always ill.....anyone else have a child like this???

zoesmummy_2006

My 4 year old son always seems to be ill, since he was little theres always been something with him
severe nappy rash as a baby, the fantastic metanuim couldn't touch his when it was bad, even steroid cream from the drs struggled at times.

At 6 months old he started with meibomian cysts, the doctor we saw had never seen them in a baby before, theyve continued up to now, at least a few a year. He has eye drops for them but the doctors have said surgery can be an option too if the drops stop working.

He always catches whatevers going round, especially since starting playgroup and then school last sept, i think hes had about 15 days off ill which concerns me but his teachers arent worried from talking to them.

A couple of months back he had the sickness and diahorrea bug which was 7 days off school as he was really ill for 5 days and the school policy is clear for 48 hrs.

Hes had pretty much a constant cold and on/off cough since the cold weather hit.

Over the weekend his eye looked like it was developing a cyst again, and the dark circle under one seemed like a black eye, it was very pronounced. I had to wake him up yesterday morning and his eyes were stretched and the bridge of his nose was about twice its normal size. The doctors think he has an infection so have given him antibiotics, however he got up this morning and the swelling has moved under one eye too, its gunky and running constantly-back to the doctor and hes prescribed an eye cream but is baffled as to whats causing it. Hes said to see how he is tomorrow and if no better to let him know and he'll see him again to check it-I cant fault the doctor, hes been amazing and said he'll happily check him everyday til hes better.

It really does just seem to be one thing after another with him and its so horrible, I hate seeing him ill all the time and especially missing out on school because he does love it. But I cant send him like this at the min, hes clinging to me, and his eyes/face is so uncomfortable, plus id worry that they might make fun of his face at the min too. He doesnt look like himself at all right now.

His older sister is the opposite, she'll probably be really ill once a year (she had the S&D bug at same time as her brother-fun!!!!) but the array of coughs and colds etc that do the rounds schoolwise never seem to bother with her.

Does anyone else have a child like my son or is it just me????

marisco_2

zoesmummy_2006 wrote: »

He always catches whatevers going round, especially since starting playgroup and then school last sept, i think hes had about 15 days off ill which concerns me but his teachers arent worried from talking to them.

A couple of months back he had the sickness and diahorrea bug which was 7 days off school as he was really ill for 5 days and the school policy is clear for 48 hrs.

Hes had pretty much a constant cold and on/off cough since the cold weather hit.

This is quite usual when they start school. In time his immune system will strengthen and he should be ill less often. I am a year 3 teacher and over the past few months half the school have been off at one time or another.

When my youngest was born he was very poorly. It seemed to be one thing after another which is very draining for little ones and exhausting and worrying to witness as a mum. Sending you a big hug.

You are clearly very aware of all his needs and a caring mum. Just keep doing as you are, seek advice from your gp, keep him going on a healthy diet, plenty of liquids and lots of rest.

ladymarmalade222

The only advice I can give is to trust your mothers instinct and if you feel there is something not right, stand your ground until you get some answers. Has your son had any blood tests to check the usual levels?

My son was always poorly from the being a few days old. I knew deep down that there was a serious issue but the GP and hospital thought it was all in my head. The Gp's receptionist used to say "what is wrong with him today"? when I used to take him to the surgery in a bad way. He just seemed to have a constant temperature and lots of infections. Also his bowels were always loose and watery including blood, they still said it was me and kept offering Anti-Depressants.

He was 18 months old when I drove to the main children's hospital and said I was not going home until they did some tests and they would have to remove me by calling the police, I was that worried about my poor boy who was like a rag doll. I had so much calpol in the cupboard from the GP for his latest "Virus".

Unfortunately a few days later he was diagnosed with a rare condition where his immune system did not work and I was told he needed a Bone Marrow Transplant. He was so poorly and in such a mess by this time though he was not able to undergo the transplant until they could get rid of the infections, some of which took many months.

He has now had 2 transplants as the first one failed but is doing well. He is due to start secondary school in September and I am so proud of him. He spent so many years in hospital and still has other problems but he is a fighter.

