Shot Night

Our daughter was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) at the age of 5. At that time, she had active arthritis in 8 of her knuckle joints on her hands. Six months later, she had it in both temporomandibular joints (TMJ) and 6 months after that it was in her neck.

The treatment for JIA can range from anti-inflammatory drugs to infusions. And everything between.

She immediately started on weekly Methotrexate injections. We were so overwhelmed about giving our 5-year-old shots. She cried, I cried, my husband cried, and her sisters cried. I could not believe how hard it was to give her those shots each week.

Now, 4 years later, she takes 3 injections a week. Shot night is still awful. But, we are coming up with ideas to help each week.

We have tried so many ways to make getting the shots easier for her. We have let her pick what time, who gives the shot, whether she wants to take it while she is awake or while she is asleep. But each way has its own pros and cons.

No, it does not get any easier, but we do our best to make it as non-traumatic as possible for all of us.

She likes to get “shot presents.” In the beginning, it was a small little Disney toy, a cup, or a cute new pencil. Now that she has gotten older, she is into bargaining with us to buy bigger shot presents that will be for 2 months’ worth of weekly shots! Still, for her, it is another little way she can make choices about her shots.

When a child has a chronic illness, there are many things they must have done to them. And most of the time, they have no choice in the matter. So if letting her pick her shot present makes her life easier, I am all for it!

I want her to be as independent as possible. That means letting her help with her medical choices as much as possible. This will set her up to be a better advocate for herself as she continues to deal with her chronic illness into adulthood.

Help your child learn ways to live with their chronic illness.

Our daughter was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) at the age of 5. At that time, she had active arthritis in 8 of her knuckle joints on her hands. Six months later, she had it in both temporomandibular joints (TMJ) and 6 months after that it was in her neck.

The treatment for JIA can range from anti-inflammatory drugs to infusions. And everything between.

She immediately started on weekly Methotrexate injections. We were so overwhelmed about giving our 5-year-old shots. She cried, I cried, my husband cried, and her sisters cried. I could not believe how hard it was to give her those shots each week.

Now, 4 years later, she takes 3 injections a week. Shot night is still awful. But, we are coming up with ideas to help each week.

We have tried so many ways to make getting the shots easier for her. We have let her pick what time, who gives the shot, whether she wants to take it while she is awake or while she is asleep. But each way has its own pros and cons.

No, it does not get any easier, but we do our best to make it as non-traumatic as possible for all of us.

She likes to get “shot presents.” In the beginning, it was a small little Disney toy, a cup, or a cute new pencil. Now that she has gotten older, she is into bargaining with us to buy bigger shot presents that will be for 2 months’ worth of weekly shots! Still, for her, it is another little way she can make choices about her shots.

When a child has a chronic illness, there are many things they must have done to them. And most of the time, they have no choice in the matter. So if letting her pick her shot present makes her life easier, I am all for it!

I want her to be as independent as possible. That means letting her help with her medical choices as much as possible. This will set her up to be a better advocate for herself as she continues to deal with her chronic illness into adulthood.

Help your child learn ways to live with their chronic illness.