Does anyone else's child tantrum constantly when ill?

[Ponka]

My DS (just over 3) has done so for over a year now and it's so hard. He's normally so good but when he gets ill, he just tantrums his way through the day (and night now, which is a new one and why I'm awake now).

I just feel so awful about it. Just when I want to take care of him more and give him extra cuddles and treats, he pushes me away, hits, kicks, throws and screams and screams. He goes into a tantrum about anything, for example me making it stop raining. The tantruming is pretty much constant and pushes both DH and I to the end of our tethers. I end up reprimanding him more than I do when he isn't ill because there are certain things I just can't let pass.

I'm not really expecting anyone to have any tips because there's nothing really that can be done. We've tried talking to him about it and we try to be as calm as we can with him.

This latest bout, because of a cold, has gone on now for four days and we are truly exhausted.

I just wondered if there was anyone else out there going through a similar thing.

My DS1 who is nearly 4 is exactly the same. He simply cannot cope with illness and the the whole day is one battle after another.
The slightest thing sets him off and on top of the generally whingeing about everything there is the illness specific whingeing and howling:

'I'm never going to feel better'
'I'm sooooooooo poorly'
'I'VE GOT A (HEADACHE, TUMMY ACHE, BLOCKED NOSE)' etc. shouted at the top of his voice.

Medication is a battle - it's usually either refused, or a demand for the type of medicine he wants. i.e - won't have cough medicine, wants calpol even if it's not the right medicine.

He is the worst patient in the world.

Sorry you have it too Ponka, but also glad I'm not the only one

In a weird kind of way, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one, too.

It's awful but I'm really glad I'm at work and not with him today. My poor parents are looking after him today. I really hope he has a better day for them.

No, but I do...

It is normal. DS is the same when he is ill or tired.
I'm sure it's just a way of expressing how miserable they feel at an age when they don't have all the necessary vocab.
It'll get better.

Ponka, you'll probably go home and your parents will say 'Oh he's been no trouble at all!'

It is the way of the small child

mine does whether ill or not it's just constant unless he's getting 110% attention and all his own way and it's been like that since he was 10 months he's 23 months now so i'm hoping he's soon to grow out of it

Ds (17 months) howled over all sorts of minor things which would not usually bother him. Not sure you can do much about it as I guess it just reflects how horrid and miserable they are feeling... You have my sympathies though - ds hasn't started doing full-on tantrums yet!!

Yes.