I'm 13 and I have asthma, though my mom hasn't gotten the prescription filled for the inhaler and isn't going to. Could I get it filled myself, without her permission?

she thinks MDs are bad, or something.

?

Maybe your best bet would be to find out why your mom wont get the prescription or you.

DO you have money Sarah? Do you have access to get to a pharmacy w/out your parents knowledge?

I really am going to say again, you may need to speak with CPS or at least find a medical professional ally. You need to get all of your medical issues handled.

@sarah826 again, when you post questions you should be filling the collective in to your entire situation

@everyone: Sarah is 13, homeschooled, parents do not trust medical professionals (other than a chiropractor) and Sarah has been diagnosed with asthma.

I didn’t think you need to be over 18 to pick up a prescription? But, I still wonder why your mom is so hesitant? I too am very negative about doctors and medication, but go when I need to and take medication when necessary. Does your mom question your diagnosis? Maybe you need a second opinion to make her more comfortable. The son of a girlfriend of mine was put on asthma medication, which she felt was unnecessary and believed it was stunting his growth. After almost a year on the medication, I won’t tell you the entire story, she took him off the medicine against medical advice, he immediately started to grow and did fine off of the medicine.

You really need to talk to CPS I know you might not want to, but your life is important too. But on the perscription aspect, call the local pharmacy, and ask.
@sarah826 We wouldn’t be telling this is we didn’t care.

@sarah826 How are your symptoms today? Any stabbing lung pains? Are you feeling like you’re out of breath?

I mean this in the best possible way….If you are not feeling well I think you should get yourself to an ER somehow. Let the professionals at the hospital help you sort all of this out.

I’m so glad other people have said it, as I’ve been holding off on responding to your questions because I feel so strongly about it. What your parents are doing (withholding medical care) is tantamount to neglect in my book. You really need to call CPS so you can be healthy! Asthma is not a joke and you really should try getting that inhaler prescription filled. I don’t think a pharmacist would deny an inhaler prescription to someone your age.

Ugh. CPS does not need to get involved. Look here and here.

You do not need meds to control asthma or asthma attacks. I have done it for years. I am 35 and I haven’t had a bad attack since I was 19.

Just talk to your parents. Tell them you are scared. Tell them you want an inhaler and you do not think it’s fair for them to deny you peace of mind.

Even mild asthma needs to be controlled. This condition is best controlled for a minor with a parent/doctor partnership.

If you have the prescription, you can get it filled. Could you possibly talk to the doctor who diagnosed you and explain the situation? They may have samples or coupons available.

It sounds like there are some other issues at hand, though.

I have and have has asthma since I was 5. I had it bad, like having to be hospitalized bad. I am ok. And you will be okay. The worrying is worse for you than the asthma itself.

I think that CPS is an awfully strong first step.

Asthma is a chronic disease that can only be managed and controlled. It will not go away.

Asthma is nothing to fool around with and untreated could, depending on severity, cause serious effects, and in extreme cases, death. It is nothing to try to handle on your own, whether @tinyfaery has been successful or not, is no indicator that you would be.

I think the best course would be to sit down with your folks at a time when you have put your thoughts together to present to them ahead of time and when you are feeling calm.

Here is a sample dialogue to give you a start. Put it into your words.

“Mom, dad, I respect your beliefs about medicine and the medical profession.

However, I feel differently about these issues. I would like you to recognize and support my choices for taking care of my health.

Not being able to breathe comfortably is a very scary feeling. I want to fill the prescription for the rescue inhaler for my asthma. It is important to relieve my anxiety that if I get in trouble, I can help myself.”

Your doctor probably also referred you to an asthma educator. That would be a very important session for you so you can learn about self-care, symptoms to watch for, how to chart your asthma triggers (time of day or night; any trigger from exercise, allergens that may cause an asthma attack for you, etc.

Tell your parents that getting the knowledge you need to manage your condition is important.

If they are really close-minded and do not respond well to your reasoned approach, my suggestion would be to enlist a clergyman or a teacher you trust to speak with your parents again. A school professional, if your parents do not respond, would be able to initiate a Child Protective Services inquiry on your behalf without you being implicated by your parents if it were to come to that.

I am so sorry this is happening to you. Please take care of yourself. Keep us posted on what happens.

@Marina Sarah is homeschooled. Her mom is her teacher. That keeps a school counselor, or teacher to speak to out of this picture.

@Marina It will not go away.
as others have mentioned, people often outgrow asthma. just a thought

@SpatzieLover Good point.

@sarah826 Does your Mom allow you to participate in any of the public school programs for home schoolers? If not, here is a hotline resource:

“888–711-TEEN
888–711-8336
Weekdays,12 – 8 p.m.
Weekends, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Teenage Health Resource Line
Confidential health information for teens.”

Source

@Marina GA!

@patg7590 Sorry, not so for very many people, if any:

“There is ample evidence from the literature and our own studies that most young adults who consider themselves grown out of asthma just appear to be asymptomatic.”

From: Does asthma ever go away?

@Marina ah, good to know…perhaps I fall into this group

@sarah826 This may not be very helpful. I saw your other question and didn’t really feel that I had a good answer, but it got me interested and I did a bit of research. Apparently, many states have laws that allow parents to withhold medical care for religious reasons, like faith healers, for example. If your parents aren’t doing this because of their religious beliefs, just because they have a general dislike of doctors, I don’t think they have legal protections that allow them to do this. So in the end, the law would be on your side. I know you’re home schooled, but are there any trustworthy adults you can get to and talk to? Aunts, uncles, other homeschool parents, or anything? That would be a good first step.

why do people think they are smarter than doctors…

@Marina My mother was one of those that thought miraculously that her asthmatic bronchitis vanished at adulthood. She had to suffer with a bad bout of Pneumonia to make her realize how wrong she was.

Yes. I think a pharmacy wold fill your prescription for you if you have the money to pay for it. You really need to work this out with your mom though. This is at least the third post I have seen you write about your mom not allowing you to get proper medical care.

@sarah826 obviously saw a doctor, she has a prescription. So, I am assuming her mother is not withholding all medical help. That is why I am wondering why exactly her mother is not wanting to give her daughter the medication? We don’t have all of the information on the situation. I state all of the time that I hate doctors and that they left for me sick and have misdiagnosed me previously, but I still value doctors, their education, and knowledge. So what we say when frustrated does not always fully represent what we really feel overall. This could be the sace with Sarah’s mother since there is conflicting information. I would need to hear from the mother to make a real judgment. A few people above made the suggestion that @sarah826 tell her parents that she is nervous about her condition. I think that is a good idea. And someone else mentioned letting clergy know, another good idea if your parents partly deny medical treatment for religious reasons, unless of course your church reinforces this attitude.

Or, @sarah826 call the doctor who prescribed the medication yourself, or send an email if the doctor has a website. If the doctor feels it is critical or neglectful he will by law have to report it.

I know I’ve been asking alot of questions that you all might think are about the same thing, but it’s just me getting closer and closer to getting this worked out.
I had this when I was younger, but she thought I had been miraculously been cured by the chiropractor or that I had outgrown it. I think it just got a little better and now it’s coming back with full force.

@sarah826 How are you feeling today?

@SpatzieLover – Normal. Which means having to yawn and sit up really straight to take a deep breath, but normal.

@sarah826 Did you go to either of the sites I linked? There is help there for you.

haven’t got around to it yet. just a sec.

Perhaps you should get an adult in your life that you can trust to work with you on medical issues. A school counselor or a therapist might be a good idea. Or even a neighbor or friend’s parent.

@sarah826 Please keep us updated, we do care about you. If you think this is an emergency situation (five days ago, apparently) call 911 and explain to the attendants what is happening to you.

I have not read any of the other answers, but here is mine: your mother has an obligation to feed and house you. this also means taking care of your medical needs. if you have not done so, call the police. explain the situation to the officer. he will call for Child Services and you will receive your inhaler. your mother may also be arrested, so expect this. john

@sarah826 – Start by following the dialog that @marinelife told you.

If that doesn’t work, what about your father?

If that doesn’t work, and you have the prescription and the money yourself, go get your prescription filled.

If that doesn’t work, call or email the doctor. Doctors often get free samples from drug salespeople that they then give to people on a tight budget.

If that still doesn’t work, then tell your mom that if she doesn’t get your medicine for you, then you’re going to call the police (as @john65pennington just said). But give her that ultimatum before you actually call the police—having your mom arrested is a big step with severe consequences…like peing put in foster care.

@sarah826 doesn’t seem to be around anymore, just FYI.