to be sick of my child being poorly!

[MessyLifeCleanHouse]

My poor DS is poorly yet again! Raging temperature and so much planned for this week,😞

He is only 4.5 but doesn’t go a single month without coming down with something. He has a constant cough and cold and he’s only just come off antibiotics for an ear infection! Sick of seeing him suffer, and sick of the GP not listening to me! Surely this can’t be normal? Has anyone else got or had a child like mine? I’m at my wits end I really am😞 all the gp says is “what do you expect me to do”. I suffer with health anxiety and lately feel like I’m in a dark hole I can’t get out of because it’s just so constant.

have you had any blood tests?

Ask the GP what they'd do if it were their son

Yeah that really isn’t normal, I’d want the GP to do more. Refer to a paediatrician or something. All kids get ill from time to time but not ALL the time.

I'd demand a blood test and that the surgery listen to you,if necessary take him to A&E for a through check over.
It could be he is just unlucky and gets ring down and ill.
But it could be something else and once he's been completely checked,blood tests,etc,you'll feel better.

I could have written your post, OP. We ended up seeing a paediatrician who thinks a lot of his coughs and colds are allergy related, so we are going to see an allergy specialist at the end of this month. I hope your DC feels better soon.

I don't think that level of illness is normal either. Kids pick stuff up but mostly, they should be able to just shake it off and they shouldn't have something all the time.

My son is 7 now but from about 2 onwards, he has very rarely been ill. In fact, I honestly can't remember the last time he was poorly to the point of not being able to do things.

In reception, he got an ear infection which perforated the ear drum was he ill? Nope! Laughing with the doctor, charging round the house and eating for Britain. Was able to attend school as normal.

I'd push the GP for some blood tests to check for any underlying cause. How is his diet?

Oh my god. I could have written this today. My 6 year old has had 14 separate illnesses which involved temperatures (and therefore usually covid tests and or isolation) in the last 18 months. A few times have been general colds and 3 times diagnosed as tonsillitis but the others, if we have manged to see a doctor, have been some mystery virus. Never bad enough for hospital or anything like that, but often lasting 5 days or so of being unwell with a high temp. And he gets hysterical about the covid tests so i feel like a monster doing the right thing, but am also the kind of rule abiding, anxious person who is very stressed if we avoid doing them.

When I ask doctor they shrug and say some kids just catch more things, nothing to worry about, but like you say it just doesn't seems right and not only is it hard on him,but also the rest of the family who keep having plans interrupted.

Some of the illnesses have even been at the hight of lockdown when we have been following the rules, I work from home, DH outside on his own, and none of the family ill, so where he caught these mystery viruses I have no idea.
So no advice really, but lots of empathy! I've been crying about it only this morning.

I don't think that's normal. My ds is 10 and was very prem and apart from a yearly snotty cold he has only had one lot of anti biotics in his life when he was two (obviously had some when he was born). Being poorly monthly would also worry me, I'd ask to speak to another GP.

Whilst it’s a good idea to get checked out by your GP - one of my DS-es was like this. It has got better as he’s got older. Lots of tests done etc, final diagnosis was it’s one of those things so we make sure he gets enough sleep always, has a balanced diet, takes a good multivitamin etc.

All children are different (like adults, some get ill more than others) so it may just be how he is - but get checked out for your own peace of mind.

It may not be normal (my DS is similarly constantly ill atm) but there’s a lot of bugs thriving in the relatively newly reopened country, and reduced immunity thanks to lockdown isolation, so perhaps that’s a factor to consider? I know what you mean about doctors being a bit dismissive, though - I can understand why, but it’s pretty upsetting and unhelpful.

It’s very normal. My DCs were like this alllllll the time. It would be a vicious circle. Dose he go to preschool? Kids pick up germs easily & some are just sick a lot. DH & I would also get sick because of it. Eventually it gets better.

If he’s constantly needing antibiotics I’d ask to see another gp or refer to a paediatrician. Drs do not like doing blood tests unless absolutely necessary as it’s not a nice experience for children. My DD needed a few and it’s horrible.

Please don’t take this the wrong way, but also look at your hygiene levels. You want to make sure you are getting rid of anything that’s lingering, but it really is a fine line sometimes when it comes to these things as too much cleanliness can prevent children building up their immune systems by exposure to germs. With lockdowns, lack of socialising and exposure to everyday germs kids would normally pick up children are going to be sensitive to anything they eventually do get exposed to. Within 2 days of being back at school and nursery after the first lockdown my DCs were full of colds.

This is a side effect of lockdown. Lack of exposure to germs for the kids means they'll be getting all sorts of illnesses in probably quick succession.

Likely to be normal. The average is 10 bugs/year at that age. And at the moment, of course, there are a lot of bugs rampaging around since things opened back up.

Supplement his diet with vitamins D & C and Manuka honey as soon as he starts to come down with something.