Hopefully your little one will just be picking up the usual bugs and illnesses while his immune system is getting stronger but if you feel there is something not quite right I have found by experience that you really have to stand your ground and demand the answers to your questions.

I know my experience is of the extreme and my son's condition was so rare it is literally 1 in a million but I truly believe in Mother's Instinct and if only more doctors listened to us, after all we know our children better than anyone.

Good luck and I hope you get things sorted.

Let me know if I can be of any help.

Take Care xxx

annie_d

Yes. 26 years in I still have that child.

System

My middle son was always ill. I seemed to live at the doctors. Whatever was going round he'd get it. He would cough all night and wouldnt eat. Despite the hospital assurances that he was a healthy size and weight he would get terrible mouth ulcers when he was particularly run down. At the age of 23 months he was diagnosed as asthmatic. I could have told them that at a few months old as i was having to give him regular steamy baths to ease his congestion. At least with a diagnosis behind us he was able to use a nebulizer with the help of a spacer.

Then at the age of 4 he had a series of epileptic fits.

At the age of 7 he became a different boy. It was like a switch. He didnt need his nebulizers, didnt need the medication for his seizures and he ate like a horse.

My word ive cried buckets over that boy.... and i still do at times but for a different reason.:(

zoesmummy_2006

thankyou all so much, its sooooo nice to know im not alone feeling like this, all my friends with children seem to have such healthy children that hardly ever get ill, and all the kids hes at school with hardly ever seem to be ill too lol.

He eats me out of house and home fruit wise, grapes last 5 mins with him, then hes attacking oranges, apples and bananas. He eats most veg too so I cant fault him food wise, hes always been a good eater, though I have no idea where he puts it all cos hes so dinky, has only just outgrown age 3 next school trousers and is 5 in august lol. He only drinks water or warm choc milk at bedtime/if hes feeling off it.

Hes never had any blood tests or anything, but tbh I sometimes think the doctors think im over reacting or something, though at the min with this situation with his face I really cant fault them, the doctor we've seen has told me to call everyday and let him know how he is and he will see him everyday til its sorted so im happy that theyre taking me seriously.

When hes well hes happy and full of energy and like all his friends, but that seems few and far between at the min.

ladymarmalade222

If you have a good GP and you have confidence in him then that is half of the battle. Maybe make an appointment with him and tell him your concerns and that you would like either some blood tests carried out or a referral to a paediatrician at your local hospital, if he looks at your son's history he should agree if he thinks there has been an unusual amount of illness.

Try not to worry too much.

Hope you get things sorted xx

Blackpool_Saver

Hmmm, I would start with a full blood count

zoesmummy_2006

hes gone to his dads tonight, he didnt want to leave me but his dad was adamant he'd be ok once he was away from me. Have checked in as to how he is and he says hes still swollen and hes convinced its a sinus infection.

He also said it seemed to swell a bit more when he put the eye cream on (pharmacist said to rub it around his eye as its not easy to get into eyes, and especially seeing his) but that it seems to have gone back down again.

Guess we'll be back to the doctors again tomorrow so ill try and talk to him about my son always seeming to be ill. Fingers crossed he'll understand where im coming from-he only has to look at his records to see how many times hes been to the doctors for different illnesses.

gunsandbanjos

My daughter has been in and out of hospital since she was born, we've had 9 or 10 admissions with pneumonia that have landed her in the HDU as she also has a serious heart condition.
During her admissions for heart and spinal surgery she has picked up hospital acquired infections rotavirus (like the vomiting bug norovirus that went round at Xmas but worse!!) and C-Diff which kills more than MRSA oh joy! She nearly died from rotavirus, it was horrific.
She is now on continuous antibiotics and inhalers to keep her well.

beedeedee

annie_d wrote: »

Yes. 26 years in I still have that child.

Me too and 35 years in....... I also still have that child.
Mine was disgustingly healthy as a baby - but a bout of pneumonia did for him when he was 14......since then, his immune system seems to go into overdrive at the least little thing - and it knocks him out for up to a week at a time. Messes up his life.
I do hope they find out if there's an underlying cause for your child though.