Extremely overwhelmed and struggling

[Worried25]

First of all, I know people have it a on much worse but I’m just hugely struggling at the moment.
My dc came down with a very high temp and was very poorly two weeks ago. Brought him to dr and he told me because of the high temp, vomiting, white marks all over throat it was bacterial tonsillitis and took a swap and it was confirmed. He took calvepen for 10 days and initially there was a huge improvement but then it returned two days after finishing the course, the exact same thing happened to me. Been feeling like absolute crap for two weeks and now both my younger dcs are ill. 2 year old same bacterial tonsillitis but 5 year old just viral. It’s going on three weeks , my dc and I are on our second course of antibiotics. I just have massive anxiety about using them, the drs I go to does not give them out easily but said I absolutely had to give them or I was risking them getting v ill. I am just so divided on antibiotics, I am very health conscious, my kids have an excellent diet and loads of fresh air but I’m worried we are in an endless cycle with tonsillitis and v concerned about antibiotics resistant. My dcs have been off school and nursery for a week now as they just aren’t well. I think it’s all highlighted by the fact that some of my family are very into alternative medicine and are critical about my use of antibiotics. Wtf am I supposed to do, I worry that I’m making a mistake by using them. It can’t be good for my dc gut to have two doses now.Thing is I developed Quincy throat when I was younger with an untreated bacterial infection in my throat and the pain was excruciating. I hate when plp talk about how others use antibiotics too much and one of my friends is a pharmacist and was eye rolling at the overuse of them. It just worries me. I’m also extremely exhausted and not getting time to recover and rest as I’m up a billion times a night (my youngest is already a crap sleeper). My dh is excellent and takes over completely when he can. Thing is he also got this but has had to return to work now and have a very full on job where he needs to be present. I’ve had to take loads of al etc.
I just feel I’m fucking up my dcs health long term. They all look pale and exhausted and I’m a huge believer in fresh air but they just don’t have the energy and it’s been lashing rain now here for a week. I’m just really tired and on my own all the time and v worried. Cam someone reassure me re the antibiotics.

Book a double appt with gp and talk it thru.
Dont let your anxiety stop giving your dc medication which will help.

Before antibiotics, hundreds of thousands of people (and especially children) died of what are now considered routine illnesses. Antibiotics save lives in a way that fresh air alone wont do.

They do get overused - routinely feeding them to livestock so that you can keep them in poor conditions is a terrible mistake. That's nothing to do with prescribing them to sick children though - and you've already said your GP offers them only when strictly necessary.

Give your kids their medicine. Take yours. Stay warm and indoors and rest. Tonsillitis is really nasty - like flu w the worst sore throat ever. It does take weeks to get better, esp at this time of year. Just hang on in there.

If you're not a doctor, you should really listen to the experts. Overuse of antibiotics when not required is an issue, not using antibiotics when they are required is a bigger issue and could lead to much more long-lasting impacts on your DC's health.

Please, please listen to the experts (I.e. your GP who has assessed both you and your DC and has X years of medical training) rather than someone who presumably hasn't assessed you medically having a negative view of antibiotics

Many children have died from improperly treated bacterial infections, as have adults.

We hear an awful lot about how antibiotics shouldn’t be used when not required but very little about how crucial and lifesaving they are when there is a serious bacterial infection.

Of course you are right not to give antibiotics when they aren’t needed, but when they are needed you must give them. I know it’s awful to see your child so unwell but without them they’ll be far sicker.

Please ignore your family - if they wouldn’t do the same in your shoes they’re neglectful. A child died recently because a mother was convinced by alt med fanatics not to give tamiflu when it was needed.

one of my friends is a pharmacist and was eye rolling at the overuse of them

That friend would tell you that when a bacterial infection is confirmed via swabs, the antibiotics are absolutely needed.

I had to take three courses of antibiotics in a few months last year but I hadn’t had any for years and years before that.

Thank you very very much for all your responses and you’re absolutely right. I’m stupidly influenced by other people and i don’t know why. Especially as regards to my kids. There’s just a lot of talk where I am around kids taking too many antibiotics and then getting more frequently ill as a result. Of course we’ll be finishing the courses. It’s just been going on now for 3 weeks and I’m totally exhausted and burnt out and leads me to overthink things. My middle dc is now complaining of a sore throat

But I know that this is minor in comparison to real problems

This time of year doesn't help nor the run of awful wet windy weather.

You are doing a grand job.

Thanks Felicity, we live beside the coast which is lovely but I have never seen so many storms...

My dcs are also watching a ridiculous amount of tv..

Deep breath. You are doing an amazing job.
My son has been on antibiotics since he was born due to a life limiting genetic condition.
So i am very concerned about antibiotic resistance because we rely on antibiotics to keep my son alive and functioning.
Bacterial tonsillitis is a very valid reason to take antibiotics. Also the swab will mean that the antibiotics prescribed will be specific to treating that bacteria so a much better situation than broad spectrum antibiotics being given for unknown or suspected infections.
Bacterial infections can take awhile to go, they can need long courses of antibiotics so thats normal. The weather has been awful so even without illness cabin fever would be setting in.
Eat well, get out for short walks when you can, finish the antibiotics and get some probiotics.

Thanks umbrella and I’m sorry to hear about your dc. That’s tough going. Just think that all I hear about antibiotics is totally negative, a pp mentioned how you don’t often hear the life saving stories etc. Also the more I think about it, my kids get virally stuff ; cold , sniffles, coughs and I don’t go running to the dr as I know the difference.

We definitely do over use antibiotics as a society, but you are right you know the difference and consciously. Trust your mummy instincts, you know your children best.
Maybe think about alternative medicine as complementary, it works best when complementing, good diet, excercise, lifestyle and conventional medicine. So you can listen and take on board peoples advice about complementary therapy in addition to seeking medical support and advice.