Growing up I read books by David Eddings, a good author of both young adult and adult fantasy. One of the many quotes from his books that has stuck with me is, "Medicine tastes bad so you won't want to get sick." That is not an exact quote, but the paraphrase is accurate and is a thought I've expressed to my children whenever they ask why medicine tastes bad. This weekend we were all feeling under the weather and so procured some medicine to help combat it.
Personally, there is little that I medicate myself for. Any medicine I buy generally expires before I'm done with it. With the exception of sever congestion or a persistent cough, I generally just suffer through it. This is for no particular reason, I just don't medicate. However, Tigger has the poor condition of vomiting if he coughs too hard for too long. A cough suppressant is something we always try to have on hand. That is the chief medication we got this weekend. Kanga seemed quite happy and kept on asking us if it was time to take her medicine. Angel and I were a little worried about her enthusiasm and so we sat her down and told her that it was very important not to take medicine without her mother of father there. I then told her a story.
When I was about six or seven my family was at a cabin on vacation. We were leaving that day and so Mom, Dad, and my older sister Muscles were all packing and putting things back where they belonged. I felt a little sick - it felt like a headache and I kept on try to ask Mom or Dad for something to help me feel better. I probably wasn't sick, I just didn't like all the activity and the packing up. Since no one was paying attention to me I found my way to the kitchen where the medicines were kept. I took down a bottle of orange Triaminic, a very sweet tasting cough suppressant. I was six, medicine is medicine. When you're sick you take it - I had no idea that there were different kinds of medicine. I proceeded to dose myself with a teaspoon. When my little sister, M, showed up I shared with her. Between the two of us we drained the bottle (or just about all of it) by the time my parents found us.
I remember only how worried they were when they drove us to the hospital. I understand they gave us Syrup of Ipecac, designed to induce vomiting. M threw her's right up. However, I was stubborn. I didn't throw up, I have no idea why. My next clear memory is of a sample cup half full of the blackest liquid I have ever seen then and since. even dirty engine oil gave off more light than this. In all of my life I have never come across a substance as black as that. It's what I imagine the void of space or a black hole to look like. I remember drinking it and finding it utterly disgusting. I think they gave me two (maybe three) cups of the stuff - probably four to six ounces total. I remember wanting to throw up but not. That stuff was liquid charcoal. Think of a liquid form of a Bar-b-Que brickette and you've got what they made me drink. I originally thought it was to get me to vomit, but it's purpose was to absorb the contents of my stomach so I could pass it safely. You can bet that I never got into the medicine cupboard again.
Kanga was apprehensive about my story, but then Angel talked about when she got into the medicine cupboard as a kid. She was dosed with Ipecac and when it didn't work, she was dosed again. So, after overdosing on numerous medications she was overdosed on Ipecac. She couldn't stop vomiting for a day or two. So, now our daughter knows what happens if you get into the medicine cupboard without Mom or Dad. How did Kanga handle Angel's story? She broke down crying and swearing that she would never take medicine without us.
Interestingly enough, while Angel can't stand the thought of using any of the medicines she over dosed on, I still found Triaminic quite tasty.
Personally, there is little that I medicate myself for. Any medicine I buy generally expires before I'm done with it. With the exception of sever congestion or a persistent cough, I generally just suffer through it. This is for no particular reason, I just don't medicate. However, Tigger has the poor condition of vomiting if he coughs too hard for too long. A cough suppressant is something we always try to have on hand. That is the chief medication we got this weekend. Kanga seemed quite happy and kept on asking us if it was time to take her medicine. Angel and I were a little worried about her enthusiasm and so we sat her down and told her that it was very important not to take medicine without her mother of father there. I then told her a story.
When I was about six or seven my family was at a cabin on vacation. We were leaving that day and so Mom, Dad, and my older sister Muscles were all packing and putting things back where they belonged. I felt a little sick - it felt like a headache and I kept on try to ask Mom or Dad for something to help me feel better. I probably wasn't sick, I just didn't like all the activity and the packing up. Since no one was paying attention to me I found my way to the kitchen where the medicines were kept. I took down a bottle of orange Triaminic, a very sweet tasting cough suppressant. I was six, medicine is medicine. When you're sick you take it - I had no idea that there were different kinds of medicine. I proceeded to dose myself with a teaspoon. When my little sister, M, showed up I shared with her. Between the two of us we drained the bottle (or just about all of it) by the time my parents found us.
I remember only how worried they were when they drove us to the hospital. I understand they gave us Syrup of Ipecac, designed to induce vomiting. M threw her's right up. However, I was stubborn. I didn't throw up, I have no idea why. My next clear memory is of a sample cup half full of the blackest liquid I have ever seen then and since. even dirty engine oil gave off more light than this. In all of my life I have never come across a substance as black as that. It's what I imagine the void of space or a black hole to look like. I remember drinking it and finding it utterly disgusting. I think they gave me two (maybe three) cups of the stuff - probably four to six ounces total. I remember wanting to throw up but not. That stuff was liquid charcoal. Think of a liquid form of a Bar-b-Que brickette and you've got what they made me drink. I originally thought it was to get me to vomit, but it's purpose was to absorb the contents of my stomach so I could pass it safely. You can bet that I never got into the medicine cupboard again.
Kanga was apprehensive about my story, but then Angel talked about when she got into the medicine cupboard as a kid. She was dosed with Ipecac and when it didn't work, she was dosed again. So, after overdosing on numerous medications she was overdosed on Ipecac. She couldn't stop vomiting for a day or two. So, now our daughter knows what happens if you get into the medicine cupboard without Mom or Dad. How did Kanga handle Angel's story? She broke down crying and swearing that she would never take medicine without us.
Interestingly enough, while Angel can't stand the thought of using any of the medicines she over dosed on, I still found Triaminic quite tasty.
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