasn't any) led to the discovery of one last little can of Sofia, currently open, enstrawed, and dashed with bitters, in true Juice Box for Mommy fashion.
- accidental nappage means the fog of The Night Shift with Molar and the Gang is less foggy.
- discovered caramel is now too sweet, and french toast no longer appeals.
Bad:
- mood swings, thy name is teething toddler.
- my hamstrings hurt like hell, no doubt due to wearing heels to the team party last night.
- had to pumpkinize really early, and missed out on hours of hanging with my peeps.
- only one can of Sofia left, and it is half consumed.
- still have to deal with passport crap in preparation for the Great Die Off of the previous generation.
- well drinks, or, rather, well drink (just the one) left me aching this morning.
- discovered caramel is now too sweet, and french toast no longer appeals after ordering my breakfast, which was french toast with marscapone, figs, and whiskey caramel sauce.
- failed to go to the gym.
Gronk.
Why can't the weekend be longer?
