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I don’t want to live anymore. My life is an endless series of chest infections and a&e trips.

119 replies

Bunnyflop7 · 11/12/2022 10:49

Me and ds are so sickly. We spent the entire summer with the flu- him for 3 weeks then me for 3 weeks I was in hospital twice unable to breathe. Then another one. Now here we are again. I’m trying to get through to 111. Ds feels like shit. Antibiotics, steroids, recovery and then round we go again. It’s to the point now where I’m actually not wanting to meet up with other people in case they have a cold, because catching a cold means this nightmare again for us. Other people just don’t get it.

im exhausted and on my knees. I can’t do this anymore.

OP posts:
ParannoyedPenguin · 11/12/2022 10:55

When did you last go to the doctors about this? Worth having a blood test to rule out underlying issues? Have you had a course of berrocca multivitamins, they'll help boost you as you're probably run down and wiped out. What's your diet like and how old is ds?xxx

BlueBellIris · 11/12/2022 11:05

I'm really sorry. Sometimes you just have a run of poor health. I had meningitis and I would say it took 2 years to be well after that. I got every virus//bug going and they all hit me like a bus.

The winter is worse. This winter is particularly bad as there are so many viruses.

I'm sorry other people don't get it, ignore them. Focus on you and your family. It is fine to keep quiet.

As @ParannoyedPenguin says I would be making an appointment for the New Year. I would be asking about checking your bloods to see if there are any underlying issues (low iron, B 12) etc. You could also ask for a referral to a chesty physician.

I would take good multi-vitamin.

I know it's easier to say then done (particularly when you are unwell), but healthy eating, good sleep and minimise stress (so turn down all those invites) are also helpful to improve your underlying health.

Bunnyflop7 · 11/12/2022 11:14

Thanks for the replies. Ds is having blood tests and stuff done in early jan to investigate, but they wonder if it’s stress- he is a very anxious boy and has a lot of nightmares.

as for me, I’m seeing the asthma/ chest specialist in Feb at the hospital. I’m struggling with ptsd and anxiety. (Our issues are unrelated).

OP posts:
Boobingtons · 11/12/2022 11:17

I’m sorry but “I don’t want to live anymore” because of several months of infection-level illness?

Absolutely, it sounds very tough and definitely takes its toll, but there are people out there with children who have been seriously sick every single day of their lives and they’re not as dramatic.

MeMyCatsAndMyBooks · 11/12/2022 11:20

You're being very dramatic. I suffer with chronic illnesses that put me in hospital a lot, I now have strep A after catching it off DS but you've just got to get on with it op.

Get your tests done and a good muti vitamin for you both. I hope you both feel better soon.

caffelattetogo · 11/12/2022 11:20

I understand how you feel. I am so fed up of people casually giving us colds, which turn into chest infections. They treat it casually, because for them it's a minor inconvenience, but for us it goes on and on.

Bunnyflop7 · 11/12/2022 11:27

I absolutely knew someone would come on here and tell me other people have got it worse. Of course they have! I never said otherwise. Trying to cope with PTSD on top of endless hospitalisations is fucking tough. I can’t cope with it anymore. I have no family to help me, I’m exhausted and struggling to cope. But I guess I should slap a smile on my face eh

OP posts:
Bunnyflop7 · 11/12/2022 11:27

@Boobingtons this has been YEARS and YEARS not months.

OP posts:
paintitallover · 11/12/2022 11:31

Glad you're seeing someone in February. It does sound like may have an untreated condition. Do you smoke?

Sirzy · 11/12/2022 11:34

Ds has been on a profalactic antibiotic for about 5 years now which has massively reduced the amount of chest infections he has had.

have they done sputum tests to ensure it’s the right treatment?

Kalasbyxor · 11/12/2022 11:37

Hey Bunny, you are having a really tough time and are feeling exhausted. It's horrible. Suffering is subjective, we alone feel our hurts and challenges, and we are absolutely entitled to our own experiences, and to express them. Of course others suffer too, but you absolutely do not have to qualify your own suffering in relation to that of others'.
Sending you a compassionate squeeze.

