Do OT's make house calls?

[Nicole M]

Hi,
Hannah had her chicken pox vaccine a week and a half ago and now she ended up getting it! She has pox covering her entire body, the poor thing. Anyway, she is supposed to have therapy twice a week and I think going 2 weeks without it because she is supposed to be quarantined would be a bad idea. So, I don't really know what to do. I was wondering if any of you have had a therapy house call? Any chicken pox advice would help me too. I got her some Aveeno oatmeal bath and some liquid Benadryl per nurse's instructions. Any other info? Thanks guys!

[Tracey]

Both my OT's make house calls. Some places don't let you do that though. Is it a private company or is it like ECI? Just ask them. Good luck with the chicken pox thing. I hope Hannah gets to feeling better soon!

Tracey

[Tessie258]

When my son was seen by the Department for Developmental disabilities they came to the house. I'm pretty sure it is a federal program.
So sorry to hear about the chicken pox...They can be very painful....I myself am allergic to oatmeal so I don't use aveeno...I always used calamine lotion.
Good luck!
T.

[CW1992]

Hi! Chicken pox! Brought back lots of memories. Brittney was 25 months old when she got them and she was so proud to have the "pops". Two weeks isn't really that long to go without formal therapy - there is plenty of therapy type things you and Hannah could do at home to keep her using her arm. I wouldn't get too worried about taking a break from the therapist right now - her chicken pox are more important. There is motrin/advil for the pain, itching, and possible fever. I bet y'all think sometimes I get a bit too perky but Britt and I actually had so much fun when she had the "pops". We went through so much calamine lotion (the pink stuff) for itching but we also used it more for body paint. Britt would help me put it on her pox. Her favorite doll was a cabbage patch (plastic face) and I gave her some old lipstick to poc him up with and she put calamine all over the dolls pox too. She ended up getting them pretty bad, even all over her head and ears. I think she looked the worst when they started to heal and were scabs. Even though she was safe to leave the house - other people were pulling their kids away from her in grocery stores. I'm really glad that I took a lot of pictures of her all spotted up. She got the chicken pox before the vaccine had come out and my second child never did get them (she got the vaccine) and is jealous! Be careful not to let her scratch the scabs off - it's easy to scar. Anyway Nicole - I hope I helped somehow. I hope you have fun with Hannah and make some great memories.

[Alice]

I know of other people that got the shot and ended up the the chicken pox. Not sure why....I also think that 2 weeks without therapy is not too bad. You can do lots of fun things. Good luck.

[Missy]

Sorry to hear that Hannah has the chicken pox! Mitchell had them before Christmas, and Alex got them on New Years Day. Alex(2) got them VERY bad...on his eyelids, in his ears, in his rectum...everywhere. Then he got hives on TOP of his pox. It was terrible!

We used Aveeno baths, made baking soda paste with water and spread it on the kids, used benadryl (Zyrtec for Alex) for the itching and tylenol for fevers. (Make sure you give luke warm baths.) Also, what seemed to help the most as far as topical itching was Aveeno diaper rash ointment. It has that same oatmeal base that the bath stuff has, and it really seemed to help. Just spread it on.

As far as the therapy goes, maybe you both could use a break. Do some stuff at home...but let her rest and recooperate. Buy popsicles and ice cream, break out the crafting stuff, take lots of pictures and enjoy some cuddle time!!

Hope Hannah feels better soon,
Missy

[marymom]

yes they do but I would assume noone who works professionally with children would want to go to your house untill your daughter is not contageous anymore-
You might want to ask yourself what it is that the therapist does that you think is so important so that next time you can ask her and watch and learn- Im betting you already know and are fully able to do little things with her thruout the day that are even more fun and beneficial than the short limited sessions that the worker has with her-
happy scratching
ps- vinegar baths- and baking soda baths too- but not at the same time lol

[TNT1999]

Hi, Nicole. Sorry, I don't have any chicken pox experience or advice, but it looks like you got some good info. already. Regarding the therapy, I agree with the others on taking a break perhaps. Do you have therapy provided by Early Intervention in your state though? They usually do go to the home anyway. However, they prob. wouldn't want to go to your house at that time. Also, there are some private therapists who will go to a home, but again, prob. wouldn't want to at this time. So, I suppose you could call the existing therapist(s) and ask and see what they say. I would think most of them would just recommend a break though. Well, take care and I hope Hannah's feeling better soon. Hopefully, you can make some fun out of it as Christy did. I think a lot of it comes down to attitude and looks like Christy's positive attitude rubbed off on Brittney. -Tina

[CW1992]

Thanks Tina! That was very nice of you to say:)

[francine]

I hope Hannah's feeling better soon. Another remedy to use if she's allergic to the oatmeal is Domeboro Powder - - you mix it in water and do a sponge bath with it.

Kids don't do well with therapy when they are sick and I'm sure therapists don't want to work on sick kids either. Time to bring out the 'old craft box! Hope Hannah feels better enough soon to have some fun with you!

-francine