Constantly sick children (bit long sorry!)

owsaboutthatthen

I've been having a nightmare these last couple of months. My son started getting ear infections earlier this year causing him to have stomach aches, temperatures and being sick. He has already had about three courses of antibiotics this year to treat them. However he started being ill again the day before he was due to start nursery for the first time in Sept with similar symptoms. We were due to go on holiday the week after. He still went to nursery that week but thought I would get him checked out out at the docs before we went on holiday just in case another course of antibiotics was needed. They were and we went away with him needing to take the course. While we were away he started with this really weird rash like hives. We were there 7 days and he got it the last 3-4 days of the holiday. I was so upset because not only did he feel like he did, although still attempting to enjoy himself, he had this rash developing too. Antihistamines and a Spanish version of calpol were prescribed. He was sick one of the days too which didn't help. Anyway the rash cleared when we got home however took him to docs to be on safe side to explain his symptoms again. A urine sample went off but came back normal. Doc said the rash was probably an allergic reaction to light, detergent, something he ate and the rest of his symptoms probably a virus he is struggling to get rid of.

The following week he got worse again complaining of same symptoms and he was sick twice. Took him back to docs and a stronger course of antibiotics was given. He finished the course and he seemed to be a bit better again until last week! Sick again and not himself at all. Back to docs we went and was told it was still same virus but nothing was prescribed because he needed to build up his immune system which was understandable. Anyway this turned out to be a stomach bug after feeding him and he was still sick after 3 nights! Starved him just gave him drinks then he seemed ok and fed him as normal but then he started with the runs! At this stage he passed on the bug to his little sister and I had her being sick for nearly a week with similar symptoms! Went to docs with her and said there is only so much starving you can do just try her with bits and just let it run its course which is where i'm at now - my daughter hasn't been sick for two days now and my son just has the last effects of the runs. Faeces samples have been sent off to be tested just in case.

I'm a single parent and finding times really hard, especially with sick children. I'm not getting much help because the family I do have helping don't want to catch whatever they have had (i've had a few symptoms but not been sick yet touch wood!). I feel like I want to break down and I actally did yesterday because it is such hard work. I've the doc in one ear saying "feed them and let it run its course" and my mum saying "starve them even more because you'll regret it"! All this plus actually dealing with them keep being poorly is driving me crazy!

I know this happens all the time but i'm a worrier and just wondered if any of you have been in my position? Friendly advice/help needed please xx

redruby

No advice really, just trust your instincts, Take care of yourself too hun,
have a hug xx :grouphug:

denton6

Hi could it be he is allergic to the antibitic that was taken .I know my son had a couple of courses of antibitics and he came out in a rash.They put it on his notes at the drs and just give him a different type when he needs them now.Hope you are all feeling better soon its so awful when little ones are ill and then you get stuck in the house aswell and cant go anywhere.Sending hugs your way,take care.

Carmina_Piranha_3

we're not supposed to give medical advice on here, so this isn't advice and i'm just another mum. about starving etc. i have found that some children want to starve and others don't.

just sending you a hug! it's horrible dealing with poorly toddlers especially if you have no help. sometimes my mum helped when my eldest was ill but other times she couldn't if my gran was ill because mum would have passed the bug on to gran when she visited. i wouldn't want to risk my gran's health but sometimes when you're covered in vomit you just want somebody else to come and help out!

nzmegs

I totally sympathise. Both my kids came down with chicken pox within 2 weeks of each other. i do not get paid if i miss time off work to look after them while they are sick. So I lost a lot of money which i have tried to make up by working extra hours - now i am feeling rough and extremely tired from doing too much and think i might come down with something.

All i can say is that your kids need you and take some strength from the fact that as a Mum you are the person they want with them when they are ill, it's not Dad, or Gran or the lady next door - it is you. And what that means is that you are doing a brilliant job and they love you. When this period of illness is over you will feel good that you coped and you were there for them as best you could.

Shona_3

Starve versus feed - I think the body knows itself what it needs best. If the child has an appetite then let him eat, if the gut needs a rest the appetite will naturally be reduced. Trying to starve a hungry and frustrated child will cause both of you to pull your hair out, likewise stuffing food into a child with no appetite will do the same.
As the above poster said, trust your instincts.

Carmina_Piranha_3

i remember my son having a tummy bug when he was 2, it seemed to last forever. it was called rotavirus i think.

he wanted to starve, but my other boy always wants to keep eating when he feels ill, and i'm the same. i would let your children decide for themselves. i've heard that having a virus sometimes makes people lactose intolerant for a few weeks - if this might be the case then avoiding dairy as much as possible might help reduce the tummy ache and runs a bit. but it might not, obviously do some research before cutting out anything and don't just take my word for it

Madmel

First of all, you deserve a hug (((())))

My kids always had some bug or another whilst they were at nursery. It drove me bonkers! I was juggling doing a bit of teaching whilst DH had them in his office then dashing back so he could lecture.

What worked like a charm for us was a tonic called Minadex which you can get in Tesco. It tastes quite nice and it has vitamins in it. We gave them a teaspoon at breakfast and it made a massive difference. Instead of a permanent cold/bug/conjunctivitis, they got only 2 or 3 each winter.

As they get older, their immune system improves and they do seem to grow out of it. Mine rarely take time off school for illness (1 day last year for one, none for the other) and I start them on the tonic as soon as the first sniffle appears. If they don't like it, it will hopefully give you the energy to keep going

Savvy_Sue

On dairy while sick, Dr Christopher Green gives the most sensible advice in Toddler Taming (which I can't recommend highly enough!) - he says if a child feels sick or is being sick, then avoid dairy, not because it will make any difference, but because vomited dairy is disgusting ...

I think he recommends flat lemonade. You can flatten lemonade by stirring it if you haven't got any ready flattened, IYSWIM.

Carmina_Piranha_3

vomited jelly babies are much nicer than vomited dairy :rotfl:

Savvy_Sue

Not for the jelly babies ... :eek: