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

[Bunnyflop7]

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.

I would suggest adding a tonic - something like Metatone - to the vitamins, @Bunnyflop7. Ds2 went through a stage of getting repeated infections, and I gave him vitamins and a tonic (for children), and it really helped.

And I can absolutely understand you not wanting to go out or mix with other people, for fear of picking something else up - it sounds like a sensible course of action to me. If your ds is school age, I guess you can’t avoid all social contact, but maybe over the Christmas holidays, you will be able to avoid more infections.

Hugs for you both.

You need to have sputum samples done to work out exactly what bacteria you are dealing with, might need a very specific antibiotic (I've been there! Took several rounds, then IV antibiotics then nebulised inhaled ones for 3 months but succeeded in eradicating my psuedomonas infection eventually 💪).

I would also ask for chest x-ray and then CT scan to look for bronchiectasis (scarring caused by infections). I have this, and it makes you more susceptible to future infections. If you have this then you need a referral to a respiratory physiotherapist to teach you airway clearance techniques that must then be performed daily to remove the sputum that otherwise will allow bacteria to grow and cause infections.
Correct treatment and regular physio and exercise has transformed my life from endless chest infections for 2 years to nearly one year infection free now.

Some people require the prophylactic antibiotic through winter or long term. Something to explore. Seek a referral to a Respiratory consultant in hospital.

I’m sorry for your sister’s situation, but the OP is obviously struggling with her situation too. It’s not a competition as to who is having a worse time!

I know - but saying you don't want to live anymore because of a chest infection is inflammatory and ridiculous.

I'm so sorry you feel like this. I've had two rounds of illnesses when I was younger for which I was prescribed endless antibiotics and got sicker and sicker. I started to improve when I started to really look into what I could do to support my health.
The first time, I saw a private GP and she gave me some good nutritional advice and some supplements. I was feverish when I went to see her on my 4th round of antibiotics. The antibiotics were discarded because "well they're not doing you any good are they?".

Antibiotics have their place and are life-saving, but beyond that it comes to a point where you're going to get the same results if you keep doing what you've always done.

I'm sorry you are feeling like this OP. Is there anyone you can talk to about your MH issues as it is no wonder your physical health issues are affecting your anxiety levels. Please ignore the negative comments on here. They don't know your own circumstances and how bad you are feeling. No-one should say how someone else should feel so if you can't say something supportive, just shut up.💐

You sound utterly worn down and exhausted. Being constantly ill for so long would grind anyone down, particularly dealing with it alone.

Definitely see the GP as soon as you can for your physical issues but I think you also need mental health support if it’s reached this point. I think you also need to approach your dc’s HV/School for similar support. It’s really difficult to pull yourself out of this kind of mindset but if you can access anything it might also help you tackle the physical ill health too.

Ignore all the ‘think yourself lucky because xyz’. It’s all relative and if you’re struggling you’re struggling and that’s it. The cause is pretty much irrelevant. Those posters should be ashamed of themselves - you don’t have to offer support but why stick the boot in to make someone feel worse for not coping?

It's not just one chest infection though is it, it is endless respiratory problems.

I'm not in the slightest bit ashamed of suggesting that the OP gets some perspective!

oh and I bet those lambasting you for not having ‘real’ problems wouldn’t have piped up if you’d just posted about your state of mind and not pinpointed physical illness as one of the causes/triggers.

You should be

Yes I understand and the OP has my full sympathy she is obviously at the end of her tether

OP changing to a low carb diet really helped my breathing issues. Would it be worth trying that? Cut down on bread at least.

rude!

@holierthanthou73 Sorry, my response was to @Janieread comment not yours (I don't like this new quote function sometimes)

👍🏻

Different people can cope with different things at different points. It’s not a race to the bottom.

i remember once being in hospital with ds and going to the parents room for a coffee. There was a mum in there in floods of tears and it turned out her son has just gone to theatre for a tooth extraction and she was understandably scared and worried so I helped her as best as I could. At that point Ds was about a week into a hospital stay on high levels of oxygen for his chest but at that point I was coping and was able to help someone who on the surface didn’t seem to have it “as bad” but at that point she needed the support.

i have cptsd from the illnesses Ds had in early childhood so I know how crippling that can be and at the strangest of times.

It isn’t a chest infection. It’s repeated debilitating infections which is severely impacting their quality of life.

OP I get it, I have a daughter who struggles similarly. It’s relentless. I’m in a constant state of anxiety and when she so much as sniffs I panic that it’s going to end in an a&e trip (and it usually does). I know other people have worse things going on, indeed I have been through worse in the past myself, but that doesn’t mean the current situation isn’t really really shit. Ignore those who have had an empathy bypass.

Fair enough. I shouldn't have said what I said. I apologise OP and hope you get some respite soon.

Is he asthmatic too? As you are I'd get that checked if not already known as that can cause worried feelings and night waking.

@Boobingtons and @Janieread should be ashamed for posting cunty messages.

The op has explained their difficulties.

I've had this for 3 years OP and it's relentless.

It's not like having am occasional cold like some people seem to be responding to.

It's the relentless coughing all the time, every time I get up and move, or lie down at night. the sleep deprivation from coughing in the night. 3 years of work calls where I can't get my words out without a coughing fit. one cold ending up in a cough that lasts for 3 months and running into the next cold. the bronchitis, pleurisy, antibiotics, chest xrays, inhalers, steroids which make me feel like crap.

It's the constant worry about catching another cold because I don't have the energy to put up with the coughing any more. The coughing myself until I throw up, the lungs filling up with fluid so fast I feel like I'm drowning.

It's feeling like I'm stuck inside all winter because if I go out in the cold I will cough and cough and not be able to stop.

There have literally been points in a particularly bad chest infection last year where struggling to breath was taking that much effort and I was so tired it just seemed easier to give up.

I hear you OP. I wish I had advice but I haven't found anything yet. So I'm hoping some of the suggestions on here will help me too.

Have you had a pneumonia jab? I had mine (paid privately) and really helped .

God there are some nasty fuckers on MN! Does it make you feel better to kick someone who is clearly struggling?!