TalbotAMan · 11/12/2022 11:39

I had something like this a few years ago which went on non-stop from January to June. At the end of it, I was diagnosed with non-typical asthma, which looking back I had certainly had for pretty much my whole life.

The good news is that now I am on a steroid inhaler with salbutamol when needed, I barely ever get a proper cold or chest infection.

RoloSolo · 11/12/2022 11:41

Sorry if this is mumbled.. pain killers 😂 You have my sympathy 💐 I really hope you both feel better soon, snuggle on the sofa, goodies and a film ❤️

I suffer with chronic tonsillitis and fibromyalgia. I've currently recovering from sepsis. Still on a lot of antibiotics and painkillers. So I completely understand how to feel.

Ignore the 'people have it worse, dramatic' shit. People are right arses on here. Your feelings are right feelings. Shouldn't be shamed.

Best of wishes ❤️

bloodywhitecat · 11/12/2022 11:41

DD's childhood was like this and she has started to slip back into it as an adult (she's just recovering from pneumonia), it is incredibly hard and it can completely restrict your life. She's had various tests and nothing is ever really found other than she is a severe asthmatic. As Sirzy suggested, do you take prophylactic antibiotics? DD does and they help.

foghead · 11/12/2022 11:41

I'd look at ways of strengthening immune system through diet and supplements and looking to see if trying to exclude dairy, wheat or sugar may help control some of your symptoms.
Vitamin d and c are particularly important.

Bunnyflop7 · 11/12/2022 11:48

I haven’t heard of prophylactic antibiotics til now! Please tell me more!

I think ds’ sleep doesn’t help- he regularly wakes up at 3 or 4 am and doesn’t go back to sleep. Later bed times make no difference.

im buying us both fizzy vitamins today and trying to up our fruit and veg- I thought we had enough but may be not.

OP posts:
Supernormative · 11/12/2022 11:52

Sounds like you are totally run down and can't cope so are getting repeated infections, which must be horrible. Read Adrenal Fatigue by James Wilson. Lots of brilliant advice about regaining your strength and energy. Includes what to eat, lifestyle tips etc. Helped me enormously in a similar situation.

Sirzy · 11/12/2022 11:52

Ds takes azithromycin three days a week which helps prevent the infections. Sometimes they are used seasonally if it’s just a winter problem but for DS we take them all year round.

SweetSakura · 11/12/2022 11:53

I am so sorry you must be utterly worn down and fed up (understatement)

DS had several years as a small child where even the slightest cold meant a hospital stay. People who say 'just a cold" just don't think.

SweetSakura · 11/12/2022 11:54

Montelukast was the miracle cure for my son's asthma. Drs took him off it for a bit and that winter we needed hospital trips again.

bloodywhitecat · 11/12/2022 11:59

Bunnyflop7 · 11/12/2022 11:48

I haven’t heard of prophylactic antibiotics til now! Please tell me more!

I think ds’ sleep doesn’t help- he regularly wakes up at 3 or 4 am and doesn’t go back to sleep. Later bed times make no difference.

im buying us both fizzy vitamins today and trying to up our fruit and veg- I thought we had enough but may be not.

Prophylactic antibiotics are a low dose of antibiotics taken regularly to prevent infection rather than a higher dose to treat one. I think DD takes one tablet on Mon/Wed/Fri (that is certainly what my current fosterling takes on a prophylactic basis).

Beautiful3 · 11/12/2022 12:03

We used to be continually ill. Life has changed for us since taking cod liver oil, probiotics, raw garlic and vitamins daily. We feel great now.

thewayround · 11/12/2022 12:04

How old is your son?

are you both missing work and school?

lljkk · 11/12/2022 12:06

Sounds very stressful.
What activities can you do in your current state of health?
Clean house, go to work, go swimming, supermarket, get your DS to/from school?

Janieread · 11/12/2022 12:06

Wow. My sister is fighting for her life after a liver transplant. Calm down.