To be sooooo unbelievably fed up of the endless illness...

[Putmedownforanap]

My husband and I have two children who are 3 and 9 months. Both are adopted, which is not at all relevant except to explain why our 9 month old has only been with us for 3 months. About 4 weeks before our son was placed we all had a horrendous stomach bug. Since he has been placed it seems like the illnesses (and injury, our toddler also fell and broke her nose!) have been pretty much constant. I feel completely broken and worn down. It's ruining everything and making each day feel like an endurance test. I have even wondered if there could be something wrong with my immune system? We've had eye and ear infections, sickness, diarrhoea, hand, foot and mouth various rashes and several occasions whers my daughter's temperature has been above 41. I can see my maternity leave just ticking by, the house is disgusting, I never manage to take my son to any groups etc. and have cancelled what feels like 100s of plans to meet friends (hardly anyone has even met my son!). This is making me feel quite lonely and isolated too. My poor husband has probably had a bit less of the illness, but works very long hours and is looking so tired, has lost weight etc.

It feels like this should be a lovely bonding time, but we're just lurching from one minor health crisis to another. Obviously I understand that many people have proper health worries, but the accumulative affect is surprisingly significant. Or feels it anyway.

Is anyone in the same boat? Or have any tips to improve things?

Are you sleep deprived? That will lower your immune system! Is the toddler at nursery? I found that when mine started they were bringing everything back with them to start with!
It does sound like hard work but hopefully you’ll be starting to feel a bit better soon maybe look at vitamin supplements and immune system boosts.
Hoping you all feel much better soon!

Sorry OP that sounds awful

Do you have fruits? Do you and your family are on vitamins ? Even children vitamins with D, A, C?

Yes, daughter is at nursery (though she's missed quite a lot with illness lately!). I probably am pretty sleep deprived, but in a cumulative way. Both children are generally good sleepers, but for example, we've had 3 trips to A&E in the last few weeks (croup, broken nose, fever), which generally means very little sleep at all. Then obviously even if the poorly one naps the next day, the other one doesn't! I feel like I'd have to sleep for at least 5 straight days and nights before I'd be caught up..

I have pm'd you..

Probiotics! I've always had a crap immune system but since taking probiotics from the pharmacy I rarely get ill. If you look online you'll see the connection between probiotics and boosting the immune system.

You poor thing. No, yanbu in the slightest bit.

With preschoolers, is there any way you can get away somewhere for a break with other people looking after you? Preferably somewhere a little warmer and dryer?

You may not be allowed to with a recent adoptee I guess?

But out of term time, a UK luxury family hotel would be very good value mid week?

Otherwise, yes, vitamins, fresh food, and as much fresh air as you can.

This will pass.

And sorry you're going through this. It will get better

And get a cleaner in? Just as a one off if necessary.

Me and my husbands diet has definitely suffered, but the kids are both very good eaters and have lots of fruit and vegetables and healthy fats, proteins, eggs from our chickens etc. The baby is still on formula too obviously. We don't take supplements though, maybe that would be a sensible idea? I wasn't sure if maybe the most recent research suggested that vitamins in supplements weren't absorbed very well??

As pp said, try probiotics - kefir and unpasturised sauerkraut.

I'm writing all this down, thank you everyone . Too skint for a cleaner or a holiday I think wardrobe, but I guess a little Google wouldn't hurt...

I think you should have your home tested for mould or toxic gases.

I have a 3 year old and an 8 month old, the illnesses this winter have been endless. I think it's a combination of an extra child in the house and it being my eldests first winter in childcare. She takes a multivitamin with iron, an elderberry supplement and a probiotic daily, they seem to be helping. I breastfeed the baby and he has a multivitamin syrup too. If I wasn't breastfeeding I think I'd look for a suitable probiotic supplement, or just plenty of probiotic yogurt.

Feels like a bit of a vicious circle as the more tired and run down we get the harder it is to manage to cook proper meals, keep the house clean and tidy (which always makes me feel better) and get out if the house to do fun things.

We did only move in a year ago aquamarine, so that might be worth doing. Though we don't have any gas appliances and there absolutely no indication of mould... We haven't really had headaches etc., could either cause flu like symptoms, temperature, infections etc.?

I think when you've been ill you can be more susceptible to getting ill again, then if that happens you are even more run down and vulnerable to illness. All you can do is take care of yourselves as best you can. Try and eat well and sleep well etc. It will eventually pass but it can be very draining.

Toxic moulds and gases (like radon) are not always visible or have any detectable odour. Something is going on here and you need to figure it out. If you and your family are normally healthy with no auto-immune deficiencies, being this sick for so long is not right.

I bought a big bottle of minadex the other week, it is still in the cupboard. I hate British winters..

Yes, take a tonic. Minaret or Metatone.

Sometimes when the children were younger we had cycles of time like this. I think it’s just unfortunate/unlucky that it has coincided with your youngest child joining you - congratulations by the way.
Try and take it easy, good food, rest. Multi vitamin and probiotics can’t do any harm nd may even do good.
It’s hard but try not to worry about the cleaning etc too much. Do the basics. It will pass
Hope you all feel a lot better soon.

poor thing.
part of it sounds totally normal for a family with young dc. there is not a lot you can do apart from

• sleep (hahahahaha), try to get a good night's sleep as often as you can and also for little ones sleep is important
• nutrition - plenty of veg and fruit
• exercise, preferably outside. at least one hour a day

I think we've all been through the toddler/nursery/every illness cycle, you're not alone.

A kind neighbour gave me a tip when we were going through it, open every window in the house for an hour or so, to air the house. Get DH to take the kids out for an hour or so and anti-bac or bleach every door handle, light switch and surface, give the house a quick hoover and mop over. Tidy as much as you can as you go.

Then get all of you some multivitamins and probiotics.

It will get better and easier.

It is part of family life.
Each bug builds your immune system though... one less to catch in the future!
I remember when DD went to nursery she was permanently sniffling as were we... and a friend made a comment about how her DS was never ill. (Her childcare arrangement was with with grandparents), Well when her DS went to school he was ill all the time, whilst by then DD had built up a fairly robust immune system and wasn't ill.
You have got the busload all at once but it will get better, as will you.
Exercise can help and a bit of fresh air if you can face it. Not to the point of freezing though!
Hope you feel better soon.